Part Four
Yes, I have been on a rant with other reviews/posts that it probably felt like I would never get back here to my million part series on fitness thingymabobs, but here we are!Footwear has never really been my thing. If you see me in high-heels, take a photo because that's almost as rare as seeing bigfoot. So when I was started getting interested in fitness, I threw on my sneakers and thought "that's comfortable enough" and pushed forward. They were not the most expensive, no brand name to speak of, sneakers but good enough for gym. Then, friends of ours invited us to join them in a zombie race for charity, a little 5k running through wooded areas while being chased by brain-hungry zombies. I hadn't been very active till then so I didn't really give a second thought to my footwear.
After the race, very fun BT-dubs, I felt like I had a stone in my shoe. To most people they'd realise what it was right away, I, however, had no idea therefore creating 4 months of endless pain. Turns out that those shoes of mine had made my foot develop a corn. A tiny, painful hard piece of skin that makes it difficult to do any sort of cardio or even just walking for that matter. Eventually, after trying corn plasters (just don't) and every cream under the sun, I decided to go to a podiatrist and have it professionally taken care of. In hind sight, this is what i should have done all along but I am quite head-strong and thought I could handle it myself. If this happens to you, just go to the freaking podiatrist!!!!
Long story short, I chucked those shoes away and embarked on shoe hunting. I landed up getting two pairs of Nike shoes.
The first one I bought was the Nike Revolution 2 for women. Comfortable, not-too-flashy and do a great job of all-round sports. They're not too expensive and I think a great place to start.*Synthetic-and-mesh
*Rubber sole
*Lightweight open mesh throughout the upper enhances breath-ability and comfort. Strategically placed supportive leather overlays for support
*Articulated, full-length Phylon mid-sole provides lightweight, responsive cushioning and a natural feel underfoot
*Environmentally preferred rubber in a modified Waffle out-sole configuration. Deep flex grooves provide a more efficient, natural range of motion
*For a runner with a neutral gait. A shoe that delivers breathable comfort, a smooth transition, and a young look for running and everyday use.*
So why get two? Well, here's something I didn't expect when I started to get more into gym, I like running. I find it incredibly relaxing and I can get my heart rate up within a few minutes so that when I've run my 20 minutes, my heart rate is within the right range for the rest of my gym session.
I'll try and explain heart rate ranges in another post.
So for running, the Revolution 2's are probably fine for most people who run on a treadmill, but I run in such a way that I have certain impact zones on my feet that I need to correct otherwise risk getting an injury. Nike , and probably all the shoe ranges such as Adidas, have shoes to help correct the problem. I did research and found I needed the Nike Lunarglide 5+. Since I like the Revolutions 2, I went with Nike again.
The Luncarglide 5+ are specifically running shoes. They offer support for my over-pronouncement, they cool your feet down by allowing more air to flow through the shoes, are comfortable and are really light-weight. I have every confidence that I won't be getting another corn with these babies.
As you can see on the second photo, these are Nike+ Sensor compatible. I will be doing a post on the sensor itself in a week or two but it's nice that now I can use the sensor the way it was meant to be used instead of make-shift pouches for it.
During my research on which running shoe I should buy, I didn't come across a review that was less than 4-and-a-half star rating on these shoes, most gave it a five-star rating. This is always good news to know!
The technical stuff on this shoe:
*Mesh inner sleeve wraps the foot for a comfortable fit*Sockliner molds to the shape of your foot for a custom fit and improved underfoot support
*Plush foam in the collar for enhanced heel lock-down
*Deep flex grooves for increased flexibility and a smooth, efficient stride
*Reflective elements for enhanced visibility in low light
Because this is the new Lunarglide, you can pick up the Lunarglide 4 for a lot cheaper. The 5 is just the update on that shoe but apparently it's also really great so if you are a little cash-low but want proper running shoes, those makes a great alternative.
If you are going to be running a lot then pick up socks that are specific to running and your style of running. If you are a road-runner, you need thicker socks. They offer a lot of support and are comfortable, breathable and all that good stuff, and they're not expensive.
Overall, I am happy with my purchases and recommend both these shoes.
LLAP
