As another blistering summer sun sinks behind the Arabian Desert, its slightly-cooler self has risen and swept in running season as deftly and suddenly as the shamal.
In the months leading up to the New Year and the Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon, the health-conscious and overly-competitive among us begin to pound the pavement in a way that is both legal and salubrious.
Fifteen official marathons will be hosted in the UAE this season, giving you ample cause to get yourself into shape.
But before we can begin, some important requirements must be ticked-off: get “Eye of the Tiger” bellowing out on the iPod, YouTube a series of Rocky montages and bring out the short shorts — that’s the motivation taken care of.
But most importantly, it’s time to get a new pair of training shoes.
Yes, it’s time to treat yourself to the latest training shoe concepts for that extra edge on the treadmill, park paths and ultimately the race course.
Developments in fabric, cushioning and all-round pliability of the modern training shoe give the runner a plethora of options when shopping for the perfect fit.
After exhaustive testing on a range of short, sprint, interval and endurance circuits, here are tabloid!’s options, in no particular order, for you to consider.
Asics: Gel Kayano 20
Now, in its 20th year — an enviable feat in itself for any training shoe product — the new Kayano series demonstrates with aplomb why it has become the runner’s shoe of choice.
Soft, light and springy over long-distances, when the Kayano hits stores in the Middle East, don’t be surprised to see the majority of serious runners donning them.
One key new spec makes a big difference: The Biomorphic Fit feature of previous years has been replaced by stretchy “FluidFit” overlays around the mid and forefoot.
Asics wearer’s will be used to the “meshy” fabric around the foot but the 20th edition takes it a step further, creating an extremely soft and pliable texture while retaining all the support required for long hard kilometres: the Kayano 20 makes running feel as effortless as it can get.
There’s plenty of support for heel strikers in here, though forefoot planters may not prefer the Kayano as the back of the sole is loaded with more spring that the forefoot.
The Asics Gel Kayano 20th edition are due for public sale in late October, though no official date has been announced, and will be priced at around $160 (Dh580).
PUMA Mobium Elite
Where: PUMA, Dubai Mall
Cost: Approximately Dh500
PUMA have a lot to thank Usain Bolt for. And the debut Mobium Elite range is the latest product to benefit from the Jamaican ace’s brand endorsement. The Mobium promotes forefoot striking, which we know from biometric and kinematic testing to be a much healthier running technique than heel or mid-foot striking, and this derives from sprinter such as Bolt who have shown forefoot planting to be beneficial.
In fact, the design of the Mobium so insists that you get onto your toes when running that they take some adjusting to. But it’s certainly a case of a switch in time saving a lot of energy and efficiency.
The podular construction of the shoe’s arch makes you feel lighter on your toes than a more heavy-duty long-distance shoe and the deep grooves allow multiple-direction flexibility — not rejecting heel striking but not promoting it. So, this really is a shoe for the clean forefoot striker.
Reebok ONE Series
Where: Reebok, Dubai Mall
Cost: Approximately Dh400
Reebok’s new One Series is a technically generous shoe. The manufacturer has created a product that doesn’t eliminate any group of runners: Pros, intermediates, novices and plain gym-goers looking for an adaptable shoe can reap the benefits of the One Series.
The “zoned” technology incorporated into the Reebok’s is palpable. But, from what I found, you only feel the technology coming to your aid after you’ve broken them in over some considerable distance: you get back what you put in.
They assist your natural gait and insisting on nothing. You run how you run and the shoes adapt to your gait: perfect for beginners and those that have been running for so long with one technique that altering it now will cause more problems than sticking with their present formula.
The influence of Reebok’s flagship cross-fit concept is manifest in the One Series, being suitable to a range of exercises. While they offer assistance aplenty, you are aware of them on your feet and are as heavy-duty as a lightweight running alternative can go before becoming intrusive.
Adidas: adiPure CrazyQuick Runner
Where: Adidas, Mall of the Emirates
Cost: Dh425
While adidas have plenty of running shoes to choose from — the supernova being the most obvious choice for long relentless miles of running with the continental tyre-style sole technology, the adiPure CrazyQuick Runner offers an airy, low-profile alternative to de facto marathon running shoes. Similar to the CrazyQuick’s basketball counterpart, the runner version features the unique “zonal outsole pattern” which supports any natural bias in the runner’s gait — which came in very handy for me.
But the most beneficial feature of these lightweight adiPure’s and the reason they make this list is their ventilation — ideal for hot climates.
While other training shoes can create a sauna-effect around the runner’s feet, the CrazyQuick runner’s are literally a breeze of fresh air.
Whether you run quicker or not, you certainly feel you’re eating up the yards faster thanks to the strobe-lighting style luminous colours the CrazyQuicks come in.
Although the CrazyQuick’s are not marathon-specific training shoes — they don’t hold up as well over long distances as others — and therefore comparisons are not on a level playing field, they are here as an alternative.
And given the various lengths of the marathons and running events hosted in the UAE, they provide a real, lightweight option for those not looking at tackling lung-busting distances.
