Walker's Opinions Please

[windwalker]

Hi Dave,

See below for the answers to your questions.

1) Why don't you market your product now as a short to middle distance walking shoe so walkers will be more aware.
I will forward this query to our Marketing Department as a possible addition in the future.

2) If one of our flats will not fit the bill regarding the amount of protection offered then you could go up to one of our performance trainers like the Wave Precision 8 or Wave Elixir 2 as they both will have a slightly thicker midsole profile. (23mm/11mm in the Elixir and Precision vs. 22mm/10mm in the Revolver or Idaten)

Mizuno Guy, thanks, but please allow me to clearify.

I wish I could go to the store and try on a pair of the Precision 8s so I could speak from that knowledge. The only Mizuno shoes available in my City, Bowling Green Ky, is the Wave 10 and the Inspire, these are at FinishLine, which sponsors me in in my walk races. The other stores don't carry Mizuno and Finishline doesn't carry other models, and the store manager can't order anything that their corp doesn't stock.

I go through a pair of Revolvers a month and have single handedly bought the 'running warehouse' out of size 9.5 Revolvers this year. I discovered the Revolver at the Flying Pig Expo in Cincinnati. I have never seen a pair in a store.

When I compare the pictures of the Percision and the Revolver: The Revolver has a much lower heel than the Percision and the Revolver is lower under the ankle bone than the Precision.

This last is important since when you are on the road for 6+ hours the slanted road surface can cause pain on the lower side of the ankle bones. This was the reason the New Balance 111s were not a hit with walkers even though the rest of the shoe was a very good design for endurance walking. The shoe was cut very high on the ankle bones and caused injuries. Rather than correct that they have discontinued them.

I have worn the Brooks ST lightweight trainer, the counter part to your Percision and it's a good shoe except for the sole being to rigid. The revolver is just right in flexibility.

The low heel is important because heel height works against a smooth walking stride:

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rayzwocker/worldclass/animated.htm

(This is not me it's Dave McGovern, but an example of the walker stride at a world class level) This is the ideal stride but the majority of walkers are not this efficient. The most are from 15 to 12 mpm walkers.

Here are some reviews by walkers on different shoes they have tried. That is the problem there is not a single company that designs and markets a shoe for endurance walkers of which there are hundreds of thousands of us. So what we have for information is internet talk and advice from runners who can't identify with the needs of walkers:

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rayzwocker/worldclass/shurevuw.htm

There is a company, Hershey, that makes a walking shoe for marathon and racewalkers, if you order a pair expect six months to get them and they are currently not even taking new orders since they are so far behind.

http://walking.about.com/library/walk/blherseyshoes.htm

Notice the low heel and low sides under the ankle bones?

Sorry about being so long winded.

Dave

 

[funwalker]

Hi Racewalkers,

If you are looking to find a great transitioning, lightweight model with a low midsole profile then you will want to take a look at the Mizuno Wave Revolver 4 or Wave Idaten 2. You can check them out at mizunousa.com. Click on "Running" then "Track and Field" then "Racing" Please keep in mind that they are offered in unisex sizing down to a size 5.

Sorry guys I tried to attach direct links but the system gave me an error. I hope this helps and happy walking...

Hi,

A couple of years ago I was fitted and purchased a pair of Mizuno's at the 2005 Columbus Marathon Expo.

I had a love hate experience. I finally had to throw them away...after three miles the outer sides of my feet truly hurt. I wore them to be fitted at the local Gazelle Sports Store to get replacement shoes. They told me that this shoe over corrected my pronation. All I knew is it hurt too much to wear them.

 

[windwalker]

Hi,

A couple of years ago I was fitted and purchased a pair of Mizuno's at the 2005 Columbus Marathon Expo.

I had a love hate experience. I finally had to throw them away...after three miles the outer sides of my feet truly hurt. I wore them to be fitted at the local Gazelle Sports Store to get replacement shoes. They told me that this shoe over corrected my pronation. All I knew is it hurt too much to wear them.

Hi Margie. That was the fault of the person at the Expo not the company. I like the Revolver so well that I pay for them when I could get whatever FinishLine carries free. But the Revolver isn't quite cush enough for the long races.

My respect for the Mizuno company is even higher since they sent some one to listen to what we have to say.

Dave

 

[windwalker]

Okay, Mizuno guy, you convinced me. I bought some Mizuno Elixir @ runningwarehouse. (no WISHD discount on Mizuno, though!)

Thanks for the suggestions.

Please Stacey, let us know how you like them.

Dave

 

[windwalker]

Good morning walkers.

I hope our new friend and shoe advisor is with us again today. I invited the walkers from the other side of wish to join us and talk about their shoe issues also.

Dave

 

[westcliffemom]

Hey, I read in this month's Health magazine that Asics has a new shoe out designed for treadmills. It's called Gel-Treadmill. Sounds interesting for us treadmillers!

 

[funwalker]

Hi Stacey,

On an average how many miles do you use the treadmill each week?
Are you going to try the Asics Gel-Treadmill shoes?
Please let me know if you do. I would be interested in a 'Real Person' report. I have always thought my foot falls were very different on the treadmill than outdoor walking and needed different shoes!

But I do dislike the treadmill and only use when I absolutely cannot get outside.

I save a pair of shoes for treadmill use only. And cleaning the soles of my shoes each time is a big negative, but I do not want repairs due to sand, grit, or small stones either.

Love this thread.

 

[windwalker]

Here is the reply we got from my hero John Bingham.

Thanks for writing,

It’s a great point. Saucony tried to create a “run/walk” shoe a few years ago, but it didn’t go anywhere.

Let me know what you find out.

Thanks,


John
John "the Penguin" Bingham
Columnist; Runner's World Magazine
National Spokesperson; Team in Training


I hope Brooks or Mizuno sends someone else over to talk to us.

Dave