Mizuno Shoe Guys Answers Your Footwear Questions—April

by Bob "Wish" Wischnia on April 5, 2012

Do you have a shoe-related question? Or a running shoe question, specific to Mizuno for the Mizuno Shoe Guy? If you have a question you’d like him to answer, send it to Shoeguy@Mizunousa.com. If we pick your question for the Mizuno Shoe Guy to answer, we’ll send you a beautiful Mizuno DryScience T-shirt.

Beasty Boys

Q: I have worn the Brooks Beast for several years, but like the fit and feel of Mizunos that I have tried on much better. I need a lot of support and cushioning. Which Mizuno has the best combination of support andcushioning for me?Gary Fields, Portales, New Mexico

A: That’s easy. The Mizuno Wave Nirvana 8 combines great support and a well-cushioned ride with a very comfortable fitting upper. It also has a smooth, flexible ride. I’m biased, but it’s a much better pure running shoe than the Beast and much lighter with a smoother, less bulky ride.

Precision Switcheroo?

Q: I am a forefoot striker, have very high arches and I’m not a very efficient runner. Right now, I am running between 25-30 miles per week, but I’m suffering from plantar fasciitis. For several years, I wore the Wave Creation and loved it but decided to try an Adidas shoe and have lived to regret switching brands. Right now, I am torn between going back to the Creation or switching to the Wave Precision. Which shoe would you suggest? Priscilla Moss, Akron, Ohio

A: My suggestion is to go back to the Wave Creation 13. Evidently, you’ve had good success with the Creation and I don’t see any reason why you should switch to another model. The latest version of the Creation is a beauty. It has better cushioning and a snugger fit than earlier models, while retaining that great arch support which so many runners love. The Wave Precision is certainly a good shoe, but since you seem to be suffering from plantar fasciitis, I would definitely stick with the Creation. One suggestion to treat your plantar fasciitis: After every run, ice the bottom of your feet to reduce the inflammation.

New Runner

Q: Hi MSG. I’m a neophyte runner who does most of her running on the treadmill. I am very slow, but want to run a 5-K this spring and know I need a good running shoe. But I don’t know which shoe. I do know I need some support and also want a shoe which is comfortable and relatively light. What do you think? Liz Chavez, St. Louis, Missouri

A: I can certainly suggest a good Mizuno shoe for you, but the absolute best piece of advice I can offer is to go to a good running store in St. Louis with exceptional service suggest as Big River Running Company or The Running Center. At either store, you will get properly fitted in exactly the right Mizuno shoe for you. I can’t tell you exactly which shoe that is, but I would start by trying on the Mizuno Wave Inspire 8 and/or the Wave Rider 15. Carve out a good 30 minutes of time to get checked out by the store staff and try on several Mizunos to get fitted in the perfect shoe for you.

Sprinter Needs A Good Training Shoe

Q: I was a sprinter in high school and college and I’m still a very powerful runner. I’m a big guy (195 pounds) and an underpronator who has moderately high arches and lands mostly on my mid-foot. After picking the wrong training shoes, I have decided to get either the Mizuno Wave Elixir 7 or Wave Rider 15. I’ve heard nothing but excellent things about your shoes and want to try them. But I don’t know the exact difference between the Rider and the Elixir. Is there much difference? Matt Crow, Mooresville, Indiana

A:Yes, there is a world of difference between the Elixir 7 and Wave Rider 15. Both are terrific shoes, but the Wave Rider is much of a conventional, daily training shoe than the Elixir. The Wave Rider is our most popular shoe due to its well-cushioned midsole and its light, flexible ride. It is designed primarily for underpronators like yourself. The Elixir is more of a lightweight trainer-racer. That is, plenty of runners use it as a second shoe for faster-paced workouts and/or racing. Some runners use it as a daily shoe because they appreciate its responsive ride and moderate amount of support. Although the Elixir is lighter than the Wave Rider, I’m betting due to your size and high arches, you would probably be better suited in the Rider as a shoe you can use on a daily basis.

Shoe Rotation?

Q: I wear the Wave Alchemy 11 to help with my overpronation. I weigh 110 pounds and like the shoe very much, but I’m wondering whether I need to rotate the Alchemy with a different shoe. I was also told that I shouldn’t wear the same pair of Alchemy every day and if I didn’t buy another shoe to rotate with the Alchemy, that after awhile, the Alchemy wouldn’t work for me. Is this true? Cindy Kalton, Bowling Green, Kentucky

A: No, you are getting some bad information. You can safely wear the Wave Alchemy (or, for that matter, any other shoe) on a daily basis. The midsole cushioning in running shoes does compress when running, but it bounces back just about as quickly as it compresses. That is, if you go for an hour run, after about an hour, the shoe is ready to go again. So, there’s no need to “rest” a shoe for an entire day. Simply air it out so it isn’t wet when you run again. Should you rotate the Alchemy with another similar model? Doing so, certainly won’t hurt but it is not essential. If you do want to get another comparable shoe to the Alchemy, I would suggest getting the Mizuno Wave Nirvana 8 which is just as supportive.

Do you have a shoe-related question? Or a running shoe question, specific to Mizuno for the Mizuno Shoe Guy? If you have a question you’d like him to answer, send it to Shoeguy@Mizunousa.com. If we pick your question for the Mizuno Shoe Guy to answer, we’ll send you a beautiful Mizuno DryScience T-shirt.