Monday, April 10, 2017

Trying a new kind of sole on running sneakers


I just crossed another finish line and this time in a new pair of sneakers from a new brand, the Brooks Neuro.

These shows look unusual and even heavy, but the sole is actually made of propulsion pods, very lightweight and responsive.

But before we get into more, let's do an update.

Prior to trying out the Brooks Neuro, I was continuing to run in the Asics Fuzex and Fuzex Lyte.

The Asics Fuzex (top) and Fuzex Lyte (bottom)

The Fuzex proved to have the right support for running distance without weighing me down. I ran the United Airlines NYC Half in March and shaved 4 minutes off my PR!


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I also wear the Fuzex Lite for shorter training runs and other workouts, like Zumba, but I am finding they are only slightly lighter and less supportive.

Never being totally satisfied and feeling like my sneakers were beginning to get worn out, I decided to start looking into other sneakers. 

I tried the Runner's World Shoe Finder and the Brooks Neuro was one of the top matches, so I decided to try them.



They may look unusual, but I like the feel. They are lightweight, but very cushioned and fairly supportive. I feel like they make it easier to run faster and get a quick turnover between steps.

The sole of the Brooks Neuro

About that sole: as I mentioned earlier, it's made of propulsion pods, BioMoGo DNA foam in rubber casing. The ring is supposed to bounce energy back to the runner. The pod placement is also designed to add flexibility. 

The shoe is for neutral pronation and speed.

For me, there has been an adjustment period. After adding them into my training and liking that I felt faster, I decided to run a 10k in them. Two issues for caution: a lower heel drop and the tongue.




The heel to toe drop is lower than most shoes, just 6mm, 2 mm less than my Asics. This may seem minor, but I have experienced a bit of arch pain, which could be because of the difference in heel height, according to Runner's World.

And  unfortunately, during the race, the tongue rubbed against my shins leaving an irritation. The tongue is much thinner than a typical one and my skin is adjusting.

The rubbings from the tongue.

I have also experienced blisters under my big toe, a hot spot for me, but I usually only blister on longer runs.

I purchased the sneakers from Brook's website for $78, a drop from the list price of $130.

Right after I ordered, I found out the Brooks Neuro 2 is now available for $120. I am yet to try it out, however, from Running Shoe Guru's review, it seems to be look more like a commonly seen running sneaker. 


The propulsion pods are still there, just smaller. Some testers have said the sneakers help to lower inflammation and soreness post run, something I have noticed with the first edition. 

The upper is also supposed to trap less heat, an issue I haven't encountered yet.

The bad news about the update is they are heavier by .6 ounce, a noticeable difference.

Have you tried Brooks running sneakers? What do you think about the Neuro?

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