What Type of Runner are You?

If you know me, you know running is my therapy, and lately I've been needing more than usual! Good thing for me the stars have aligned and the weather has cooled and at the same time, my new Mizunos arrived! Glory hallelujah! 

I was long overdue for a new set of wheels for my feet so these couldn't have arrived at a better time! Whether you're a beginner, novice or advanced runner, you have to pay close attention to the shows you wear, whether you run indoors or out. You have to replace your shoes every 6 months or so and/or every 300-500 miles. 

You also have to make sure you're wearing the RIGHT shoe. Did you know that there are 3 main types of running shoes that correlate to the way your foot strikes the ground when you walk or run? Wearing the wrong shoe and not paying attention to your foot strike can hinder your progress and even lead to pain and injury. 

So, what are the 3 types of runners and foot strikes? They are pronation, supination and neutral. 

Probation is another way of saying you have a very low arch and/or have flat feet. This means your feet tend to roll in towards the center when you run. If you experience ankle pain and/or shin splints often, you may be pronating and not wearing the right shoe for support.

Supination is the opposite of pronation. It's when you roll your feet outward excessively and your feet never make full contact with the ground when you strike. Supinators have high arches and without the right support shoe, most likely suffer from plantar fasciitis and ankle sprains.

Neutral runners are the other. This is where I fall in and it means I don't pronate or supinate. I have a normal foot strike and this why I can run up to 35 miles a week and not feel any pain. 

So, how can you tell what type of strike you have? It's easy and you don't have to go to a speciality store to figure it out. First look at your walking/running shoes. If they're more worn on the inside, you pronate. If they're more worn on the outside, you supinate. If they're evenly worn, you're w neutral runner. 

If you don't have a pair of shoes you can clearly see wear on, try the cardboard test. Place a piece of cardboard on the ground. Make sure it's evenly flat. Wet the soles of your feet and stand on the cardboard. Look at the foot imprint. If it's evenly wet and you can see the balls of your feet, full heel and your arch, you're neutral. If most of the wetness is on the outer portion of your foot, you supinate. If most of it is on the inside, you pronate. 

Once you've determined the type of strike you have, you can research the best shoe for you and hopefully find a good fit. 

My favorites, as a neutral runner, are the Mizuno Wave Riders. It's my 3rd pair of Wave Riders, my current pair is the Wave Rider 21, and it's been my go to shoe for the last year. 

I need a stability shoe since I'm a neutral runner and after trying several Saucony, Asics, Nike and Brooks models, I have to say I'm happiest with these.

They're the perfect balance of comfort, support and weight. They're lightweight, breath really well with their mesh upper and they're ideal for anyone with medium to high arches like I have that require more of a neutral shoe.

I've had them only 2 weeks and they've already conquered the beach, pavement, grass, rocks, trails, the gym and even a friendly game of racquetball! 

So, if you're in the market for a new neutral running shoe, these Mizuno Wave Rider 21 are definitely worth a look! 

For other styles more suitable for those that pronate or supinate, head over to Mizuno.com and look at their entire line. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mizuno. The opinions and text are all mine.

The Mizuno Wave Sky: I've Been Converted

So I’ve been converted, officially this time!  I received my 2^nd pair of Mizuno running shoes about a week ago and after running with them on concrete, sand and dirt for upwards of 30 miles in the last week, I am pretty happy with them and will be sticking with Mizuno for the long haul!

In the past, running in other shoes I've tried for long distance in a short time span, I've definitely felt the backlash of pushing my mileage. I experienced pain in the midsole and having a high arch, I also experienced pain after running.  This was not the case this past week when I tested out the Wave Sky.

The Mizuno Wave Sky is the shoe you see pictured above and the one I’m referring to!  It’s a shoe built for neutral runners that don’t need support for pronating. For YEARS I was wearing the wrong shoe.  A shoe that wasn't neutral and instead pushed my feet out, giving me pain along the side and almost convincing me that I needed to give running a break.

Finally finding the RIGHT show changed that for me.  The Mizuno Wave Sky has a full length midsole and the most u4icX foam in any Mizuno shoe.  What is u4icX you ask? It's Mizuno's own proprietary midsole material. It's a soft, light, cushioned material that gives a soft underfoot feel, as if you're running on a rubber track vs concrete.  

The new Wave Sky provides max cushioning and gives you a more plush feel than any other shoe Mizuno has made.  As they say, you feel as if you float through your run. And for someone who primarily runs on pavement, this is a vital feature I need in my shoes.  The Wave Sky also has a sock liner that provides a secure, comfortable fit hugging your foot.  

If you're in the market for a new running or walking shoe, I highly recommend the Mizuno Wave Sky. It's available in men's and women's sizes and three different color schemes for each.  I have the blue/silver/safety yellow combination. I love it because it's unlike any other shoe I own.....not pink for one! Haha! It retails for $150.00 and is currently available in stores nationwide. 

For more information, go to Mizuno's website and look over the various options available for women and men.  Please note that I received these shoes at no cost in exchange for a small fee compensation, review and social media shares. All opinions and photos in the post are my own and not in any way influenced by Mizuno.  I am an avid runner and want to provide feedback, whether positive or negative, to other runners out there so they too can find products and gear that can benefit them and keep them on the road longer.