SHOE REVIEW- Hoka One One Elevon

                     

Shoe: Elevon (part of the Hoka One One Fly series, based off the Vanquish 2)

Description: Neutral, Responsive, Light Weight but with great mid foot Cushioning,

Great for: Everyday training, up tempo and half marathon to marathon racing  

Terrain: Road (okay on off road/gravel, but only in dry conditions)

Weight: (size 9 US W) 244G

Heel to Toe Drop: 5mm

I have to admit that first out of the box impressions were a bit mixed. They looked awesome! I loved the sleek streamlined look and the colour and I couldn't wait to get them on. The shoes however felt very different to any other Hoka One One shoe that I had worn before in regards to both the upper and the sole. The sole was a firmer feel to what I had become accustomed to for the Hoka shoe line and the upper was a much softer feel, more like a sock, so together quite a different sensation.

I decided to wear them in a bit and get used to the feel for a few hours before I ran in them and that's all it took for me to LOVE them!!!!!

First run in them was a morning run on a sleep deprived body and I was happy to be out but lets be honest wasn't expecting much from my tired legs. So when I started running and my legs felt good and I could feel them just ticking over nicely without much effort I was quietly surprised. I then hit the first hill not far from my house and felt an extra spring in my legs as I just sprung up and over the hill and I knew I was onto something good with the Elevon!!

I wasn't trying to run fast on this run but the Elevon is a fast shoe.  The combination of the Hoka One One Meta rocker technology and the super lightweight dual density ProFly mid sole creates a very lightweight, but cushioned fast shoe. The mix of the rocker design and the mid sole cushioning provides a firm but cushioned platform that rolls you from landing to toe off and adds that extra spring to your stride, which feels great on both the flat and hills!

The Elevon is part of the Hoka One One Fly series along with its family members, the MACH and CAVU. It is based off the Vanquish 2 but its a light weight more responsive and faster version of its predecessor. It is (although still a light weight shoe) the heaviest and most cushioned of the 3 Pro Fly shoes. Its classed  as a neutral cushioning  shoe and although it is a neutral shoe, the TPU cup in the heel  provides an inherent stability that is unexpected and nice within the streamlined shoe.

The upper is very streamlined and breathable, and fits more like a sock then previous Hoka One One shoes that I have run in. Although this felt different to begin with, I prefer that feel and fit now. It did feel slightly longer then I was expecting and initially I wondered if I should go down a size from my normal. But after a couple runs I was really happy with the length as my foot moulded snugly into the shoe.

Although the Elevon is a road shoe, I have run happily on the grass and dry non technical trails and gravel in them and felt really happy with both the traction of the sole, the underfoot feel, responsiveness and stability of the shoe. I probably wouldn't use them for muddy or wet trails or technical terrain, as the grip on the sole is designed for the road.

The Elevon is great for everyday training, and I have used it for both short and long runs, ranging from easy recovery to faster up- tempo (although I usually use the Bondi 6 for recovery runs) I prefer a little cushioning and support in my race shoes so I would be happy to race a half marathon and even a marathon in them. 

So in summary, I LOVE the Elevon! I love how they look and feel and I Love the way my legs just tick along smoothly with the extra spring in my stride making me feel fast and light even on days that I shouldn't!!!

Shoe Review Hoka One One - Bondi 6

Shoe: Bondi 6

Description: Neutral, Maximal Cushioning everyday training shoe.

Great for: Long endurance runs and recovery runs and also for triathletes (or anyone) running on already tired legs.

Terrain: Road

Weight: (size 7 US W) 8.6oz

Getting back into running shape since the birth of my son last September has been more challenging then I ever could have imagined and I have found that as I have gone through the journey of rebuilding my body, fitness and strength I have had to change my training shoes to better fit the needs of my post baby body. I guess when your body has been through so much change that it makes sense that it will respond differently to training loads and require different elements of support from your running shoes.

I used to run in the Clifton and the Clayton, and loved them! But this year I found that I was dealing with knee and back niggles that I had never experienced before and that my legs and joints were craving a more forgiving and cushioned shoe as I went through the hard slog of rebuilding.

The Bondi is heralded as Hoka One One’s premium neutral cushioning shoe and boasts the maximum ‘running on clouds’ effect that Hoka One One is so famous for… so I decided to give it a go.

To be honest I have never been one to choose to run in such a cushioned shoe. I have always preferred a lighter shoe with a bit more responsiveness and more of an under foot feel of the terrain that I was covering.

However the Bondi 6 although been slightly heavier than my previous training shoes, does not feel like a heavy run. This I think is mostly due to the Meta Rocker System, which creates a rolling sensation as the foot transitions from footstrike to toe-off, making it feel much lighter when you run then it is because of the way it effortlessly rolls you through every stride.

The combination of this unique design aspect of the shoe and the maximal cushioning not only feels like your running on clouds but also greatly reduces the impact forces or load that occur as the foot hits the ground. This reduces the amount of muscle damage and wear and tear on the body from training and helps you to front up back-to-back days with a reduced level of muscle soreness.

With the extra cushioning I have noticed that I have lost a bit of the underfoot feel that I am used to in a running shoe, BUT and it’s a big but! The Bondi 6 is one of the most comfortable shoes I have ever run in! On days that my legs should feel absolutely wrecked, simply put … they don’t.

Its been an incredibly hard road trying to get back into shape this year and there have been days when my legs should feel absolutely wrecked and I have stepped out the door and braced myself for the first few steps of the run and the familiar aches and pains of tired sore legs but with the Bondi 6 I am always pleasantly surprised as to how good the legs actually feel.

The plush cushioning and the metarocker design of the Bondi 6 has enabled me to run day in and day out rebuilding my fitness without my legs feeling wrecked. I guess you could say at a time when my body has needed a little extra kindness, the Bondi 6 and its pillow like cushioning has given me that.

Do I feel as fast in the Bondi 6 as I do in the other Hoka One One shoes I have run in? like the Elevon? To be honest no, but it is by no means a slow shoe and even though in a maximal cushioning shoe there is always a little less responsiveness I still feel that I am able to easily tick the legs along at a good clip. The Bondi 6 is also very stable even when cornering and running down steep downhill.

The upper is very breathable and has a very snug form-fitting feel around the heel and mid foot and the perfect amount of room in the toe box.

The bondi 6 can be used for any length run. Either for the longer slower runs or for the recovery shorter runs, or anything in between depending what you want out of your run.

I am currently in a build phase of training, and so I have been using the Bondi 6 for most of my road runs, regardless of the length. But as the phase and the specifics of my training develop I will be mixing it up with the Elevon for my faster training days. Personally together I think they make the perfect training dual!

The verdict… simply put the Bondi 6 has been brilliant!

First Race Post Baby...First Race as a Mum

Race Review 
T42-24km- National Park NZ
Shoes- Hoka One One ATR 3

We were running through the single track bush in the first few km’s of the race and I told the guy behind me to just let me know if he wanted to pass before the trail opened up, and he said he was fine and asked what time was I hoping to do? …time?? I thought … I was just stoaked to be out there running!!

The T42-24km was a race I had raced and won 2 years ago and was actually where I was first introduced to Hoka One One shoes and brought my first pair to try out. So I thought it was fitting that it was my first race back after the birth of my first son.

The road back into shape has been quite a roller coaster of a journey for me. I have never been this out of shape before and my body just felt so weak and foreign to me after his birth. The concept of having to start from so far away from where I used to be and from where I wanted to be was quite overwhelming and despite trying to be very careful and smart about rebuilding, with very little sleep and hours of sitting around breast feeding, I ended up having a few issues with my back and knees that have made the process even slower then I imagined it would be.

However thanks to some great bodywork and support from the fantastic team at Sportslab and Dr Bill at Real Health, I have managed to get the body going again and feel like I am starting to make some progress with regaining my full fitness and strength again.

I wasn’t sure if I would be up for a race at this stage but when the opportunity arrived to do the race I jumped at the chance, and despite not feeling as race ready as I would like to be  I was super excited at the prospect of just getting out there and doing what I love again.

In the weeks leading up to the race I was so excited about getting to do something adventurous and competitive again. The race would be quite a bit further then anything I had managed to run in training yet, and due to the difficultness of the terrain a good hour or more longer then I had run in a about 10 months so I knew it would be tough, and that I would be a bit wrecked after it but if I paced myself I definitely knew I had a whole new element of mental strength since the birth of my son! And so was keen to just tough it out.

The excitement started to waiver a bit about 3am Friday morning when I was up yet again trying to settle my son Noah. I had been up a large majority of the night already, and it wasn’t looking like things were going to change much before sunrise. The little guy isn’t a great night sleeper and they can be tough and tonight he was really struggling and I presume the pesky teeth were starting to bother him again.

The athlete inside me was mulling over the whole concept of the theory that its the sleep two nights before the race that is the important one and never to worry if you can’t sleep the night before … and I was wondering to myself… mmmm what if you just don’t really get to sleep any nights before the race…

It had been a mission trying to pack everything the day before and I was beginning to wonder what I was thinking wanting to do this race…there is no way I can compete feeling this wrecked!!

But we had it all organised and I tried to rally myself with a positive attitude and remember just how excited I had been about this race for the last few weeks. I just needed to get out there and do it regardless of what state I was in.

Come morning and a big coffee… the enthusiasm returned and we all managed to pack up and set off to National Park. The little guy is a pretty good traveller and to be honest getting to sit in the car and rest and sleep felt like a day off!

The night before was hugely focused on getting Noah settled and insuring he slept as well as he could so I could get as much sleep as I could. The pre race evenings are definitely not how they used to be but hey nothing is like it used to be!!

The following days logistics also had to be sorted out, as not only did I have to get myself ready to race, Noah had to be organized and breast milk feeds and solid feeds and timings of sleeps all needed to be planned in as well. My nutrition as well as Noah’s, and so on and so on!!! So to be honest there wasn’t much headspace left to be nervous, (especially when your breast feeding 20mins before the race starts!) When the gun went off it was a relief   to be running off into the stunning native bush and on an adventure…. It was the first time in 7months that I had had the whole morning off… that’s an achievement in its self!

I took off at the gun with the first group of guys, but I really didn’t know how far the fitness I had regained would last so my goal was to go as hard as I could but to pace myself so that I wasn’t completely spent before we hit all the hills!

This race is run through some of NZ’s most beautiful native bush and is such a special place to run. But sticking to its true kiwi routes it is a very challenging course! As we headed off, into the first part of bush tracks, I found myself starting to worry about Noah and I lost focus on what I was doing and then suddenly I was brought back to reality with a sharp pain and a roll over on the left ankle! Oh bugger, thankfully I managed to catch myself and stay up right but as I gingerly tried to keep running I knew that If I rolled the ankle again that would be it, so I had to ease off a bit and concentrate and let it settle before I could push hard again.

I guess that’s a new Mum worrying for you!!

I made it through the first part of native bush track and over the river and then the climbing began. I remember thinking how much better I had felt at this part of the race last time, and then just having to shrug that off and focus on just doing the best I could with what I had. It’s about 3-4km of gravel road climbing and then a sharp right into a very steep rugged 1km 4WDrive climb to the plateau. It reminds me of the concrete monster in the Waitaks and after a solid block of climbing already its tough! The lungs were burning and the legs complaining, and I felt like I was barely making snails pace but I just put my head down and pushed till the top and just had to trust that I would still have something left for the 8km loop of mud, clay, water and cutty grass at the top.

True to form the clay was thick and slippery, the puddles knee to waist deep and it was a bit of a hard slog around the loop. At one point I passed a group of dirt bikers that had passed us earlier on the gravel climb and covered us in there petrol exhaust fumes. They were now stuck in the clay on a steep hill, needless to say it was rather nice to pass them now even if I was reduced to my hands and knees crawling at that point!

Thankfully there were a few other runners around and so for a lot of the loop I was either running with someone or could hear them behind or see them in front, which made a big difference as in the parts by yourself, it can feel very isolated and super quiet in the middle of nowhere in the mud and slush.

I had to be conservative through this part to make sure I got through with the ankle still intact and it was a huge relief to finally run through into the clearing and start the decent back to the finish.

With the 8km left to run been largely downhill, I knew that what ever state my legs and lungs were in I could just tough it out to the finish and I did which was awesome… the only thing that I forgot was just how long and just how steep the last hill back to the finish was and yes it was tough!! But as I made it to the top and the last 500m into the finish with both lungs and legs burning (and a chest full of breast milk!) I was so excited to have managed the race and got myself out there and actually achieved something physically challenging. The endorphins were running and the smile glowing. It’s been so long since I have raced and so long since I have felt much of anything from my pre baby life that it was just such a high to have done the race.

The excitement and challenge of racing was all there just as I remembered, but the cool thing about this race was just how excited I was to get back to the finish and to see Noah and tell him about my adventure and share it all with him.

So my first race back as a new Mum…. Hurt big time, but extra special on so many levels!!!

The LONG last hill to the finish!!

Legs hurting BUT so happy to be out racing again!!!

Shoe Review - Hoka One One Challenger ATR3

Shoe Review- Hoka One One Challenger ATR3

Getting back in shape after the birth of my first baby has not been as straightforward as I imagined it would be! So my goal has been to focus mostly on regaining my running fitness and get back into trail racing first.

Training time is very precious and I need to be as efficient with the time as I can be. I have been doing most of my runs straight from home to maximise the actual running time, rather than driving to the forest or trails. I needed a shoe that I could run comfortably in on both the road and any trails/ gravel roads that I could get to from home.

I decided to try the Challenger ATR 3 as it is the perfect all terrain/hybrid shoe for training on a mix of roads and trails. It feels like the Clifton 3 (which is my all time favorite shoe!) with a similar lightness, responsiveness and cushioning in the mid and forefoot but with a more aggressive grip on the sole, and a more durable upper.

So far it has been brilliant on all terrains and from the very first run I have loved it!

I started out been heavier and less fit than normal post pregnancy so I found it to be a great option cushioning wise, helping me not to overload my joints as I began the process of re-strengthening.

The lugs/tread on the sole are sturdy but not to aggressive so its been super comfortable running on the roads, yet rugged enough that I have felt really confident running off road in a variety of conditions and terrains in terms of traction and grip. So it has been perfect for the style of training I have been doing.

Its upper is durable and yet breathable and quick drying, with a snug form-fitting feel. I have run through a few small rivers and creeks and deep mud puddles and not had any feelings of wet uncomfortable feet.

Its super responsive and has a great underfoot feel, although for the more rough or technical trails I would probably opt for a shoe with slightly less forefoot cushioning like the Speed Instinct to gain a better underfoot feel or the Speedgoat with a more rugged sole/tread for the more technical terrains.

I had the opportunity to race in the Challenger ATR3 for a mid distance 24km off road event recently and found that, distance wise it was perfect. It felt light/ responsive and had just enough grip to keep me up right in the clay and mud. It worked well as the race had 3 distinct styles of terrain and I was just as happy on the gravel roads as I was on the mud/clay and bush tracks. However if I were doing that length race again with less gravel roads and more mud or technical running I would opt for the Speed Instinct.

So if your looking to do some trail running this winter but want a shoe that is versatile between both road running and trails, is super light, form fitting, and responsive with a great grip that works for both training and racing then I would defiantly suggest the Challenger ATR 3 as the perfect option. Your feet will thank you for it!

Third Trimester

Welcome to the Third trimester!

My stomach is squirming and nausea is creeping back in… 75grams of sugar in one 300ml clear liquid drink… feels like a weeks worth of sugar in one go for this sugar conscious person.

I cringe as I swallow it down having to place all my instincts of how bad this is for my baby and me and drink it all as instructed.

Welcome to week 28 and to the third trimester… its time for the diabetes screening test!!

It all seems a little surreal to be honest and I feel like I should pat myself on the back or something. Similar feelings of achievement creep in as to when I finish off a complete training block or phase in a build up to a big race.

The only difference is that instead of feeling physically toned and strong as a result of the training, I can feel and literally see my rather large stomach squirming and moving around…

That’s right little one… yah for us we only have 12 weeks to go J

Feeling the baby move has been a bit of a lifesaver for me really. As I struggled my way through the first trimester the one thing that really has helped me get to know my little one has been through its constant movements. I felt its first kick at only 14 weeks and then from then on it has been amazing feeling and seeing it find its strength and coordination and sense of self through movement.

I will never forget sitting down to eat breakfast after a swim session and putting my hands on my tummy to play a little drum like beat on it and getting the biggest and strongest and most visible kick to date into my hand as if to say ‘Bugger off” at that point I thought fair enough you take after your Mum and like your space J

Things that have noticeably changed in the last 2 weeks or as I transitioned from the 2^nd trimester to the third are:

o   Almost over night it suddenly became hard or uncomfortable to bend over…meaning my belly is now starting to get in the way of movements I normally take for granted!

o   Putting on shoes is not just an automatic action. I now have to make sure I either sit down or focus on staying balanced and up right and working around my belly to get them on.

o   My puffer jacket suddenly started looking like it would burst if I kept trying to zip it up! So I had to get a new one… not necessarily a bad thing J

o   Sharp stretching pains similar to that of the first trimester have returned in my stomach muscles …sometimes feeling like I have ripped something major!

o   Struggling once again with tiredness or more accurately pure exhaustion and would happily sleep past 8am if given the chance or opportunity.

o   Emotions are revisiting the unbuckling stage again so having to work hard to manage those… yah… not!

o   I have had to stop ignoring or putting off the fact that I now need to start buying things for the baby and getting things ready and prepared!!

o   Training wise, things have had to slow down a bit with the torn ligaments in the ankle, but I am still swimming 3-4 times a week, getting in Pilates sessions and building back into the walking as the Physio rehab allows.  So I have had to slow down a lot earlier then I had hoped or planned, but just trying to roll with where the body is at the best I can.

o   And finally the most obvious is the acceptance that I really do look pregnant now. Gone are the encouraging comments of “Wow your how many months pregnant? Your hardly showing!” To “Oh Wow you have really popped”, “Wow your really big now” and “Oh wow you REALLY look pregnant now” just to go over a couple of the many blunt comments that people now use to greet me with.

(Not always easy to handle some days when your emotions are on a third trimester roller coaster and you’re a person whose identity and career to date as both a professional athlete and Pilates instructor has been about the health wellness and performance of that body!!!)

Lets just say the Glamorous side of been pregnant - if there ever was one - is definitely over!! 

On the positive side of things…

·      The ultra sound scans now show a rather cute looking little human inside…