Asics Gel Nimbus 15 Women's Running Shoe, Wine/White/Flash Yellow
Nimbus: The king of the clouds in the Asics shoe stratosphere. OK, no more creative writing classes for us. But seriously, if you want a supremely cushioned neutral trainer, it’s hard to top the Asics Gel Nimbus series. On the heels of the very popular Asics Gel Nimbus 14, the 15th version of the shoe will add in more of the cushioning technology Asics is known for and introduce a fresh design from heel to toe.
What to Watch For
FluidRide Platform: Debuting on the Nimbus 15, a new two-piece midsole design blends cushioning and responsiveness. The top foam layer contains injected/blended rubber, positioned closest to the foot to maximize comfort. The bottom layer, without the rubber blend, is lighter and more responsive. (Note: the sample shoes pictured are branded with Solyte, but this new platform will not contain Solyte in production.)
More Gel: For maximum impact protection, Asics increases the size of the front and rear Gel pads compared to the 14.
FluidFit Upper: Another debut on the Nimbus 15, the upper features multi-directional mesh on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe, along with stretchable welded reinforcements. It’s designed to provide the ultimate biomorphic fit, and we’re eager to give it a try.
Weight Bump: Asics lists weights of 11.5 oz (Men’s size 9) and 9.4 oz (Women’s size 7). That’s a slight uptick from the current model and should not be perceptible when running.
Ever wonder how the dry, cold days this time of year impact your hydration levels? After all, breathing in the dry air causes us to lose more water through our lungs, and it’s really easy for many runners not to drink enough when temperatures drop.
Several of us here at RW were just talking by the watercooler the other day (as we diligently hydrated) about how it’s tough to get excited about drinking even room temp beverages this time of year. Hot water with a bit of lemon seemed to be a crowd favorite.
TheNike Tailwind SS V-Neckmay not be a Double-Deep V, but it still is pretty advanced stuff when it comes to performing on long runs. This premium v-neck has a lot more going for it than that sharp neckline. Frankly, it’s one of the best running shirts we’ve ever tried on. Kudos, Nike.
What makes this shirt so great is the sum of its parts.
You’ve got a very soft, highly wicking Poly/Cotton blend (yes, apparently it is possible to run comfortably in cotton).
You’ll stay cool thanks to underarm mesh and vent holes, and the taped seams keep you comfortable on longer outings.
You also have a back zipper pocket that comes in handy if the shorts you want to wear offer limited storage options.
Putting it all together, maybe you really should be a v-neck guy after all.
This is the shirt that actually started the v-neck wars.
In the video below, Salomon couldn’t describe their new Sense Hydro S-Lab Set Gloves any better: Hydration in the Palm of Your Hand. This innovative solution to handhelds gives runners a comfortable way to hold up to 500ml in each hand while letting their hands stay relaxed. The Gloves just arrived in stock, and we’ve got a couple folks on staff who are excited to try them out on their next endurance run.
The Gloves come as a pair, and one 237ml (8 oz) Soft Flask is also included. We sell additional 237ml Salomon Soft Flasks and 500ml Salomon Soft Flasks, if you’re looking to carry more liquid on your run.
Many of you might remember seeing Kilian Jornet rockin’ prototypes of these puppies at Western States a couple years ago. Salomon now has them all dialed in and ready for mass consumption. Well, as ‘mass’ as you’re going to get for a premium hydration option that’s starting its own niche. Expect good breathability with the elastic mesh design, a soft wiping surface for sweat on the back of the glove, and a comfortable, customized fit since the gloves are available in 3 sizes.
Check out this video for quick rundown of the product. Full tech details are on our product page.
The Ghost 5 is one heck of a shoe. But you don’t have to take our word for it – the folks at Runner’s World voted it an “Editor’s Choice” shoe for the third year in a row. Brooks is simply doing a lot of things right with the Ghost 5, and it’s worth a close look for any neutral runner who loves a great fit and smooth, soft landing mile after mile.
This contest has ended. Congrats to Mark in Washington and Hannah in Ohio, winners of our Brooks Ghost 5 ‘Soft Landing’ giveaway. Thank you to everyone who entered and look for our next contest soon!
In 2012 we kicked off the year with a few of our predictions for 2012 running trends, and we’re back to try our hand at trend-predicting again. First up: fantastical footwear colors! In 2012 we saw a spectrum of hues in nearly every color imaginable. But from what we’ve seen for both Spring and Fall 2013, this year footwear manufacturers are going to up the color ante even more. Here are some trends to look for:
Color on Color
We’ve seen bright shades on shoes for months now, but running footwear manufacturers are going to keep combining colors in creative and bold ways this year. Fuchsia and lime? Sure. Indigo with chartreuse and a dash of red? Why not. As you can see on the Salomon Speedcross 3 above, we think that this year, anything goes when it comes to color pairings.
Color Blocks
We’re also seeing a lot of shoes that are all (or nearly all) one bold color. The green Salomon XR Mission and salmon colored Nike LunarGlide 4 shown above are good examples of this trend.
Texture-tastic
You’ll be seeing more than just splashes of color on the footwear of 2013. Expect to see designs that incorporate a wide range of shapes and patterns to add greater visual depth to running shoes. Check out the orange Brooks PureFlow 2 above. The woven mesh upper creates a 3D look, accentuated by the fade pattern of the material.
If you’re the type of runner who likes to make a bold statement with your footwear, we think 2013 will be the perfect year for you.
Stay tuned for our next 2013 running trend prediction later this week!
When it comes to weekly mileage increases as you train for your next marathon, you can follow the general rule of adding one mile per week for each base run you complete. So if you get in four runs focused on aerobic conditioning, you should be able to increase weekly mileage by four miles. You’ll then need to hold steady at the new mileage for two to three weeks, with a focus on increasing your intensity during the second and third weeks.
Building miles and endurance is an essential part of training, but keep in mind that endlessly adding mileage is not a good aerobic training strategy. Many marathoners follow a “two up, one down” or “three up, one down” approach to adding mileage, dialing back every third or fourth week before adding mileage again. This strategy helps to push your aerobic conditioning while minimizing the risk of fatigue and giving your body a chance to rebuild.
As usual, it’s also a good idea to listen to your body as you decide when to increase mileage and by how much. If you bumped up your miles a few weeks ago, and you’re still feeling a bit sore and tired or having trouble meeting your pace goals, you may want to hold steady for a week or two longer than you originally planned. Also keep an eye on your running form and if it’s starting to break down as your mileage increases, that’s a clear sign that you need to hold steady or even take a step back temporarily. There’s no positive benefit that comes from compromising your technique just to get a few more miles on your odometer.
To help guard against adding mileage too aggressively, some runners add in a cross training regimen focused on building strength and flexibility. Consider adding strength training sessions, which will naturally help your body handle longer distances, and workouts such as yoga or Pilates to stay loose and limber.
So it turns out that rumors of the demise of the Brooks Launch have been greatly exaggerated. We learned this week that the Launch has been saved from the chopping block, rescued from the grave, pulled from the brink, insert additional metaphors here.
Now that the Launch remains safely in the land of the living, what’s the future have in store? 2013 brings a return of the Men’s Black/Silver/Nightlife colorway and the Women’s Cobalt/Aquarius/Silver colorway. We expect no new color updates until Spring 2014. Right now, we’re hearing that an updated version of the shoe is expected for Spring 2015, though we have no details of how extensive the update will be.
It’s pretty amazing that the Launch has made it as long as it has without an update. The shoe first “launched” in Fall 2009, making it a great granddad among the current crop of lightweight running shoes. All the new kids that came out in recent years got lighter and lighter, but the Launch still compares favorably to many new models and has developed quite a following of runners who use it as a speedy trainer or race day shoe.
Brooks Launch Colors for Men and Women Available in 2013
The Saucony Kilkenny has developed a reputation as being a quality, comfortable cross country shoe with good traction and flexibility in a lightweight design. The spikeless version has also been a bit of a crossover hit for runners who want a very barebones shoe for training. (See the current Men’s Kilkenny XC4 /Women’s Kilkenny XC4.) In the upcoming XC5 version, Saucony introduces a cleaner look and even brighter color combos to advertise the performance capabilities of this shoe.
Men's Green/Citron Kilkenny XC5
What to Watch For
Lighter Weight: According to Saucony, the new Kilkenny drops about 0.4 oz across the board. The Men’s size 9 will be 5.6 oz/5.9 oz (spikeless/spike) and the Women’s size 8 will be 5.0 oz/5.3 oz (spikeless/spike).
Streamlined Upper: The weight reduction comes from a new upper that uses fewer overlays but is still designed to deliver a close-feeling, performance fit.
Carryover Platform: Saucony made no changes to the mid/outsole introduced on the Kilkenny XC4.
What’s better than giving the gift of comfort and performance this season with a free pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 16 or Wave Inspire 9 running shoes? Getting a free pair for yourself too! Launched in November, the latest versions of the Rider and Inspire are high-performance daily trainers, and either one would make a perfect holiday gift.
Congratulations to Matthew in New York, our Merry Mizuno Days contest winner. He’ll be giving his wife a new pair of Wave Inspires and running in a fresh pair of Wave Riders for himself. Thank you again to everyone who entered, and a Merry Mizuno Day to all!
The Ghost 5 is one heck of a shoe. But you don’t have to take our word for it – the folks at Runner’s World voted it an “Editor’s Choice” shoe for the third year in a row. Brooks is simply doing a lot of things right with the 
In 2012 we kicked off the year with a few of 
When it comes to weekly mileage increases as you train for your next marathon, you can follow the general rule of adding one mile per week for each base run you complete. So if you get in four runs focused on aerobic conditioning, you should be able to increase weekly mileage by four miles. You’ll then need to hold steady at the new mileage for two to three weeks, with a focus on increasing your intensity during the second and third weeks.
The Saucony Kilkenny has developed a reputation as being a quality, comfortable cross country shoe with good traction and flexibility in a lightweight design. The spikeless version has also been a bit of a crossover hit for runners who want a very barebones shoe for training. (See the current 
