Sponsored by Zappos. All opinions are my own.
With zero races on my schedule and several months to play around with my training program, I decided these hot summer months are a perfect time to improve my endurance. This may sound crazy since it’s the most uncomfortable time of the year to be running outside for hours. Good thing I don’t mind the hot weather, but it does make running feel harder and less enjoyable sometimes! What helps is reminding myself of my purpose every morning before heading outside. Some days that purpose is for my mental or physical health, other days I run for a specific global cause, and other days I run for the views!
I’ve got several runs under my belt in my new Saucony Ride 13 from Zappos and I have to say I was surprised at the amount of cushioning they had, because when I took them out of the box they felt extremely light, similar to my racing shoes that have almost zero cushioning! I chose the Coral/Alloy color, but it was a hard choice since Zappos also has three other sleek color options that I’ll probably get my hands on as well! You can find almost anything you are looking for on Zappos, and as a rewards member, you can get anything you order in a day or two with their free expedited shipping. The other perk is the free return policy, which is for an entire year! So if you order something and don’t like it or it doesn’t fit right, you’ve got a long time to return.
Consistency is Key
Most of you know I get my runs in no matter what. Over the years, I feel this consistency is what truly built my tolerance for the marathon, and, believe it or not, my improved paces. Although I don’t recommend a high mileage program to everyone, safely increasing what you are doing now is beneficial for building endurance. The most important part of this is making sure you gradually and safely build up mileage. This means making sure you wear the right shoes for YOU. Marathon training requires longer runs than usual, so it’s vital to wear supportive and cushioned shoes so that you can prevent injuries and recover faster. Almost nothing feels worse than having sore feet and ankles for days because you chose to wear the lightest and least supportive shoes on a long run thinking it will make you faster!
Tough Runs Made Easier
The Saucony Ride 13 is an ideal distance-training shoe since it is made with all-around cushioning—even the upper has a light, thin layer of compressive cushion. I felt the shoe had a more ‘fitted’ feel to it and kept my foot in place, even on my 90-minute run this week. A soft and responsive ride is what you want when you are running long and the flexible TRI-FLEXthat creates the outsole of the Ride 13 makes this happen. When I start to get tired in the second half of my runs I notice the pounding of my steps more on my joints. One aspect of this pair that helped soothe this impact is the sensation of the shock being distributed throughout the entire foot rather than just at the heel, where I normally land first.
Runners often get confused as to what ‘responsiveness’ really is and why it plays a role in our performance. It’s basically the way a shoe returns energy to your step. We put our energy into our foot strike onto the ground and a good shoe bounces that energy right back giving you a spring to your step, making running feel easier. This is ideal for summer running, since, as I mentioned at the start, running can feel hard during this time of the year!
The Saucony Ride 13 is a great option for runs of any length, but I’ll be using these for my medium to longer runs. Since they truly have good shock absorption on top of their responsiveness, marathon paced miles will feel smooth, too! If you are looking for a neutral pair for every day runs, the Ride 13 is an excellent choice. The heel offset is 8mm, which is ideal for runners who are either returning from or prone to injuries. Don’t forget to check out the other colors and everything else Zappos has to offer. Their rewards program is waiting for you!
