It took from Black Friday until this weekend, but I think I’ve finally decided to give up on Mizunos and make Brooks Transcend 6 my new running shoes.
I love the bright colors too!
New Year, New Running Shoes
When I went to my local running store for their Black Friday sale, the current model of my usual Mizuno Wave Inspire felt tight in the toe box. I decided to special order a wide–something I’ve never needed–but when they came in they didn’t feel any better. I tried on different models, and ended up taking home the Mizuno Wave Sky Waveknit, but whenever I put them on for a test run I immediately noticed they felt snug across my toes. As the end of my 30-day return period drew near, I heard Mizuno was coming out with new models soon. I went back to the running store to see if they thought it would be worth waiting to see how the new versions felt, but the manager wasn’t expecting any big design changes, so I started trying on other brands of running shoes.
Bye-bye, Wave Sky.
The first shoe I tried was the Brooks Transcend 6, and they felt good. I tried a few others, but between having a good experience with my Brooks Ravenna (but needing a bit more stability) and the way these felt, I was sold. So far I’ve tried them at one Orangetheory class (which happened to have a rare one mile run block) and two 4.5 mile runs.
Weekly Run Down
I started the week with my candle already burned at both ends from one work project, and continued burning through whatever midnight oil I had left for another, until Tuesday. After that, it took a few days for my stress/adrenaline levels to come down, but by Saturday it was all behind me and I was ale to truly relax–and enjoy a power nap. 😉
Monday: 3.0 hotel gym treadmill miles
Sunday/Monday was the biggest crush of our deadline. Thanks to a rare mid-afternoon Starbucks on Sunday afternoon, I was able to plow through our to-do list until 2:45 am. I set my alarm for 7 am figuring I could function for one more day on 4 hours sleep, but thanks to the things still on our to-do list, I woke up at 6 am with my mind racing. My plan was to walk a mile on the treadmill to “wake up” but once I got started I decided to squeeze in a 3 mile run–I knew the colleague who had worked late with me would not be up for a while.
Just two months ago I was easing back into running
on the same hotel gym treadmill with run-walk intervals.
Tuesday: Strength Workout
After a luxurious 5 hours of sleep, I got up at 5 am for a quick strength workout before the big/final day.
Luckily I had the hotel gym to myself on my “strength” days.
Wednesday: 4.0 mile treadmill run
The work deadline was behind me, but I woke up early eager to get home. I decided to give the Wave Sky one last try on the hotel gym treadmill. They didn’t really bother me running, but the tight feeling every time I put them on did bother me. The input I got from all of you on Facebook and Instagram was that that was enough reason to return them.
Sorry, Wave Sky, by unanimous vote, you should go.
Thursday: Orangetheory Fitness
I was planning to go to yoga, but WOKE UP at 4 am and didn’t want to “wait” for my 6 am yoga class. As I was browsing my fitness apps for a class I might be able to make in the afternoon, I noticed the Orangetheory studio closest to my house had openings in its 5 am class. I quickly did the math to see if I could make it (including walking Scooby as I’d promised my husband I would), decided I could, leaped out of bed, got dressed, laced up my new running shoes, turned Scooby’s walk into run-walk intervals, fed Scooby, grabbed my lunch from the fridge, got in my car at 4:50 am, and made it to the studio by 4:55 am–with plenty of time to spare. 😛
Little did I know I was in for an “endurance” workout, with a 1600M row, 1 mile push pace run on the treadmill, and long floor block with upper body and ab dolly moves, but it was a good first “test run” for my shoes.
Friday: 4.5 Scooby Miles
With temperatures in the mid-30s, it was a perfect January morning for another test run. Lots of houses had put their Christmas trees out for pick-up, and Scooby wanted to check out every.single.one.
Saturday: 4.3 Scooby Miles
My plan was to “sleep in,” so I turned off my usual 6 am weekend alarm, and … woke up at 5:50 am. Knowing we were in for crazy warm weather and hoping to go on a bike ride later, I decided to take Scooby out for a short run.
After needing gloves Friday, it was hard to convince myself
to wear short-sleeves, but it was the right decision.
The weather was warm, but so windy we decided to put off our bike ride.
Sunday: 30 mile bike ride
It was sunny and in the high 60s, but also a bit windy, so I took the opportunity to wear my new long-sleeve cycling top. The bike path was crowded, but most people were courteous.
Pretty great for high visibility don’t you think?
(especially with my orange helmet)
Thanks to Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down link up
–join in for motivation and encouragement!
Are you enjoying any new running gear?
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I can just imagine how happy Scooby was with all the Christmas tress. 🙂
For all your work projects, you squeezed in a lot of fitness! I spend a lot of time resting this week — but I’m always up early. Even if I go to bed late.
Good luck with the new shoes!
It’s literally the only (awake) time I had to myself, so ….
Isn’t it great to be able to ride your bike in the middle of January? We had temperatures in the 60s here in PA too. My kind of winter!
My hubby is a loyal Brooks runner. He has worn them for 10(?) years and loves them. I hope you like yours too.
The weather was amazing! I’ve worn Mizuno’s for 10 years, but then they up and did this to me!
Coco, how do you survive on so little sleep?! Honestly, I couldn’t get through one day on a 4-hour sleep, let alone several days in a row. I admire your discipline and stamina, getting in all the workouts despite your busy schedule. Well done!! People like you are inspiring, you prove that fitness is always possible!
I don’t know if I’m the healthiest example, but it’s one way I manage the stress. Less than 4 hours sleep is rough, but I can do it once. I can function on 5 hours sleep for a few days. Again, it’s not ideal, but this doesn’t happen often, and it’s different working with a team — we keep each other going. Well, that, and the Starbucks around the corner. 😉
100% agree, ain’t nobody got time for tight running shoes. I have wide feet and I used to struggle to find wide women’s shoes until my local running store gave me a better solution – just wear men’s shoes. It’s brilliant.
That is a good solution! I wonder what size I’d be? May try that next time!
Wow you have had a busy few weeks at work. Do not know how you get up so early when you are up late working. It was a gorgeous day today for a ride. Yesterday the bikers were not so nice out there and it was packed
I don’t sleep well when I’m stressed. As soon as I start waking up I start thinking of everything I need to do. There were some rude people out today — pedestrians strolling 3 across even after we signaled, cyclists 2 across doing the same — but most people were as pleasant as the weather. 😉
I am also a former Mizuno to Brooks runner. I used to run in the Wave Inspires but they progressively got worse for me as newer models came out. Finally I decided to try Brooks and I’ve been super happy with them ever since!
Yeah that Thursday OTF workout was just crazy – I left super sweaty and exhausted!
Which Brooks model have you ended up with? OTF is never easy, but some days definitely are harder than others!
I wish you many happy miles in your new shoes! I don’t know what Mizuno is up to but I was sad when I had to stop wearing them after doing so for over 10 years. Maybe I should try Brooks again. They’ve always been sort of big on me. Idk,
I am so jelly you are out cycling while we’ve just endured a nasty winter storm!
It’s crazy how different our weather was. I hope your weather calms down before it makes it to us!
Oh my, how do you function on so little sleep! I would die…
You did quite a great variety of workouts! Go Scooby!
Our yard is so muddy we’re not letting him play out there, so I am trying to take him out a lot. 😉
I switched last year from Mizuno to the Brooks Adrenaline. I don’t know what Mizuno is doing but they aren’t making many runners happy!
Maybe they’re focusing on teens or other customers with narrow feet. 😉
It’s strange. Different colors of the wave inspires are tighter than others. Good luck with Brooks.
I’ve never asked to try a different color!
Strange isn’t it?
I’ve been wearing Brooks Adrenalines (and occasionally Ravennas) since 2005, and they’ve been great. I did get the Wave Inspires (last season’s model, I believe) for a great deal on Amazon, and they feel good (but I’ve only worn them once…they’re in the closet until summer). I have narrow feet, though, so the wide toe boxes are awkward on me LOL
I guess YOU are their targt customer now!
The weather this weekend was amazing. I switched my leg day to Friday so that I could run outside both days and it was glorious! Glad you have found a shoe that works for you.
I’m so glad I didn’t have to work this weekend so I could enjoy it!
It sounds like things have been busy for you lately! I also find it hard to sleep in when I’m busy and stressed. Hopefully things are setting down for you now!
Yes, now I’’m back to my usual stress level, LOL.
Sounds like a good decision on the shoes! I’m glad the new ones seem to be working out well so far. The warm weather on the weekend was nice, but definitely weird for January.
Busy week – but not with sleep! I hope all has calmed down a bit. I was thinking we don’t have any Orangetheory classes around my town, but I did find one. I guess I don’t know anyone who does it here! We do have a lot of Pure Barre fans though. I hope the new shoes work out for you. It’s surprising how many different shoe choices are out there! (and happily the local shoe store can tell you all about the construction and sole material!!)
Cute new shoes. My PT/walkabout shoes are a vibrant color too adn they’re such fun.
This up 10m before the alarm thing has been happening more of late — it’s weirdly comforting in that I might actually be rested?
Hope your project went well
Aw, Scooby!
Congratulations on the new shoes! Transcends are great and I hope you enjoy them!
And way to go getting into that OTF class like that! Nice job!
Definitely agree the tight toe box is a deal breaker! I have wide feet and haven’t even tried on a brand other than Altra for a few years. So few women’s shoe models come in wide widths.
Gosh, you’ve had such an intense period at work the last few weeks! In awe of how you keep getting all these workouts done even with that heavy load! Well done. Best of luck with the new shoes – I started using Brooks Adrenaline in November last year and very happy so far.
Welcome to the Brooks club! Haha, you know I love my Brooks. Aren’t they amazing? I cannot believe you managed to get up so early after being up so late. Wow!
you know, I resisted a lot changing shoes back in the day to Altras, then I thought I’d never leave them. But here I am in Hokas 🙂 I hope you get a lot of pleasurable miles out of your new shoes!
You’ve been so busy with work and yet still got some amazing workouts in. And I LOVE that you were able to get out on the bike!! whoo hoo!
We had a very warm weekend here in Maine! It is great to get on your bike in the winter. Loving your new sneakers too!!
Wow work has been crazy busy for you! I admire your ability to keep up with your workouts.
And yay for Brooks! I love my Brooks Glycerins – I hope the Transcend serve you well.