New shoes for the new year: a pair of Mizuno’s Wave Rider 12. Some pretty unfair pricing here from the shoe manufacturers. I bought this pair at a well known french distributor called Decathlon for 120 euros. The same pair (albeit in a different color) is available in the US from Road Runner Sports for $98.99 ($89.09 for VIPs). Using today’s exchange rate that pair of french Mizuno’s is at $167.4 !!! That is nearly double the price. Sounds like European runners are getting gouged. I checked out other brands, a pair of Asics Gel Kayano 14 are at 160 euros at Decathlon while at $136 at RRS (actually now on sale at $89.95!!!). Sounds like there is an arbitration opportunity here, start shipping your shoes to Europe!
Now back to the shoes, they seem as light as the Wave Rider 9s I also run with. In the cold winter they don’t seem too warm though as cold air gets in the top mesh surface. I ran a fast 10K with them and still appreciate the wide toe box that they have, although a little more arch support would be welcome for me. On trails, you do feel the stones through the sole, the Wave Ascend 3 feel better on the trail. Anyhow, I’m planning to use these for my upcoming marathon in January, I’ll let you know how they ran.
Happy running for 2009.
Topyko.
