Question:
After a 3 year lay-off I'm back into running.....it's been 9 months now. 7
days a week I'm doing 4 hard/fast miles in the morning and 4 hard/fast
miles in the evening......short, quick, pushing-it miles. I've fallen in
love with Brooks Trance running shoes. My first pair were the '99 models,
purple/orange & black with a reflective brooks logo....they look pretty
crazy but damn are they nice, by far the best shoe I've ever ran in.
Cherishing them so much, I did not want to run in them in the
rain/puddles....and bought a pair of Nike International Triax that I spotted
on closeout sale for $39. What "step down" and waste of $39. The Nike's
are now the shoes I only wear to walk the dog. I bought another pair of
'99 Brooks Trance's, one for pair to for rain/puddles/muck and the other for
dry weather. This was about 6 months ago, 3 months into my return to
running.
I then became curious about the '00 models.....could not resist it...and
bought a pair. Just great....I love the neoprene like material snugging
around your foot, the tongue of the shoe is perfect, traction is excellent,
great flexibility and most of all, you cannot land wrong in these shoes.
You know how tennis players and baseball players want to hit the ball in the
"sweet spot" of the racket or bat?....well when striking with the heel, I
love to strike in the sweet spot of the shoe's heel. With many shoes (like
the Nikes), you have to hit/land the heel just right to hit the sweet
spot....but in these Brooks Trance's.....the entire shoe is a "sweet spot",
you cannot land wrong in these shoes...they evenly disperse/spread impact
when striking/landing your foot in stride....like no other shoe I've
experienced. I feel supremely comfortable and confident in the shoe and
that comfort and confidence enables me to focus on other aspects of my
running.
So I had 2 pairs of '99s, and a pair of '00, and then spotted a pair of
'99's in my size on closeout sale....and had to buy'em, 2 pair. I had 5
perfectly fine pair of Brooks Trance shoes at one point....wore 1 pair out,
felt I need to have reserves waiting in the wings for any conditions....and
this is pretty bad....but I spotted a pair of '00 Women's Trance's on close
out for $49. I researched on line the differences between men's and
women's shoes, narrower heel, wider forefront, etc....and bought the women's
version 10.5 in my equivalent size of 9. The fit for my foot is just fine
in the womens version (I don't use/place the gels and pads in the women's
that I do in the men's).
I wore out another pair (only due to over-pronating wearing down the
exterior right heel) and am down to 4 pairs of Trance's. However, this
past weekend I had an interesting development......I spotted a pair of
Saucony 4D Grid Cyclone's on closeout sale for $50...ordered them (on-line)
and feel kind of strange about it because here I am, fully in love with
Trance's however tempted by these specific pair of Saucony's. I love
Brooks Trance's, the shoe is damn near perfect in my opinion.....
However....I've never had a pair of Saucony's....and these 4D Grid Cyclones
are the most expensively priced shoe I will have ever had (w/ a list price
of $139 or so). They've not arrived yet....but I am wondering....what are
they going to be like?....will they have that "glove fit"....might they make
me feel like an Olympian like my Trance's do? I'm almost afraid these
Saucony's might surpass my Brooks Trance's in how well they feel and fit my
running style....that I'll dump by Brooks Trances and have a new love affair
with Saucony. I almost don't want to even these Saucony's........but I am
so curious....
Can anyone share w/me what I can expect in these Saucony's 4D Grid Cyclones
as compared to the Trances? I should have the shoe in about 4-5 days.
Also, I am looking for a good trail running shoe.....and have been eyeing
some Timberland Trail Running Shoes....for the soon to be coming snow/slush
of New York City winter....these Trance's are not designed for the
occasional "ice" spot that might be on the road/trail...however I have no
clue as to Timberland's feel/comfort/design for serious runners. Any
comments would be appreciated.
Answer:Don't know about the Saucony Cyclones but I relate to Sauconys the way
you do to Brooks. I have run for 6 plus years in Sauconys and I will not
look elsewhere. Currently running 25 miles a week for fitness in a pair
of Saucony Grid Swerves. Great shoe for a neutral gait. Very light and
fits a fairly narrow foot well.
For what it's worth re: trail shoes, I have had the opportunity over the
years to try out six different types of trail shoes... Two Nike, four NB...
I think the whole trail shoe phenomenon is just hype and marketing... None
of those six shoes was worth a damn... All heavy and clunky... What's wrong
with regular training shoes on trails and rough terrain?... Nothing in my
opinion...
I had a pair of 2000 Trances... You are right... A very nice shoe... If you
like those, you may also like the Hyperion II by Brooks, or the Adrenalin
GTS...
