Leo Manzano signs with Hoka One One

Basics , basics wrote:

So much noise on drops , heights.. The real judge of any running shoe is its road feel , how does it feel when your running. Hoka has achieved a great road feel with an unusual visual , people have to get past what your eyes tell you. Ive run in them I like the feel and cushion. Maybe not a feel you want on every run especially when you want to really feel the road on faster efforts.

Remember this shoe's popularity came about for its ability to cushion in ultra events , they will have to adapt/design to a broader audience and the many different types of running you may do in the course of training.

BTW , great move for Leo , he can stand out from the crowd of sponsorships.

And what do you think affects that "road feel"? Cushioning and stack heights. The type of foam that Hoka uses, the density of said foam, and the amount of it underfoot, are what will determine your ability to feel "connected" to the ground when you strike it.

It sounds like Hoka is moving in a direction that will get these shoes closer to the ground (flats and spikes), and that Leo will be an integral part of their design process. That's a big win for both of them.

why would you write this post if you've never tried the god damned shoe on?

I have ran in those shoes. They aren't as strange as pictures make them out to be. Pretty smooth runners. Lighter than they look. Go try em. (you can take them back at REI!)

Sorry it isn't what you are used to.

It is funny to see people who call themselves educated fall into such brand loyalty (nike, adidas, brooks, saucony, NB, asics) that when something comes along that doesn't have the logo they are used to they retreat to fear tactics. Exclusion, mockery, etc.

Have fun dippin your noodles in your nikes =)

"why would you write this post if you've never tried the god damned shoe on?"

Because I have tried plenty of other shoes on, and this is typically what affects their "road feel". Things like stack height and heel-toe drop ratios are not just "noise", but instead have a significant impact on the unique feel of a shoe. Thus, my curiosity in regards to Hoka shoes, and my desire to try the shoe on sometime soon.

Any other questions?

Okay, I'm back. Ran to grocery to pick up a big bunch of greens to go with all the vinegar flowing in this thread.

I'm surprised Hoka would sign Manzano. Their shoes fit with a whole different crowd. I wear the trail and road Hoka's once or twice a week. You really have to pick your feet up because they are chunky. Also, the effort required to run at your normal training pace is higher.

The upside? I had a neuroma and it's gone. I'm 50 and the shoes are great for me. Five years ago I wouldn't have needed them. So maybe they are a geriatric shoe. If I could, I would run in the Asics ds-racer and gel-lytes all the time. Sadly, my feet won't allow it anymore.

I don't understand - will these shapeups make my butt look better or not?

I am very excited for Leo.

Good to have this out of the way.

Time to have fun!

Got mine today. I read some local club runner websites and one of their good marathoners said they were awesome and helped his foot problems. I haven't tried them yet, but they are super light.

I wrote about this 3 or 4 days ago!!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote]Get Paid Son wrote:

I have a Masters and I am working 2 jobs, 6 days a week, and well over 75 hours a week just so I can pay off my student loans. I would love to be sponsored by this Geriatric Shoe Company to run everyday than do what I am doing right now.

God! that masters degree must have been finger painting to leave you in ^this mess...

they sponsor hansons ODP/OT qualifying runner turned ultra stud sage canaday... he ran a 2:22 marathon at hilly carlsbad not long ago. my shop sells them and sells them well. low drop, lots of cushion. your heel sits a bit lower than it looks like from the outside but you're still pretty high up. the new light stuff coming out this summer looks great, and even the current iterations are lighter than they look (no more than a kayano/nimbus/glycerin/transcend type shoe).

LOL II wrote:

Maybe this one? -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx-7M4o_HHc

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I'm dying right now...

RRRR wrote:

"why would you write this post if you've never tried the god damned shoe on?"

Because I have tried plenty of other shoes on, and this is typically what affects their "road feel". Things like stack height and heel-toe drop ratios are not just "noise", but instead have a significant impact on the unique feel of a shoe. Thus, my curiosity in regards to Hoka shoes, and my desire to try the shoe on sometime soon.

Any other questions?

Nerd Alert!

I just weighed a Hoka Biondi and it was a shade over 8 oz. I then weighed a Saucony Kinvara and it was 6 oz. I've run 13 miles on the road in the Kinvara and it wasn't a pleasant experience.

The purpose of the Hokas are to NOT feel the road you idiots.

I did a hard workout on the treadmill last night (hour of 1 min hard/one min easy) in Brooks Ghost and I was kind of worn down today. The torn meniscus in my right knee caused a little more swelling because of the pounding and my left heel was more sore than usual.

Put on my Hoka Biondis this evening and ended up doing almost an hour and a half including about an hour of hilly single track. My legs felt better after the run than before.

THIS is what the Hokas are made for.

Keflezighi is in Indy. Not quite Austin.