Hoka needs to learn how to DIVERSIFY their team roster

True elita wrote:

You're right haven't run 2.05 but doubt u have either. If you have then I will quietly exit

True elite, you are an absolute joke. 2:16 is an excellent time. I spent years training with guys that have faster PRs, and they would have nothing but respect for 2:16. That's a time that takes sacrifice and guts.

Go away troll.

True elita wrote:

Leo doesn't even wear them in races as we all saw this past year except maybe one time in a track event. Hoka was his second option, he does not want to wear ridiculous looking shoes, trust me. But he does want money so big clap for Hoka for providing that.

Leo (and the other track athletes picked up the last year) did not wear the Hokas in track races because they were their first attempt at spikes. From what I've heard, they were very very prototype-y. However, from looking at Kyle Merber and David Torrence's social media, Hoka seems to have made some new pairs, and they seem to be doing a fair amount of training in them, and will most likely race in them.

So yeah, you can rip on Leo for not wearing them this past year, but with the development of their new spikes (and supposedly a new racing flat), and their solid stable of athletes, I think we'll be seeing PLENTY of track races won in Hokas.

True elita wrote:

You're right haven't run 2.05 but doubt u have either. If you have then I will quietly exit

Anyone who regularly write "u" in posts is a teenager. No teenager in the US has run anywhere near 2,16 lately, so I suggest you get the f*ck out of here.

Actually, both Sage and Madgalena Boulet won that 50 miler in Hoka Challenger ATRs. You know the old sports marketing saying, "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday"? Well that worked to sell to me, and I'm glad. The wins got the product some attention, so I tried them out a while later, since the description of shoes matched what I've been looking for. I choose shoes on their merit for me, but with hundreds of shoes to choose from, and knowing I'm only going to try several pairs at most whenever it's time for new shoes, why not give a chance to those who support athletes that you like? Well, the Hoka Challenger ATRs are now my favorite shoes. I like them so much that I haven't run in a another pair of shoes since I got them, and already have 240 miles in them in 16 days.

This post was obviously by someone associated with Sage or Magda.

People do NOT relate to Ultra runners. It is a niche group that does not lead to mainstream sales.

Ultra runners are impressed with other Ultra runners but no one else is. As a matter of fact most elite runners view Ultras like they do Racewalking.

Obvious shill wrote:

This post was obviously by someone associated with Sage or Magda.

People do NOT relate to Ultra runners. It is a niche group that does not lead to mainstream sales.

Ultra runners are impressed with other Ultra runners but no one else is. As a matter of fact most elite runners view Ultras like they do Racewalking.

Ah, the obligatory ultra hating post.

I agree with this post. Also, people keep referring to this 50 mile race, IT WAS NOT COMPETITIVE. 2:16 is not that great folks. Its not even the A standard for the trials. Now am I saying Tyler sucks? No but he has no business posting like he has accomplished something.

If the marathon is your main focus and you consider yourself "pro" a 2:16 is actually pretty soft. I'm sorry that is the honest truth. You can hate that I stated that but you must swallow the truth

Obvious shill wrote:

This post was obviously by someone associated with Sage or Magda.

People do NOT relate to Ultra runners. It is a niche group that does not lead to mainstream sales.

Ultra runners are impressed with other Ultra runners but no one else is. As a matter of fact most elite runners view Ultras like they do Racewalking.

I not a shill, and I have never met either one of them. I remember once spectating at a track meet where Madga ran (PAC-10s), but the "stars" that I went to watch were runners like Gabe Jennings and Abdi.

Regular people don't relate to any pro runners elite road/track/cross country or ultrarunners, except maybe Meb and Ryan Hall. Rec runners know Kara from magazine covers/ads, and people living near Boston recognize Shalane. I, like other regular posters here, am one of the few into running as a sports fan enough to read Letsrun, so I'm not "regular people". I've been a regular poster here for years since everyone switched from tnfmedia. We are not regular people. My girlfriend is probably more typical - she is a good runner, had a running/skiing full scholarship back in college, but could care less about running as a sport outside of her own events and a few selected other events (Olympics and Boston Marathon, as someone who grew up outside Boston). I have not run an ultra, but I admit to reading irunfar, since I like trails/mountains and running that kind of terrain.

Looking at the US performance list for marathons in 2014, I see some names that recognize as a regular letsrun visitor, but I don't even know what most of them look like. For example, I've never seen a photo of the runner with the #2 time, Jeff Eggleston, or know his background. Sage is getting way more attention for his sponsor through social media and attention from sites like letsrun and irunfar than someone faster like Eggleston (does he even have a sponsor?).

I have had only one other pair of Hokas, the Stinson Trails. They were somewhat useful when I was struggling with a knee injury, but I didn't like running in them, in contrast to the Challengers.

Real elita wrote:

2:16 is not that great folks.

100 million men in U.S. between 20 and 40.

2:16 is in the top 35 at the last Olympic trials. That's pretty great.

That was at the trials my friend which was run on a legit course. This guy ran 2:16:59 which is not really worth saying 2:16. Kinda important to add the 59 seconds unless you run 2:16 low. Make sense? 2:16:59 on a net downhill is "ok" but that would probably give him closer to 2:18:30 at the trials which is run like a Championship not a time trial usually.

Thanks for your input Mrs. Canaday.

Ip detective wrote:

Thanks for your input Mrs. Canaday.

I didn´t know mrs. Canaday had a girlfriend.

Dude, there are not that many Mountain Races in the USA (Speedgoat and Pikes Peak come to mind...) or world for that matter. Let's give Tyler some credit here though... the guy went to Tufts, trained at 150 miles a week and got down to 2:16 in the marathon (so far). If you're a runner in the US and you've run 2:16 in the marathon you know exactly where you stand...trust me. Of course at a race like Boston or NYC or Chicago you watch the real elite field/lead pack disappear and beat you by nearly 2-miles...but that's not the point..The point he was making you is that you can run fast (up to your potential..whatever that may be) in the HOKA Clifton.[Disclaimer: Yes, I'm sponsored by HOKA]

True elita wrote:

Someone wrote that Sage has won some 50 mile race? There are no world class athletes in that field so I would imagine he should have won, right? When the africans start showing up for these types of events and the prize purse is better than 2k per 10 miles then if someone wins in Hoka's I will give them praise. I have not seen anything spectacular run in Hoka's I'm sorry. I'm looking at all the top Mountain races in Europe/USA and nobody is winning in Hoka's. The weak ultras in the USA may be won in a pair but nothing in the big leagues.

.

The company was poorly managed until bought by Deckers. Deckers bought the brand as an opportunity to grow the company, Hoka has stated it will add styles to grow the big box sales. This is good as sales grow and they follow the same pattern of support, more money back into the sport,its good for all.

Do athletes sell more shoes? To the mass market no ,it does though give a brand credibility and awareness.

Are fat shoes a fad, yes, but its one that will stick around because it works,Hoka will not be alone with fat shoe offerings, the fat fad here to stay and provide an option to what we all get to run in from a brand of your choosing.

S. Canaday wrote:

Dude, there are not that many Mountain Races in the USA (Speedgoat and Pikes Peak come to mind...) or world for that matter.

Let's give Tyler some credit here though... the guy went to Tufts, trained at 150 miles a week and got down to 2:16 in the marathon (so far).

If you're a runner in the US and you've run 2:16 in the marathon you know exactly where you stand...trust me. Of course at a race like Boston or NYC or Chicago you watch the real elite field/lead pack disappear and beat you by nearly 2-miles...but that's not the point..

The point he was making you is that you can run fast (up to your potential..whatever that may be) in the HOKA Clifton.

At any of races you mentioned, all American marathoners watch the real elite field/lead pack disappear, except for Meb. I don't think "True elita" is Meb.

By all means, keep insulting people who have actually accomplished something in the sport so they go away and leave the board to people with no accomplishments or ideas. Thanks.

You are obviously an idiot. You won't take a shoe seriously unless it's winning major races? You know, if Hoka had enough cash to compete for the top runners, the top runners would wear them. And if so, according to you, you'd consider them. You remind me of the middle school dweeb who would buy certain clothes because the "popular" kids wore them and not because you actually like them. You are what is known as a tool.

A bigger test to see how a shoe is doing is to see what the average joe wears. Or if they are too "average" look at what some semi elites who have to buy their own shoes are wearing.

With your logic, Under Armour should be considered a decent shoe since Nick Whatever his last name is, wears them. Do you see Under Armour taking off with the hobby jogger crowd? No, because they value quality and what fits their needs rather than what the "cool" or "fast" kids wear.

And I'm not sure if you follow NASCAR or not, but Kevin Harvick won the Sprint Cup last year. Since he has Budweiser logos on his car, you can LOL at all of the beer snobs and their fancy IPA's because they aren't at the front of the pack.

I don't wear Hokas but I have friends who swear by them. And I applaud them helping out runners who are trying to survive in this sport. See you at the Trials, that is if you are as fast as you say you are.

Where did I say I was fast? I said you're doing a great job of insulting people who have actually done some worthwhile things and can maybe drive them away. Why would we want them around when we have you?

Relax Nun boy, I'm on your side and was calling out run elita. Could you not tell I was counteracting a lot of his arguments?