Product Review – Asics Kayano 14

Photo courtesy of Asics America, at www.asicsamerica.com/products/.

As a runner and coach, I am always in search of a great shoe for myself, and to recommend to my clients and friends. We all have differing gait mechanics, like we have unique fingerprints. We can fall into varying categories according to how much support, cushion, or room our feet require. Each shoemaker has unique specialties to suit different feet. One person may prefer the support and narrow footbed of a Nike shoe, but her running partner may need more cushioned support and wider footbed that New Balance offers.

I have been fitted by running shoe experts at Fleet Feet Sports and at Front Runners. At both places, they have recommended a high mileage-moderate stability shoe for me. With prescribed orthotics, a motion control (maximum stability) shoe would be too aggressive for my running mechanics. After being guided by my shoe fit experts, I have been running in Asics Kayanos and Mizuno Wave-Nirvanas for the last three years. Therefore, I want to review the Asics Kayano and compare the generational differences. I have run in the Asics Kayano generations 10, 11, 13, and 14. After running in the much more stylish 14, and switching back to the 11, I am finding that the super cushioned gel ride on the 14 has compromised the mileage and durability that I was able to get out of previous generations. Typically, with the mileage that I put in training for myself and running and walking with clients, my running shoes last about five to six months. The three months I was able to get out of the 14s ended with me suffering with a sore knee. 11s to the rescue, sore knee is gone. After doing some research, I discovered that Asics made the gel pad larger, allowing a more cushioned run, but for those of you who put on more miles on your shoes and run more than once per day, look to purchase the earlier generations.

Tip to extend the life of your running shoes: Use them only for your runs. Swap shoes immediately after running, and take out any orthotics to allow the shoe to air dry most efficiently. For those of you who run more than once per day, use a different pair of shoes.

Running Into the Fountain of Youth

Contrary to some scientists’ previous belief, runners are less likely to suffer from injuries later in life. In fact, research from Stanford University says that it slows the human aging process.

Running is weight-bearing, keeping the bones of your lower body strong, which prevents osteoporotic hips (and hip replacement surgeries). It is also great exercise for your cardiovascular system, keeping you heart healthy.

In previous decades, physicians were concerned about the impact of regular running on the joints of seniors and thought that such regular impact would eventually weaken their joints and cause stress fractures. The opposite was proven in this study conducted by Stanford University of runners over the age of 50.

Of course, before anybody begins a fitness program, they should consult with their physician to see if they have any contraindications or limitations that they need to be aware of. If you want to begin a running program and discover your own fountain of youth. I highly recommend attending a few running clinics (your local running shoes store usually holds a few each year) or meet with a fitness trainer with such expertise, in order to be guided through appropriate programming and technique. This will help prevent future injuries; thus, keeping your body young.

Feel free to contact me for a free phone consultation and/or referrals for coaching.