Topo Athletic Specter Review

Topo Specter Review: Powered by PEBAX
By David Salas, Andrea Myers, and Chief Editor Matthew Klein

For a long time I have always associated Topo Athletic with great trail running ranges and some road training shoes. Performance running shoes was not always at the forefoot of my brain with this brand. The Specter comes in trying to shake up that conversation and does a good job of doing that. The Topo Specter introduces a performance trainer designed for road running that can tackle a little bit of everything. The foam is a PEBAX-based insert surrounded by an EVA rim for some stability and guidance. Overall the package is balanced, lightweight, and responsive. 

May 2022 Round-Up at Doctors of Running

 

Hello runners! We are cruising into the mid-year fast. May was a busy month for the team as we released some of our biggest - and longest - reviews of 2021 so far. Just the past week and a half alone we dropped reviews of the Nike React Infinity Run 3, New Balance Tempo v2, Saucony Ride 15, Asics Noosa Tri 14, Asics GlideRide 3 and the brand new Saucony Tempus. It's been a super fun, jam-packed month of podcasts, big releases, and some of our biggest personal growth as a team yet. Check out our ten favorite things from May, including some unique Q&As from our mailbag along with huge Running Warehouse deals you have to see to believe in our latest Round-Up.

ASICS GlideRide 3 Review

 

ASICS GlideRide 3 Review: Now With Flytefoam Blast+
By Senior Contributors David Salas and Nathan Brown; Chief Editor Matthew Klein

The GlideRide, a heavily rockered shoe using Asics Guidesole technology, is back for its third iteration. The major updates include a new upper that hugs the foot better with a little more comfort all around the foot as well as a new midsole. The shoe uses a top layer midsole of FlyteFloam Blast+ and a FlyteFoam bottom midsole. The result is a much smoother, softer, and responsive experience underfoot. 

Saysky Apparel Review

 

Saysky Apparel Review: Scandinavian Styling Meets Running
A Doctors of Running Team Editorial

Saysky is an apparel company out of the city of Copenhagen, Denmark. The name comes from the phrase "Look up at the sky and be a star," meaning to be brave and take risks to achieve your dreams. The brand aims to bring performance with Scandinavian urban styling. Combining classic minimalism attributed to this part of the world with light materials, this is some seriously good-looking apparel for anyone wanting a streamlined style. In this review, we take a look at several pieces of Saysky's signature line-up to discuss how well they perform and how well they've held up after two months of heavy testing from our team.

Saucony Tempus Review

 

Saucony Tempus Review: Stability Meets Modern Performance
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein, Senior Contributors David Salas and Nathan Brown, and Contributor Andrea Myers

The Saucony Tempus is a performance trainer that challenges what it means to be a "stability" shoe. It is unique in that it provides a new generation experience utilizing PWRRUN PB foam seen in their racing shoes in combination with guidance from their normal PWRRUN midsole. The firmer PWRRUN acts as a means of guidance by creating a cradle in the heel with extended firmer skis to provide 360 degree guidance. All this is combined with a bit of build up of firmer PWRRUN under the medial arch of the foot where a traditional post would be. The unique geometry, weight, and responsiveness give a very exciting addition to the stability category.

Flexible vs. Rigid Forefoots, with Kofuzi! | DOR Podcast #89

 

 

DOR Podcast #89: Flexible vs. Rigid Forefoots, with Kofuzi!

Matt and DJ are joined by a very special guest, Michael Ko (aka Kofuzi)! Kofuzi tells us about his background and the growth of his YouTube channel. They take a look at his journey to 100,000 subscribers and what's next for his channel. Finally, they investigate the effects of a flexible or rigid forefoot - the biomechanics implications and what type of runner may want each kind of shoe.

ASICS Noosa Tri 14 Review (2022 Release)

ASICS Noosa Tri 14 Review: Sockless Wonder
By Senior Contributor David Salas, Chief Editor Matthew Klein and Contributor Ryan Flugaur

The ASICS Tri Noosa has always been a fun shoe both with colorways and experience. The 14 continues to deliver with a slightly softer FlyteFoam midsole and upper update. The shoe remains incredibly lightweight and provides a solid forefoot rocker for a nimble feel throughout. The Noosa 14 is certainly a relevant player in the non plated performance trainer market. 

Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 3 review

 

Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 3: Matt Likes This One!?
By Chief Editor Matt Klein and Contributor Andrea Myers

I (Matt) have a weird relationship with the Nike Infinity Run series. The first version did not agree with my mechanics and I was quite upset about some of the claims Nike made about this shoe preventing injuries. Anyone with a decent understand of methodology understood that having a group of runners with neutral mechanics run in both the Structure, a previously rigid stability shoe, and the Infinity React, a neutral but guidance-based shoe, will do better in the latter. That doesn't translate to less injuries in the general population, it means that half the group was given the wrong shoe for their mechanics. I hated the original, returned it and never reviewed it. So when a pair showed up through Running Warehouse, I was prepared to be disappointed. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. The upper fits far better, the React foam has been tuned to provide a cushioned ride, the rocker is extremely smooth and several methods of natural guidance have been integrated well. I am actually excited to review this shoe after some great miles, but I still have some comments. 

The Value of Full Body Running Evaluations | DOR Podcast #88

 

DOR Podcast #88: The Value of Full Body Running Evaluations, and a Full Review of the Asics GlideRide 3

In this week's episode, we explore the value of getting a full body running evaluation from a clinician. Nathan, David, and Matt are back to explain how they go about evaluating runners in their own practices at physical therapists. They also take a look at common muscular, skeletal, and mobility weaknesses or restrictions in runners and how to address them. Before that, they review ASICS's brand new GLIDERIDE 3, which features their new FF Blast+ compound, giving a softer, more natural ride.

How to Run a Sub 15 Minute 5k

 

Hey Runners! As we're working on finishing a lot of exciting reviews for the spring/summer season, we wanted to share our latest video by Senior Contributor David Salas on his experiences and advice for breaking 15 minutes in the 5k. It's been a commonly asked question among followers of his journey. Today after a fun spring season on track, he's here to share some tips he's picked up in reaching his goals. We'll be coming back to you with A LOT of reviews soon, but in the meantime enjoy this coffee break with DJ.

Sub 2 Round-Up | Mid-May 2022

 

We started Sub 2's early this year as a way to not only cover a lot more ground for our team, but also dig into some very specific subjects we normally may not spend a lot of time on. In our first ever Sub 2 (and other videos) round-up, we have a great collection of videos to share from all-new spring Asics to a few fun comparisons we've been mulling over.

Does Every Shoe Need a Plate? Discussing the Biggest Midsole Trends Right Now | DOR Podcast #87

 

DOR Podcast #87: Does Every Shoe Need a Plate? Discussing the Biggest Midsole Trends Right Now

Nate, DJ, and Matt take a look at all the current trends in shoe midsole designs. Do new generation foams really help performance? Are softer shoes better? Do rockers, guidance lines, and higher stack shoes make a difference? What about plates: how much do they improve running economy? Join us for a look at these questions and more.

Reebok Nano X2 Review

 

Reebok Nano X2: Strength Training Excellence
By Contributor Ryan Flugaur

I can still remember purchasing the original Nano, the Reebok flex Nano. It was designed with U-Form technology claiming to help provide a custom fit experience. To achieve this “custom fit”, you would first heat the insole with a hair dryer until the U-Form badge on the side of the shoe turned red. You would then lace up the shoes and sit until the badge turned black again. This would “mold” the shoes to your feet providing a custom fit. I remember thinking how neat it was to have custom fit shoes and how this was likely how all shoes would be in the future. Obviously, this was not the case as Reebok went away with the U-Form technology soon after. Looking back, I am sure the “custom fit” approach was more of a marketing ploy than true performance enhancement, but I sure felt cool at the time.

Saucony Xodus Ultra Review

Saucony Xodus Ultra Review: Super Foam for Super Distances
By Chief Editor Matt Klein

The Saucony Xodus has long been a trail running shoe for technical and mountain terrain. Despite being such a long-running series, most runners have never tried it due to not being aware of it or the weight appearing far too heavy. The Xodus Ultra takes that concern and runs straight over it. Coming in at 10.3 oz for men's size 9, the Ultra brings the heavy-duty design to runners in a lighter package for ultra distances. 

Mizuno Wave Rider 25 Review (Mesh vs. Knit Update)

 
Mizuno Wave Rider 25 Review 
A Uniquely Flexible Rider
Written by Chief Editor Matt Klein and Senior Contributor's Nathan Brown, David Salas, and Content Manager Bach Pham

The Mizuno Wave Rider series pushes forward another notch this year, keeping much of its traditional shaping, but stepping into the current market that favors softer and more cushioned shoes. Last year with the 24 we saw the Wave Rider received a heel wedge of their new Mizuno Enerzy foam that provided a slightly softer landing than the typically firmer rider. The 25 goes all the way and gives you the full length midsole of Mizuno Enerzy in a classic Wave Rider package.

Stability vs. Support: How Do We Know What Runners Need? | DOR Podcast #86

 

DOR Podcast #86: Stability vs. Support: How Do We Know What Runners Need? (ft. Dr. Matt Trudeau from Brooks Running)

Nate, DJ, and Matt are joined today by a very special guest, Dr. Matt Trudeau of Brooks Running. Matt gives us insights into shoe research and development at Brooks. He also explains Brooks' unique take on stability, support, and how to find the right shoe for your unique running style.

Inov-8 Parkclaw G 280 Review

 

Inov-8 Parkclaw G 280: Quality Road-Trail Hybrid
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein

There has been an increasing interest in trail running over the last few years. More brands are releasing trail shoes in response as they are well aware of this trend. The challenge for many consumers in both urban and suburban settings is that there are often several miles of road between their starting point and the trail. With many trail shoes having designs that are far too aggressive or not optimal for running on road, the road-trail hybrid shoe has been an increasingly popular category. This group of shoes uniquely mesh the two categories, with enough traction on the outsole to handle mild to moderate terrain while not interfering with smooth roads, but enough cushion to handle some pavement. The Inov-8 Parkclaw G 280 is a great example of this category, evolving on an already decent hybrid line with a new graphene midsole that is becoming a staple of Inov-8 footwear.

April 2022 Round-Up at Doctors of Running

Welcome back to another Round-Up at Doctors of Running! April was an exciting month with the launch of a new series along with a wealth of interviews that we've been eager to share. April also kicks off the spring footwear season, meaning a lot of daily trainers and road racing shoes are ahead for us all. Read on to check out the ten big things we did in April as we gear up for a very exciting May full of surprises at DOR.