My Forum

I'm off to Helsby on Sunday.  That'll see how the 'training' is going so far       

I'm doing the Mad Dog 10k mid-Feb as well. Hoping that the 'sea breezes' of Southport will prepare me for the home stretch from Otterspool!

Agree with everything said so far! I think the whole pink thing is just so culturally embedded now -  and not just on sports kit - it's difficult to avoid at any age.

As Debra said - retailers know women buy it. It would soon stop if most ladies rejected it and stuff didn't sell - therefore we have to assume us 'ninja black' crew are in the minority  

I do tend to only buy in Sales tho' - why pay £35 for a good brand top when you can get it for £9 at the end of the season - so I have a few compromises (one pale blue and one 'coral' spring to mind), but I actively avoid buying 'proper' pink stuff.

As for shoes - I'm with the 'if the fit is right, buy them' view. A few miles along the canal towpath on a rainy day and they could be any colour! 

I'd agree. To me as well the 8 feels pretty close to the 6. Certainly not hitting my toes or anything. It was just that the 7's always felt a bit too wide, and the back and tongue a bit too high (if that makes sense!).

 I've always got my running shoes 0.5 size bigger than my 'civvies' and that's what I'm comfortable in. So my 6, 7 & 8 are all the same size (UK W6.5).

I would say you just stick to what you would normally have.

'Booties' - yes - that's a good description. They did feel all round like I'd got a quarter size too big and everything was a bit too high up.

One thing that hasn't been reverted is that the 6 had a cutaway at the top of the tongue (well - the women's did!). The 7 - and still the 8 - is more rounded. I think this is what contributed to the tight over the top of the foot feeling when I was trying to get the 7's tight enough. As the 8's are fitting on my foot better tho' - this isn't bothering me.  

I did get mine online based on the comments, so I didn't try them. Bit risky, but I'm genuinely pleased. That said, if you've got a pair of serviceable 6's on the go, then I guess if you have an opportunity to go and try them out as a direct comparison that would be ideal.

Just wanted to add another vote for the Inspire 8.

Same story - worn Mizuno for years and loved the 6's as I have mild over-pronation. Ran many happy miles in them. When my last pair were about half worn, all the 6's had gone, so I got some 7's and they were just wrong. Forefoot felt too wide and sloppy (although externally it didn't look any wider), the back was too high up my achilles and multiple lacing combinations to try and fix the 'loose' feeling usually ended up with discomfort over top of my foot. Pretty disappointed - why mess with them that much?

Been waitiing for the 8's after initial reviews said they had gone back, to some extent. Done about 40 miles so far and they do feel a lot more like the old ones. Not really noticing the increased padding on the heel and the forefoot is back to (what I feel) is the snugger fit that suits me.  

I just need to remember to stock up, in that perfect window when the price drops but before they sell out!