Hoka One/One Stinson Tarmac
“Word” really started circulating last year about the Hoka running shoes. The first pair that I
encountered, I thought they made the runner look two inches taller. The shoe’s outward
appearance left every runner knowing that there was plenty of cushioning
between the runner’s feet and the ground.
Fast forward to this year, runners everywhere seem to be talking
about these shoes. Several firsthand accounts told of the difference that these
shoes made with their running.
Trying a pair of them hadn’t been on my radar until my
buddies at TrySports hooked me up with a
pair of the Stinson
Tarmac. TrySports now carries the
entire Hoka shoe in their Charlotte stores.
From my first stride, there was clearly a difference in this
shoe’s ride.
Most my people know that my training program contains loads
of mileage and has numerous runs in excess of 20 miles. Near the end of these long
runs my feet are usually pretty beat up.
My first run in the Tarmac was for seven miles. This was
just to test them out and see how they felt. My second run was for 14 miles. To
my surprise, my feet felt much better over the last few miles. Next up will be
an 18 to 20 mile run. If my suspicions are correct, my feet will be much
happier.
The Hoka running shoes come in two lines: trail and road and
range in price from $130 to $170.
One might think these shoes were much heavier given the additional cushioning but the Tarmac weigh in at just 11.9 oz. This is pretty much inline with other running shoes in my collection.
Now, some of you may still be turning a questioning or sarcastic eye at
them. But give them a try. Go into TrySports and do a test run in them. Then,
decided for yourself.
Sharing one thought at time,
The Cool Down Runner
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