I first must begin this review with an apology to Arnold at Mizuno who graciously provided a test pair of the Mushas asking only that I write a fair and honest review about them. That was the beginning of April and I had planned to race both the Markham Legacy and Sporting Life races to base my review on. Unfortunately the injury bug nibbled on my quad just enough to keep me out of both of those races.
I was training for my A race, the WIN Marathon, so there were to be no short races in the Mushas until after WIN Marathon was over and done. I now have completed the WIN Marathon, as well as Olga’s Boys’ Night Out (5k), the Alfie Shrubb (8k) and just this morning the Monster Mortgage Challenge (5k). So here, finally, is my review of what I have found to be an excellent race day shoe, plus a bonus piece on their natural compliment.
Since I raced with them in the WIN Marathon, I would like to first mention my other favorite pair of Mizuno’s, the Wave Rider 13. I actually picked up the Musha’s and the Wave Riders in early April from Ajax Running Free, on the day of their grand opening. I paid for the Wave Rider 13’s and that has been the best investment I have ever made in a pair of distance shoes. So if you can bear with me for a paragraph or three, a few words first about the Wave Riders. I feel I owe it to Arnold after all.
Wave Rider 13
I have run in Brooks, Asics, Nike, New Balance, Saucony, and now Mizuno. My most general observation of any shoe is that they have a natural sweet spot. Sometimes you have to search for it, yet in other cases the shoe makes it very clear for you. By sweet spot, I mean the stride and strike that creates effortless motion, with little or no noise coming back up at you from the road. The Waver Riders are the latter. They almost demanded a mid-foot strike from the first step and after a few km’s I was leaning forward just a touch and moving fast. Although I do not follow CHI running technique closely (where you fall toward each foot strike), I am fairly sure these shoes would be a perfect compliment for CHI runners. With absolutely no intentions or plans to do so, on the fifth day on my feet, I ran 16k effortlessly in 64 minutes. That’s only 1 minute slower than my 10 mile PB!
I should mention I fit a bit on the wide side, and select 2E widths for Asics and NB brands. The Mizuno D width was sufficient for my foot. Slipping them on, they are snug fitting even unlaced (should I be surprised?). Once laced up, they fit like a glove. Most importantly, there were absolutely no pressure points or unusual lumps to get used to. The shoe feels totally flat across the bottom of the foot. I also tried Mizuno’s 2E width, so a word of caution: Mizuno’s 2E width is very wide in the toe box and therefore only recommended for the widest of feet. Also, it may be wise to experiment a little with the lace tension. I found keeping the lacing tightened no more than about medium (with lace lock) provided the best performance and comfort.
The Wave Riders took me to second place overall in the WIN Marathon. They had proven themselves on several long training runs (up to 41k) and again on marathon race day when it mattered most. They are light and as expected do not have an abundance of cushioning. With their wave technology, they are very stable in torsion (i.e. not flimsy). As a result, they are up to the test for marathon distances, just not stony dirt roads. Their quick transition is as advertised. In fact, these must be one of the fastest transitioning distance shoes on the market.
Put a pair of Wave Riders in your running bag for race day and tempo runs. Just keep a slow pair handy for easy days. Every day cannot be a fast day and the Wave Riders certainly can make you forget your training plans. Depending on the distance, the Wave Rider 13’s may be the only shoes you will need to own for race day.
Wave Musha 2
So if a runner DID want a faster pair of shoes for shorter race distances, even lighter than the Wave Rider 13, with an exceptional lightening-fast transition, what could there be? The Wave Musha 2 is the answer and a perfect compliment to the Wave Rider 13.
Most race flats have nothing more on their bottom than a thin slice of foa m with a sliver of rubber glued to them. They are light. They have no support. They last about two races and then you throw them in the recycle bin. They suit only well-trained athletes sponsored by shoe companies. The Mushas do not fit into this category. The shoe industry has carved a niche somewhat above race flats where the shoes are still incredibly light, but they throw in just a touch of support in the form of a plastic grid or higher density EVA along the instep. The Mushas belong in this niche, but rightly at the top.
The Mushas are the fourth pair of race flats I have raced in. The most common problem with the previous brands I have tried in this niche was little stability in torsion. That’s no problem if one has the perfect form of a Kenyan from beginning to finish line. However, most runners including myself start out with Kenyan-like form (in our minds) but tire at some point, and then biomechanical issues take over. It is at this time that a little more stability in the running shoe would be a benefit. Without it, disaster can strike and this is why beginner and intermediate runners should not in general consider race flats, especially for longer distances.
The Mushas with their wave technology, provide ample stability. In this regard, they are the perfect race flat for almost anyone who has established a good running gait. If you have never tried a race flat, the Mushas should be the first brand you try. The Mushas also size consistently with the Wave Rider 13, including width. With other brands that is sometimes not the case.
So, finally, how fast are the Mushas? First, give me a bit of credit for the strong training programme I completed this spring. Then, give the rest of the credit to the Mushas. For 5k distance, my PB last year was 18:14. That went to 17:38 at Olga’s Boys’ Night Out, and then to 17:02 today at the Monster Mortgage Challenge. Also, I have been trying to crack a sub-30 in an 8k for the past four years. That one finally fell at this year’s Alfie Shrubb 8k in 29:16 in the rain.
Oh, one last thing: Both shoes run well in the rain and don’t get too heavy even completely soaked. This can be an important consideration when rain is in the forecast on race day. If Arnold wants his test pair of Mushas back, please let him know this: he cannot have them!
FINALE OF 2010
I wrote the above half way into the race season. So here is the closer: The same pair of Mushas took me through 22 races of various distances from 4k to 21k, plus weekly sessions at the local track. They were on my feet for 13 new PB’s, the top male Road Warrior, and top age category for the Subaru series. Do I want another pair? You bet I do!
The Wave Mushs would also make a decent race walking shoe. Race walkers are not well served in this country, in terms of locating appropriate foot wear. What we need are lightweight shoes, wide toebox, great flexiblity and an ultra flat shoe – no build up in the heel area at all. New Balance used to make race walking shoes but found the market was too small for them to continue production. My last pair weighed less than the Mushas but not too much less.