Intro
I spent several years (2010-2012) simply loving almost every Mizuno model I tried. Then a number of changes and updates changed everything. Existing models became a little too narrow for my forefoot. New additions just did not feel right under foot (too lumpy). I sadly said adieu to my last pair of Precisions, and bought up every remaining pair of Ronin 3’s I could find. I had also given up on the Wave Rider series. A pair of Wave Rider 13’s delivered a huge marathon PB back in 2010, but subsequent updates just didn’t ride the same.
Mizuno Wave Rider 17
Quick Specs: Neutral high mileage trainer, 14 mm drop, 9.5 oz.
Re-enter the Mizuno Wave Rider 17. This shoe has everything the Wave Rider 13 had. It runs fast, which means it has a great transition. It is a neutral cushion, but not so much cushion that it you lose road feel. The wave plate system and build make it a long distance trainer, but still permit fast pickups and tempos. A great choice for marathon race day!
The shoe also has a similar cushion feel as the former Precision model using Mizuno’s U4ic material, giving it a very lively and energetic return. In fact, if you miss your old Precisions but don’t like the Sayonara, the Wave Rider 17’s could be a decent alternative. And, most important, there is just enough forefoot space that a regular width is comfortable on my feet. Hallelujah!
Two big thumbs up for the Waverider 17. My wife loves hers too. Make that four thumbs up! Stay tuned though. The Wave Rider 18 (pictured above) is now available, and at the rate which Mizuno tweaks its shoes, this could be a one time love.
Mizuno Hitogami
Quick Specs: Neutral race day (5k to 10k) and speed work, 9 mm drop, 7.6 oz.
What exactly does Hitogami mean? My first guess would be “Rock Hard Rock Star” (not Tommy Lee, and forgive the visual if you just recalled a certain leaked video tape). In Japanese, it means to transform oneself into a God. A God of running. In this respect the Mizuno Hitogami lives up to its name, but there is a price to pay.
It seems Mizuno cannot stop tinkering with their shoe lines. Love the Ronin 3, but the Ronin 4 and Ronin 5 both hated my feet (too narrow). At least Mizuno kept my favorite Musha model untouched. But not this year. Now the Musha and Ronin lines are both history, replaced with the Hitogami, Mizuno’s latest race day shoe design.
The Hitogami looks and walks very much like the Musha. It has a sole constructed very close to the old Musha specification. This is a bit of a shame because the old Ronin undercarriage had a diamond grip treatment that really stuck to the roads. The foam material in the Hitogami (curiously the same U4ic found in the Wave Rider) has been somehow tempered to near vulcanized conditions. The shoe runs absolutely rock hard and is totally uncomfortable at slow jog paces, bringing back memories of Ecco’s Biom A shoe.
Nonetheless, the Hitogami certainly can rip at race pace. I did a “comfortable” 5k tempo in 17:30! Starting the next day however, my calves needed a week in rehab. I can now say Hitogami means “Calves of Stone”. It was a seriously fun joy ride, but I paid for it way too much.
If you are up for the challenge, I strongly recommend a couple weeks of gradual acclimation including easy walking, followed by short workouts on a rubberized track surface. Taking these bad boys out on the road right out of the box might be a big mistake. Run like a god for a day, then gingerly walk through hell for the next week!
Mizuno is still up to its tricks. Their latest tinkering has produced a tantalizingly fast offering that few will find immediately accessible. Yours truly included. I am down to my last box of Ronins. Soon I will be looking elsewhere for race day shoes, but just look out if I can get these Hitogami’s working for me!
