I’m afraid Project Fearless is not for me…

…yet, I am hopeful as I love the Nike designs and innovation.

So my running week has been dominated by foot and calve pain. Not being able to run for 7 days as the weather improves has been a real drag. Every time I saw.

It is ironic that I wrote an article on injury prevention with the launch of the Nike ZoomX Invincible Run and a week after buying them, I am injured and back in rehab, ie seeing a sports physio.

This is my third major injury. The first was when I when I first started running, developed plantar fasciitis and after gait analysis, was recommended running shoes with arch support. The second time was three years ago before the 2018 Royal Parks Half Marathon when I developed deepest tightness in my calves that just would not go away. The problem was addressed with regular sports physio - I had five sessions before the race that got me into good enough shape to get a personal best and the sessions after the race I was taught how to keep my conditioning sharp to manage my weaknesses - I was committed enough to buy a Bosu ball and wobble board to help strengthen my core.

To be honest, with lockdowns and leaving things to my personal trainer, I haven’t been particularly targeting my weaknesses, feeling that overall things were covered. 

ASICS FootID gait analysis done in 2016. It would be interesting to repeat now. 📸hafi.run

My physio mandated mini-layoff due to layoff has forced me to revisit the fundamentals of my running form and serve as a healthy reminder of things that need revisiting so that I can build back stronger. Especially, if I am thinking of finally tackling my first marathon, I want my biomechanics checked out, my weaknesses identified and a strength and conditioning program to target those areas.

I have been thinking about my foot strike and that that the physio sessions have come at the right tie, so I can get an expert opinion on what needs improving.  I was impressed that in the first five minutes of the initial assessment meeting, he diagnosed that my right foot, my lead side, was more open at rest which would indicate glute strength imbalances which the change in footwear exacerbated.

I have learnt a lot in the last week about the technologies and components in shoes and how they help not only particular types of run (speedwork, tempo and long run) but also how these components cater for supination, neutral or overpronation running styles. This should help resist temptation of the latest sexiest shoe! I actually need a fairly stable shoe, there is stability and even stronger is motion control. I tried Asics Gel-Foundation, which Asics firmest shoe - but that felt quite heavy. I was recommended the Kayanos after having the ASICS Smart ID gait analysis in 2016. As you can see in the grainy scan, I was diagnosed as having considerable overpronation in my right foot and severe in the left.

I love Nike design and innovation. I particularly like the what they have achieved with the Alphaflys and Vaporflys. They are like the Lamborghini’s and Ferrari’s of running footwear. I particularly like the Blue Ribbon Sports styling which is a heritage inspired nod to the founding of Nike, before it was called Nike.

The past week living with the injury, post one week with the Nike Invincible, I have been learning a lot about overpronation, technologies employed in shoes, reading and watching numerous shoe reviews. I have to accept the fact that with the overpronation I have, where your foot caves in at impact I need a more supportive shoe. Most neutral runners have some degree of pronation. 

I was quite tentative during yesterday’s run, concerned that I would have a flare up. When I got back, I did the physio exercises I was set, picking up a marble with my toes and scrunching up a towel - strangely my feet felt relatively fresh and quite limber.

Should I return the Pegasus & stick to my Asics Kayanos?

The Nike Pegasus 37 - Blue Ribbon Sport edition above arrived yesterday, which I ordered as a result of the triumph of seductive marketing overriding any sensible inner voice (think Jerry mouse’s, from Tom & Jerry’s bad devil over left shoulder vs angel on his right!). I love the design & how they look. I put them on and my heart sank a little - they are narrow in the mid foot. 

Should I return my Pegs? 📸hafi.run

After watching a few reviews of people who have run many miles in them I am not so sure. I think these may be going back, even before I take them out for a run.  They might be worth a risk, but after avoiding what could have been a longer setback, I am not sure I want to chance it!? To be brutally honest I am becoming a little fearful of Nike’s Project Fearless, I think it caters for the largest cross section of runners who typically wear a neutral shoe and fave a normal range of pronation (foot turning in) or supination foot turning out.

The reality is that, like a lot of people, I have had a lot of time to think about running in the last 12 months, but without easy access to a running store with knowledge staff who can talk me through the options, buying shoes online that I have never tried is pretty random! I think I am going to have to be patient and what for the shops to open again - arghhhh! Project Fearless and the Nike Invincibles have been well received and rightly so for people who usually use a neutral shoe. Check out Jerry’s experiences.