I tried running in Asics. I got weird bleeding blisters on my arches. Bled through the shoe. Gross. Obviously no joy. And no picture. Good thing I'm not on rat poison like Iron Mike or I'd be gushing. Sorry Mike.
I tried running in Mizuno Wave Alchemys. SCORE! 462.8 miles before I replaced them. I hate orange. Love the shoe. Hate the color. Where's the pink? I know. I know. Don't be a hater.
I tried running in Mizuno Wave Inspire 5s. SCORE! Ran only 284.5 miles in them.
I knew something was up the day I got them but I thought it was me. The right side of the left heel (got it? right side, left heel) felt too high. I switched the sock liners with my Super Feet insoles but that didn't help. I switched the sock liner with the ones from my Alchemys and than didn't help. So I ran in them anyway. Thought it was me. Not!
Here are my Inspires at 284.5 miles. (Don'tcha love online run logging websites?)
This picture was taken in the Library (aka the Living Room that no person but the preacher ever sits in that is now my office. Like the red walls?) Anyway, the important part is the white part of the heel. That's where I wore away the black rubber stuff. In 284.5 miles. Because of that not-imaginary thingie with the heel.
Anyway. My hub is not a runner. Running shoes pain him when I buy them because of the cost.
So.... I emailed Mizuno. After chatting back and forth with a very cordial, helpful and professional Matt Beckett in the Customer Support Division, we agreed that I'd send the shoes to Mizuno under their one-year defect warranty, and they'd take a look at them. (Matt is very professional, knowledgeable and empathetic. These are my only running shoes after all.)
Guess what! Mizuno USA is 20 minutes from my house. SCORE! I drove there. Look at the awesome chairs in their waiting area.
That's my JuliePrincess. She's even more awesome. She practices poses like these. I've seen her. I don't practice. Hence, she looks fabulous in pictures. I don't.
Anyway. I dropped my only pair of running shoes off with a lovely receptionist. She, Julie and I chatted for a good 10 minutes about high school, college, graduations, her kids - Michael and Hannah, Julie, career goals, etc. Very, very nice woman.
Then Matt emailed me again. When he told me he was sending me replacement shoes under warranty, I said, "Oh WOW! You rock!!!! Thanks so much!!!" He replied, "It is my pleasure to help. Please let me know if you have any future questions or concerns." Either it's company policy that he be uber-professional or he thinks I'm a twit.) Either way, Mizuno honors their warranty and Matt still rocks!
Get this. So today, two days later, I was working away in my red office/library when the doorbell rang. Fedex. Delivered. Brand. New. Mizuno. Wave. Rider. 13s. JUST WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED!!!
These shoes are even better than my Inspires because of my normal/high arch and forefoot strike. (I know this because Mizuno has this shoe wizard. It even tells you what exercises you should do. I suspect it tells everyone to do the same exercises. Try it out and we can compare notes.)
Anyway. My shoes. They are lighter. They have a lower profile. They are so cushie and soft. Remember when you put on new shoes as a kid and had to wear them out of the store? That's my new Mizuno. Wave. Rider. 13s. I'm running tomorrow. Finally. It's been a hectic week - details later. But I'll let you know what I think of the actual ride. I know I will be so fast!!!
Anyway. My shoes. They are lighter. They have a lower profile. They are so cushie and soft. Remember when you put on new shoes as a kid and had to wear them out of the store? That's my new Mizuno. Wave. Rider. 13s. I'm running tomorrow. Finally. It's been a hectic week - details later. But I'll let you know what I think of the actual ride. I know I will be so fast!!!
11 comments:
That is amazing! They have great customer service.....and quick!! I hope they work well for your run tomorrow.
HA! SCORE is right :-) I will have to try Mizuno next... I don't know that I've seen them at any shoes stores around here. I'll go on their site & use the "store locator."
I just posted a foot blister photo yesterday, but not from running shoes. Hiking boots, get me everytime. It's the steep climbs, when your heel jams into the back. Wonder if Mizuno makes boots?
Awesome! I love that type of customer service!
I LOVE Mizuno Wave Riders - they are all I run in! So glad you found a shoe that works and so nice to hear that Mizuno is so great!
That totally sounds like a runner's dream sequence. Well, the part where you get the shoes anyways.
Thanks for the bleed-out shout-out.
And, I read that link you suggested. Yes, it's very nice. I'll edit my post tomorrow and give you credit.
The truth? Sadly, after a solid week of research, the website I linked reads like a nursery rhyme to me at this point.
Sometimes, it is easy for me to lose sight of what normal people think.
That's why I'm the engineer, and somebody else works with the damn customer!
It took me a few seconds to even realize that the chair is a baseball mit! Cool journey to the Wizard of Mizuno! Hope your first run in the shoes is as heavenly as you hope.
What great customer service! I have never tried Mizuno, but I need new shoes and maybe I'll give them a shot! Who knows :)
Looking forward to hearing how you runs go with the new shoes.
Thats AMAZING! I used to rock mizunos then switched... somedays i flirt with the idea of going back to them i loved them that much! :)
looking forward to the shoe assessment...
I absolutely LOVE good customer service, and that story alone might be enough to get me to try Mizuno for my next pair of running shoes. Hope they are working out well for you.
Really enjoyed reading your posts. Always good to find fellow Runners/IT Geeks (work for Cisco).
I love mizuno too, this is the one of the best running shoes in my list!!!
zbsports
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