I used to be a loyal Nike wearer for all my running activities, which were confined to short distances, a blend of light jogs, or sprints. However, my routine changed when I began training for my first 10k, pushing me to run longer distances (>2.5 km/run), leading to toe and ankle discomfort.
I was also unaware of the significance of cooldown exercises and often experienced discomfort post-run. The more I ran, the more intense the pain became later in the day.
I started researching pain and injury prevention and learned about toe separators and shoes designed for overpronation and smooth heel-to-toe transitions.
After considering various factors like cost and longevity, I chose the Asics Nimbus 23 primarily for its spacious toe box ( subconsciously I may have also opted for it because of its subtle reference to the famous Nimbus 2000) . Its reviews confirmed its effectiveness for runners with toe crowding & pronation issues similar to mine, so I decided to try it. This was three months before the 10k.
The improvement in my performance was noticeable by the second or third run. According to my stopwatch, I was running faster and for longer durations. The pain didn’t vanish instantly, but the post-run agony was significantly reduced. I also began prioritizing rest and cooldowns.
I successfully completed the 10k last October in my Asics, performing well. Needless to say, they’ve become my go-to pair of shoes for running longer distances.
Fingers in symphony 