Runner’s World + Hoka One One = Bart
Last Wednesday, Runner’s World and Hoka One One hosted a run with the Mayor of Running, Bart Yasso.
I dropped by the upper east side Super Runners Shop to test drive a pair of Hokas on a 3-5 mile run. With Bart. A 3-5 mile run with Bart! Unfortunately, I got to the store late and missed the run. Still bummed about that. The silver lining was I had more time to finally meet Laura Beachy in person, and catch up with Bernadette and Elizabeth. Lovely, fierce running ladies of NYC!
Instead of a longer run, I took a pair of Hoka’s Mafate 2 women’s trail shoes for a spin around the block. Immediately, I’d say they feel quite different than any running shoe I’ve worn. One familiar trait is the low heel-to-toe drop, similar to what I’m used to in my Saucony Kinvara 3 and Ride 5. However, they seem more cushioned than the typical running shoe, and the rocking design of the sole’s noticeable during toe-off. Perhaps these features are why they’re gaining popularity among ultrarunners. (So I’ve heard!)
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I wish I had more to report on the product. However, with my spring marathon just a few weeks away, it’s probably for the best I didn’t do a longer run in a shoe that’s very new to me. Now wouldn’t be the wisest time to experiment!
At the end of the day, it was a wonderful opportunity to meet up with runners and check out new gear. To top it off, I had a pleasant chat with Bart about running in the Lehigh Valley, and got a quick picture. He’s absolutely gracious! No surprise he’s so well-respected and loved by runners world-wide.
LV runs NYC 