When I first had the privilege of becoming a Brand Ambassador for Mizuno Canada last fall, I was excited and proud to be able to share my love for all things apparel and shoes with my running, triathlon and client based communities. It’s no secret to those that know me that aside from coffee mugs my equally if not greater passion and obsession is running shoes and athletic apparel. We’ll leave out the technology fetish and fun toys for another more related article!
Before I was introduced to the fabulous Fall 2013 lineup from Mizuno I had dabbled in other apparel. More recently I settled on the brand introduced for yoga wear that soon expanded into running wear. What drew me in to that brand were the variety of colours, the fit and what I thought was breathability of the fabrics. Enter Mizuno ……. When I first took a look online at the apparel I thought….hmmm where are all the colour varieties? It only comes in one or two? Hmmm where are all the different style options? It only comes in one or two? It’s okay I can overlook less colour choice for the chance to wear test some new gear! Who wouldn’t want to, right? Plus that old adage quality over quantity certainly rings true here. So I put on my 3/4 tights and long sleeve that early fall day and WOW!!! Now this is breathable! I felt Iike I had nothing on. I had to look down and make sure I got dressed that morning (well not really but ya get my drift!). I couldn’t wait to get home to tell my husband, also a runner, what great apparel I had on. So much for needing big variety in colour! I was sold. It also got me thinking…..why no professional athletes were wearing that ‘other brand’. They must know something about technical fabrics to choose more mainstream athletic companies. I do believe even then that within each company there are significant differences. I have collected a lot of apparel by that brand with the simple swoosh. Those articles have been relegated to the bottom of the drawer too since I have been introduced to the fabrics Mizuno uses.
As the weather turned colder and a few more pieces landed on my doorstep I was more than enthralled with the feel, wick-ability, weather protection and comfort of the fall/winter line up of tops, tights, and outer wear. I won’t lie and say that aside from my love for running, my love for laying out my run clothes the night before is almost equally as enjoyable. This meant more frequent laundry loads so I could wear Mizuno on each of my four weekly runs! Decked out head to toe I knew I would be well protected. Spring and summer are no different in this brand of apparel. Want to feel even more naked while running? The shorts, tank tops, and t-shirts were the lightest things I have ever worn . I could never run in the ‘yoga brand’ again. Unless the laundry was really behind :). I will save that for my new love of hot yoga. That being said, now that I have had a spring/summer hiatus from running due to injury, my Mizuno gear has fared oh so well at the gym and the yoga studio!
If you are still stuck with the thought that true run gear is only for the lucky sponsored elites, think again. Head to your closest retailer or e-tailer (including www.mizunocda.com/running) and purchase just one item to start. Like me, you may end up relegating that other stuff you wear to going out for coffee or lounging around the house instead of running in it!
See you on the roads! I’ll be the one decked head to toe in the best gear available on the market! #mizunolove .
Elise Yanover
Elise is a long time competitive amateur triathlete and Physiotherapist with 20+ years experience treating runners and athletes of all kinds. She also has an online coaching business for runners and triathletes looking to reach that next distance goal or PB. She is very passionate about biomechanics in running and does gait analysis and shoe recommendations as part of her practice. Elise also has a self admitted running shoe and apparel fetish. She is mom to an active 10 year old girl and is married to a man who also runs and races.