By: Mizuno Race Team Member, Craig Leon
Sun-up to sun-down, the speed at which my life moves is not unlike many of yours…fast! It’s done with one thing, and on to the next, as I balance my running responsibilities with other life priorities – work, social, and personal. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
What does any of this have to do with shoes? Well, fast lives deserve fast, efficient, and high-performing products. Thanks to the designers at Mizuno, we have a shoe that does exactly that – the Mizuno Wave Sayonara 3.
At 8.4 ounces, this lightweight trainer will make you feel fast. Sometimes, on my non-workout days, I want to just crank out my run and get on with my day. It’s these up-tempo runs that I’m glad to have the Wave Sayonara 3. Even on recovery runs, I find myself clipping along comfortably at a quicker pace when I’m in my Sayonara’s. This shoe is performance efficiency at it’s finest; everything you need and nothing more. Slipping on the Wave Sayonara 3 invokes a similar feeling to when I lace up my racing shoes, but it has the durability and comfort of an everyday trainer. The longevity of the Wave Sayonara 3 is where runners will notice the greatest difference between previous iterations. I have found the forefoot landing pad to be much more protective over the lifespan of the shoe.
As great as the feel is, the Wave Sayonara’s quest to become your perfect “sleek & speedy” shoe in the performance neutral category is tied together by its design. We like products that not only perform well, but also look the part. Why? It has to do with psychology. When I go to pick out a shoe from my rack for a run, the Wave Sayonara, with its lines and color scheme, evokes speed. I believe the way a product makes you feel – in this case, a shoe – can impact your overall mindset. My legs don’t always feel great, so why not wear a shoe that might help disguise those feelings?
Fast. Attitude. Believing that success is attainable. It’s a mindset. Sure, a shoe can’t make you fast – that responsibility ultimately falls on you, but I’ll take all the help I can get and prefer a shoe that not only looks fast, but feels fast as well.
Craig’s mantra is “Ohio raised, Oregon refined.” This long distance runner for the Mizuno race team has risen from the ranks of college walk-on, to top ten finisher at the Boston Marathon. Boasting a marathon PR of 2:13:52, this former Ohio University Bobcat currently trains under former Olympian Ian Dobson and Team Run Eugene.