The Wave Horizon 4 is the latest Mizuno Running shoe to be released in the stability market. Geared towards runners who log high mileage and are looking for plush comfort, we decided to ask someone who runs in the Horizon religiously what he thinks about the latest update. Read along to find out what Matt McDonald of Atlanta Track Elite thought after running a few miles in the Wave Horizon 4.
As someone who has been training in Horizons since they premiered, I can sincerely say that the Wave Horizon 4 is the best rendition yet. In my experience, the Wave Horizon 4 combines the lightweight of neutral trainers with the controlled footfall of a stability shoe. I’ve always preferred stability shoes, they help cushion my heel strike and make sure I roll through a smooth transition from heel to toe. Wave Horizon 4 is especially helpful in this respect. The engineered foam wave provides the same stability I was accustomed to in previous Wave Horizons but with more spring thanks to the XPOP foam.
Let me be clear, I’ve previously trained in Nike Structures and other stability shoes, but I can say without a doubt I prefer the Wave Horizon 4. Thanks to the Horizon I’ve been able to log more miles than ever before, peaking at 135 miles per week with none of the leg injuries that have plagued me while in other trainers. I look forward to logging even more miles in my Wave Horizon 4s, knowing that they will keep me healthy and get me to the starting line with more fitness than ever before.
And from a shallower perspective, the Wave Horizon 4 has a slick knit upper that looks and feels so much better than previous iterations. Now I don’t fret about wearing my running shoes in the casual setting. I should note, I’m a graduate student of Chemical Engineering, which means spending a lot of time on my feet working in the lab; I need to wear running shoes to keep my lower legs healthy, the black Wave Horizon 4 fits in effortlessly while at work. All around, the Wave Horizon 4 is a huge improvement to an already capable trainer; decreasing weight, increasing comfort, and doing it all in style.
Matt McDonald, Atlanta Track Club Elite
Matt McDonald is an American Marathon runner with Atlanta Track Club. He began his running career at North Hunterdon High School in Clinton NJ, where he was a Footlocker XC finalist in 2010 and state champion in the indoor 3200m in 2011. In Fall 2011 Matt joined the Tigers of Princeton University where he immediately found success as the Ivy League XC rookie of the year (2011). By senior year (2015) Matt had climbed to be the Ivy League runner up in the indoor 5k and outdoor 10k Champion, contributing to all three championships for the Tigers’ triple crown of the 2014-2015 XC/Track season. In the summer of 2015, Matt moved to Atlanta to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech. At Atlanta Track Club Matt’s marathon career has taken off, qualifying for the US Olympic Team trials in his debut marathon (CIM 2017), taking 4 minutes off his PR with his second marathon (CIM 2018), before running his current PR of 2:11:10 at Chicago 2019. In Matt’s most recent race he placed tenth at the US Olympic Team Trials in front of hometown crowds in Atlanta.
Published: April 2020