ASICS Got Me to Run Again!

*This Blog is sponsored by Zappos x ASICS

     You all know I am all about that active lifestyle.  If you follow me on Instagram, you know I'm outside with Cailey (my dog) every weekend, and whenever I can after work if there's still remaining daylight.  I like to move and I like to do it outdoors. For this collaboration, I received running shoes from ASICS by way of Zappos.  Now while I am all about moving myself (and my pup), I am not a runner by nature.  I am a yogi, a gym fan,  a hiker, an occasional boulderer, and I am down to try all sorts of fitness challenges (I've done the kettle bell challenge, the keto diet, Whole 30, and a few other things I've got pending blogs for). But under no circumstances do I default to running as an activity, and I haven't since my high school track and soccer playing days.  My selection of running shoes are normally reserved for 30 minutes on the treadmill after lifting weights at the gym. HOWEVER, my dog is an avid runner.  Cailey loves nothing more than to sprint down the side walk to the end of her leash hoping I will pick up the pace.  When we get outside on a hiking trail, off leash or on, she runs back and forth, hopping up and down with excitement while willing me to chase her.  Nothing brings me more joy than the joy on her face when she's excited about something.  Dogs are funny like that, right?  They get us doing things we don't necessarily enjoy just because their pure excitement brings us happiness.  So I compromise with her, even though she doesn't know it, and I take her for a short hike followed by a trail run.  I'm happiest outside away from the cities and suburbs and surrounded by nature.  Take me being happy with where I am, her being happy at me running with her (and just in general because she's a well cared for dog) and a hike up the hills and sprint along the ridge-line is a pretty enjoyable experience all around.  

     ​Don't get me wrong, we will do wind sprints throughout the neighborhood from time to time, and we always go on long walks, but for real runs we hit the trails.  That also means the shoes I choose to wear for mine and Cailey's outings need to be able to go from gym to street to trail.   My ASICS GT-2000 were designed to be versatile enough to adapt to any sport, wherever and whichever sporting activity that might be.  For me that would be going from my gym or at home workouts, to chasing my dog down the sidewalk, to mild hikes up a trail for some ridge-line running.  So spent a day wearing these shoes doing all of those things to see if they held up to the test.

     ​​First and foremost, I got them through Zappos which meant shipping was free and fast. Bonus is that if the shoes didn't work out, Zappos has a 365 day return policy.  The shoes arrived about two days after I ordered them, and I took them out that weekend.  The ASICS GT-2000 shoes I'd selected fit true to size and were really light weight and comfortable.  It had been raining all week so the ground was muddy, and I was nervous to hit the trails.  Cailey and I took them out to test them on a walk through the neighborhood and there really wasn't any "breaking in" time needed because they fit so nicely.  So we (ok, I) then packed up the car and headed to our favorite park to get some yoga and running in. 

     After some stretching, yoga, and a 20 minute muddy hike up the hills, we were ready for trail running.  The shoes were comfortable and supportive and easily transitioned from mild hike to damp ridge line romping.  I was very happy with how they adapted overall, going from sidewalk sprints to easy hiking, to trail runs.  In fact, I can't recall another pair of shoes I have that have made that transition so well.  Most of my running shoes are just that-for running or for wearing in the gym.  Most of my trail shoes are for hikes, and some tout themselves as crossover hiking/trail running shoes but they're usually so clunky that they skew more towards the hiking boot side of things than effective running shoes.  My overall opinion of these ASICS GT-2000 shoes is that if you are looking for a versatile piece of footwear for your sports and other active activities, these would be an excellent choice. For me, they are going to be my go-to easy trail running shoes from now on, although I'll probably save them for less muddy days.....they got really dirty, and trying to do yoga in them again after our run resulted in a very dirty Cheryl in very weird places. Note to all of you reading this: If you decide to do yoga after running in the mud, maybe don't try and touch your feet to your head.  lol.