I got my Mizuno Wave Elixir 7’s as part of the Mezamashii Project this morning!!!
Yes I took the pictures that I do with new shoes and started thinking about doing my usual first initial impressions post.
However, the Elixir’s beckoned to me to take them out for a run.
So I took them out for a run, instead of writing that post. After running, writing my initial impressions post became a secondary consideration, compared to writing about my first run in the Elixir’s.
WOW!!! was the first word out of my mouth after I finished my Notta Road O/B 5.0 Mile Run. This was a 28 second course record IN MY FIRST RUN IN the Elixir’s. I like using this course as a check to see how shoes perform in a variety of conditions, dirt road, tar, rolling hills and a hill at mile 4.5 that usually kicks my butt. It is also far enough to find out the hot spots or problems that a shoe might give me.
I wasn’t pushing hard at any point in the run (well maybe up the hill). I felt comfortable and in control of my run, which hasn’t always been the case this year. My splits were:
- 1.0 – 8.05
- 2.0 – 16:05 (7:59)
- Notta Road Turnaround 19:59 (3:54)
- 3.0 – 23:34 (3:34)
- 4.0 – 31:36 (8:02)
- 5.0 – 40:04 (8:28) Has Steven’s Hill in this split
The Elixir’s just felt right, were extremely comfortable and best of all no hotspots. My stride was smooth and there was no slapping of my forefoot for either foot when I landed. They are a quiet shoe, which means I am running efficiently in them. I think that I am land a little more on my heel, but I am keeping my stride shorter and it doesn’t feel like I am slamming my heel into the ground/pavement.
They just felt fast and I haven’t had too many shoes that have felt this way over the past year.
Before I got the Elixir’s I had been worried about how they would feel as a 12MM drop shoe versus the zero or 4-6 MM drop that I have been running in most of the year. When I started running the Elixir’s, they felt like a lower drop shoe than they are listed as.
Sometimes a shoe is more than just its measurements and you have to actually run in it to see how it feels for your style of running.
All I can say is that I hope that a lot of my runs are like this in the Elixir’s! I know that one run doesn’t make a great shoe, but they made one hell of a first impression!!!
I guess that this is what the Mezamashii Project is all about – having a BRILLIANT RUN!!!
Now to get to back my initial impression of the Mizuno Elixir 7 post – tomorrow 
.
Disclosure: I volunteered to participate in a FitFluential campaign, which resulted in my being selected for the Mizuno Mezamashii Project. Although I received the Mizuno Elixir shoes as a media sample to review, the opinions of this product are my own and I have not received any other compensation as part of this review.
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tonee78
October 5, 2012 at 8:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Those look like awesome shoes Harold!!! Love the color! Glad you had a brilliant run!
Harold L. Shaw
October 5, 2012 at 10:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
They are the color that I really wanted, wasn’t sure which I would be getting
, They are “Harold” shoes 
KatSnF
October 5, 2012 at 8:57 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
neato! hope I get to try them one day!
Heather@Just a Colorado Gal
October 5, 2012 at 9:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve been debating adding the Elixirs to my shoe rotation for awhile, but was hesitant because my other shoes are 4mm drop like you mentioned. Maybe I’ll give them a try– thanks!
Harold L. Shaw
October 5, 2012 at 10:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Mizuno is one of those brands, that are not available in my area and I have to either drive 45 minutes or rely on buying on the web, which I usually don’t like to do the first time I buy a style of shoe. Hate the exchange issues, if doesn’t fit right. These the size ran true – I usually run in size 8′s and that is what I got and fit perfectly. I was surprised because other 12MM shoes that I have run in since going to lower drop shoes was much more noticeable. I wanted a different shoe for longer runs to give a little more protection when my form deteriorates when I get tired. These should do the trick will know better in a couple of weeks.
Carrie
October 5, 2012 at 10:08 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I swear, my Mizuno shoes are magic!
Harold L. Shaw
October 5, 2012 at 10:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Carrie – I don’t know about magic, but it was one of the best first runs in a shoe, I have ever had, this is setting up some pretty big expectations for these shoes, I hope they live up to them, will see on tomorrow’s double-digit run how they do.
AVR–Week In Review 10/7/12 | A Veteran Runnah
October 7, 2012 at 11:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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