A Kayano Comeback
It's no big secret that I've been MIA (missing in action) from the running world for quite some time now. Since May 2023 to be precise. As it approaches 2 years since I put away the running shoes, I'm enormously happy to say that I have officially made my return to race day start lines, Sunday long runs and all things running.
Flashback to May 2023. I had been experiencing some subtle knee pain which only seemed to worsen with every mile.' A couple days off here and there will do the trick'... or so I thought. I decided to take the entire summer off from running to give my legs a break, but still, upon my return, instant pain. It was time for an intervention.
I decided to bite the bullet, realize I wasn't going to wait out this injury, and seek help. Thanks to Peter Morrison from 'Belfast Sports & Spinal' I was pointed in the right direction, received some excellent advice and some light massage. So, you'd like to think that someone who works in Pure Running would be exercising in the correct shoes! Right? Not exactly. Here I was, receiving the news that I normally give to customers; I needed support in my running shoes. I had exhausted my IT bands in both legs with a couple years of running in neutral shoes. Historically I had always ran in supportive trainers, but since lockdown in 2020 I made the switch to heavily cushioned neutral shoes in an attempt to get rid of some lingering shin splints. It worked wonders for my shin pain, but little did I know, it was weakening my IT bands which were not receiving any support. I obviously hadn't done my gait analysis in a loooong time!
I decided to get myself a pair of Asics Kayano 30's and it was honestly night and day in comparison to the neutral shoes. The whole experience ended up being a good lesson in the sense that, what might feel incredibly comfortable upon first try, might not necessarily be the most suitable footwear for your personal gait/ individual running needs. I also gained a lot of useful information in regards to IT band recovery, the tell tale signs of knee injuries, rehab, prevention and suitable alternatives to running while treating an injury; Amazing information which I have since been able to use when advising customers in store and helping guide them towards the most suitable shoe for them.
For anyone who knows they specifically need arch support in their trainers, I would highly recommend the Asics Kayano. I am now on my third pair and I'll certainly be moving onto my fourth once the current ones are done. The Kayanos offer a lovely smooth ride and great cushioning, without being overly spongey and soft. Paired with the midsole arch support, the Kayano keeps you nice and stable despite what distance you might be running. I've also found them to endure the test of time. Even after my previous Kayanos had run their lifespan they were still in relatively good condition and so I decided to use them for lighter gym work or for wearing casually in day to day life.
If you're interested in trying the Asics Kayano for yourself, get in touch with us for more information regarding available sizes, the latest models and hopefully trying it for yourself. Alternatively, if you're currently suffering with dodgy knees, feel free to call by and we'll relate to our shared running trauma! Us runners have to stick together after all :)
Cameron Jenkins