I am a professional runner. I run between 7–10 times per week (yes, that means some days I run more than once). These runs can range from long runs to interval sessions to my short and easy recovery runs.
Like many runners, these runs are often the highlight of my day, and give me a feeling that only comes with a relentless dedication to a craft and sport that is so pure. Many people know and pursue this feeling: When the hard feels easy and thinking becomes silent — and nothing matters except the current moment.
In this way, I look at running as a relatively simple sport. It doesn’t require all the tools and equipment of other sports and hobbies. However, the gear it requires is paramount. Most runners would agree, the following gear is non-negotiable:
- Running attire (tops, bottoms, jackets, etc.)
- Running watch
- Headphones
- Running shoes
RUNNING SHOES MATTER MOST
Yep, running shoes. Undoubtedly running shoes are the most important gear a runner uses. It’s not an area where you want to take any chances or settle for anything other than what you feel is the best for you. Of course, there is no such thing as the “one” best running shoe for everybody. There simply isn’t. There are too many factors and variables involved, starting with your feet (obviously). Like many things, it depends totally on the athlete, and depending on a whole range of factors, there will be a shoe that suits them the best. This is clearly reflected in the range provided by the market.
MY GO-TO SHOE
It’s not necessarily easy to find the best running shoe, and to complicate it even further, many runners have a variety of different shoes to match the variety of their runs. However, I can tell you each runner has one shoe in their arsenal that they see as their “all-around” shoe. The UA HOVR™ Machina is that shoe for me. It feels very comfortable and like I can go both fast and slow, and it’s providing the support my feet need the whole time.
The first time I tried the UA HOVR™ Machina on, I instantly knew this was the shoe for me. Equipped with 22% more UA HOVR™ foam for greater energy return and a carbon-filled plate in the forefoot to help propel me forward, this shoe is fast, soft and light. I see this shoe as the most reliable and most important in my collection. This shoe is perfect for a 10-miler on the road and my go-to on these types of days. When running on the road you really notice the bounce back from the propulsion plate, which feels great.
Now, you may ask, why is this shoe so good to you? What attributes make it a great “all-around” shoe? Let me give you the obvious responses (which, by the way, doesn’t make them any less true): They are lightweight, responsive, and they fit well. When you’re wearing them, you certainly notice the cushioning. Despite the great return you get from the carbon-filled plate, they feel nice and soft to run in. Coupled with the generous amount of HOVR foam, these shoes provide a very comfortable and smooth ride. There are also a ton of technical specs to back this up, with layers of testing and scientific evidence; I would be lying if I told you I was an expert in that, though.
For me, the real test was wearing them for the first time — running in them for the first time. Feeling quick in them. Feeling good in them. Not noticing I was running in a separate shoe, but rather just experiencing the feeling of running. To me, there is nothing more important than this feeling in a running shoe, and when I find it, I won’t let go of it.
I mostly wear these shoes for my medium to long runs, when I’m doing most of my running at steady paces. These long runs get up to 16 miles, and at times include me picking up the pace when I’m combining my long and tempo runs. The Machinas work great for these runs, as I can go quick in them, but they also provide the support required for pounding away for so long.
There you have it: That is my experience with the UA HOVR Machina, and it’s an experience I hope many others are having as well.
