Last August 16, we were invited by Nike to tryout the Nike Lunar Trainer, their new state-of-the-art shoe. According to the person who briefed us after our test run, he said that it is Nike’s lightest shoe so far. It utilizes Lunarlite Foam, the same stuff used in outer space by NASA.

This is a snippet from Sneaker Freaker Magainze

LunarTrainer
Typically, if a runner wants to log a lot of mileage training, they’d expect footwear with extra cushioning and support to handle the demand of the road. The LunarTrainer set out to overturn those expectations—and did it using Nike’s revolutionary new cushioning system, Lunarlite foam. Nike’s lightest weight and most responsive cushioning material to date, Lunarlite foam is 30% lighter than Nike Phylon, our next lightest performance foam and works to distribute force across the foot. With each footfall, pressure is dispersed—protecting the foot from injury as well as pain and fatigue—a huge benefit in a shoe meant for mileage.

* * *

Together with other invited guests such as Mon Domingo and Roderick Poblete of Happy Feet, bloggers such as The Loony Runner, The Bull Runner, Ben the Photographer on The Run, Vince Mendoza of Rush Fitness Water, and a whole lot of other well known runners, I did several laps around Bonifacio High Street to test run this amazing shoe. (Thanks to The Bull Runner for the group picture .)

They asked me to fill out a survey to give Nike Feedback on their new shoe. I was not sure what the technical meaning of the terms cushioning, breathability, support, fit, color and design were. I’m sure support and cushioning may be interrelated. I guess the only word I was sure about was the design and color. Haha! Doing 3 rounds around BHS was not enough to give reliable feedback or to really test and get a feel of the shoe. I think the best way for me to actually experience the shoe was to take it out on a road run or for a track session… that I did, the week after.

TRACK SESSION

About almost a week after, I tried the Nike+ Lunar at the Indoor track of Ateneo (Moro Lorenzo). I used it for my 4 sets of 4×200. The shoe was indeed light but my toes, with the exception of the big toe on my right foot hurt. I’m not sure if it was due to the shoe being small but it was unlikely since I was wearing size 11’s…. unless my feet got bigger OR the sizing was smaller than usual.

ROAD RUN

About 4 days later, I tried the Lunar out on the Ateneo Campus. I did 8km. It was ok. I couldn’t really tell whether they were ok or not… until the day after. My plantars started to hurt. Maybe it was my foot strike or what.

LONG RUN

Still, I did not want to give up just yet on my new shoes… They’re Nike+, they’re free, they’re supposedly state-of-the-art. I decided to give my Lunars another shot and took them out for a long run… 1hour and 45 mins. By the time I was on km 6, my achilles was rubbing against the rear of the shoe, my plantars were hurting, as well as my feet… The shoe was not meant for me After 1 hr, I had no choice but to run home and change shoes.

THE VERDICT

I did ask around whether those who also got a pair of Lunars had the same experiences. Some say that they liked it, that it was responsive and indeed very light. Other say that they were meant for elite or professional runners who barely touch the ground and have a rapid foot turnover. Some say that  the Nike  Lunar was not meant to support the full weight of heel strikers such as myself.

For now, I’m going back to my Adidas Supernova with Cushioning of 9. Hehe… I guess I can’t run on the moon when I was meant for the stars Hahaha!