Day 30: adidas Response Control 7 Review...

By Frank

It’s been 30 days since I first received the adidas Response Control 7 and yes, it’s time for a full review! Since the first day I’ve got it till now, the shoe has seen much action. From my tempo runs to races ranging from 5KM till 15KM, the shoe has proven its worth.

The adidas Response Control 7...

The adidas Response Control 7 is an entry level motion control training shoe. No fancy or high-tech technology built into it but yet it got straight to the point, to protect the feet as we run. The built of the shoe was good as it didn’t feel like slipping into a cheap shoe. The shoe was handsomely designed too and mine came in white with shades of red and metallic silver.

Positive
Upon receiving the shoe, my first impression was that this shoe is roomy! The roomy toebox was good enough for me to allow my toes to move around just right. Therefore, no overlapping of toes which may lead to blisters. The shoe is also built on a width of 2E which suits people with wide feet. But not only that, the wider width meant a larger midsole which provided added support which worked together with a small plastic plate under the heel area. It provided me with a much needed stability support by slowing down my pronation rate working together with the pro-moderator technology embedded on it. I’m a mild pronator by the way. And although the FORMOTION is of a very basic design without the inner mechanism, it works just fine assisting on the heel strike. It seems everything was built with a link to each other. Neat! And although geoFiT was omitted, I felt the collar to be pretty comfortable. The padding wasn’t too thick or thin and it hug my ankle at just the way I like it to be.

Key notes:
2E width.
Roomy toebox.
Anti slip laces.
Good pronation control.

FORMOTION logo marks the presence of the technology...

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Even without geoFiT, the collar was comfortable...

Negative
As mentioned earlier in my entry on Day 19, I found the rear sole to be a bit on the thick side which irritated me as I ran further. Stiffness was all right but somehow the thickness of it meant my heels were rubbing on the heel counter more. I personally prefer soles that are thinner like those on the Supernova series. Next, the breathability of the shoe was poor. Both my feet were sweaty after each runs and in one case of a 10KM race, it led me to a blistered toe. The mesh was thick and no holes were built on the soles like the adidas adistar Cushion 6. And from a comfortable shoe to wear after slipping on, it soon became a soggy affair.

Key notes:
Thick heel area.
Breathability is very poor.
A bit high on the price tag.

The thick mesh and no ventilation holes on the soles...

Overall, the adidas Response Control 7 is a pretty neat shoe. A 10KM run will be nice, but a 15KM run will be pushing it to the max especially on race pace. The retail price of RM349 might be a bit on the expensive side considering this is an entry level trainer designed and built for those on a tight budget.

Comfort: 7.5/10
Cushioning: 8/10
Design: 8.5/10
Flexibility: 6.5/10
Weight: 7.5/10
Overall: 7.6

For more information and pictures, do read some of my day to day feedback I had on the adidas Response Control 7 as I train with it for the last 30 days. Day 1, Day 3 and Day 19.

Ready for action...

And thus with this report, comes a close to my second shoe seeding program with adidas Malaysia. Thanks you adidas Malaysia and Krishnan for the opportunity given.

Day 19: Good Response...

By Frank

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It's been 16 days since I last blog about the adidas Response Control 7 which I got it courtesy from adidas Malaysia for their shoe seeding program. Reason... I can't find any major faults with the shoe! But since it's day 19 now, I guess I will blog a little something more on it before the final review on day 30.

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Front view of the adidas Response Control 7...

And so, I have been wearing the adidas Response Control 7 for my trainings. Although I wore it once for a 10KM road race at the recent Larian Bersama Bomba 2008, my feet ended up having blisters. I guess it was due to the fact that the shoe was still new at that time and I was pushing it to the max. But a week later, I wore it for the New Balance Pacesetters 15KM 2008 which gave me absolutely no problem at all. In fact, the shoe helped me to achieved a new personal record for both the races.

So, why do I like the shoe so much? Firstly, there were plenty of room for my toes to move in it. The width of the shoe which was 2E allows a snug but not tight fitting. I felt that both my feet are being hugged and not squeezed. You get the idea, don't you? The laces were made of anti-slip material unlike the one on my adidas adizero Tempo. I did not need to worry about the laces coming loose even without having to tie it twice. And the shoe's tongue sat quietly in place, not moving around like the adidas adistar Cushion 6.

An inside look on the shoe's width...

The shoe's tongue proudly showing the model of the shoe...

Well...The probably one downside that I managed to find out about the shoe right now is the very thick rear outsole. It may feel all right during an early part of a race, but as I reached the 10KM mark (during the New Balance Pacesetters 15KM 2008), I felt a bit uncomfortable. As I'm a person who prefers a thinner soles like those on a racer shoe, the rear outsole of the shoe made me felt that I was "bouncing" too much. I didn't like the feeling as I felt my heel being irritated by the heel counter due to the "bounce". Thefore, as I mentioned earlier in day 3 entry, the shoe is made for a 10KM race. A 15KM race might be all right but I guess that's pushing it to the limits. And also, by the time a 15KM distance is achieved, both my feet were soaked in sweat as the ventiation for this shoe is pretty poor.

A rear view of the shoe. Notice how thick is the sole...

And so here's to a very short entry on day 19 with the adidas Response Control 7. Till the next entry...

Day 3: Larian Bersama Bomba 2008...

Event: Larian Bersama Bomba 2008
Venue: Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur

Date: 10 May 2008
Time: 7.30am
Distance: 10KM (10.93KM by Choi's Garmin Forerunner 205)
Shoe: adidas Response Control 7
By Frank

I missed last year's Larian Bersama Bomba due to a boil I suffered. So it will be first time participating in this run. Although I'm very optimistic about this run as I had been improving positively, I just got the feeling that I miss the medals by a few placing. The medals offered for this run was for the top 75 runners. And to get it, I must complete it within 53 minutes based on last year's results. To find out if I managed to get myself a medal, read on...

It's Day 3 now since I received the adidas Response Control 7 from the adidas shoe seeding program. Having tested it on Day 1, I guess it's time I put it to race test. I arrived at Dataran Merdeka at 6.45am and to my suprise, the place was already packed with runners. The usual parking spot where I park my car has already been taken. Got no choice but to park at the basement car park which costs me RM4! Met up with Ronnie who arrived at 5.30am. So early! As I did my warmup and stretching, the gang arrived. Adam, Chen, Choi, Hong, Lai FS, Ryan, Saiful and Geraldine all came except for Kenny who was late. He overslept. Haha... And so after all of us were done with our warmups, we proceeded to the starting area after having our group photo taken. I entered the staring area with Choi and we chatted a for a while, while waiting for the even to be started. This loosen me up a little. Kenny then arrived just in time. Ben who is running too saw me and called me. We both wish each other the best out of this run.

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Group photo before the run...

And so at 7.30am, runners were let off. I had trouble getting a good start as I was blocked by slower runners. Adam and Kenny started cleanly and I told myself not to loose them. I tried get myself an empty running space in front of the slower runners and I managed to do so with Choi just right behind me. I was running at a comfortable pace of 6:00/KM. Didn't want to start off to fast after what happened at the recent Olympic Torch Relay Fun Run. After the short hill climb after JKR, I began my race pace. As I entered the Kenny Hill area, I started overtaking runners around. My pace was averaging around 5:10/KM here and I felt floating on air. This made stride bigger than usual. All thanks to plyometrics. I managed to overtake Chen, Lai FS, Ryan and Tay Poh Chye here. I really felt good and strong here, and hope this will go on. But I know it's going to be tough at the front once I enter the Duta Highway. At around the 4KM mark, I overtook a Malay runner but he managed to pace by my side. I didn't mind as this helps each of us and he doesn't pose any problems for me. At the 5KM mark, I began to free myself from him as I approach the refreshment station. To my disappointment, only plain water was served. There was no isotonic drinks.

After the refreshement station is where the real challenge began. As I entered the Duta Highway, Chen overtook me back. I know I will struggle at this part due to the vehicle fumes plus the hill climb. I'm still able to see Kenny which I did from the start but now he is already like 20 seconds in front of me. I didn't want to lose him so I tried to maintain my pace but I know I'm starting to slow down. As I approach the Indian Embassy, I suddenly heard loud running foot steps from behind. At first I thought it was Lai FS. It gave me some pressure but a good one as I increase my pace back again. But in the end, that runner managed to overtake me and he was Tay Poh Chye. Haha... Soon later, Choi overtook me too. I guess I'm slowing down a lot already. But then, Yaziz came into my picture with 2KM to go. He gave me some encouragement and we managed to pace each other for a while before I broke away from him at the last climb at the Jalan Parlimen flyover. After the climb, I can feel that fatigue is taking over me. I tried to push, keeping Choi and Tay Poh Chye in my sight. As I arrived at the Bank Negara roundabout, Yaziz overtook me. I guess he really wanted to win me this time after what happened at the recent Bidor Half Marathon. Hehe... As I made my way to the finish line which was in the middle of the field, all I can hope for is the best as I had already did my part. I crossed the finish line at 00:52:52 and I was thinking whether do I stand a chance to get a medal. As I queue to receive the certificate, I asked a Malay runner who was 2 places in front of me on his position. He showed me his position card which was 75 and with that, disappointment took over me. Sigh... I missed the medal by 2 positions!

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After the run, tired but yet still smiling...

Though I didn't manage to get a medal, I was extremely happy that today's timing was my best for a 10KM race. And hey, this race was 10.93KM as recorded by Choi's GPS sensor. That made me even happier. To me, medal isn't everything. As I long I did my best, and the results shows, that's all that I can ask for.

The certificate of participation...

So how did the adidas Response Control 7 performed? It was very comfortable. The light weight helped a lot especially during the closing stages of the run. And even without geoFiT, my ankle was well protected especially when I took the corners. But as the shoe was still very new, I suffered a slight blister on the bottom of my right feet, but not serious. I guess I have to run in the shoe a bit more. The unsteady heel which I complained 2 days back seems to have disappear. Not sure of the reason behind it, but I gues could be the terrain of the route. So overall, I can now certify this shoe suitable for a 10KM race. Well at least for me.

But that's not the end for today. I will still have a midnight simulation run for the upcoming Sundown Marathon at Putrajaya later at midnight. And not forgetting the World Asthma Day Jogathon tomorrow morning. It's going to be tiring but I just take it as a training at the next 2 runs. And besides, it's going to be fun with all the familiar faces around for the midnight run. So, I'm signing off here for now as I need my rest.

Day 1: Responding To My Call...

By Frank

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adidas Malaysia...

I'm in need for a pair of training shoe, one that at least can do a 15KM run. I was eyeing at the new adidas Supernova Control 11 where I first saw the sample at the recent KLIM08 race kit collection day. But then, came the adidas second shoe seeding program of the year. I was very happy with the previous program and so, I decided to participate in this round too. Made an appointment with Krishnan and together with Ronnie, Kenny and Saiful, the 4 of us drop by at adidas Malaysia's office this noon. After informing on our feet size, Krishnan brought 4 pairs of shoes out. And here's the story...

The shoes...

The 4 shoes were the adizero Tempo, adizero Mana, Supernova Sequence and Response Control 7. I was presented with the Supernova Sequence due to the fact that I'm a mild pronator. However, after testing out each pair, Ronnie felt that the Supernova Sequence suits him better. I offered to change with his Response Control 7 as the shoe of suits me too, although I got to admit the Supernova Sequence was just excellent. But I believe Ronnie's feet can be pretty choosy on shoes, so I sacrificed. Hehe...

Details on the Response Control 7...

The adidas Response Control 7...

And so, I got my hands (or shall I say feet) on the adidas Response Control 7 for my second shoe seeding program. The shoe is a basic entry level model for the training/competition range. Not so much of high end technology built into the shoe. I love the colour of the shoe as it came in shades of white, metallic silver and red. And compared to the previous adidas adistar Cushion 6 I've got for the first program, this shoe is light. Here's a little background of the shoe's technology before I continue on.

adiPRENE: The main absorber at the heel.
adiPRENE +: The absorber at the forefoot which is also used for toe-off.
adiWEAR: A durable outsole used at high impact areaa.
FORMOTION: Acting as a suspension system provided by 2 plates at the heel area. And with it, the 2 plates moves around to adapt to the ground at every heel strike.
TORSION SYSTEM: A stabilizer used to provide arch support.
pro-moderator: Used by motion control shoes to limit the pronation of the feet.

One very interesting thing I found out was that, upon taking out the insole, I actually found out that instead of the usual adiPRENE 45 used on the inner rear heel sole, the LITESTRIKE 55 was used this time. Not sure on the diffrence though. But hey, let the running do the talking here.

LITESTRIKE 55 at the inner rear sole...

The weather was good today and training was on at Lake Gardens with Ronnie and the rest of the gang. And so, I slip into my new adidas Response Control 7 and away I went. First thing I felt was, the toebox was so roomy! I can move my toes around. Nice! But the heel area was pretty hard! Not sure was this due to the LITESTRIKE 55 or was the shoe too new? But as I ran, it felt better. The pro-moderator worked very well and I can certainly feel the support between my arch and heel. One thing that got me a little worried about was the stitching. As all my adidas shoes came with the noseam technology, the Response Control 7 didn't come with it. I was afraid of blisters or cuts that might happen but luckily it did not. Actually, it felt pretty nice except that the shoe isn't that well ventilated compared to my other adidas shoes. I miss the holes! Another concern of mine was the heel strike. Although the 2 FORMOTION plates were present, the mechanism that sits within it is missing. I'm not sure whether does this contributes to it, but I felt the rear sole to be moving too much. It was't really steady at every heel strike I made. Hmmm... But anyway, I felt really happy with the shoe as I ran pretty comfortable with it at a fast pace today covering 7.5KM. Here's a little summary of my early Day 1 test of the shoe:

Pros
1) Comfortable and light weight. No fancy high technology used.
2) Excellent pronation support by the pro-moderator although just only at the heel area.
3) 2E width suits those with wide feet.
4) Handsomely designed.

Cons
1) Ventilation could been better.
2) Heel area appear to be unsteady.

Pronation support by the pro-moderator...

The 2 FORMOTION plates...

The missing inner FORMOTION mechanism...

I'm happy with the Response Control 7 as it suits my requirement for running 10KM or max 15KM. I don't think I can run anything more than that in this shoe. Although the shoe is still new and have yet to run-in, I felt confident in it and might use it for this weekend's 10KM Larian Bersama Bomba 2008. How will the shoe fare in a race, only this weekend will tell. Till then, stay tune for my report.

And before signing off from this entry, I would like to thank Krishnan and adidas Malaysia for allowing yet another opportunity for me to participate in their shoe seeding program.

Group photo (From L-R: Saiful, Kenny, Ronnie, Frank, Krishnan)...

Day 30: adidas adistar Cushion 6 Review...

By Frank

30 days is here and as promised, here’s my full blown review of the adidas adistar Cushion 6 (adistarC6). Just a bit of recap here. The adistarC6 is categorized as a Serious Competition and Training shoe which was launched back in February 2007. It is the most technology rich shoe by adidas incorporating some of the well known adidas system such as adiPRENE and FORMOTION. And it comes in a design simple enough for people to like it. Just plain white with some dash of yellow and silverish grey.

The adidas adistar Cushion 6...

The adistarC6 is a cushioning shoe hence it is made for those who supinate (under pronate). Me being a mild pronator should in fact be wearing the motion control version. However, I managed to “transform” the shoe slightly to being a motion control shoe by changing the insoles as the factory version offered almost no support at all, something that didn’t suit me at all.

Positive
The adistarC6 is very comfortable. The noseam technology made my feet felt like I’m slipping into a socks rather than a shoe. It was smooth sailing for my feet in it as I felt no irritation caused by stitching. And to make things better, the ventilation is excellent. The shoe’s vamp is built like a string of nets and as I ran, I can feel breeze coming through it hence cooling both my feet. This will be great for runners with sweaty feet.

Front view of the shoe...

Here’s a look on the cushioning system. As with all other adidas shoes, the cushioning system used is the adiPRENE for the heel area and the adiPRENE + for the forefoot area. The theory used here is simple. The cushioning system is to absorb every impact runners experience when the feet hit the ground. And instead of bouncing, the adiPRENE enables the feet to stay on ground thus eliminating multiple impacts. However, the main highlight for this shoe is probably the FORMOTION technology used. As compared to other adidas shoes, the adistarC6 offers 2 FORMOTION plates to act as a suspension that moves around to adapt to the ground upon impact. Both the adiPRENE and FORMOTION worked hand in hand to provide the best cushioning system I felt since I started running a year ago.

The FORMOTION logo on the shoe's tongue...

During the past, adidas shoes were pretty narrow in fit. However today, adidas seems to have realized this problem. The width of their shoes has been improved, and the adistarC6 is one of them. There were sufficient space for my toes to move around and my forefoot felt no pain at all. This is a very important aspect as with every pounding the feet takes, it actually grows larger.

Key notes:
Excellent cushioning.
Excellent comfort and ventilation.
Laces are of sufficient length and are non-slip.
Shoe’s width has been improved.

Negative
Being a cushioning shoe and with lots of technology built into it, it is sure heavy. The weight is felt straight away upon slipping both feet into it. It felt very draggy especially when I reach the point of exhaustion. The heel cushioning is very thick too so it felt like that I’m floating a bit on air as I can hardly feel the ground. I personally feel that there isn’t a need for a second FORMOTION plate. It only served to make the shoe heavier. I have an adidas Supernova Cushion 6 and I felt that even on single FORMOTION plate, the cushioning system is already superior.

The thick sole at the heel area...

As with most other adidas shoes, the adiPRENE + used at the forefoot area is for impact absorption and also to provide a more dynamic toe-off. However, as I felt the shoe to be a bit stiff, as in not flexible enough, I couldn’t take advantage of it. With the heavy weight of the shoe and couple with this problem, I felt that I’m being slowed down with every step I make.

And here’s an issue with the shoe’s tongue. It kept moving to the side as I ran. And after 30 days of usage, I still find no solutions to it even though I have tried various lacing methods. It kept moving to the side and after running for a while, I felt really irritated by it. I tried tying the shoe lace tighter and although it did helped a bit, I couldn’t withstand the tightness caused. I didn’t encounter this problem with my other adidas shoes before and am not sure what the reason behind this is.

Key notes:
Weight of shoe is heavy.
Thick heel area.
Not flexible enough.
geoFiT did not “hug” the ankle enough
Shoe’s tongue moving sideways as I run.
Not suitable for runs more than 10KM.

The bottom-line is, I can only say that this shoe is very comfortable to wear suiting only for runs not more than 10KM. I think it should be re-categories as a training shoe instead, unless one has the leg strength to run with it for a longer distance.

Comfort: 8.5/10
Cushioning: 9/10
Design: 8/10
Flexibility: 6/10
Weight: 6.5/10
Overall: 7.6

For more information and pictures, do read some of my day to day feedback I had on the adistarC6 as I train with it for the last 30 days. Day 1, Day 2, Day 8, Day 16, Day 17, Day 23 and Day 28.

And finally before ending this report, I would like thank Krishnan and adidas Malaysia for the opportunity to participate in this shoe seeding program. THANK YOU.

Day 28: The Star And The Circuit...

Event: KLIM 2008 Circuit Running 2
Venue: Lake Gardens, Kuala Lumpur
Date: 24 February 2008
Time: 7.25am
Distance: 2.8KM per loop (to complete as many loops in 02:15:00)
Shoe: adidas adistar Cushion 6
By Frank

I gave the first circuit a miss as I was not well. But I told myself that I have to get myself running in the second. And even though I have just recovered from a mild flu, I pulled myself together and came for the run this morning.

Armed with my adidas adistar Cushion 6, I arrive at the Lake Gardens pretty early. In fact I was 45 minutes early! Got my running bib and did a bit of warming up. Soon later, runners began to show up. I managed to meet up with Ronnie, Chen, Kelvin and Steven before the run started at 7.25am, 25 minutes late! And just before the run started, all the runners were informed that the route has been changed and the distance has been increased by at least 500M! Well, I expected it as I knew that the original route were sealed off due to some renovation being done as I ran a few days ago. So to no suprise, the new route consists of the uphills and downhills of the Carcosa area!

I started my run at a slower pace as I know I'm not really fit after a few days of illness. But after completing 1KM, my fitness level started to kick in and away I went resuming my normal race pace. At the second loop, I started to pace with Geraldine. She was overtaking me at the downhill sections but I managed to overtake her back at the uphill sections. Haha... It was only at loop 4 when I stepped on an uneven surface without me knowing causing me to lose my momentum. And it was here that Geraldine overtook me and took off like a rocket. Then, it was at the end of the loop 6 when I was exiting the Carcosa area when suddenly my right feet gave way and slip to the side. I was lucky no damage was done but that costs me my speed. I did another loop and completed the circuit run at 01:58:59 covering 18.94KM, equivalent to 7 loops.

So, here's a look on the adidas adistar Cushion 6. The shoe performed pretty well at the first 10KM of the run when I was still fresh. But as I grew tired, the weight of the shoe again gave me problems. I had to drag the shoe along as I ran. However, on the positive side, the shoe gave me superior grip when I was running both uphills and downhills. The only slip up was at the Carcosa exit at the end of loop 6 I mentioned earlier. Not sure what happen but the shoe just slid sideways. But anyway, I guess this shoe for me is only meant for runs not exceeding 10KM. Anything more, I'm going to struggle.

Day 23: The Star Meets The Acti-Fit...

By Frank

Time passes and I'm into the final week of the adidas shoe seeding program. So far, the adidas adistar Cushion 6 has work pretty well for my training. Other than that, I have not use it for any races. But anyway, today I am to compare the factory insoles with my training insoles. Meet the Acti-Fit A+.

When I first met Krishnan on Day 1, I was curious on why did he choose a cushioning shoe for me after showing him my foot scan results. I did ask him and his reply was "It's OK". Hmm... It really caught me by suprise as I'm a mild pronator. I expected him to choose a motion control shoe for me instead but he did not. But still anyhow, I followed his advise as he is the shoe expert.

The factory insole (yellow) meets the Acti-Fit A+ insole (red)...

The factory insole (top) is almost flat while the Acti-Fit A+ provides arch support (bottom)...

So after 23 days, I finally put in my Acti-Fit A+ insoles into the shoe. First feeling was, the shoe fitted better and finally there's a support on my arch. The factory insoles are actually pretty flat and it offers almost no support at all. With my Acti-Fit A+, I ran better especially during hill climbs. The heel area of the insoles is made of Poron, a material to absorb shock thus improving an already great cushioning system by the adiPRENE.

The Acti-Fit A+ fitting nicely in the adidas adistar Cushion 6...

So with the Acti-Fit A+, I've turned the adidas adistar Cushion 6 into a motion control shoe, well almost. I will say this shoe will suit a supinator otherwise known as a under-pronator more due to it's cushioning nature. I'm lucky that I didn't experience any pain with this shoe. But anyway, 7 more days to go to test the shoe.

Day 17: A Speeding Star...

By Frank

Earlier in the evening, I joined Ronnie and Geraldine for some speedwork training at Lake Gardens. Instead of using my usual shoes, I decided to give the adidas adistar Cushion 6 a try.

The speedwork that Ronnie introduce is pretty similiar to the one that I have previously practiced, only that his distance is further. We did a 300M sprint maintaining our heart rate between 80% to 85%. We sprinted from one end to the other and the best part is, there was a gradient of at least 4% to 5% halfway through the distance. Upon reaching the target point, we slow jog back to the starting point, where this is considered the recovery phase. No rest is allowed in between as we are not allowed our heart rate to drop to low. And also, we wouldn't want to risk cardiac arrhythmia. We did a set of 12 and for the first 6 sets, I managed to complete each set with an average time of 66 seconds. The last 6 sets I managed an average time of 75 seconds. As torturing as it is, this training has the advantage of helping in strengthening our heart and also leg muscles as there is gradient involve.

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So how did the shoe perform? As usual the cushioning was great. No pain was felt after 12 sets of torture. As for the weight, I could bear with it during the early sets but as my energy level depletes at the later sets, the shoe pulled both my feet down. It was so draggy that I couldn't lift my feet high enough to avoid rubbing the sole with the tarmac. Therefore as expected, this shoe isn't for fast runners. In fact, I knew it all along but I just wanted to put the shoe to the test. As some people might believe, when we train in a heavier shoe and then going for races in a lighter race shoe, we can run faster. Just a theory but it's up to you to believe. But anyhow, it was a comfortable run with the adidas adistar Cushion 6.

Day 16: The Star And The Nova...

By Frank

It's been 16 days since I had the adidas adistar Cushion 6 (refered to as adistarC6). The testing has been going pretty well although certain things are still too early to tell. However, this entry today isn't about any test feedback I had on the shoe. It's actually a head-to-head comparison with my adidas Supernova Cushion 6 (refered to as SupernovaC6) which I just decided to retire it from the race scene.

From left, the adistarC6 and the SupernovaC6...

Having done more than 400KMs since they day I got them at 9 February 2007, I guess it's time I retire my SupernovaC6 from the race scene with one final and special event, the KL Tower Towerthon 2008. It was a wonderful shoe which I used for my first running event, the KL International Marathon 2007 doing a full marathon. Of more than 400KMs, the only problem I had with it is for a distance of the half marathon at the Penang Bridge Marathon 2007 where I was hit by a plantar problem at both my feet at a very early stage of the race. Other than that, no other problems what so ever. However, after retirement, I'm still going to use the shoe for training purposes as there is still "life" left to it.

After more than 400KMs, there is still "life" for the Supernova C6...

So here's 5 comparisons I made with the 2 shoes.

Design and structure: Both shoes were designed almost pretty equally. They were after all launched at about the same time back in early 2007. As for the structure, it's pretty too early to judge the adistarC6 now though it does looks pretty "heavy duty". The SupernovaC6 has done more than 400KMs till today and I assume it can hit at least 600KM! Therefore, this segment is a fair draw.

Comfort: The adistarC6 wider design gave my toes more room to move around compared to the narrower SupernovaC6. However, problems with the adistarC6's tongue moving to the side prompt me for some solutions on the laces as mentioned in my Day 8 report.

Cushioning: The adistarC6 wins hands down on this segment. Not to say the SupernovaC6 isn't good, but it's just that the adistarC6 is better. The implementation of a second FORMOTION plate does makes a huge difference. It worked so well with the adiPRENE and adiPRENE + that it actually adapts to the ground more effectively.

The extra FORMOTION plate for the adistarC6 (bottom)...

Ventilation: Both shoes are well ventilated as both are using the seamless air mesh. However, I felt the adistarC6 to be slightly better in this segment. Maybe the tiny holes at the front side of the soles did help.

Weight: The adistarC6 is certainly a heavy shoe with all the technologies implemented in it. It's after all, a very good cushioning shoe. However, not everyone is suitable for it as some will find it too draggy. Therefore, the SupernovaC6 which is lighter takes the crown for this segment for it's ideal weight.

Well... There you have it. Just some basic comparisons. The adistarC6 will win hands down if not for it's weight. I understand t's a cushioning shoe but I felt that the shoe can be somehow lighten. Maybe the next edition will improve on it. But anyway, it's still pretty early to judge the adistarC6 now. And after all, after a year of more than 400KMs, the SupernovaC6 has proven itself as an effective shoe for me. Therefore a big THANK YOU to my first running shoe.

Day 8: The Star And The Lake...

By Frank

After a successful KL Tower Towerthon yesterday, I was invited by Ronnie from Der_Pacemakers to join them for a training run today at Lake Gardens. Initially, I was too busy with the Chinese New Year preparation that I had to decline his offer. But after serious consideration, I find that his offer is just too tempting. I quickly finish what I could at home and contacted Ronnie to inform him that I will be joining them. And in the evening, off I went to Lake Gardens bringing along my adidas adistar Cushion 6.

I met up with Ronnie, Lai Fong San, Kenny and Geraldine, and at 6.15pm, off we went. The run was a mixture of flats, up and downhills, good for speedworks and strengthening the leg. And, we are offered with some pretty good scenery of Lake Gardens and its surroundings. Overall, it was a good run and I did 11.15KM, clocking 01:27:28.

But how did the adidas adistar Cushion 6 performed? As with the previous report at Day 2, I had trouble with the tongue. Therefore today, I tied the laces a bit tighter than usual to prevent the tongue from moving around and it worked. However, it was a bit uncomfortable as it was just tight! I guess I need to find another way to tie the laces. As for the shoe's weight, I think I'm getting a bit more used to it now although it's still heavy! However, there was not much drag this time as it is day 8 afterall. My legs are slowly adjusting to it, I guess.

The impressive part was the cushioning. The adiPRENE, adiPRENE + and FORMOTION was working so well that I felt no pain on both my legs even after a stressful towerthon yesterday. I guess this shoe will be suitable for long distance runs if you are comfortable with the weight as it is really leg friendly. And my feet was so comfortable in the shoe with sufficient moving space. And not to mention the ventilation of the shoe. My feet were kept cool most of the time thanks to some tiny holes at the soles of the shoe.

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The ventilation holes at the sole...

Overall, the shoe is getting better and better. I just hope my legs will be able to accomodate to the shoe's weight after a few more runs with it. And also, need to find a way to settle the tongue issue.

Day 2: The Star's Debut...

By Frank

After walking around the house in the adidas adistar Cushion 6 for half a day, it's finally time to introduce it to the road surface. I have intended to do a 10KM run with it initially, but the weather just like yesterday wasn't kind enough. It started showing signs of pouring after I ran about 5KM. So I guess calling it a day after a 5KM run in a new pair of shoe will be reasonably good enough.

So, how did the shoe fair? First feeling after slipping both my feet into the shoe is, it is wide! My toes were comfortable with enough moving space in it. And the second feeling is that the material is so soft and I felt no poking and stuff that usually comes from a new shoe! I guess it's thanks to the noseam architecture. And as I ran with it, I felt the cushioning was excellent thanks to the thick and shock absorbent sole. Toe-off was good too as there wasn't any discomfort with my metatarsals. I think adidas did a great job by putting together the adiPRENE and adiPRENE + combining with the width of the shoe. The FORMOTION system works very well too and I didn't experience any discomfort with my heel nor arch. Plenty of outsole on the shoe for me to land on the road surface without any of my feet twitching from side to side. My ligaments and tendons will be grateful!

A look on the comfortable inner section...

The outsoles...

Notice the thickness of the sole at the heel area...

However, as good as anything else, it isn't perfect. Some downsides I've noticed, as mentioned yesterday is the weight of the shoe. Being a feature and technology rich shoe, it is pretty heavy. Although I just ran 5KM with it, I felt that my legs are actually being dragged back by the weight of the shoe. Imagine if quickstrike wasn't implemented, the shoe will be even heavier! Next, the tongue of the shoe kept sliding to the side. I never experience this with other adidas shoe. Not sure the reason why but it can be quite irritating with a piece of the tongue at one side of the feet. And finally, I found that the geoFiT isn't as "hugging" as it should be. I felt better in my adidas Supernova Cushion 6. I'm not sure of the reason but I guess it might be due to the shoe size as both are of different size. But still, this is very subjective.

Although I have a few positive and negative views on the shoe right now, I guess it is still too early to tell. It is after all just my first run with it. Never know how will it perform once it is "season". Now that leaves me with something to think about. Should I scale the KL Tower in this weekend's Towerthon Challenge in this shoe?

Day 1: A Seed And A Star...

By Frank

I missed the adidas Seeding Shoe Program last year as I just started my running career and didn’t know too much about it. But come this year, after being in running for a steady slightly more than a year, it’s no way that I’m going to miss it again. And so it came when I learnt of it from der_pacemakers network site and decided that it is just too important for me. I quickly e-mailed Krishnan and made an appointment with him. Below is the announcement he made for the program.

I have some good news for runners who blogs or having their own webpage.

adidas had brought in some very high performance technical running shoes to be given away to runners to wear-test them & given us their very frank & unprejudiced opinion about the shoes after 30 days of usage. The sizes are limited and I have them in size UK 5.5 , 7.5 , 8.5 & 10.5.

Those wishing to possess these shoes will have to comply with the following terms & condition :
1 ) Come to the adidas office to fit the shoes.
2 ) Undertake to give comment about the shoes after 30 days of usage.
3 ) Must be a blogger or has his/her own website.

If you are interested pls make an appointment with me or my partners Mori Hiroshi as detailed below :

Office address:
adidas Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Block B , Level 4, Plaza Damansara
45 Media Setia 1 Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur
Tel Office : 03 - 20804843 / 20804876

Contact Person ( 1 )Krishnan Karuppan - Mobile : 012 - 3503668
E-Mail : krishnan.karuppan@adidas.com

Contact Person ( 2 )Mori Hiroshi
E-mail : Hiroshi.mori@adidas.com

This offer expires on 22nd February 2008

Best Regards
Krishnan Karuppan
Head of Running adidas Malaysia

And just this morning, I met the man. Krishnan was very kind to present me with a variety of shoes ranging from year 2007 to some of the newly released year 2008 models. Not only did he presented them to me, he even explained each shoes and it's technolgy to me which further deepen my knowledge. I brought him my foot scan report I obtained from Foot Solutions and he did some explanations which was very valuable. And after trying out a few models he selected for me, my feet finally decided that the adidas adistar Cushion 6th edition is the one. It was launched back in early year 2007 so it isn’t a new model as the 7th edition is already out now. Nevertheless, I didn’t mind as long the shoe suits me and it is comfortable. It is still now available at an adidas store near you retailing at RM529. The shoe is almost entirely white in colour as the lime green colour is very light. To give it a more futuristic look, hints of silver were used together with the reflective materials. And here's a few picture of it.

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The shoe tag...

Although a sample, there is no difference with the real shoe...

The name says it all...

The adidas adistar Cushion 6...

With the weather being unkind today, I couldn’t train and so I can’t debut the adidas adistar Cushion 6 on the road yet. So, I decided to wear it and walk around in the house. Therefore, here’s an early impression I have on the shoe.

Pros
1) Feels great with lots of cushioning provided.
2) Lots of reflective material making the shoe suitable for running in dark areas.
3) Laces are just of the correct length unlike the short ones on the adidas adizero Tempo.

Cons
1) A bit heavy as I am used to the adidas Supernova Cushion 6 and adidas adizero Tempo.

And here’s the technology that was used in the adidas adistar Cushion 6 as explained by Krishnan.
adiPRENE: Acts as the main absorber to absorb the impact on the heel, thus preventing it from travelling up the leg muscles.
adiPRENE +: Just like the adiPRENE, this material is used to protect the forefoot instead and to provide toe-off.
adiWEAR: A durable outsole used at high impact areas.
FORMOTION: Acts as a suspension system and has 2 plates that moves around, adapting to the ground to improve on the feet’s movement. And with 2 plates, wear and tear is kept to a minimum.
geoFiT: A padding around the ankle area that enhances fit and comfort.
quickstrike: A material used on the shoe base to provide a light yet durable outsole.
TORSION SYSTEM: Acts as a foot stabilizer by providing arch support.
noseam: Instead of stitching, the upper is molded together thus eliminating the chances of blisters and also to provide a “in-socks” feel.

The adiPRENE material at the heel area...

The 2 FORMOTION plates...

Look, no stitching...

The adidas adistar Cushion 6 is a categorised as a Serious Competition and Training shoe, in between both my adidas Supernova Cushion 6 and adidas adizero Tempo. But no matter how serious it is, it all comes down to my run. And it's just 30 days to find out.

And finally, a very BIG THANK YOU to Krishnan and adidas for making all this possible.

adidas adizero Tempo...

By Frank

The adidas adizero Tempo, categoried as a performance stability shoe is certainly a very light and yet flexible shoe, suitable for fast running. Weighting at 303 grams, it is suitable for mild pronators. The design of the shoe is pretty similiar to other adizero series, the only thing is that the adidas adizero Tempo might be a bit bulkier. Colour wise, it came nicely designed in majority white with shades of red and silver around the overlays and heel counter. Without paying extra attention to it, some might even take it as the adidas Supernova Cushion 6. It is just so similiar!

adidas adizero Tempo...

Putting on the adidas adizero Tempo brought me to a whole new level of experience in a running. Being a performance shoe or some call it a racer, it's my lightest shoe I have to date. Compared to the adidas Supernova Cushion 6, this shoe is really a step, if not 2 steps above. Although it comes only in normal width, the shoe fits nicely with enough space for my feet to move around. The toebox too offers enough space for my toes to move and breathe. The overlays and vamps, though look nothing compared to the bigger mesh on the adidas Supernova Cushion 6, are actually made of perforated materials which allows superior ventilation within the shoe. And being built on a lighter material, it too offers the noseam technology which eliminates stitching.

The cushioning system just like all current adidas shoes is using the FORMOTION technology with adiPRENE 45, which the latter acts as a dampening system that allows the feet to be cushioned but yet not "bouncing" upon heel strike. The theory behind the "no bounce" is to reduce multiple impacts that might occur during heel strike which may lead to muscle soreness. At the inner heel area of the outsole too, was the presence of the pro-moderator technology which helps with the degree of pronation for the wearer. As for the forefoot, adiPRENE + was used instead for the cushioning and the responsiveness of it towards toe off was just excellent coupled together with the great flexibilty of the shoe.

A view of the outsole...

The most noticeable and only downside of the shoe is probably the very short lace. And to make matters worst, it loosens very easily even when I double tied it. Not sure the reason why, but I notice it’s made of a different material compared to the one on the adidas Supernova Cushion 6.

Specifications
FORMOTION: Provides a smooth, balanced ride from heel strike to toe off, while controlling pronation.
adiPRENE 45: Provides added comfort and cushioning.
adiPRENE +: Excellent forefoot cushioning and provides a responsive toe off.
adiWEAR: Extremely durable outsole in high impact areas.

Overall, the adidas adizero Tempo is a shoe that offers great comfort, support and cushioning. Besides, I just can't find any downside besides the lace issue where it can be solve by just changing it. The adidas adizero Tempo retails at RM399.

adidas Supernova Cushion 6...

By Frank

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The adidas Supernova Cushion 6 is my first ever running shoe ever since I started my career in running. It was my trainer and also racing shoe. The adidas Supernova series has received awards after awards from Runner's World for being a durable and yet cost-effective running shoe suitable for intermediates to serious runners.

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adidas Supernova Cushion 6...

The adidas Supernova Cushion 6 is categorised under the cushioning category suitable for those with high arch and also supinators, and it falls under the training and competition range. At 337 grams, it felt light compared to others that falls in the same category mainly thanks to the new softer and highly breathable upper mesh with fewer overlays thus enhancing air flow. Despite having plenty of mesh all around the shoe, no stitching was done. The noseam technology by adidas allows various parts of the shoe to be welded together thus eliminating any sort of irritation caused by stitching. Another thing included which I really like it is the Ortholite sockliner which helps prevent moisture buildup and therefore, odour and bacteria are kept at bay.

During the earlier days, adidas shoes were pretty narrow in fit. However, that seems to have been improved here in the adidas Supernova Cushion 6. Although still offering a normal width, adidas has made the shoe slightly wider especially at the toebox section. And with a great new fitting, the shoe has also improved on it's flexibility.

The highlight of this shoe is probably the FORMOTION technology on the heel area of the outsole that worked together with adiPRENE. With FORMOTION, the heel area is totally decoupled to further enhance cushioning and stability. To me, it really felt good as it managed to adapt to the ground surface with every heel strike I made.

Downside of the shoes will probably be that it could have been lighter. Don't be mistaken though, the shoe's already light. Also another thing to consider about is to include the option to choose the shoe's width. Shoe's width which are just as important as length tend to be omitted by major shoe maker. I hope adidas can include this in their future models. In my maiden 42KM marathon, the Supernova Cushion 6 gave me no problems at all. However, during my 21KM Penang Bridge Marathon 2007, somehow my plantar started to hurt just after running 5KM. No idea on the cause of it, but as time moves on, the shoe gave me no problems at all.

Specifications
Upper: Seamless air mesh, welded and synthetic overlays, geoFiT ankle collar, perforated EVA padded tongue, reflective highlights.
Midsole: FORMOTION and adiPRENE heel, adiPRENE + forefoot.
Outersole: adiWEAR heel, blown rubber forefoot.
Innersole: Ortholite sockliner.

Overall, the adidas Supernova Cushion 6 is a very good shoe and I'm proud to have it as my first. Even after 9 months of training and competition, the shoe is still pretty much still "alive" although it's life span is coming to an end soon. The shoe is now out of season already although they can still be purchased at a few places at a retail price if RM369.