GOTHAM SPECIAL
AS PROOF THAT the New York City Marathon is the “Konaequivalent” of the marathon world, a number of different shoe companies offered a special edition shoe this year to commemorate one of the world’s biggest marathons. While you might not be able to track down one of the special edition Skechers Gorun 5 – NYC 2016 that landed in our office, all the innovations that you’ll find in the regular version of this shoe are likely to make it a hit for triathletes looking for a fast shoe that still manages to include enough cushioning and support.
It’s hard to believe Skechers is already at the fifth edition of the Gorun, but each version seems to get a bit better – which will be good news for many triathletes who have made this such a popular shoe in transition. While this version is obviously styled for the New York City Marathon, the bottom line is that all you need is a set of lace locks or elastic laces and you can turn the Gorun 5s into a virtually perfect pair of tri shoes.
The Gorun series has always offered almost all the features triathletes look for: a lightweight shoe with a comfortable upper (for barefoot use in races) that offers enough support and cushioning to get you through a variety of distances on tired legs. The Gorun shoes have also always been extremely responsive, promoting a mid-foot strike and making it really easy to roll onto your toes, enhancing a fast turnover.
The Gorun 5 does all that in style. The Goknit upper is extremely comfortable and breathable and really hugs your foot, enhanced by the air mesh tongue that has elastic straps to keep it in place. You can customize the fit even more with the variety of lacing options, too. It seems even easier to pull on than other editions thanks to the “Quick Fit” that’s part of this version’s feature list.
Running in the shoe, though, is where you’ll feel the most difference. The 5GEN cushioning provides lots of shock absorption without adding any weight (the Gorun 5 weighs in at just 213 g) and there’s a “mid-foot strike zone” that does its job – you’ll find it very easy to put yourself in a nice forward position and turn your feet over quickly in this shoe.
The Gorun 5 probably isn’t the shoe for you if you pronate or supinate a great deal, or are a heavier runner who needs lots of support. It does seem to hit the triathlon sweet spot – lighter runners looking for a neutral shoe – extremely well. The Gorun 5 will no-doubt be a popular choice for many triathletes for virtually any distance.– KM
SKECHERS GORUN 5 – NYC 2016