Yesterday was the annual 20 Minute Challenge for the Running Room, where I earn extra money to feed my running habit. We have finally started carrying Hoka One One shoes in the store but not in sizes small enough for me to try them on and get a feel for the shoes. Luckily we had our Hoka rep join us for the run and I got to see what the fuss is all about.

I tried on both the Bondi and the Clifton. The Bondi had a little too much support for my very neutral stride as I was just standing in it and my feet and legs started getting angry. So the Clifton was the one that I wore for a soggy 2.5 miles.

Side note: the Clifton runs a little big. I normally wear a 6.5, unfortunately Alex didn’t have a size 6 for me to demo, so I had the 6.5. If I get a pair of Cliftons they will be a 6. 

I was impressed that despite the massive sole, the overall weight of the Clifton is very close to that of my beloved Mizuno Sayonaras. Plus, the whole rocker heel design is very forgiving to notorious heel strikers. It also works your feet and legs a bit differently than my normal running shoes. I’m not sure how much of that was me being wiped out and sore from a leg and ab training session the night before. But the main goal of Hokas is to cushion the pounding and make downhill running less rough. And they definitely do that. I now know why ultra runners and older runners are fans of Hoka One One. As I am getting older and less elastic in my recovery and slightly injury prone, I can see me investing in Hoka One One.

Hoka One One (oh nay-oh nay) means “fly over the earth” in Maori. I definitely love the sentiment, as it is in line with the women’s running gear line Oiselle, which is French for bird. Definitely what I want to embody in my running.