ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 REVIEW

Today, I ran the Turtlehead Lake 10.5 mile loop in my new ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 that I purchased from Mel at Running for Kicks in Palos Heights. Partly sunny and cool, great conditions for a run. I thought it was a good idea to write an ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 review.

In my ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 review I should mention this is my first pair of ASICS. The shoes are comfortable, smooth, and light. The shoes seem to provide control for my pronation as well as excellent cushioning. For me the most noticeable difference over the New Balance 856 that I have been running in for years is the ASICS seem to have better shock absorption which is a major factor as I prepare for my Chicago Marathon training, which begins in June. The shoes better shock absorption will be a great benefit for the Chicago Marathon as my feet pound the pavement on the streets of Chicago.

The Turtlehead Lake trail is asphalt which provided a good trial run for the shoe. I was conscious of the new shoes for the first three miles or so and noticed the ample cushioning, but after that it was like I didn't even know I had them on, happy feet for the entire Turtle Lake 10.5 mile loop. I will use the ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 for a few more trial runs on hard surfaces. Then as begin my Chicago Marathon training I will use them exclusively for the marathon training long runs on the Chicago lakefront, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and 9 half marathons through the months of April through December from opposite corners of the US from Alaska to Florida. I will be running a total of 12 half marathons, in 12 states in 2012. I am hoping with to raise awareness for Neurofibromatosis Midwest.

In my ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 review, the shoe has many features that include an external Heel Clutching System and stretch mesh upper for greater comfort, in addition to the Dynamic DuoMax Support System and lightweight AHAR outsole which provides a lightweight shoe, and stablility control.

I hope you found my ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 review helpful. Special thanks to Mel from Running for Kicks in his diligence in fitting me with a pair of ASICS GEL-Kayano 18. If you need a new pair of running shoes and not sure how to pick just the right pair of shoes from the hundreds of running shoes available, I strongly recommend going to Running for Kicks. Ask for Mel or any of the other knowledgeable runners that work at Running for Kicks. At Running for Kicks they are the running shoe experts!

Find a great pair of shoes and Just RUN!

RUNNING FOR KICKS WINS MY BUSINESS!

For twenty years, I have been running with New Balance Shoes. Every time I would find a new model, I would just keep buying it until it was discontinued. I was getting close to my miles and I needed a new pair of shoes and again my current model was discontinued. I wanted to make sure I had a new pair before I begin my marathon training, so we decided to head over to Running for Kicks in Palos Heights, Illinois. Running for Kicks is one of the sponsors for the First Midwest Southwest Half Marathon on May 6, 2012.

When we walked into Running for Kicks we were greeted by all the staff. We walked over to the men’s shoes and found Mel Diab, the owner standing there as if he was waiting for us. We began talking about shoes, running, and marathon training. First Mel had me take off my shoes. He asked me to walk a few feet so he could observe the pattern of my feet. His expertise was obvious. He said I was an overpronater and my ankles rolled inward. He then examined my shoes to confirm his observation. Then he measured both of my feet. Within moments he had three pair of shoes by different manufacturers in front of me.

The first pair was Brooks. He helped me put them on and we went outside for a test run. Then it was back inside to try the next pair, which was New Balance. Out the door I went again for another run. Then back in for the third pair which was Asics. If I had known I was going to do this much running, I would have wore my Garmin! After running with the Asics, Mel let me try two different shoes at once. I ended up determining that the ASICS GEL-Kayano 18 seemed the most comfortable.

Mel and I talked about the various marathons he has run and I told him I used Hal Higdon’s marathon training. Running for Kicks also has group runs on Monday evenings and as the Chicago Marathon gets closer they will have marathon training runs.

Running for Kicks exceeded my expectations and I look forward to being a long time customer. Thank you Mel and the staff at Running for Kicks!

Running for Kicks is located at 7158 W. 127th Street (corner of Harlem and 127th) Palos Heights, IL 60463. Visit their website http://runningforkicks.com/