My Nike Lunar Glide+ Test Run Experience

our favorite group pic - the nike lunar glides take center stage this time! 😉

Last Saturday, I was fortunate to be one of the invited runners to test the new Nike Lunar Glide+ running shoes. The original test run schedule was actually supposed to happen several Saturdays ago but heavy rains during weekends prevented us to do so. Not one of us expectedly would want to run on the rain and have our new shoes get wet!

Group pic during our first test run attempt

test run take two - finally no rains this time! 😉

On both instances, I was glad to be in the company of a number of runners who mostly are also friends. We were all giddy with excitement while listening to the test run briefing being given by speakers Mr. Tony Atayde, Nike Sports Sales Manager and Mr. Jerwin Ngo, Nike Product Specialist talk about the features and benefits of the new lunar shoes.

Tony Atayde, Nike Sports Sales Manager briefing us on the Glide+

Jerwin Ngo, Nike Product Specialist explaining to us the features and benefits of the Nike Lunar Glide+

After the briefing, we ran four loops, led by Coach Rio, around Bonifacio High Street to complete 4.8k. The test run was done on an easy pace with most of the participants exchanging stories that borders from funny to utmost hilarious. Oh and of course, the pace also allowed us to have easy photo-op sessions with Ben at one point, the photographer that he is, in an almost-kissing-the-ground-position just to be able to take a good shot of the runners.

Coach Rio explaining to us how the test is to be conducted

and the test run finally pushed through!

The Nike Lunar Glide+ is supposed to be a wholly improved version of last year’s Nike Lunar. It doesn’t have what used to be known as the Nike Lunar foam but what it has now is the Dynamic Support – an innovative midsole design architecture which in simple words mean that it is supposed to provide superior cushioning and stability by adapting to a runner’s foot type or gait. Having said this, the Nike Lunar Glide+ is touted to be the running shoe for all runners, breaking the myth that runners must compromise their needs by selecting between two industry-standard categories of Stability or Cushioning by providing both in one shoe. Want to know more about the shoe’s technical details? Jaymie (TBR) has posted the technical sheets on both the men’s and women’s version on her blog.

I was able to run with my pair during the test run only (I would not want to use it during the following day’s Men’s Health trail run) but I have also worn it for walking in several instances already.  So with just one run experience with it, what you will have to see posted here are my initial observations/experience:

the strap on the midfoot is a women's version only feature 😉

1. I love the color combination! Definitely a whole lot better than the Nike Lunars of last year in the “looks department”. The women’s version is great and so are the men’s! We girls during the test run were wishing we could have a women’s version in the men’s color combination too! 😆
2. The strap over the midfoot of the women’s shoes is a great innovation. This allows personalization of fit.  For someone like I who possess narrow feet, an option to be able to adjust the width of my shoes comfortably to my liking is really a treat.
3. It is light. My Nike Air Pegasus has been the lightest running shoe I have had so far but the Glide+ is much lighter.
4. It fits my feet snugly. It is soft and comfortable, especially the inner sole. As soon as I slipped into it, I already felt the soft, cushiony feel of the inner sole – it’s as if my feet are stepping on a pillow. 
5.  I am generally a runner with neutral pronation but there are some pairs of shoes which cause me to supinate – as relayed to me during my gait analysis at both the Second Wind and Runnr stores. With the Glide+, I can feel the support or cushioning even at the sides of my feet while running. I guess this is the Dynamic Support doing its job huh. (Hey Coach Rio, this is the on I am referring to you about something I can feel at the sides of my feet while we are running. It actually feels new but comfortable. hehe!)

happy with our new Nike Lunar Glide+

My over-all initial assessment is that the Nike Lunar Glide+ is good for me, perfect even. I can’t think of anything to say negative about it as of now. But I will have to run with it a few more times and see how my shins will feel after running in a distance greater than 4.8k. Until I am able to do that, it is safe to say that the Nike Lunar Glide+ will be my running shoe of choice for the moment. 😉

don't they look great? 🙂

The Nike Lunar Glide+ will be available globally on July 2009 (except for the US where the shoes will have its debut on August 2009). In the Philippines, it will retail at a price of PHP 5,999.00.

* Many thanks to Nike Philippines led by Mr. Tony Atayde for inviting us to test run the Nike Lunar Glide+ and of course for the good breakfast treat at Pancake House after. 🙂

* See more pics from the first test run attempt here and the second and final one here.