The long awaited Clayton shoe has finally arrived and I've managed to get in three runs in order to form a somewhat respectable review. I know I should log a few more miles in them, but I can say I've done a 22 miler and two moderate 10k's.

I've been anticipating this shoe for a while after hearing rumors about the slightly larger forefoot area, slimmer profile, yet supreme cushion and lightness. It seemed too good to be true! I bought them at Running Warehouse for $150.

side by side with the Hoka Odyssey 1's

Out of the box, the shoe looks great. It's feather light, probably the lightest running shoe I've ever owned, coming in at 6.3 oz for a women's size 9 shoe, almost a full ounce less than the Odyssey 2. I wouldn't say it's their prettiest design, but it's okay. The way they built up the sole on the sides make them look much taller than they actually are, so you still kind of look like you're wearing moon shoes.

sorry...I got these a little dirty, not like this out of the box! 

The women's came in this bright orange and black color, or a blue/orange color. Neither of them were really screaming to me, so I just went with the bright orange since the blue wouldn't match with my already bright clothes.

The tongue design is great, and way better than their attempt at the Odyssey 2 tongue. It's flexible, not too rigid and not paper thin. The laces also appear to be just the right length, and I don't worry about them coming undone.

One of the features the shoe boasts about is the firmer forefoot and softer heel to enable a better push off with your toe. I personally didn't notice a firm forefoot, or at least the sensation didn't bother me.

my dog is bored with me

When I put them on, they immediately felt comfortable. They were truly more roomy in the forefoot which is something I've been dreaming for since Hoka's even came out. With all of their shoes I've always gotten blisters on either the side of my foot or the side of my big toes. It is a common complaint, and one that a lot of runners just deal with since they love the cushioning so much.

I took them on a 10k run with coworkers. They were great! I could tell that they were lower to the ground at 19mm in the forefoot and 23 in the heel, but they remain super cushy. One of my favorite parts about them were the lack of hard rubber in the bottom so the footfall was nearly silent.

The only thing was that I noticed my left foot was developing a blister under the arch where the insole meets the shoe. My right foot did not have this issue at all, so I'm not sure if this is anything to really worry about unless maybe your feet are wider.

The very next morning I had a 22 mile run scheduled. I tried to peel myself out of bed to catch the sunrise, which left me chaotically grabbing my running gear out of order to get out the door in time.

Since I figured the blister might flare up or get larger, I cut out a piece of moleskin in case I would need to use it.

Sorry for the gross foot photo, but this is where my blister formed

I did. I wasn't even a mile in before I started to feel it again, so I slapped a piece of moleskin on it. By the way, this stuff is AWESOME. I continued to run in them with absolutely zero issues.

The shoes are light and responsive. They are built to have a more firm forefoot and a cushioned heel for runners that start to lose form and heel strike. I know that I have a tendency to heel strike, I think because my gate is so neutral without any pronation.

Running 22 miles is never easy, but I was able to maintain a really good pace without a lot of effort. I'm not sure how much the shoes contributed, but they never got uncomfortable and my feet never hurt which has to be saying something.

Post-run, I did notice that my lower legs did feel a little more battered than normal. My shins were not sore but tight. These issues didn't carry over into the next day though, but I think your lower legs will get more of a workout with these shoes if you're used to one of the more highly cushioned Hoka's.

Finally, tonight I took them for another spin with my coworkers. They were great, and I did put another piece of moleskin on just in case. I'm hoping I can break them in so that part is less bothersome.

All was going well until I tripped over a rock and everything started to move into slow motion. My toe caught onto this medium sized stone embedded into the trail, and I accepted my fate and nearly face planted into the cement.

I was fine. I'm sure I'm going to get some pretty major bruising on my hip, and I have to get my phone fixed since I shattered the screen. I also ripped my jacket but hey, at least I was wearing the jacket or there would have for sure been blood!

That's when I got home and really looked at the size of the Claytons. The toe juts out a little father than I would like. I compared it to my Nike Wildhorses since they fit my feet like a dream and are my all time favorite fitting shoes in the same size 7, and the Claytons look a full size larger!

side by side with the Nike Wildhorse

I have a full thumbs width between my big toe and the top of the shoe, so maybe I should size down but I am not entirely sure since I am already getting some blisters on my arch. Usually size 7 is my go to for Hoka's, especially because of the blistering on the toes. I mayyy try for 6.5.

It's not really fair to compare those two though since they are wildly different shoes, and when compared to the Hoka Challengers (Basically these are the Cliftons with additional tread for trails), they seemed pretty similar in length.

side by side with the Hoka Challenger

The Claytons are a little bit wider though. Since they are so wide and flat in the forefoot, it's hard not to think they feel very paddle-like. It doesn't bother me much but it would be nice to have more forefoot in the upper and less on the sole, they don't feel as nimble as I would like.

this is the overlap of the forefoot, the other side of the foot is flush.

Here's how it looks against my old Altra Olympus shoes. I really love Olympus uppers and the foot shape. They are wide and let my toes splay out but not too long so I don't trip over them. Unfortunately they are pretty friggen ugly, and the soles are super stiff and heavy. You can really see how pointy the Hoka's are in comparison though.

side by side with the Altra Olympus

side by side with the Altra Olympus

So...it's kind of a mixed review. I love them, but I think there is still plenty of room for improvement. I love how lightweight they are, and how they were able to maintain the signature Hoka cushioning with a lower profile and a SUPER light shoe. I wish they contoured my fit more and were a little more refined around the sides. It's certainly a step into a great direction, and I'll keep putting the miles in these to see if I warm up to them more. Probably going to be alternating between these and my Odyssey's from now on; let's just hope I don't take any more falls!

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The Hoka One One Claytons

HeatherIhn 0

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Everyone has good and bad runs. Most of us talk about our good runs, and kind of brush the bad ones under the rug. Not today!

Modesto was a bad one. Really embarrassing actually; kind of devastating. So, my friends, here is my race report for your amusement. If you have had any awful races, feel free to share in the comments section so we can all have a little laugh...

I was really anxious for this race. I had trained really hard for it, and wanted to finally get back under 4 hours and possibly sneak under 3:50. Everything in training had gone really well, my legs were feeling strong (for once uninjured), and in a way it made me more nervous since I wanted it to go well.

Jon and I left on Saturday afternoon on the long drive to Modesto. Traffic was light; I got to see a lot of open fields and wind farms, and my entire right side started to roast under the sun.

We arrived in Modesto, and it was hot. I was immediately worried about the race temps since I was not prepared for this kind of heat. Good thing the race started at 7am.

The expo was downtown and we meandered through the aisles after grabbing our bibs, shirts and fancy arm sleeves. The arm sleeves are really cool but even their smallest size were pretty large on me, and I would consider my arms to be borderline beefy for a girl (good luck squeezing them into a Hollister shirt). The shirt was great and had a drawn on cape on the back so it looked like everyone was walking around with capes. I ordered an XS and it fit really well.

There wasn't much to write home about at the expo, but they did have a lot of cheap Modesto Marathon branded items for sale. I was tempted to get a black Forever 21 jacket with the marathon logo embroidered in the back corner.

We walked away empty handed and made a bee line to grab our free bottles of wine (a red blend). So many perks with this race!

Jon and I drove around the block only to re-park in the same exact spot since we realized our hotel was visible from the expo. We stayed at the Doubletree Inn. It was a little bit pricey but worth it considering it's proximity to the start line. And free warm cookies!

Dinner was at an Italian restaurant that I found on Open Table, Verona's Cucina Italiana. It was surprisingly good but the Spaghetti Bolognese was pretty creamy so I ended up leaving a lot of it on the plate since I'm lactose intolerant.

Staying true to my typical pre-marathon behavior, we went to the Sprouts grocery store adjacent to the restaurant and loaded up on an absurd number of snacks and Odwalla's to nurse anxiously before bed. A box of berries, cookies, 4 Odwallas...it's safe to say I'm not doing the whole low carb thing anymore. We headed back to the hotel and I neatly arranged my running gear for the next morning.

I was up at 5:30 to brew some coffee, get dressed and be sure to hit the bathroom about three times to make sure I had nothing in my bladder (or intestines haha). I ate a couple pieces of bread that I had packed, and filled my pack bottles with some Tailwind. I was super mad at the Platypus hydration bladder I had just bought. Not only did it barely fit in my pack, but something was wrong with the straw and it was like trying to drink a thick milkshake through a coffee straw just to get anything out. Reading through the reviews, it looks like this is a common issue. I decided to ditch it, and just carry the bottles. I'll be returning the bladder this week.

It took us about five minutes to walk to the race starting line. I was shocked at how few people there were, I was expecting the turnout to be in the thousands. I settled somewhere between the 3:42 pacer and the 3:52. I was disappointed that there wasn't a 3:45 pacer, but the times were very specific to Boston Qualifying times, since this race prides itself in its fast and flat course. Incredibly, I turned around and immediately spotted a friend that I had only ever talked to on FB. It was great to finally meet her!

Photo courtesy of Jenny Iskander

I was off and as usual had a fast start. I was averaging somewhere between 8:15 and 8:25, focusing more on running the tangents since there were a lot of turns in the first bit, and then we settled on a more flat and straight road cutting through almond tree fields. Despite peeing about 3 times before the race, I still had to go and ended up going around mile five. Such a bummer to lose that extra thirty seconds!

Around mile 8 I noticed a fork where the half marathoners go one way and the marathoners go the other. I was trying to keep my eye on the 3:42 pacer but with this turn he kind of vanished. I continued...focusing on consistently hitting around an 8:30 pace.

one of the free race photos

There was this chick that was being unusually competitive with me and I didn't understand why since it was so early in the race. She was constantly yo-yoing from falling behind me to running ahead. I can't stand these types of people! I just wanted her to go away and was annoyed by her labored breathing and competitive glares.

And then came the point when I overheard some spectators shout "You're almost there! Only a half mile to go!". I panicked and spun around to look at other peoples bibs. I realized I was in a pool of orange bibbed half marathoners and dread started to sink in. I had taken the wrong turn in the fork.

I pulled over to talk to the volunteers. They all kind of stared at me in horror when they realized my mistake, and we all tried to brainstorm how I could get back on track. There was no way. I was way too far at this point, and there was no going back. I accepted my fate to be a half marathon finisher and stormed angrily to the finish.

saddest finish photo ever...

"Ooh's" and "wow's" were audible as I crossed the finish line at a 6 min mile. I was ushered in, and didn't really understand why until I realized everyone thought I had actually WON the marathon. The horror. That is when I looked into their awe-inspired eyes and then burst into tears. I'm sorry, you poor volunteers. But seriously, a sub 2 hour marathon? lol...

I finished in just over 1:56. I think I spent at least 5 minutes in the last mile trying to talk to the volunteers into driving me back to mile 8.

They still handed me a marathon medal even though I was close to just tossing it into the trash or throwing it on the train tracks. I spent a good couple of minutes weeping in a corner before forcing myself to do a couple extra miles around Modesto. I did manage to find the famous "arch" which was listed under Modesto's "Things to do".

I made it back in time to dry my eyes and watch Jon finish his marathon. He finished around 3:35 which was chopping over 25 minutes off his marathon time. It was incredible!

It turns out that my friend at the marathon made the same exact mistake but realized the mistake much earlier than me and still had hope to turn around and only tack on an extra mile. I can only blame myself for what I did, but some things that I think could help for the future would be to have separate colored signs (both were orange and in the same exact font), and volunteers at the forks kind of separating the runners, and potentially a different race start time so that not everyone is going at the same time. The entire way to that point were the same large orange signs telling traffic to stay on right and marathoners to stay on the left. So when the fork came, the marathoners actually were supposed to go right but my brain was kind of in autopilot to stay on the left.

Oh well, water under the bridge. I was really embarrassed and I still don't want to hang my medal. It's a race I'd rather just forget about. I signed up for the Pony Express Marathon in Sacramento on May 1st to hopefully redeem myself.

In other news, I also forgot that I had signed up for the SF Rock N Roll half marathon next weekend, so I'll be doing that. I am not sure how hard I want to go. It's a pretty hilly course and my legs aren't used to that anymore.

I also got the new Hoka One One Claytons! I'm super excited about them, and actually am going to write a post about them but will keep it separate so we don't take the spotlight away from my crappy race.

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My Modesto Misfortune

HeatherIhn 3

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Excuse me if this post comes across as haphazard...feeling a bit tired from today's activities!

I just wanted to show you guys my fancy new shoes. Yes, it's another pair of shoes. Yes, I have a lot of shoes. No, I did not neeeeeed them, but I wanted some fresh foam under the ol' feet for the race. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if I'm sold on these.

So what did I get? The Odyssey 2! I actually really wanted the Odyssey 1 again (why mess with a good thing?) but I couldn't find them for sale in my size anywhere. :( Jon is also a huge Odyssey fan and really enjoys the new ones. He thinks they are the best Hoka's to date.

First of all, I grabbed these for $130 at Running Warehouse. I couldn't decide between the ELECTRIC BLINDING PINK or the SHOCKING NEON BLUE, and unfortunately the classy dark gray ones didn't have my size in stock. Since all of my current shoes are blue I reluctantly reached for the pink. No, I don't have anything against pink but these shoes are just soooo pink.

The Odyssey runs true to size. For reference, my street shoe size is 6.5, my flat size is 6 and my running shoe size is 7. For running noobs, you generally want to size up since your feet have a tendency to swell a little during exercise.

They are probably most comparable to the Clifton2 since they have very similar heights. The offset for the Odyssey 2 is 5mm, and is 23mm in the forefoot and 28mm in the back, whereas the Clifton2 is also a 5mm offset with 24mm in the forefoot and 29mm in the back. Both are neutral but the Odyssey2 is supposed to be more responsive and weighs a little more at 7.3oz for a women's size 9, vs the 6.6 oz of the Clifton2. I would have gotten the Clifton2 but I heard a lot of mixed reviews on it, particularly that they narrowed the toe box even more which is one of my biggest issues with Hoka shoes in the first place.

Out of the box they were pretty comfortable. I was disappointed with the tongue. While I like the fact that it's not just the papery flap like the old one, this one is thick and very stiff. The plastic material on the top is difficult to bend.

I also didn't like the laces as much as the first ones. They were pretty short and I don't know how much confidence I have in them to stay tied.

It LOOKED like the forefoot was wider, but when I measured them they ended up being exactly the same as the 1's. The height seems about the same, and the only really noticeable difference in the structure was that the heel tapers in and hugs the foot more. This is one feature that I liked since the Odyssey 1's were a little loose in the heel. I can't say that it ever bothered me but there's no sense in having the extra material.

The bottom of the shoe looks quite different. It seems like they added a little more of the harder rubber.

Side note, did you notice my fancy new socks? They are from Stance. I love the socks that I got from them for free at an event, and I really wanted to try their knee high ones out. They are a little too long for my stubby short-person legs, but they're fun and were my race treat to pump me up for Modesto.

What better way to test a shoe than to run 20 miles in them from the box? I've gotten away with this kind of shenanagins with almost every pair of Hoka's I've owned. I've even been so daring as to wear brand new ones for a race the next day.

Not that I would suggest such an outrageous and impulsive thing.

I am not sure, but I feel like these run a little bit stiffer than the 1's. They didn't feel as plush as the 1's, and I had a hard time getting into a good rhythm. This could be because of the additional firmer rubber at the bottom. I also noticed on the left side of my foot that I could feel the tongue kind of digging into my ankle. Such a weird issue to have! It eventually went away and didn't leave a mark but did annoy me.

Ten miles in and I started to feel a blister brewing in the usual spot for Hoka shoes. For me, this spot is on the inside of the fattest part of my forefoot by my big toe. It was abnormally warm, so I wasn't really surprised, but I almost turned back to the comforting embrace of my old blue ones. I didn't though, because I really didn't want to stop. Another thing that I don't really recommend doing. And yeah, there's a blister there now. :(

In the end, I think I'm going to keep hunting for another pair of the Odyssey 1's and return the 2's. They were okay and did the trick but I did come away with a blister and didn't have the same feel as the first ones that I really liked. The hunt continues!!!

In other news, I have been running a lot lately! I've got a couple of interesting speed runs under my belt that I want to talk about, but I'll save that for another day. :D For the rest of this week and next...it's TAPER TIME!

UPDATE!!! GOOD NEWS! I found the Odyssey 1's (I guess I didn't search very hard at first) for a super low price at sports chalet. With their current coupon code they come to a whopping total of $69.91 (including taxes and free shipping)!

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New Shoes! Comparing my Hoka One One Odyssey 1 to the Odyssey 2's

HeatherIhn 0

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