I’ve never considered myself much of a runner, but I just finished my first week of training runs for a 5k wearing my Hoka Clifton 9 sneakers. I’ve owned these sneakers for several months now, mostly using them for walks and the occasional run. They’re my go-to pick as a new runner for their cushioning and breathable upper, which power me through hot summer runs.
The last time I ran regularly was probably in middle school, when I was on the soccer team for exactly one season (before they started doing actual tryouts and subsequent cuts), and I’m trying to find my love for running as an adult. I’ve always associated running with misery and prefer other types of cardio workouts like HIIT, Zumba and even water aerobics. But I’ve been in a little bit of a workout rut and thought that signing up for a race and having a goal would help me commit to working out on a more regular basis. So, with a race date roughly three months from now and a couch-to-5k app downloaded on my phone, I hit the pavement with my trusty Hokas.
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The Clifton 9 shoes are the second pair of Hokas I’ve owned (the first being the Lead 8which I also enjoyed). I’ve always been impressed by how supportive yet lightweight Hoka sneakers are, which makes them my favorite shoes for everything, whether walking my dog around the neighborhood or long travel days. When I tried on the Clifton 9 sneakers for the first time at a local store, they immediately felt super comfortable. I love that there’s no break-in period with Hoka sneakers; I can start walking or running in them right away without discomfort.
Eating Well
In recent years I’ve experienced some knee pain and having a cushioned sneaker that fits my feet well, combined with stretches recommended by my physical therapist, has helped keep me mostly pain-free. And being pain-free means I don’t need to take long breaks between workouts, so I can continue with my 8-week running program and gradually build up to comfortably running for 35 minutes (or around 5k) without stopping.
My first run was last Sunday, well into the heat of the day. I was grateful for the plush heel cushioning my steps and breathable knit upper of my Hokas as I ran-walked about 2 miles before the Florida heat and humidity finally won me over. For my other three runs this week, I followed a structure set by a running app consisting of a warmup, four run/walk intervals and a cooldown. I definitely felt a lot less miserable after completing these runs, as the Hokas feel great on my feet during both the running and walking intervals. I’ve also noticed that I don’t experience soreness the morning after running, which has been a nice change. I find myself actually looking forward to my next run rather than dreading it and putting off running for another week (or month).
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While I’m just one week into training for my first-ever race, I feel confident that I’ll be able to achieve my goal of comfortably running a 5k in mid-November. And since the sneakers I’ve been training in, the Hoka Clifton 9s, are on sale right now, I’m planning to pick up another pair as I’m probably due for a new pair soon. I’m almost always wearing sneakers (or Birkenstocks) when I’m out and about as I prioritize comfort when it comes to a walking shoe, and the Clifton 9 sneaker has been one of my favorite sneaker purchases to date.
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At the time of publishing, the price was $116.
