This post is sponsored by Fitfluential LLC on behalf of Mizuno.

When I first started running, I didn't know the first thing about shoes or gear or anything. In fact, I signed up for my first marathon without having ever run more than a 5K, and I did my first training run in a pair of Nike crosstrainers that were probably four years old.

I was young and dumb, and luckily my mom immediately took me to the local running store where I was introduced to my very first pair of Mizunos. Or else I image, I would have tried training for a marathon in that same four year old pair of sneakers. That probably wouldn't have ended well.

That was more than seven years ago, and fast forward to today, when I now own more pairs of running shoes than I do regular people shoes and like to think I know something about picking a good shoe for training.

I still do most of my runs in the exact same style shoe -- the Mizuno Wave Inspires -- that I started first started running in. The Inspire is a moderate stability shoe, but I've started branching out a bit and experimenting with other styles of shoes for speed work outs, tempo runs, etc.


Just a sample of my millions of pairs of Inspires

So when I was offered the chance to try Mizuno's newest version of the Wave Rider, I jumped at the chance. The Wave Rider 17 is a neutral shoe, but it still offers some support and cushioning. I'll mostly be using the Wave Rider on shorter runs when I can keep my focus on proper form. (During longer runs my form tends to break down and I need the extra support of the Inpires.)



Here's a quick rundown of my impressions of the shoe:

• Absolutely love the design, color and style. After the many pairs of bright shoes I've cycled through, I'm excited to add something darker and a bit more edgy to my collection.


• The fit was snug, but not in a bad way. When I first slipped the shoe on, I was afraid it wasn't going to be the right size, but then I realized it was actually just a slightly tighter fit than I was used to. It's like the shoe was hugging my foot in all the right places.


• The shoe is a bit firmer than I'm used to. My Inspires have a bit more give and cushioning, whereas the Wave Riders offer a much firmer fit. This was probably the biggest difference I noticed between the shoes. But while the bottom of the Wave Riders felt more firm, I didn't feel like the shoe lacked cushioning.

I haven't had the shoes for very long, but I've done a few different workouts in them including a hill workout on the treadmill and some weights work at the gym. One thing I loved about the Wave Riders was how stable I felt in them while lifting weights. I normally don't lift in running shoes because I feel like there's too much cushion and I never feel stable on the floor, but I didn't have that problem at all in the Wave Riders. In fact, I felt more grounded in the Wave Riders than I do in most other shoes I've worn for lifting.

So my overall take is the Wave Riders will be a great shoe for shorter runs and gym workouts. If you're interested in checking them out for yourself, the Wave Rider 17s go on sale today at most running stores and online at MizunoUSA.com/running.