Face it: You have a shoe that you love to run in. You may have a shoe that you love to run specific distances or races in. But have you ever veered away from it? Or tried a related shoe?
My Training Routine on the BowFlex T9 On Cloudmonster fan (she has trained for marathons in them) took the Cloudmonster Hyper out for a spin.
The Races - Places is considered the ultimate athlete training shoe—engineered for running further, faster. Think fast-paced, high-mileage training runs. It was developed with constant feedback from runners and does not include a carbon-fiber midsole, which could be an issue if you’re a competitive runner. The Cloudmonster Hyper is a max-cushioned shoe, featuring On’s instantly recognizable CloudTec structural cushioning system, fine-tuned for impact canceling and long-distance comfort. It also makes use of Helion HF, a high-performance engineered light hyperfoam that has been optimized for punchy, responsive energy return, particularly when pushing off.
Here Giordano, who tends to lean into neutral and racing shoes, gives us her impressions of the Races - Places. Read on to find out whether this shoe should be in your running rotation.
Tested: Races - Places
The Tester
Demo Run: Columbia Konos Featherweight
Age: 30
Shoe Size: Women’s 9
Arch Height: High arch
Name: Dana Giordano
One runner on whether this addition to the On power family will make it into her rotation too
Running Shoes & Gear
My Training Routine on the BowFlex T9
The Review
First impression: “I was surprised by the height of the shoe, but also intrigued, as I loved the Cloudmonster regular version.”
My Training Routine on the BowFlex T9: “The Cloudmonster Hyper fit my narrow feet with high arches perfectly. The tongue is thin but wraps well along the top of the foot, and the sticky laces do not budge. The upper material is sturdy, and I had no risk of ripping. My toes felt open and free, and I never had to adjust the shoes after starting a run.”
Cushioning: “The cushioning in this shoe is interesting, as it only feels poppy once your form is at a certain pace. When I dipped slightly under a 7:30 pace, I felt comfortable. I personally enjoy a shoe that feels more stiff with pop than mushy, and the Cloudmonster Hyper fits this characteristic.”
Demo Runs: Can the Cloudmonster Hyper Be a Go-To Shoe for Competitive Runners: “I liked how the shoe felt like it was propelling me forward, without a carbon plate in the midsole. Compared to other trainers, the Cloudmonster Hyper is a bit beefier, and on days I’m feeling strong, I feel well-supported.”
From Runners World for New Balance: “The stack height is high, so I normally felt secure, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable on gravel or a bumpy road.”
Overall: “The Cloudmonster Hyper is the perfect complement to a training rotation, for easy days where you want to run a little quicker or do strides after a run. In general, it feels better at a faster training pace versus a tired training run.”
