ASICS CUMULUS 14: New Year, New Shoes

Thanks to the Php 5,000 check, which was one of the rewards for my 10 years of service in First Balfour, I was able to acquire a new pair of running shoes.  

For this new pair, I bought from A Runner’s Circle – Manila the Asics Cumulus 14.  

Fresh out of the box

 

One thing that ARC-Manila can do, which other running stores in the Philippines reliably cannot,  is to get you a specific color,  size and  width. In my case, I ordered:

Color:          Storm/White/Royal                

Size:            9 
Width:         2E

I was told  that this pair came all the way from their ARC’s main store in Los Angeles, California.The world is indeed getting smaller.I took delivery of this new pair early this December but decided to use it January 2013, in time for the first 50-km test run of the Bataan Death March 102Km Ultra.

Remember my earlier complaint on the Asics running shoes in the Philippines not having an option for a 2E width, the facility offered by ARC to get the shoes from the States solves this problem. (http://www.bicolanopenguin.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-brand-of-running-shoes-will-i-buy.html#more)

The Asics (www.asicsamerica.com) website describes the Cumulus 14 and its embedded  running technology as follow:

Fans of the GEL-Cumulus® series will love the technical updates that improve both upper comfort and it exceptionally cushioned ride, while reducing weight by a half ounce (it is now at 11.5 oz). Its surprisingly stable platform is suitable for underpronators to mild overpronators.

·         Guidance Line®
Vertical flex groove decouples the tooling along the line of progression for enhanced gait efficiency. 

·         Solyte® Midsole Material
A lighter weight midsole compound than ASICS’ standard EVA and SpEVA®. Also features enhanced cushioning and durability. 

·         P.H.F.® (Personal Heel Fit)
2 layers of memory foam line the collar and mold to the athlete’s heel, creating a personalized fit. 

·         Impact Guidance System (I.G.S.®)
ASICS® design philosophy that employs linked componentry to enhance the foot's natural gait from heel strike to toe-off.

·         AHAR®
Acronym for ASICS® High Abrasion Rubber. Placed in critical areas of the outsole for exceptional durability.

·         APMA Seal of Acceptance
Designated shoes have the use of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance.

·         Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL® Cushioning System
Attenuates shock during impact and toe-off phases, and allows movement in multiple planes as the foot transitions through the gait cycle.

·         Space Trusstic System®
This midfoot stabilizer creates a pocket between the Trusstic System® device and the midsole, allowing for controlled midsole deformation and more efficient foot function.

Runner's World Review of the Cumulus 14 reads:

Long-time Cumulus wearers will notice that this version feels slightly firmer underfoot. That's because the shoe lost some of its cushioning foam in this update. Lab test results show Asics stripped half an ounce of weight from the shoe and lowered the profile—the heel dropped 1.3 mm and the forefoot is 2.6 mm closer to the ground. Testers appreciated that the plush ride remains intact.

Bottom Line: Remains a good option for mile-after-mile of padded footfalls.

"Mile-after-mile." I like the sound of it.  I am beginning to like this latest edition already.  Come to think of it, I have grown to rely on the Cumulus, from the 12^th  to this 14^th, for my long distance running.  

My feet are on cloud 9 with the Cumulus.