Okay, so I wanted to try out this new thing from Adidas, the “Switch FWD” shoe. I’d heard some buzz about it and, being a bit of a running shoe geek, I had to see what the hype was all about.
Getting Started
First things first, I got myself a pair. Finding my size was pretty easy, I just went with my usual running shoe size. No surprises there. Unboxing them, I immediately noticed the, uh, unique design. It’s definitely a “love it or hate it” kind of look. I wasn’t totally sold on the aesthetics at first, but hey, it’s about the performance, right?
The First Run
I laced them up, feeling that slightly weird squish underfoot. It’s different, that’s for sure. My first run was just a short 3-miler, nothing crazy. I wanted to ease into it, get a feel for how these things actually behaved on the road.
- First mile: Honestly, felt a little clumsy. Like I was running on marshmallows that were also trying to propel me forward. Took some getting used to.
- Second mile: Starting to get the hang of it. The “forward” motion thing wasn’t super noticeable, but I did feel like my stride was a bit…different. Hard to explain.
- Third mile: Okay, I’m starting to see the appeal. My legs felt surprisingly fresh, and I even picked up the pace a bit without feeling like I was working harder.
More Miles, More Thoughts
Over the next few weeks, I put in a good 50 miles on these shoes. I tried them on different surfaces (road, track, even a little bit of trail) and at different paces. My initial awkwardness definitely faded, and I started to appreciate the unique feel of the shoe.
It’s not a magic bullet, don’t get me wrong. I’m not suddenly breaking any speed records. But there’s a definite “smoothness” to the ride that I’ve come to enjoy. It’s like the shoe is absorbing some of the impact and then gently pushing me forward. My legs do feel less beat up after longer runs, which is a big plus.
The Verdict (So Far)
I ran with the Adidas Switch FWD, and I think it is a good pair of running shoes.
The Switch FWD is a weird shoe. It’s not for everyone. But if you’re looking for something different, something that might help you feel a little less beat up after your runs, it’s worth checking out. Just be prepared for a bit of an adjustment period. It’s not your typical running shoe, and that’s kind of the point.
