Whether you're chasing a new 5K personal best or gearing up for a distance you once thought impossible, the right shoe can make all the difference.
My shoe of choice? Anything ASICS, of course, but let’s talk about the Novablast 5
I recently made the switch from the Gel-Cumulus 26 to the Novablast 5 for my Two Oceans training block. I’ve been seriously impressed by how well they handle just about everything—from hill repeats at Rhodes Memorial to weekend long runs, easy miles, speed work, and everything in between.
Is there anything this shoe can’t do? If MustLoveHills is the performance crew then in my opinion the Novablast 5 is the performance shoe.
Lets talk specs for a sec:
The ASICS Novablast 5 features a soft, high-stack midsole made from a fancy new foam (FF BLAST™ PLUS ECO for those that live for the details). The shoe delivers a lively, energetic ride that’s best suited for neutral runners. The updated mesh upper keeps things breathable, while the rocker-like geometry of the shoe helps propel you forward with each stride. The Novablast 5 weighs slightly less than the Novablast 4. The only thing they didn’t update was the price of the shoe, and considering the versatility, I’d say that’s pretty great bang for your buck!
Okay enough about the specs, lets talk about real life performance:
I chose to run this year’s Bay-to-Bay in the Novablast with the goal of finishing the 30km in under 3h15mins. While the climb up Suikerbossie is always daunting, getting out to Hout Bay itself is a challenge as you wind your way along Victoria Road. Safe to say I needed all the energy I could get and the Novablasts provided. I crossed the finish line in 3h03min, feeling as comfortable as one can after running 30 kms.
The Novablast have already carried me through many of some of seriously challenging training sessions. And will be my shoe of choice come race day!
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