It’s been said that Nike changes the way the world works out. In the world of running, this is undeniable. The Nike Free+ running shoe, on top of becoming insanely popular itself, inspired a number of less-comfortable knock-offs and introduced America to the minimalist running movement.

Nike doesn’t always produce the best shoes, but they produce the most marketable ones. They are Asics’s and Mizuno’s more handsome, more popular jock cousin.

Earlier this week, further demonstrating his celebrity, Nike’s co-founder appeared as one of Oprah’s final guests. In her honor, Phil Knight brought a special edition of the Lunarglide+2, customized for the Oprah show.

This model has a special colorway, and has Phil and Oprah’s names on the laces. There’s also a design of an oak tree, which is apparently significant to the beloved talk show host.

I haven’t seen any of these on ebay yet, but you can probably expect them to start appearing soon. They’re a one-time release, and probably the most valuable running shoes in the world. I just hope no one actually runs in them.

While researching winter running, I came across a whimsical (and technically impressive) product. Sure, it pertains to my last post, but that’s not the real reason I wanted to write about it. The real reason? I’m a geek when it comes to running tech.

I wrote a few days ago about proper form when running on ice. The ICEBUG line of shoes render all of that inconsequential- that is, if you can get a pair.

These shoes, named after this lovable fellow, use BUGrip to provide exceptional traction on ice without discomfort on hard surfaces. They do this with pegs that retract on harder surfaces (like concrete) but stay out to grip softer ones (like ice or snow). And these pegs move independently from each other, so they really shine on uneven surfaces.

The downside is that ICEBUG shoes are pretty hard to find. The main producer is in Sweden (birthplace of Craft and that Dyson guy). There are US retailers, but not many- and they seem to be restricted to the REALLY cold states. I suppose a Pennsylvania winter doesn’t warrant Swedish-quality technology.

I could only find positive reviews of the ICEBUG shoes, and none too official. Here is an old but thorough example. If you live in the far north of the US (or anywhere in Europe) and you want to try something different in your winter running routine, these guys seem to be worth a shot.

I mentioned a little while ago that I was doing a wear test of the Brooks Green Silence for my work. I thought my readership might be interested in the results as well, so here is my writeup on the shoes.

1. Fit

a. Narrow in arch
b. Narrow toebox
c. Difficult to lace comfortably
i. I often tied these shoes uncomfortably tight because wearing them looser made the heel feel baggy. The tightness wasn’t very noticeable while running, but distracting while walking or standing.

2. Feel

a. Heel counter at comfortable height—didn’t notice it, which is a good thing
b. No irritation from eyelets
c. Platform narrow at midfoot; feels like it encourages supination

3. Function

a. Super light and bouncy
b. Performed very well in interval training and fartleks (especially on hills)
c. Flexibility and lightness encourages running on the ball of the foot—could work well as “transitional” footwear like the Nike Free
d. Little traction. I had to be more careful than usual running across sewer grates and metal bridges after rain
e. Upper breathes well and dries very quickly after a run

4. Finish

a. Colors make it stand out on the running shoe wall. There are very few black running shoes, so it draws the eye. The black coloration also makes the green “pop”
b. Received comments and compliments from other runners who likely would not have noticed more standard-looking running shoes.
c. I think they look cool

So there you go. I trained in these shoes, but I think that they’d really shine in shorter distance races– 5k and 10k’s. If you’re a green-minded runner (and there seem to be a lot of those these days) looking for a good performance shoe, I truly think the Green silence has something to offer.

I have just gotten a second job at City Sports. In addition to padding my wallet, it should be a great opportunity to evaluate different kinds of running gear (all at discounted prices).

I just returned from my first day of training. Today all I learned about was different kinds of shoes and how to help people find the right kind. I thought I knew a fair amount about them, but I was humbled today. There is so much to know about shoes. I actually have a thick packet next to my computer, full of information on different brands and material and technology related to footwear.

The sick part is, I’m excited to read it.