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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Running Shoe Reviews – Skechers GOrun Ultra}} Is this a Hoka for only $80? Sadly not, but it's closer than you might expect, though the cost per mile pro..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Best Running Shoe Reviews – Skechers GOrun Ultra}}
Is this a Hoka for only $80? Sadly not, but it's closer than you might expect, though the cost per mile probably works out more than the longer lasting Hokas.
* '''Cushioning'''. The GOrun Ultra is massively cushioned in the heel; it's as thick as the thicker Hokas, but softer. However, the forefoot is far thinner.
* '''Protection'''. The GOrun offers little protection compared with other Minimax shoes. This is partly because the forefoot is relatively thin and partly because of the large foam lugs. If you hit a stone between the lugs the forefoot is only 22mm (with insole). If the stone hits on the gap in the red foam, you'd only have about 17mm of remarkably soft foam. Ouch.
* '''Drop'''. The drop with the insole is 14mm, making it worse than a traditional running shoe. If you take the insole out, the drop is reduced to 10mm, which is not quite as bad, though slightly more than a traditional shoe. However, if you look at the picture above, you'll notice the cut outs in the red foam around the forefoot, which makes the drop seem worse as the forefoot is softer and more compressible.
** Note that the measurements published by Skechers indicate the drop is 8mm with the insole and 4mm without the insole. I've also seen the measurements of 23/27mm sole height quoted by third parties. However, an independent measurement is 27/41mm with the insole, 25/35mm without, which close to my measurement. I took my measurement from under the ball and heel of the foot using the slice seen above.
* '''Medial post'''. The construction of the sole is a little odd, becoming thicker just in front and to the inside of your heel. This creates what is sometimes called a medial post, which is intended to resist the natural roll of your foot as it lands.
* '''Feel'''. I found the combination of the medial post and the large drop rather disconcerting, and while the heel is nicely cushioned, the forefoot feels rather poor. I've run a few miles with a GOrun Ultra on one foot and a Hoka Bondi on the other (don't do that at home), and the shoes feel superficially similar.
* '''Heel counter'''. The heel counter on this shoe is rather different to other shoes, putting almost no pressure on the Achilles' tendon. Instead the heel counter presses on the back of the heel bone, which feels rather odd initially, and when running faster it felt like the GORun Ultras would come off. However, it's possible that this shoe may work better if you are having Achilles' Tendon issues.
* '''Wear'''. Shoes that lack the hard rubber outsole layer always wear more quickly, but the GORun Ultra's have lugs that wear even quicker than others. If found noticeable wear after only 130 miles.
* '''Injury. '''I found that I started to develop knee pain during the time I was trying out these shoes, even though I was only running short distances in them. The knee pain disappeared after I ceased using the GORun ultras. This could be coincidence of course, but it does concern me.
The GOrun has most of the softness and comfort of the Hoka at a far lower purchase price. However, I have some concerns with amount of drop and the rapid wear that undermines the cost advantage.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:GoRunSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A slice through the GOrun ultras.]]
|[[File:GoRunPressure.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Here's a close up with my foot in the slice. The arrows give an idea of where the pressure points are under the ball and heel of the foot. Here you can see the sole thickening in front of the heel, creating a 'medial post'.]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:GORunAnkle.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A close up of the ankle, where you can see the foam that holds the shoe against the back of the ankle.]]
|[[File:GORunAnkle2.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Here's the closeup with my ankle, and the blue arrow points to where the shoe presses on the heel bone (calcaneus) and the calcanean bursa. The red arrow points to the Achilles' tendon, which is where most shoes press. ]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:GORunSole.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A close up of the sole, showing the wear that occurred after just 130 miles. ]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
Is this a Hoka for only $80? Sadly not, but it's closer than you might expect, though the cost per mile probably works out more than the longer lasting Hokas.
* '''Cushioning'''. The GOrun Ultra is massively cushioned in the heel; it's as thick as the thicker Hokas, but softer. However, the forefoot is far thinner.
* '''Protection'''. The GOrun offers little protection compared with other Minimax shoes. This is partly because the forefoot is relatively thin and partly because of the large foam lugs. If you hit a stone between the lugs the forefoot is only 22mm (with insole). If the stone hits on the gap in the red foam, you'd only have about 17mm of remarkably soft foam. Ouch.
* '''Drop'''. The drop with the insole is 14mm, making it worse than a traditional running shoe. If you take the insole out, the drop is reduced to 10mm, which is not quite as bad, though slightly more than a traditional shoe. However, if you look at the picture above, you'll notice the cut outs in the red foam around the forefoot, which makes the drop seem worse as the forefoot is softer and more compressible.
** Note that the measurements published by Skechers indicate the drop is 8mm with the insole and 4mm without the insole. I've also seen the measurements of 23/27mm sole height quoted by third parties. However, an independent measurement is 27/41mm with the insole, 25/35mm without, which close to my measurement. I took my measurement from under the ball and heel of the foot using the slice seen above.
* '''Medial post'''. The construction of the sole is a little odd, becoming thicker just in front and to the inside of your heel. This creates what is sometimes called a medial post, which is intended to resist the natural roll of your foot as it lands.
* '''Feel'''. I found the combination of the medial post and the large drop rather disconcerting, and while the heel is nicely cushioned, the forefoot feels rather poor. I've run a few miles with a GOrun Ultra on one foot and a Hoka Bondi on the other (don't do that at home), and the shoes feel superficially similar.
* '''Heel counter'''. The heel counter on this shoe is rather different to other shoes, putting almost no pressure on the Achilles' tendon. Instead the heel counter presses on the back of the heel bone, which feels rather odd initially, and when running faster it felt like the GORun Ultras would come off. However, it's possible that this shoe may work better if you are having Achilles' Tendon issues.
* '''Wear'''. Shoes that lack the hard rubber outsole layer always wear more quickly, but the GORun Ultra's have lugs that wear even quicker than others. If found noticeable wear after only 130 miles.
* '''Injury. '''I found that I started to develop knee pain during the time I was trying out these shoes, even though I was only running short distances in them. The knee pain disappeared after I ceased using the GORun ultras. This could be coincidence of course, but it does concern me.
The GOrun has most of the softness and comfort of the Hoka at a far lower purchase price. However, I have some concerns with amount of drop and the rapid wear that undermines the cost advantage.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:GoRunSlice.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A slice through the GOrun ultras.]]
|[[File:GoRunPressure.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Here's a close up with my foot in the slice. The arrows give an idea of where the pressure points are under the ball and heel of the foot. Here you can see the sole thickening in front of the heel, creating a 'medial post'.]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:GORunAnkle.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A close up of the ankle, where you can see the foam that holds the shoe against the back of the ankle.]]
|[[File:GORunAnkle2.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|Here's the closeup with my ankle, and the blue arrow points to where the shoe presses on the heel bone (calcaneus) and the calcanean bursa. The red arrow points to the Achilles' tendon, which is where most shoes press. ]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:GORunSole.JPG|none|thumb|x300px|A close up of the sole, showing the wear that occurred after just 130 miles. ]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
