ASICS Kayano 21 Review

I have always been a lover of the Asics Kayano.  The Kayano21 is my third pair of Kayanos.  

I ran my first marathon with my Kayano19, 

Chix in her Asics Kayano 19 - During the TBR - Dream Marathon (42k)  Feb 16, 2014
Photo Courtesy of Photo-Ops

ASICS KAYANO 19
Photo grabbed from amazon.co.uk

a number of half marathons and other races with my Kayano20

Chix in her Asics Kayano 20 - Takbo.ph Runfest (21k), July 13, 2014
Photo Courtesy of Photo-Ops

Chix in her Asics Kayano 20 - New Balance Power Run (25k), November 9, 2014
Photo Courtesy of Pinoyfitness

ASICS KAYANO 20
Photo grabbed from footlocker.com

 and my second marathon with my Kayano21.

Chix in her Asics Kayano 21 - Condura Skyway Marathon (42k) February 1, 2015
Photo Courtesy of Photo-Ops

ASICS KAYANO 21
Photo grabbed from solecollector.com

Here are my thoughts on the Kayano21.  

I have been using them since Feb2015 (roughly 300+kms).

I love the design of my Kayano21 (Black/pop/knowckout pink), the colors are very attractive and they just suit my personality.  Overall fit is perfect for me.  They are snug to my feet.  

My Kayano 19 was also mesh, though my Kayano20 was not. 

As compared to the previous two Kayanos I’ve owned, I would say the Kayano 21 offers the best fit.  I guess this is due to the Kayano21’s  new “inner layer of lining” which result to a more tighter feel than the previous Kayanos, which is an advantage for me, since I have very narrow feet.

It’s a great stability shoe and offers generous support.   I usually run around our village and some of the roads here are not even, so these shoes are best for me to make sure I don’t trip on the roads.

The first time I tried the Kayano19, I thought they were the best, but as I tried the 20 and now the 21, they just keep getting better and better. The Kayano 21 has a softer ride compared to the Kayano 20.  It is more padded but still provides ample stability. And because it feels (and is) more padded, they are heavier than the Kayano20.  As I always say, the Asics Kayano 21 is “the best Kayano, yet!” As a matter of fact, I am thinking of getting another pair in a different color.

Chix with the Asics Kayano 21 (Flash Yellow)
ASICS Bonifacio High Street Store

That’s how much I love the Asics Kayano 21.  Looking forward to getting a new pair of Kayano 21, and of course I can't wait until Asics releases the Kayano 22.

PROS:

Provides the best stability and more cushioning compared to previous Kayanos I tried ( especially for my type of feet- narrow feet)

Snug to my feet which enables my feet to run at a steady pace even during long runs

A lot of color options (depending on your style)

CONS:

Quite expensive compared to other running shoes

Heavy, and it’s quite stiff (since it’s a stability shoe) – heavier than the Kayano20


Catch you later!

The hardest (yet meaningful) EASTER 5K RUN!

April 5, 2015 – Easter Sunday.  I got up at 5am, eager to leave for UP for our Sunday long run.

I had a meaningful Holy Week (Tagaytay for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday prayer and fasting, annual day trip to Manaoag, Pangasinan for Black Saturday). 

Chix and Mike outside Pink Sisters Convent, Tagaytay - Maundy Thursday 2015

Chix and Mike outside Our Lady of Manaoag Church, Pangasinan - Black Saturday 2015

I had everything planned out when I woke up Easter Sunday! I prepared all our hydration bottles, after run clothes, etc…  When we arrived UP, we immediately got off the car and started to prep for our run.  After walking for half a kilometer, we saw a couple of our fellow UP counterflow runners and joined them for a run around the oval.  Since we were late, and they were at their last round, Mike (my husband) and I decided to continue running even after they finished.  So we went for another round at the oval, this time we saw Zhiella (fellow TBR batchmate and friend) and she took our pic. 

While running at the UP- Acadmeic Oval - Easter Sunday 2015
Photo Courtesy of Zhiella Turingan

Before we decided to take a quick hydration break, Mike and I decided to run at a faster pace, but when I stopped running, I felt very weak that I couldn’t run anymore – this was only after running 5kms.  I told Mike to continue even after our hydration break as I was not feeling well.  So he did. After about an hour or so, he went back inside our car and was surprised to see that I was having chills.  We left UP right away and passed by a drugstore and he got me paracetamol.  As he drove home, I wasn’t feeling any better.  My entire body ached and I just wanted to take a hot bath and lie down in bed.  When we got home, I immediately took a bath and got my temp, and it was 39C (102F).  I thought it was a normal fever that will be over in a day or two... but no, it lasted for a week!

Since I started running in 2012, I’ve never felt this weak! I have always been happy to run because I felt the health benefits that it did to me.  It always made me happy and everything about my body says that running is good for me. But for some reason, this time, I just couldn’t move. Walking to the dining room to eat was too much for me. Even our drive to the doctor's clinic was a struggle. My body was very weak which made me realize even more how to value my health.  

"Thank You" Visit to our family doctor, three days after I fully recovered
L-R: Chix, my Mom, Dr. Antonio Acosta (a.k.a Kuya Tony, our family doctor), my Dad
(Thankful that my parents are here to take care of me during daytime while my hubby's at work, during that difficult week)

Now that I have recovered from that worst “viral infection” (as how our family doctor referred to it), I loved running even more.  I realized that our HEALTH is indeed our WEALTH! That week made me realize how blessed I am for having the strength to run.  

My holy week became even more memorable after that “week of weakness.” I now value each run, whether it’s a 3k, or a full marathon, what matters is you keep moving and be thankful for the strength that God gave you.   

Ever since I recovered from that flu, I joined the DC Comics Justice League 10k fun run

Jeff and Chix showing off their Justice League Medal after the 10K DC Comics Fun Run
Photo Courtesy of Jeff Lo

 and the National Geographic Run for the Earth 21K (half-marathon).  

Photo Courtesy of Lakbay Buhay

Chix with her 21k NatGeo 2015 Medal 

Both races were not my personal bests but I have learned that each run and each race is a blessing.  The opportunity to join and finish a race is already God’s gift to me. 

Catch you later!