TRIED & TESTED
Images : Courtesy Skechers
Once the upper wraps around the foot , lacing can easily be modified to get that ideal glove-like fit . Runners with wide feet may find this shoe a bit narrow , but don ’ t discount it until you have tried the next size up , as the semi curved last also provides some tolerance in fit .
On the outsole , there are two protective Goodyear rubber pads , but with the focus on lightness , these are kept to a minimum – even the midfoot pad only extends to the front under the first and second metatarsal area , which is used for the supinated driveoff . Similarly , the rear pad emphasises the outer heel contact , and both have cutaways to further reduce weight . Despite such minimal outer rubber , the grip in the shoe is excellent , even in the wet .
How does it fly ?
There is something about the Speed Elite Hyper that just motivates momentum as soon as you put them on , and this also promotes a fast pace and good cadence as soon as you move forward . What I found is that the shaped winglet plate forces you to land midfoot and roll off on the rubber wear pads , so it all works well together .
Just take note that this is not a shoe to go jogging in , or do long , slow runs in : This is your tempo shoe , for short , fast pick-ups , track sessions or middledistance races , or racing up to 15 or 21km on the road . Also remember that one needs to gradually get used to a plated shoe before using it in a longer run or race , as it will change your running style .
The Skechers GORun Speed XCR & XCS
This is another versatile shoe , as you can not only use it for its core purpose of cross country running , but also for track and trail – and that also makes it another good buy for parents of growing athletes . And you have two options here , too .
While Meb ’ s influence is felt in the Skechers road and track shoes , it is multiple US collegiate track and cross country champion Edward Cheserek who influenced the design of the GORun Speed XCR and XCS . Between 2013 and 2017 , the Kenyan won 17 college-level national titles , and in 2018 he ran what was then the second-fastest indoor mile of all time , 3:49.44 . Little wonder he was given the nickname ‘ King Ches ,’ and that name appears on the forefoot of the shoe he inspired , because like Cheserek , it is lightweight and super-fast !
Heading Off-road
Skechers have brought out two models of this shoe , the XCS with metal spikes and the XCR with rubber studs . I tested the XCR , and the purpose of this shoe rests mainly in its midsole and outer , which are really to provide the protection and grip required for off-road running . The midsole is made from Skechers ’ proprietary ULTRA FLIGHT material , with a minimal drop of 2mm from the 14mm heel to the 12mm midfoot , making this is a low-profile , highly flexible and highly responsive shoe .
The grip for loose surfaces is provided with triangular studs on a rubber sheet that runs almost U shaped around the toe box , but leaves open a central channel that allows the foot to move exactly as it does naturally without shoes , and allows the shoe to flex and grip around the contours of the ground . The spacing of these studs means that there is little if any ‘ pick-up ,’ even when going through sticky mud or clay-like surface .
But consider the detail here : The triangular tread on the forefoot has the points to the front , and the flat edged block to the rear . Effective running is about driving the foot backwards to move the body forwards . This triangular tread presents the greatest contact area for this backward movement . Equally , when landing on the heel in cross country , you are generally trying to avoid forward
Edward Cheserek
slippage , or slowing down , with the foot ahead of the centre of gravity . Now the triangular tread works in the opposite direction .
Above the midsole , the Speed XCR package is completed by an exceptionally lightweight mono-mesh seamless moccasin upper that has laminated protection around the toe box area , and a Y-shaped heel harness that links to the five-eye lacing yoke to provide an amazing fit . Slipping your feet into the shoe is as though you are grafting on a second skin ! On a related note , the curved last and medial ( inner ) arch cut-away exactly follows the profile of the bottom of the foot , so again , the fit may be a bit too narrow for those with wider feet . Again , I suggest you try one size up , but watch that there is not too much space in the front .
Ticks All the Boxes
Put together , all this tech keeps the shoe super light , with a standard size 8 ( UK ) floating in at a minimal 126 grams , but what an amazing ride ! It has amazing grip and gives total confidence in off-road conditions , whether wet , muddy or uneven . Of course , the uncovered outer-sole area means you do feel the odd pointed stone , but the trade-off of a more flexible outer makes up for this .
The cushioning is more than sufficient for use on the track as a spike replacement , and I found its performance over a 20km low-tide Durban beach run simply majestic , both for sharp objects as well as for draining when running through the wave wash of the bigger waves . Another of my test runs was a mixed technical trail race , where the grip outstripped my agility on rocks and roots , and tackling the wet conditions in and out of rivers . This is truly a versatile shoe for all seasons , with the added benefit that it will teach those fast-growing kids how to run with biomechanically correct form . That alone is worth the investment .
Get Them Here
Both models are available at the Skechers store in Melrose Arch , with the Speed Elite Hyper retailing at R4299 , the Speed XCR with metal spikes sells for R2049 , and the Speed XCR with rubber spikes can be bought for R1649 .
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