My Review of Mens PUMA Faaslab Racer Running Shoe

Originally submitted at Road Runner Sports

Men's PUMA® FAASLAB RACER :: For the minimalist runner looking for a close-to-barefoot feel, the men's Puma® Faaslab Racer can't be beat. Incredibly light, the Faaslab Racer is designed with the less-is-more design philosophy to give you incredible performance and to promote n...

Mens PUMA Faaslab Racer Running Shoe

Sweet shoe

By Surfing Vol from Charlotte, NC on 12/29/2010

 

5out of 5

Sizing: Feels half size too small

Width: Feels true to width

Arch Type: Low Arch

Pros: Lightweight, Comfortable, Fast, Cushions Impact, Breathable

Best Uses: Road Running

Describe Yourself: Avid Athlete

Was this a gift?: Yes

First, I've never worn Pumas before, and viewed them more as "lifestyle" shoes than serious footwear. That said, I decided to ask Santa for the Puma FAAS based on my experience in Saucony Kinvaras.

I first wore the Pumas around the house on Christmas day for a "break-in" to see if I liked the fit enough to try running in them. I have wide feet, and the toe box felt fine, so I'm not sure why other reviewers said that the shoe felt narrow. In fact, for my feet, the upper on the Puma FAAS' feels more comfortable than the upper on the Kinvara, especially around the area of my right little toe (I seem to recall reading that Kinvaras wear out around that spot).

I took the shoes out last night for a fast 7 mile run. The shoes have a cushy (as opposed to harsh) ride, yet not so soft as to feel unstable. I'm a big guy -- 210 pounds -- with flattish feet who is supposed to wear motion control shoes, so the feel of the shoe is important to me. My legs and feet feel great today. There was no noticable wear on the outsole, unlike the Kinvaras.

If you like the feel of Kinvaras, you should seriously consider these shoes. If you're looking for a minimalist shoe, lace these babies up snug, and let 'er rip!

(legalese)

First Impressions -- Puma FAAS 300

Let's start with the proposition that, at this stage in life, I'm a far larger (and heavier) runner than I was when I was running 5ks in less than 17 minutes.  I also have wider-than-average, flattish feet and generally have been steered over the last 15 years into motion control or stability shoes (even though I don't pronate).  So what is a guy like me doing running in so-called minimalist shoes?

For me, the light dawned sometime in the last year or 18 months when I finally figured out that stability shoes were hurting my legs.  At that time I went to neutral shoes, but ones that still had significant heel-to-toe drops.  Earlier this year I read about the Saucony ProGrid Kinvaras and bought a pair.  I ran in them, liked the cushioning and the way I felt when running in them, but wasn't crazy about certain aspects of the fit of the upper or the likely life of the outsole.  I also bought a pair of Adidas Adizero Rockets, which are lightweight and have a low heel-to-toe drop.  While I run fast in the Rockets, they feel less cushioned and beat my legs up.  However, I had no problems with running in minimalist shoes.

Anyway, giving in to my Imelda Marcos-esque shoe fetish, I asked Santa for a pair of the Puma FAAS 300s for Christmas based solely on the specs.  I've never worn Pumas before, and frankly knew Pumas for (1) soccer and (2) fashion.  The shoes were wrapped under the Christmas tree, and I was a happy runner opening the box Christmas morning.  No underwear or ties!  Shoes!  I wore them around the house Christmas day to get a sense of the fit and feel.  The shoes had a nice feel, and the toe box was sufficiently roomy.

Last night I put on my tights, my reflective gear and laced up the Pumas for a 7 mile run. Immediately I noticed how cushy the shoes felt.  Nice, but so cushy as to be unstable?  After the run, I can say that I experienced no instability at all.  In fact, my legs and feet feel great today.  The shoes felt quick, and the soles show very little wear (especially when compared to how the Kinvara outsoles looked after my first run).  I also liked how the upper felt around my little toe, which has been a concern with the Kinvaras.

I have no hesitation recommending these shoes to anyone other than a total newbie.  And PLEASE don't wear these because they look good with jeans.  These are running shoes.

Cold Winter Running

What does it take to get up at somewhere around 5 am, when everyone else is still asleep, to put on the tights, the gloves, the hat, the balaclava, to step outside and wait for the Garmin to synch, when it is well less than freezing?

I could stay in bed and catch up on my sleep, but still I answer the alarm, stumble around for a few minutes, and then face the cold and the dark.

Running in the summer is easier -- no need to dress up because it is already warm and, for a few weeks anyway, light outside.  The legs are free and loose after a couple of minutes.  Few things are as pleasant and revitalizing as running into the sunrise

Running in winter is the opposite.  I know I complained about how hot it was this last summer, how my "speed" had been dragged down by the heat and humidity.  Now, though, I wonder if I would trade a week of frigid running for one morning of cold, dark running.

Running in winter is hard.  On the really cold mornings, or the mornings when it is spitting snow or sleet, I am usually the only one out on the roads.  Where is the jogging gang that runs all across the street without reflective gear?  Are they all in their homes running on treadmills?  Or sleeping in, staying warm beneath the covers?

Running on cold winter mornings is empowering.  While I run wearing state of the art tech gear, not buckskins or even what runners wore 25 years ago, I'm still out facing the elements, the night, the cold and whatever else is out there.  I'm looking ahead while clearly staying in the present.  I listen to -- sense -- my left hanstring tightening up.  I feel the tenderness around my right knee.  Occasionally I see an owl swoop over the road.  I've run when it was so dark that I couldn't see the road, and wound up trying not to stumble when I ran onto the shoulder.  I did this, I can do this, I will do this.

After I finish, I did it.

That's why I run outside on cold winter mornings.  Regardless of what else comes during the day, I did it.

Picking up the race packet

So I sneak out of the office at lunchtime to pick up my packet for what looks like a modest 5k on a pleasant September Saturday morning tomorrow. I drive on downto the local running store, which is distributing the packets and schwag, feeling pretty good about myself, park and walk in the door.

Poof!  There went the good feeling.

First, I'm the oldest person in there, including customers, by 15-20 years.  That alone was enough to make me feel like it was time to find Lawrence Welk reruns on TV.

Second, I looked like a pro football player (an offensive lineman, not a wide receiver) compared to everyone else in the store.  Seriously.  I think that the guys in the store, if they ever wear sports coats or suits, don't come close to 40 inch chests. 

Third, the young woman stocking the geezer-wear section (you know, compression socks and sleeves) didn't even look at me, much less ask if I wanted help.  I WAS INVISIBLE!

Fourth, when I picked up the race packet, the clerks/volunteers SPOKE REAL LOUD so that I could hear.  Of course, that could have been a reflection on them -- they were holding and looking at my number, which included a line that read "Shirt - XL", and asked me what size shirt I wanted.  Uh, XL please.

Finally, when one of the employees was able to see through my cloak of invisibility in order to accept my credit card (I make a point of buying something when picking up a race packet), he patronized me by asking me if I expected to place tomorrow (I said the race was modest, not miniscule).  I could see little thought balloons over his head -- "Let's make the old geezer feel good about his daily constitutional -- let's act like he should win!" 

And I thought my kids were responsible for making me feel old.