I discovered Saucony about ten years ago when I had really ramped up my walking distances and decided to get something better and more comfortable in a pair of shoes. I tried on almost every brand in the store that day, and I was just starting to get discouraged when the salesperson suggested the Sauconys. My feet were in love. They were--and still are--the only shoe that feel as if they were made for my feet. Saucony Rides became my go-to shoes. When I needed new shoes, I'd simply buy the next version and be able to wear them straight out of the box. So, when I started running, it was a no-brainer that I would just wear the same shoes I'd been wearing for walking, cycling and at the gym. And I wasn't disappointed. My shoe turnover started increasing with more milage. When I found Rides on sale, I'd often buy two pairs to have a new pair ready when needed.
 | This week, I received the latest Saucony Triumph ISO 2 as part of my ambassadorship with the Achille's Canada St. Patrick's Day 5K. Saucony is a sponsor and generously provided a pair of shoes to each of the ambassadors. I had them sent to my office, and had to try them on as soon as they arrived. I wound up wearing them the rest of the afternoon. These Triumphs had a new lace support system that seemed to apply an even amount of tightness right away. The tongue and heel were much more cushioned than my previous Rides or Triumphs. When I peeked under the insole, I noted a foam layer. Looking online, I see they are 244 grams. While this doesn't mean much to me, I can definitely tell they are lighter when compared to my older shoes. The colours are bold and bright and in-line with other current shoes I see my running friends wearing. |
After dragging some of my old runners out to take the photo above, I thought it would be kind of fun to look back at a running history of some of my Sauconys.
 | The Saucony Ride 4s represent my time as a walker. I covered a lot of kilometers walking around the city of Toronto, especially when we got our wheaten terrier puppy in 2008. I had several colour versions of these Rides, red, pink and blue I believe. There may have been 3s before this, I don't recall. |
 | The Saucony Ride 5s are definitely an extra special shoe for me. These shoes saw me through my first ever races, including the Scotia Toronto Waterfront 5K and the Toronto Women's 8K. I had two pairs of these yellow 5s and they always added brightness to the dreariest days. The second pair saw me run my first ever Scotia Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon, the Monster Dash and Tannenbaum 10K. Looking at the tred on this second pair makes me realize I waited a long time before changing to my next shoe! |
 | The Saucony Ride 6s saw a lot of training kilometers and races as well. There were two pairs of these as well, and by looking closely at the ones on the left, you'll be able to tell what season this second pair saw me through! I never wore any special winter shoes for running, only my regular runners. Snow, slush and ice. Ironically, the first pair saw me run the gruelingly hot Beaches Jazz 20K Run, A Midsummer's Night Run 15K, and the Toronto Ten Miler. The second pair saw me through that crazy ice storm winter and many kilometers training for Around the Bay 30K. |
 | These were my first Saucony Triumph 10s and I got them largely because my old shoes (see above) were in desperate need of replacing and I didn't have a back up pair on hand. When I went to get a new pair of Rides, they didn't have my size. The store recommended I try the Triumphs. They were a bit more roomy than the Rides and I was told they would last longer. This pair saw me get a PB at my favourite race, the Toronto Yonge Street 10K, the first ever Toronto NIKE 15K, and the Beaches Jazz 20K. They, like many other pairs before, became my walking shoes after being retired from running. Even today as I put them into retirement, there is more tread on them than some of my previous Rides, worn for a shorter time. |
 | These Saucony Ride 7s are are my favourite ever based on colour. I have two more pairs in my closet right now waiting in line to be worn. This pair saw me trek around the zoo for the Oasis Zoo Run 5K, my second half marathon with Scotia Toronto Waterfront, and of course the Tannenbaum 10K. |
 | And now...the Saucony Triump ISO 2s! Given the timing, these will likely see quite a few races in the next couple months including, the Chilly Half Marathon, the Achille's 5K St. Patrick's Day Run, the Mercedes Benz 10K, the Mississauga Half Marathon and the Toronto Women's 5K. Welcome to the run family! Thanks Saucony! #findyourstrong |
NOTE: While I did receive a pair of running shoes from Saucony (a sponsor of the Achilles St. Patrick's Day 5K race) due to my ambassadorship, the opinions expressed above are my own.
