Free Swag Product Review: Pearl Izumi

Being a running blogger has its benefits. The ability to connect with like minded people all over the world, access to a wealth of knowledge from other runners, being able to babble incessantly in my writing (and have you guys actually care to read this)....but of course, the single most important benefit is free swag.


At the Las Vegas marathon expo, I started chatting with some of the folks at the Pearl Izumi tent. I tried on some shoes and they tried to convince me to buy them. I tried to convince them to give them to me for free (repeatedly). At first, they thought I was rather annoying, but after I dropped the blog-bomb on them I piqued their interest. My timing was perfect, as they were in the process of monitoring running blogs for potential product reviews. Apparently they took a liking to my blog, and right around Christmas time sent me the Pearl Izumi Streak Racing Shoe (which I found out that for a few weeks I was the only person in the US to own a pair in that cool blue color) and the Tri Fly II triathlon cycling shoe. I posted a review of these shoes here.


Just a few weeks ago I hit the motherload of free swag. I was sent 3 triathlon outfits, three cycling shorts, three cycling jerseys, the awesome Chipotle racing set (bib shorts and cycling jersey), another pair of Streaks (in a size that fits better) and the neutral cushion shoe the Pearl Izumi Synchrofloat III.


Apparently I died and went to heaven.


Since I purchased my first bike trainer last week (with tremendous thanks to Maggs!) I was able to get some action shots in my new gear.



Oh, and I quickly learned one benefit of cycling on an indoor trainer: your hydration possibilities are endless. (Note to readers: I do not recommend cycling under the influence)



This week I tested out the Synchrofloat IIIs. Runners World reviewed them in their spring guide here. When I first put them on, I could definitely tell they were more firm and structured than my Mizuno Wave Riders or even my Mizuno Wave Creations. They were a little too firm for my short runs, but man do I wish I had taken these puppies on my road 40 miler this past weekend. As I've mentioned before, I need a little more stability when I do longer runs. I used to use my Mizuno Wave Creations for that, but when I did the two marathons a week apart in December the plastic plate in the mizuno's caused me to have some soft tissue injury to my foot (see report here). The Pearl Izumi Synchrofloat's are more stable than the mizuno's, and they don't have the plastic plating. You can bet that my next road ultra will be in these shoes. Of course, like all Pearl Izumi shoes they have the integrated seamless uppers with the lace locking technology, so you can get these shoes to fit like a glove and won't get any blisters or hot spots from the seams.



So, thank you thank you Pearl Izumi! Because as I've mentioned a million times before, a girl can never have too many (running) shoes.