Mizuno Wave Ultima 14

Sometimes fate doesn't give you the shoes you want, but the ones you need. This is what happened when RUNNEA commissioned me to test the Mizuno Wave Ultima 14

To give a little context:

• In April, I ran a personal record at the Santander 10K of 42 minutes,
• In May, I ran a time of 1 hour 36 minutes in the Santoña half marathon.

Both times are very close to mythical barriers: under 40 minutes in 10K and under 1 hour 30 minutes in half marathon. And that is what I intend to achieve.

BUT...

Before that, I have another goal: to run my first marathon before I turn 30. I'm getting closer and closer. So I've already started my training with RUNNEA. As you can imagine, in my first marathon I won't run at very high paces. In 3 hours and 30 minutes I'll be uncorking the champagne.

So while I will need fairly reactive running shoes to achieve my goals in short distances, what I need NOW are running shoes.

These weeks I was lucky enough to try for the first time some running shoes from Mizuno, the Wave Ultima 14. And I can already tell you that they will NOT be the last ones I will buy from this brand.

A first look at the Mizuno Wave Ultima 14

One day in the office, my colleague Gorka arrives with a box of shoes. I see the Mizuno logo and I get excited, as I had never tried models from the Japanese brand before.

The first thing I check is the model, the Wave Ultima 14, and the size: 40.5. I immediately had my doubts, since I usually wear size 41 or 41.5. It seems little but in the end it is the difference that makes you go a little uncomfortable. And when you accumulate kilometers, as in the case of a marathon, comfort is key.

I open the box and it reveals a model with a magnificent electric blue. I try them on and see that they fit well. There's barely enough left over, so the test will tell if the shoes fit or not when my feet swell (spoiler alert: they're great).

So, as the Argentinian artist Fito Paez would sing, let's roll and roll my life...

Ideal runner type for the Mizuno Wave Ultima 14

I've been running the Mizuno Wave Ultima 14 for four weeks of 70 kilometers. The sessions include long runs at a slow pace, tempo run, fartleks and the occasional series.

These Mizuno s are aimed at:

• light to medium weight runners who need a model for recovery jogs, long runs or runs at 5 min/km or more,
• heavier runners who want a multi-purpose shoe that provides a lot of comfort and safety.

In terms of distances, these are top-of-the-line cushioning shoes that will excel on long runs. In shorter challenges they can be fine, as long as the pace is not less than 5:15 min/km.

Can't they go faster? Of course they can. But beyond that pace, there are other models that will do a better job.

What I liked the most

These Wave Ultima 14 are a real wild card. I really liked their versatility and responsiveness in different types of training sessions. In the end it brings a lot of comfort, although the Mizuno Enerzy is very dynamic as well. Not to mention the excellent performance of the so famous Wave plate, already present in the Ultima 13!

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these Mizuno to a beginner or intermediate runner looking for a single shoe for their closet. In the end it's a model that's going to help you build up training volume while avoiding wear and tear on your joints and muscle overload.

On the other hand, I'm a fan of outsoles. And I loved the one on this model. To improve my running technique, I usually give a little push off with the front part of the foot that is behind me with each stride. A sole that provides traction is perfect for this type of gesture.

While it is an universal shoe, its construction is stiff enough to provide plenty of stability. No doubt a slightly pronator runner would take them without a problem.

Possible points for improvement

Few things to mention in this section.

I think those looking for lightweight and cool shoes won't be entirely satisfied with Wave Ultima 14, that are quite cushioned.

Yes there is one thing I definitely didn't like about this model: the laces. Three things to note:

• they are very short laces, so to adjust them well, things get complicated,
• they are flat laces and I prefer round laces (although this is very personal),
• these laces are not elastic, unlike other models in this price range.

Fortunately, it is enough to change the laces to make these Mizuno an ideal model.

The competition of the Mizuno Wave Ultima 14

Mizuno's Wave Ultima 14 compete with other top cushioning shoes with some stability such as:

• Brooks Ghost 15,
• the New Balance Fresh FoamX 880 v13,
• the HOKA Clifton,
• the adidas Solarboost 5,
• the Nike Pegasus 40.

Conclusion

I am very happy with the new addition to my running shoes collection. I had a very good experience training with the Mizuno Wave Ultima 14 and I will continue to count on them for the remaining 9 weeks of training before the marathon. I may choose them for racing, as I won't be looking to push the pace.

Once the marathon is over, I'll get a more reactive shoes for my next asphalt goals.

And finally: I usually do a lot of mountain races, so I'll leave my letter to Santa Claus. How will the Mizuno trail range be?