Posted: February 20, 2006

Athletics: Runner's World 2006 Spring Shoe Guide Highlights Best New Running Shoes

Five of 27 new shoes reviewed earn special honors in March issue

NEW YORK - (February 16, 2006) - Runner's World magazine, the world's leading authority on running information, spotlights and reviews 27 of the top new running shoes for spring in its 2006 Spring Shoe Guide, part of the March issue of Runner's World on newsstands everywhere.

Five of the 27 shoes profiled-all of which were put through rigorous testing by Runner's World editors, its 350 "wear-testers" and its one-of-a-kind Runner's World Shoe Lab, supervised by the Department of Sports Medicine at Michigan State University, were cited as the very best of the group, in categories including Editor's Choice, Best Buy, Best Update and Best Debut.

Criteria guidelines for awards in each category, and winners in those categories for Spring 2006, are as follows:

* Editor's Choice winners (the Asics Gel Kayano XII and the Saucony Grid Hurricane 8) represent an outstanding shoe that successfully combines the highest-quality design and technology. It receives high marks from the RW Shoe Lab, from wear-testers and from the editors.

* Best Update (the Mizuno Wave Creation 7) recognizes a significant improvement made to an existing model. The shoe features a better overall fit and feel, a materials update or new technology.

* Best Buy (the Brooks Radius 6) is given to a high-quality, high-value shoe that incorporates features or technology usually found in shoes at higher price points.

* Best Debut (the Mizuno Wave Elixir) highlights a new product release that receives high marks from the RW Shoe Lab, from wear-testers and from the editors. Although the product is unproven over the long haul, it represents a promising new addition to its category.

Every shoe reviewed by Runner's World is first bench-tested at the RW Shoe Lab at Michigan State, under the supervision of Runner's World Technical Editor Ray Fredericksen, M.S. All shoes are flexed, pounded and prodded to see how well they perform. Then, the shoes are each matched to one of 350 wear-testers in San Diego, Allentown (PA) and East Lansing (MI) based on fit and performance characteristics.

Testers, who must log a minimum of 25 miles per week, run in the shoes for a month before submitting their evaluations, noting their total mileage run in each shoe and rating it for qualities including weight, traction, cushioning, lacing system and upper material comfort, among other categories.

Runner's World is the only magazine in the world to independently test running shoes in this way, in order to give its editors the most objective means necessary to determine which shoes are most deserving of award status. Because Runner's World only tests and reviews the best product available, shoes that have been tested may use the "Tested by the Runner's World Shoe Lab" label.

Going forward, all testing will be done in collaboration with Runner's World editors and wear-testers from around the world in each country where the magazine publishes, so as to create an even more rigorous platform for testing. Each November, Runner's World will also select an International Editors' Choice Award winner for its global "Shoe of the Year," the shoe that over the previous 12 months met with the highest approval ratings from international wear-testers and the Runner's World's global editorial board.

Runner's World currently publishes international editions in 11 countries - Australia/New Zealand, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands/Belgium, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the United States

In 2005, the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) also recognized the quarterly Runner's World's Shoe Guides with a nomination for a 2005 National Magazine Award - the highest honor in the magazine industry.

For more information on the Runner's World 2006 Spring Shoe Guide, visit RunnersWorld.com.

About Runner's World

Recognized as the worldwide authority on running information, the mission of Rodale's Runner's World is to inform, advise and motivate runners of all ages and abilities. Runner's World aims to help runners achieve their personal health, fitness and performance goals and to inspire them with vivid, memorable storytelling. Currently Runner's World publishes international editions in eleven countries, plus a special bi-annual teen running publication, High School Runner. Runner's World's companion website, RunnersWorld.com, is the largest running community on the Internet, featuring interactive, searchable and targeted content for runners of all ages and abilities.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.

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