At Mizuno, we have the privilege of working with great minds in sports and medical science. Whilst studying and working in the field of human performance, experts like Dr Karen Mickle are also striving towards their own physical goals.

For Karen, her pursuit of excellence in trail running has taken her to some of the most beautiful and challenging trails, from Australia's remote wilderness to the Northern Hemisphere's jaw-dropping Alps. 

Dr Karen Mickle is a Lecturer in Biomechanics, specialising in Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Newcastle. In this article, Karen shares her thoughts on the all-new Wave Daichi 8 and the Wave Mujin 10, Mizuno's two key pillars of the trail running range. 

 

Wave Daichi 8

 

Opting for the Wave Daichi 8 for shorter trail runs and races across more uneven, rocky terrain, Karen finds the shoe more agile than the Mujin 10.

"The Daichi 8 is my go-to trail shoe when I want to be light and nimble on my feet. We've had a fair bit of rain around the Central Coast lately and I feel very confident on the wet rocks in these shoes," Karen said.

Speaking to the updates that come with the Wave Daichi 8, Karen notes the improvement in the smoothness of the ride of the midsole (cushioning).

 

 

"I found the midsole of the Daichi 7 a little stiff on hard ground and struggled with comfort on longer runs. The additional cushioning in the Daichi 8 is a big improvement for someone who likes to spend hours on the trails."

Beyond the improvements made to the midsole, Karen also notes the changes to the upper and outsole.

"On top of the forefoot, the Daichi 8 has a softer mesh panel and a slightly wider tongue that relieves constriction on the foot. Additionally, the updated outsole using Vibram Megagrip provides superior grip for the trails around here, " she said.

And lastly, in providing some fit advice to the rest of us, Karen notes some small differences compared to her road running shoes like the Wave Rider and Wave Sky. 

"I've gone half a size larger in the Daichi 8 compared to my road shoes (Wave Rider and Wave Sky). I feel this is needed for downhill running and longer runs on the trails."

 

Wave Mujin 10

 

For longer trail runs, Karen opts for the Wave Mujin 10 - Mizuno's most cushioned trail running shoe.

"I feel like I could run all day in the Mujin. It's the first Mujin model I've worn as previously I've been put off by the weight of the shoe," Karen said. 

With the Wave Mujin 10 providing an additional 2mm of cushioning on the previous model all while being 20g lighter, the shoe provides greater protection to the user in a more comfortable package.

 

 

Providing some important fit advice, Karen notes the differences between the Daichi and Mujin.

"Length and width wise they fit very similar, but you can feel the extra stack height (cushioning) of the Mujin. I also prefer how the tongue is integrated into the upper of the Mujin, giving it a more secure fit," she says.

Recently using the Mujin 10 for one of Australia's most renowned trail races in the Six-Foot Track Marathon, Karen found the shoe worked perfectly with the race's varied terrain.

"I did the marathon in them where there was a lot of firm, dry fire trails mixed amongst a few creek crossings and the Mujin performed superbly."

Currently, Karen is preparing for the Guzzler 100km race in QLD in July, before gearing up for her ultimate goal this year at the Ultra Trail Kosciuszko 100 Mile race. 

 

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