Having pampered my formerly fleet feet with the INOV-8 285 race flats some time ago, I decided to get into a pair of INOV-8 305 training shoes instead of my much loved La Sportiva for the upcoming summer-autumn training load. A very big call indeed.

With nothing but all round praise for the gossamer weighted 285s, my expectations for the 305s were high. I need a mid to high mileage shoe that can cope with gravel roads and lots of them, without struggling for traction and preferably devoid of a bloated, over hyped soggy cushioning system that blew a gasket inside 100kms and did nothing to assist my natural gait.

Did the 305s deliver? Yes, flawlessly ( well apart from the laces which I just do not like but that’s a personal preference  not a technical deficiency).

Out of the box, the 305s are a pedestrian looking design in terms of aesthetics but as soon as you pick them up and put them on you realise there is a lot of shoe performance in a super light weight. The 305s are intended as a high mileage trail and adventure racing training shoe, providing high levels of comfort, grip and performance. After extended training use I can say it is suited to the purpose for which designed; without question.

Just on the out of the box phenomenon. INOV-8 shoes are a rare breed in that they immediately feel like slippers when you put them on ( providing you got the sizing right); there is no breaking in periood.

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Every year it seems there is an ultimate well being silver bullet proliferating on health food store shelves promising amazing benefits. GOJI or Chinese Wolfberry is one of a number of adaptogens  with the added attraction of being derived from an exotically originated Tibetan location (great for marketing hype). Digging beneath the hype, there is an emerging body of solid science around some of the tabloid claims that Goji is an efficacious adaptogen.

The goji berry contains 19 amino acids, including 9 that are essential for proper body functioning. This vitamin rich berry also contains 21 trace minerals, more protein than a serving of whole wheat, and more vitamin C than an orange.

The goji is super abundant in what are known as Glyconutritionals (Phytonutrients, Saccharides). These have been shown to lower cholesterol, increase lean muscle mass, decrease body fat, accelerate wound healing, ease allergy symptoms, and allay autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, psoriasis, and diabetes. Bacterial infections, including the recurrent ear infections that plague toddlers, often respond remarkably to saccharides, as do many viruses–from the common cold to the flu, from herpes to HIV. The debilitating symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and  fibromyalgia can abate after adding saccharides. And, for cancer patients, saccharides mitigate the toxic effects of radiation and chemotherapy–while augmenting their cancer-killing effects, resulting  in prolonged survival and improved quality of life. Marine
Phytoplankton and Goji (Lycium) berries are a rich source of saccharides/glyconutrients

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