ASICS MAGIC SPEED™ Treadmill Trial Run & Sports Psychology

One of four brand new offerings by ASICS, the MAGIC SPEED™ running shoes have been designed and made for runners looking to get the most of their running, training and racing.

A light shoe with a higher stack height

A lightweight, airy racing shoe with a higher stack height, the MAGIC SPEED™ shoe features GUIDESOLE™ technology in the midsole combined with an asymmetric carbon forefoot plate to reduce ankle flexion and conserve energy. This helps to create a rolling motion that propels the foot forward with every stride.

ASICS’ first foray into the carbon plated shoe market was the METARACER™ last year.

As well ASICS’s FF BLAST™ midsole technology offers springy and lightweight cushioning material that generates a soft landing and a responsive rebound, and the AHARPLUS™ outsole technology provides lightweight durability and better grip.

Invited to a running clinic to experience the shoe

I was recently invited to a running clinic where I was able to put the MAGIC SPEED™ to the test – on a 5km treadmill run at the Pure Fitness outlet at Shenton Way.

The clinic kicked off with a short introduction on the MAGIC SPEED™ as well as another of ASICS’ new offerings, the METASPEED SKY™ and the main differences between the two new models.

Sports and exercise psychology

Then Dr. Jay-Lee Nair, a psychologist who specialises in sports and exercise psychology, shared with attendees more on the impact that mental strength has on athlete performance.

She says, “We can train our bodies to be stronger. We can also do the same for our minds.”

The psychologist continued, “Giving 100% is not about giving 100% all the time; rather it is about giving everything we have. If we are tired after a long day of work and we only have 60% left to give, then we give 60%.”

Productivity techniques

She went on to explain more about the techniques that we can employ in order to get us going.

These include being proactive in terms of looking at the training sessions that we dread, and finding music that moves us and gets us going regardless of whether we are attracted to e.g. the harmony or the cultural impact of the songs.

Performance rituals

Finally, Dr. Jay-Lee shared with us, a five-step pre-performance ritual that we can do, in order to achieve clarity and commitment in our training.

Doing this ritual helps you to minimise distractions and clear your mind for the training sessions, event or race that is approaching.

She did it together with us in the room immediately prior to our 5km treadmill run with the new shoes, and it definitely helped to calm down my mind and my mood.

Trying the shoe out

Then we adjourned to the gym treadmills and we were each instructed to pick a treadmill for the run. I chose one in the centre of the room, at random.

My initial impressions

Trying out the shoes at various speeds during the 5km session, ranging from sprints, to tempo pace as well as easy to steady run pace, my initial first impression of the MAGIC SPEED™ shoes were that it is a very lightweight shoe that most suited as a tempo running shoe.

But at the same time, the MAGIC SPEED™ is also quite versatile, in that it can handle the slower paces quite well too.

However I did also feel that a treadmill is not the best place to try out new shoes, as the motion of the treadmill belt is not exactly the same as running on roads.

As such, my impression of the MAGIC SPEED™ shoes may change as I take the shoes outdoors on runs at Singapore’s roads and park connectors.