Is there such a thing as the perfect run? That’s the question I’ve been pondering the past few days.

Every run, no matter how wonderful, is full of both easy and hard moments and miles.

The weather. The food we ate. How much we had to drink. How soon before our run we ate and drank. The biomechanics of our gait. The workout we did yesterday. The shoes on our feet.

All of these things combine to make a run feel like perfection … or to feel like a near-death experience. Sometimes, it’s as if the stars and moon have to align just right for a run to truly feel perfect.

But, I do believe in perfect runs.

While running this week, I had the magical (and quite unusual) sensation of flying and floating. There was a moment during my run on Monday where I actually thought: Do I have a jetpack on my back??? This never happens. According to my trusty Garmin, what felt like an easy 7 miles was actually more like a tempo run (in other words, my pace was fast for me but felt easy). This is a nice surprise!

I live for those runs. They may be fewer and further between than I’d like, but they make running worth every minute and every step. They embody what it means to run happy.

Running Pure-fection

And speaking of perfect *ahem pure-fect* runs, it’s no secret I love Brooks Running. I run almost exclusively in the Brooks PureCadence. From time to time, I will do cross-training or easy runs in other Brooks shoes in their core line, and I can be seen most days in a pair of Brooks Chariots from their Heritage collection.

But the Brooks PureCadence are my one true running love.

That’s why there’s nothing more terrifying or exciting than when your favorite running company decides to release a new update to your favorite running shoe. I’m happy to report that the Brooks PureCadence 4 may quite possibly be the best iteration of the shoe yet. Many of you have reached out to me asking me what I think of the new evolution of the shoe. Well, they have an incredibly comfortable and smooth ride, and the fit is nearly pure-fect. {Don’t you just love my play on words? Humor me with a chuckle, will you?}

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the PureCadence or the Brooks PureProject line, this is Brooks’ everyday line of lightweight running shoes for runners who like cushioning and stability without the bulk of a more traditional shoe. They are about 2 to 3 ounces lighter than traditional running shoes.

What’s different about the Brooks PureCadence 4 from earlier models?

• Harkening back to the original Brooks PureCadence, the shoe’s tongue is no longer attached to one side of the upper. I personally feel the tongue is also a little longer than previous models (or at least it sits on the top of my foot more closely).
• Also similar to the original model, the new Brooks PureCadence 4 have a softer and fuller cushioning around the back of the heel, which I love. I looked at my 3s and 4s side-by-side this week and definitely see the difference.
• The Brooks logo on the top of the shoe is larger.
• The fit is slightly better in my opinion and the toebox feels a tad more comfortable. I wear a size 9 in all Brooks shoes. The 9 in the first and second models fit perfectly. In the third evolution I probably needed a 9.5. In the 4s, the 9 is perfect again.
• The shoe has softer, more breathable materials than the 3.
• The shoelaces are longer and are really great. In the 2s and 3s, sometimes the laces were short and hard to tie in a double knot. I really like the feel and length of the new laces.

You can read more about what is new/different and why in this interview with the developer of the Brooks PureCadence 4.

The shoe retails at $120.

Any Downsides?

• All shoes in the Brooks PureProject line only get about 250 to 300 miles before they need to be replaced.
• I don’t love the current color offerings of most of the shoes in the PureProject line. While I do like my grey and pink pair I’m currently running in, the other offering is a purple and blue/grey multi-colored pair and I think the entire line has way too many dark grey and black offerings. I hope the fall line will usher in some brighter, fun colors.

Bonus!
Ready for the icing on the cake? My favorite shoe line has an accompanying apparel line.

The PureProject clothing line from Brooks is sort of a hip take on running clothes, with designs that can be taken from the run to the streets for errands, lunch, etc. Lately, I’ve been sporting the PureProject Seamless Capris and the PureProject Seamless Tank II … and I love them. Since I’ve been doing a lot more yoga, strength training and barre classes that require a lot of laying on a mat, I love that these pieces don’t have zippers on the back pocket that can dig into your backside while doing abs or laying on your back.

The capris (there is also a longer version for tights) are incredible. They are literally like wearing a second skin and have compression in them. The top reminds me of a control top that is very flattering for smoothing out your stomach. There is also a fun texture running down the sides of the legs that gives plain black capris a unique edge. Go get both of these. You won’t be sorry.

I am a Brooks Running Run Happy Ambassador and receive free products to test each month as well as a financial stipend I reinvest back into running and runladylike.com. I write about Brooks because I am obsessed with the brand, not because I have to. The content and views expressed on runladylike.com are never biased or influenced by partners I work with and never will be. You get the honest, raw, uncensored and unladylike version of the truth here. That’s it. If there are Brooks products you try and for some reason don’t like, please send me an email at runladylike@gmail.com and I’d be glad to pass along your feedback to the Brooks crew. They always welcome feedback.

Have you ever had a run that felt perfect? Tell us about it? Have you tried the Brooks PureCadence 4 or other shoes in the PureProject line? If so, what do you think? If not, what’s your go-to running shoe of choice?