MOZO Shoes in the San Fran 5K Race

By Court Fleming
Video recorded by Wes Fleming

I entered the San Francisco 5k race on Sunday July, 26, during the Marathon weekend, to document the comfort technology that we provide for our customers on a daily basis. I was already in San Francisco visiting my family because my mom, dad, sister, aunt, and uncle were running. I also enlisted the help of my brother to run with me and film the 5k run in a pair of MOZO Notte shoes.

The weather was perfect for any racing event: overcast with a cool air temperature. Prior to the race, I wasn’t too concerned with how the shoes would perform over the 3.1 miles, but I was a little worried about finishing with a respectable time. I hadn’t really been running religiously in Colorado, and our brand president (Stuart Jenkins) had a career best 2 hour 19 minute Boston Marathon time, qualifying him for the Olympic Trials in 1983. He’s a die-hard runner, and I knew that anything over an 8 minute pace would be laughable.

When the horn went off for the beginning of the race, I had to zigzag between the multitude of walkers and joggers. These sharp cuts took me back to my soccer playing days, and I was impressed with the lateral support of my MOZO shoes. Despite my best weaving efforts, I could only cross the 1^st mile mark in a time of 9:13. I knew that I had some catching up to do.

As I gradually picked up the pace, the comments and cheers that I received along the course were both encouraging and entertaining. Many of my fellow runners couldn’t believe that I was racing in black work socks and black work shoes, but the Drymax socks and the Notte shoes worked together extremely well as a system. I didn’t feel any hot spots or blisters developing as I continued to run each mile, and my feet didn’t hurt after completing the race, either.

My calves felt more tired than usual at the end of the 5k because my MOZO shoes were a little heavier than my regular running shoes. However, I finished the 5k in a time of 24:24, which equated to a 7:52 pace. I have now officially set the world record for a MOZO 5k! Click here for race results-- First name: Court. Last name: Fleming under the 5k race).

Would I run in my MOZO shoes every day? Probably not. But, knowing that I can run at least 3 miles in them gives me a lot of confidence in the comfort and support when I have to stand in them for 12 hours at any future trade shows. I also hope that it gives you the confidence to tackle your workday in comfort at the restaurant, hospital, airport, hair salon, grocery store, or anywhere else…

Do you have a story to tell about your MOZO shoes? If you do, we would love to hear about it! Email us at: mymozo@mozoshoes.com

Biz Lo lasted over 9 months

MOZO President, Stuart Jenkins, wanted to test the longevity of a pair of MOZO shoes prior to the company re-launch last June. Eric Hellriegel, the managing partner of Skeeter Barnes, was the chosen candidate at Stuart’s favorite restaurant in his home state of Nebraska. The agreement was that Eric would send the shoes back for inspection after he had worn them for a few months.

Well, Eric started wearing his MOZO shoes in June of 2008, and we just recently got them back at our office here in Denver. That’s a little over 9 months of testing the comfort, durability, and slip-resistance in the restaurant environment.

How many hours did Eric log on his pair of Biz Lo shoes? Well, Eric estimates that he wore them for 10 - 12 hours a day, 60+ hours a week, for 9 straight months. Conservatively, that’s a whopping 2,160 hours walking and standing in his MOZO shoes! Eric also estimates that he walks somewhere between 3/4 to 1 mile every hour when he’s working at the restaurant. That’s about 60 miles every week. Eric plans on using his pedometer for his next MOZO trial to get a more accurate reading of his mileage.

Eric mentioned that he struggled with with leg fatigue before he tried out the Biz Lo shoes. “My feet and calves would throb at the end of the day”. Well, after wearing his Biz Lo shoes for a short amount of time, Eric noticed a significant decrease in his leg fatigue and he felt much better at the end of his work-day. Crashing on the couch to rest his feet wasn’t a necessity when he got home anymore, although it was still a nice reward after a long day.

Just imagine, one pair of shoes providing both safety and comfort. Now, it should be noted that Eric has worn just about every kind of work shoe under the sun including more recently Skechers, Doc Martins, and Shoes for Crews. The pair of MOZO shoes “were far superior and they held up much better from the upper to the outsole”.

“I am never going back to a pair of Skechers or Shoes for Crews for work”.

The next time you’re driving across Nebraska on I-80, stop by for some great BBQ and say “hi” to Eric for us.

Profile view of Biz Lo size 10

Biz Lo after 9 months of wear


Slip-resistant Executive Line Outsole