Ken — Founder and Running Shoe Tester at NextGait

Who I am and why NextGait exists

I started running in Atlantic City in 2014, wearing a pair of Nike Free Run 5.0s and knowing almost nothing about training load, fit, cushioning, or support. I increased my mileage too quickly, developed shin pain, and learned an early lesson that still shapes my work: a runner’s result rarely comes down to one product or one simple rule.

Over the next twelve years, running became a long-term practice rather than a short-lived fitness project. I trained for road races, completed three marathons, ran a 50K in the Pine Barrens, dealt with setbacks, and learned to make smaller, more patient changes. Along the way, I became the person other runners asked when they needed help comparing shoes.

I began tracking more than whether a shoe felt “good.” I recorded heel hold, toe-room changes, ride feel at different paces, late-run stability, outsole wear, weather, surface, discomfort, and the mileage at which the shoe changed. Those notes became spreadsheets; the spreadsheets became a database; and in 2025, that work became NextGait.

My running and testing profile

A shoe review is more useful when you know the runner providing it. Body size, movement pattern, pace, terrain, training history, and fit preference can all influence how a shoe feels. This is the context behind my observations as of July 2026.

Height and weight	5’10” and approximately 182 lb
Foot strike	Heel-to-midfoot, depending on pace and fatigue
Support context	Mild late-run overpronation; comfortable in both neutral and guidance shoes when the geometry works
Typical training	30–40 miles per week across easy runs, long runs, workouts, and recovery mileage
Primary surfaces	Road, wooden boardwalk, treadmill, packed trail, sand, and light technical trail
Typical easy pace	Approximately 9:00–9:30 per mile; pace varies with heat, wind, terrain, and training load
Race experience	15 5Ks, 8 10Ks, 9 half marathons, 3 marathons, and one 50K
Reported personal bests	22:18 for 5K, 1:42:33 for the half marathon, and 3:38:14 for the marathon

This profile does not make my experience universal. It gives you the context to decide whether my fit and ride observations are relevant to your body, preferences, and training.

How I test running shoes

I test shoes inside normal training, on the surfaces and at the paces for which they were designed. A daily trainer needs easy and steady miles. A workout shoe needs controlled faster running. A trail shoe needs turns, climbs, descents, loose ground, and wet conditions when available. Stability and long-run shoes are also tested on tired legs, because support that feels quiet at mile one can become obvious later.

Every published review states the mileage completed at the time of publication. First impressions, field reviews, and long-term verdicts are labeled separately. If additional testing changes my conclusion, the article is updated rather than leaving an outdated verdict in place.

Manufacturer specifications are treated as manufacturer information. My fit notes, measurements, wear observations, and conclusions are presented as separate evidence. When I recommend a shoe, I explain the use case and the tradeoff—not just the score.

What qualifies my perspective—and what does not

My perspective comes from twelve years of consistent recreational running, thousands of logged miles, 36 race finishes, repeated shoe comparisons, and the practical mistakes that happen when training meets real life. I know what heel slip feels like after mile eight, how a broad platform can become more valuable when fatigue changes mechanics, and why a shoe that feels exciting during strides may still be wrong for a long run.

That is first-hand experience, not a clinical credential. I am not a physician, physical therapist, podiatrist, registered dietitian, or certified running coach. I do not diagnose injuries or prescribe treatment. When NextGait discusses pain, biomechanics, nutrition, heat, or recovery, personal experience is identified as such, medical claims are sourced, and uncertainty is not presented as certainty.

Running experience that informs the work

2014–2017: Learning the basics. I began running to clear my head, finished my first 5K, increased training too quickly, and later completed physical therapy for IT band symptoms. The lasting lesson was not that one shoe or exercise fixes every runner; it was that load, strength, recovery, and footwear context have to be considered together.

2018–2021: Racing, setbacks, and patience. I ran my 5K and marathon personal bests, then spent four months away from normal running with plantar heel pain. During the pandemic I discovered trail running in the Pine Barrens, experimented with different shoe geometries, and learned to make changes gradually rather than treating every new idea as a cure.

2022–2024: From shoe rotation to structured testing. My shoe notes became more systematic: first-run observations, mileage tracking, side-by-side comparisons, fit details, and outsole records. I ran my half marathon best and completed my first 50K while learning how differently footwear can behave across pace, surface, and fatigue.

2025–present: Building NextGait. I turned those records into a publication focused on field-tested reviews, practical training guidance, and clear evidence boundaries. I continue to run 30–40 miles most weeks around Atlantic City, Brigantine, and the Pine Barrens.

Editorial independence and transparency

NextGait may earn a commission when a reader purchases through an affiliate link. That does not determine which shoes are included, recommended, or criticized. Brands do not receive editorial control over a verdict. If a product was supplied without charge or a material relationship exists, that relationship should be disclosed in the review.

I do not believe every new shoe is an upgrade, that every runner needs a stability shoe, or that one model can be “best” without a use case. A useful recommendation explains who may benefit, who may not, and what tradeoff comes with the choice.

For details on commissions, product relationships, and the limits of the site’s information, read the NextGait disclosure and disclaimer.

Selected work

These articles show the range of my testing and running experience, from long-term shoe evaluation to evidence-aware training guidance.

Last reviewed and updated: July 24, 2026