I’ll let you in on a little secret: Until recently, I’d been dreading my runs. All the joy in them was gone. They felt more like a chore than an escape. They were just… hard . Every time out, my body felt heavy, my mind wandered, and staying in bed seemed so much more appealing. I needed to find my spark again: the glide, the levity, the freedom.

That’s why I decided to try On’s Cloudsurfer 3 for a few days. I was ready for a major change, something that would help me enjoy my runs again, and maybe this was it. After decades of logging miles, I wasn’t ready to accept that running wasn’t working for me anymore, mentally or physically. Luckily, after three of the softest running experiences I’ve ever had, I know I have still have many miles left in me.

Here’s my day-by-day account of testing the Cloudsurfer 3 across New York City parks, stairs, and hills:

Day 1: Easy

I’ve been resting for a couple of days and my plan is to do a couple of easy miles.…