Frequently Asked Questions

No, I have never worked in the running shoe industry. I am a practicing designer with a 30-year career, the majority of it in digital and physical product design. This background gives me the specific expertise needed to dissect and analyze shoes from a structural, material, and brand value standpoint.

As Sagasu Running grows, I am building strong connections within the industry. However, these relationships do not compromise my independence. Instead, they simply give me greater access to the people and insights behind the gear, allowing me to tell deeper, more compelling stories about the products we all love.

Sagasu Running operates on a philosophy of curated Focus. I only review products that I genuinely want to run in and find technically interesting from a product design perspective.

The internet is already full of channels chasing every piece of marketing hype or checking off brand boxes. I choose a different path. If a product doesn't offer a focused product story, an innovative technical approach, or a compelling brand vision, I won’t spend time on it just for the sake of views. By refusing to chase the noise, I ensure that when I do release an analysis, it focuses strictly on gear that brings real innovation and value to your running.

There is a strict, non-negotiable line between a brand seeding a product for independent testing and an integrated channel sponsorship.

When a brand sends a shoe to Sagasu Running, they are providing a tool for testing—nothing more. No money changes hands, and there are no pre-conditions. Brands send gear knowing that my background is in product design and distance running; they expect an analytical, honest breakdown, and they know I will highlight design flaws or performance failures just as readily as success points.

I do not sign non-disclosure agreements that restrict my critique, and brands do not get to preview or edit my videos before they go live. If a review is ever explicitly sponsored by a brand, it will be clearly disclosed to the audience—but even then, my editorial independence remains absolute. My priority is, and always will be, providing the truth to the running community.

Every review is backed by rigorous testing across varying paces, distances, and surfaces. I believe in giving shoes the time they need to break in, show structural wear, and reveal their true performance characteristics.

My baseline testing guidelines before an initial review are:

• Daily Trainers: Approximately 80 km (50 mi) of testing.

• Super Shoes / Race Day: Approximately 32 km (20 mi) of testing.

Shoes that I enjoy running in, or that have a compelling product story, will often see a long-term update at 160 km (100 mi) and frequently well beyond that.

I’m a firm believer that workflow efficiency matters more than overly complex gear. My production ecosystem is built almost entirely on Apple hardware, maximizing a streamlined, connected, high-performance setup:

• Camera: iPhone 17 Pro Max (all video on the channel has only ever been shot with iPhones).

• Editing & Post-Production: Apple MacBook Pro M5 running Final Cut Pro.

• Graphics & Animation: Apple Keynote (where all channel branding, overlays, and design deep-dive graphics are built) and Apple Motion for motion graphics.

• Camera Monitoring: Apple Watch Ultra 3 (used as my remote monitor screen while recording to check framing and focus).

• Running Data: Apple Watch Ultra 3 (used to track and analyze all running metrics for shoe testing).

• Audio: Shure MV88+ Microphone (the only non-Apple piece of my core production kit) and Apple AirPods Pro for monitoring audio.

Absolutely. Sagasu Running is a two-way conversation, and I am always looking for compelling stories, unique technical perspectives, and specific gear you want to see analyzed.

If you have a general review request or a topic suggestion, the easiest way to let me know is right in the comments section of my videos. If you have a detailed pitch, an industry insider perspective, or a guest suggestion for the live podcast, please use the form on my Work with me page and select "Other / Media Inquiry."

Currently, Sagasu Running is focused entirely on video, audio, and community platforms. However, I am considering expanding to a written newsletter later in 2026 that will feature dedicated editorial content and industry updates. Stay tuned to the channel—when I have something to announce, I will.

I genuinely value the conversation. If someone takes the time out of their day to watch my content and leave a comment, I feel it is important to respect that effort and give them a personal response. Building a community isn't a one-way broadcast. Even as the channel continues to grow, I am committed to answering every comment and maintaining that direct, individual connection for as long as possible.