Meet the Up & Runners for Mile-Tested Takes on Shoes & Gear

Three runners share mile-tested takes on running shoes & gear

🏃‍♀️‍➡️At WeeViews, we believe everyday runners deserve extraordinary reviews—and that the best insights come from those very same runners.
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That’s why we’re excited to team up with a group of passionate, like-minded reviewers: The Up & Runners.
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This crew brings a blend of:

• ✅Personal experience
• ✅In-the-field testing, and...
• ✅A shared love for running shoes that borders on obsession

They’re not chasing pro contracts or flexing Olympic Trials credentials.
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They’re here to share honest, real-world reviews of the latest gear...
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Because like many of you, they’re juggling work, family, and training…all while chasing finish-line goals and perfect midsole foam.
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👊By teaming up, we’re creating a built-in platform for multi-tester reviews, because no single reviewer can speak for every:

• Foot shape
• Training style, or...
• Foam preference

One runner’s dream shoe can be another’s blister magnet.
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☯️By bringing multiple perspectives to the same shoe, we aim to:

• Reflect the real-world diversity of our community, and...
• Give you a clearer picture of what might work best for you.

🏃‍➡️Whether it’s tackling a trail 50K, squeezing in marathon training between daycare drop-offs, or debating heel-to-toe drops over coffee, the Up & Runners get it. 
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And now, they’re bringing that same passion and perspective to WeeViews.

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The Up & Runners weren’t created by a brand or built by a marketing team. 

• 🏃‍♂️‍➡️They came together the way so many running friendships do—through shared miles, shared gear obsessions, and a well-timed group chat.
• 🏃‍♂️‍➡️It started as a casual Instagram thread between three runners who connected over shoes, workouts, and the kind of honest feedback you won’t find on a product page. 
• 🏃‍♂️‍➡️Eric, Blake, and Cody came from different running backgrounds—from shoe retail to Spartan racing—but shared one thing in common: a love for testing gear and telling it like it is.

Over time, that chat evolved into a collaborative review effort. They started...

• ✅Comparing notes
• ✅Challenging each other’s takes

And realized they could offer something unique:

• 👉A three-in-one review platform built on trust, banter, and miles of testing. 

When the opportunity came to partner with WeeViews, it felt like a natural next step for both parties.
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Our teams shared the same vision—gear reviews for real runners, by real runners—and saw a chance to amplify each other’s strengths.
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👟So without further ado, meet the newest voices behind some of your favorite shoe reviews:

The shoe geek with Boston legs & retail smarts

• ▶️YouTube: TF XC Running Shoe Reviews
• 📲Instagram: @tfxcshoes
• 💻Website: TF XC Shoes

Blake’s running journey began in middle school when finishing a 5K without walking was the goal, but over time, the sport became something more. 

• He ran cross country and track through high school and college.
• Then transitioned into half and full marathons post-college. 
• In 2019, he tackled his first marathon—and in 2021, he ran sub-2:45 at Boston!
• These days, Blake trains across a mix of roads, gravel paths, and trails. 
• And while the treadmill isn’t his first choice, he’s always willing to log miles on it when the weather doesn’t cooperate. 

👟Although he has run in hundreds of different shoes, over time, his gear preferences leaned toward: 

• 👟Soft, high-cushion trainers for daily runs, and,
• 👟Energetic super shoes for race day. 
• 👟From the moment he slipped into the plushness of the Hoka Clifton 3, Blake knew he wasn’t about to turn back. 

🏃‍♂️‍➡️Running + retail

• With 17 years of running experience and a background in run specialty retail, Blake brings deep product knowledge and a sharp understanding of what real runners look for in their shoes. 
• His reviews are thorough, thoughtful, and grounded in performance. 

“I'll make sure I cover all the specs… and I'll elaborate how the shoe performs and feels for me, but I'll keep an open mind that everyone doesn't have the same preferences or running style as me.”
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He’s especially excited to bring that open-minded, multi-perspective approach to WeeViews: 

• “I'm excited to bring my decade of experience reviewing shoes to a written format for the first time."
• "And I want to give runners different viewpoints by having multi-tester reviews where everyone has a different level of experience, preference, running style, etc.” 

🎯His goal? To connect with fellow shoe geeks and help runners see shoes from multiple perspectives. 

• All-Time Favorite Shoe: Nike Pegasus Turbo – “The first super trainer as it brought Nike's high-end ZoomX foam into a more durable and versatile package. I did everything from long runs to 400m repeats in that shoe.”
• Preferred Daily Trainer: ASICS Novablast 5
• Race-Day Go-Tos: Nike Alphafly 3 and ASICS Metaspeed Sky Paris
• Surface Preferences: Roads, gravel paths, and the occasional trail
• Review Style: Tech-focused but inclusive—geared toward fellow shoe geeks and curious everyday runners alike

The budget-conscious trail junkie

• ▶️Youtube: The Shoe In With Cody
• 📲Instagram: @the_shoe_in_with_cody
• 💻Substack: The Up & Runners

A former baseball player, Cody once saw running as a punishment, certainly not a passion.
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“Why would anyone choose to run?” he remembers thinking.
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Then, his now-wife came along… and slowly, she created a runner.
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🏃‍♂️‍➡️What started with a couple of 5Ks and a classic case of runner denial has turned into:

• Three marathons
• Three ultras, and...
• A wardrobe composed of race shirts

🥇One of his proudest moments in his running journey was crossing the finish line of his first marathon in Philadelphia, his wife and daughters cheering him on.
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These days, Cody splits his time between road and trail depending on the season:
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“Road running keeps me honest, trail running keeps me humble.”
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Yet regardless of the surface, Cody leans toward shoes that keep his legs feeling fresh with the right amount of cushioning.
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👟Reviews for shoes & gear

• He reviews gear the way most people use it—out in the real world. 
• Some gear might look great on paper, but in the context of real life it can flop: the opposite can also be true. 
• Cody’s primary focus in reviews? Personal feel, long-term performance, and whether a shoe or piece of gear is actually worth the investment.

Cody brings that grounded, relatable lens to everything he reviews.
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He’s not here to wow you with shoe tech buzzwords—he’s here to help everyday runners make smart, informed choices.
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🏃‍♂️‍➡️Cody says:

• “Buying a new pair of running shoes is a big decision. Most runners aren’t out here buying 10 pairs a year—they’re buying one, maybe two, and hoping they chose the right one."
• "That’s why I take reviews seriously. I’ll never tell you to buy a shoe I wouldn’t spend my own money on." 
• "If that means a brand gets a little upset with me—but it saves you from wasting yours—I can sleep just fine at night." 
• "At the end of the day, I’m here for the everyday runner, not the marketing pitch.”

• All-Time Favorite Shoe: the original Nike Pegasus Turbo – “The first time I truly felt like a runner.”
• Preferred Daily Trainer: Adidas Adizero Evo SL
• Race-Day Go-To: Nike Alphafly 3
• Trail Shoe of Choice: Merrell MTL Adapt
• Review Style: Feel-first, honest, real-world tested—no jargon, just clear insight
• Shoe Hill He’ll Die On: Not every shoe needs a carbon plate—and honestly, most shouldn’t have one.
• Running Hot Take: "I think we’re gonna see brands start sponsoring group runs. And not just handing out water bottles and demo shoes—I’m talking full-on signature group run shoes. There’s a ton of untapped potential (and money) in the local run group scene, and eventually, some smart brand is going to realize that."

Coach, creator, & no bad shoes

• ▶️YouTube: Eric “Rad Dad Bod” McIntyre
• 📲Instagram:  @raddadbodtv
• 💻Website: Rad Dad Bod TV

After dabbling in high school cross country, Eric's running journey really began in his late 20s through Spartan Racing.
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“I still didn’t love running,” he says, “but quickly realized that becoming a better runner would be a necessity to get better overall.”
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🔥That practical start sparked a deep dive. 

• Eric read every running book he could find and eventually became a certified coach. 
• Over the past six to seven years, running has become a core part of his identity.

🏃‍♂️‍➡️Now living and training in Utah, Eric mostly runs on the road or treadmill during the week.

• But you might catch him up at 12,000 feet in the mountains on a Saturday. 
• He’s currently chasing a sub-3:00 marathon.
• He's also working toward hitting the “race fitness equivalent” of that goal in the mile, 5K, 10K, and half marathon along the way.

👟Reviews for shoes & gear

• Eric’s reviews are grounded in objectivity, comparison, and context. 
• “I try to stay objective and talk about what the shoe feels like, not if I like it,” he says. “I truly believe that there aren’t many bad shoes. Just shoes that might not be right for you.”

That inclusive mindset is exactly what he’s bringing to WeeViews:

• “I didn’t always love running and I’m still improving quite a bit."
• "I also don’t look like your ‘typical’ runner and come from a very different background…"
• "I think it’s important to get viewpoints from all different angles.”

• All-Time Favorite Shoe: Hoka Evo Speedgoat --"Just such a good fit, so comfortable, great grip...Wish I had bought 5."
• Preferred Daily Trainers: Adidas Adizero Evo SL, Mizuno Neo Zen, Salomon Aero Glide
• Race-Day Go-To: Adios Pro 4 (with Endorphin Elite 2 on deck)
• Surface Preferences: Roads during the week, big mountain trail days when possible
• Review Style: Spec-savvy, comparison-rich, and focused on feel—not just personal preference
• Post-Run Reward: Gas station breakfast burrito
• Shoe Hill He’ll Die On: “You need to either rotate a lot of varying styles of shoes or stick to one style. Some small studies have shown that rotating styles (drops, stack, cushion, etc) can prevent injury as you don’t overload the body. That being said, you see people go from running everything in a 6mm drop then switching to a zero drop for all their miles and getting hurt.”
• Running Hot Take: "Lightweight trainers are the best bang for your buck and more people should be racing in them instead of carbon plated shoes."

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At WeeViews, we’ve always believed that the best gear advice doesn’t come from a single voice—it comes from a chorus of real-world experience.
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👊Teaming up with The Up & Runners...

• Allows us to bring more of that to the platform in a consistent, collaborative way.
• With Eric, Blake, and Cody on board, we’re able to expand our coverage of the latest shoes and gear while staying true to our grassroots mission. 

🏃‍➡️The Up & Runners bring a range of backgrounds, training styles, preferences, and paces to the table...

• So instead of just one take on a shoe, you’ll get a variety of perspectives that provide more depth and context.
• And don’t worry—this isn’t a shift away from the community-powered reviews that make WeeViews unique. 
• This partnership isn’t replacing the community; it’s enriching it—with more perspectives, more gear insight, and more ways to connect.

We're excited to have them join the team—and even more excited for the gear conversations, hot takes, and honest reviews still to come.
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👟Have a shoe you want one of them to test? 

• Drop us a comment below or send us a DM on Instagram.

📄Want to compare notes? 

• Leave your own WeeView on the same gear they review.

📲Follow:

• Cody, Eric, and Blake on WeeViews and their social channels to stay in the loop with their latest reviews and gear thoughts.

We’re excited to run this next chapter together!