All the miles I have been doing as part of the training for my half marathon was starting to take its toll on my running shoes. I’d had them since we started running as part of our new healthy lifestyle, so two years on they were starting to feel a bit flat. The exercise of buying new running shoes was an experience in itself.
It wasn’t as simple as walking into a store and looking for running shoes, four different brands and hundreds of assorted styles. Far from the two brands and a choice of blue or red that we used to have.
First step, literally, was on the special mat to see how I walked. I’ve been doing it for almost fifty years but have never been so conscious of how I put one foot in front of the other. The shop assistant stripped me bare, well took my socks off, and secretly filmed me from behind. (a bit big brother, I was feeling a little exposed). This showed up how skinny my ankles actually are and apparently, how unstable my foot is as I land. I’ve been doing it wrong all these years.
I was presented with four different options. I’m a Librian so options are, ultimately, just a time waster. The hardest choice of all was not what brand or even which colour, but a choice between gel cushion, wave plate, or power grid. I have no idea what any of them did, but for an old man trying to do the improbable, I opted for the gel cushioning.
Unlike the highly scientific running gear we use today, the footwear of choice back when I first started running were Adidas ‘Romes’. White leather with 3 blue stripes. Compared to the comfort & support that today’s shoes offer, the Adidas ‘Romes’ gave us nothing in terms of cushioning from the road. It is no wonder I ended up with dodgy knees.
The great thing about the ‘Romes’ was their versatility. Not only were they running shoes, but an all round sports shoe. Squash, tennis, basketball and cricket, they could cover it all. But they really showed their true style away from the sports field.
Their best work was as a casual shoe. They worked perfectly with jeans and could be worn everyday, to the footy, out shopping or just socialising. They could do it all, we wore them day and night. It was at night that they really became a fashion statement. If you were lucky you had an everyday pair, then a “good” pair that could be worn out to dinner, to a party, but especially to the disco. I could really cut the moves on the dance floor and was sure I was attracting all the attention.
After running in the city last week it was back to the solitude of the walking track to Noorat this week, just one solitary cyclist (hey Jack). 16kms today @ 5:35/km, the time for the last few ks blew out to close to 6 mins. The jump from 14ks to 16 has seemed a lot harder than, say, the jump from 10ks to 12. I am really starting to appreciate just how tough 21ks is going to be. A lot more work to done in order to extend my distances. 26 ks for the week.
A bit of residual foot soreness from last week. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about yet but I’ll need to keep an eye on it. I hope the fancy new shoes help.
47 days to go.
Run Muzz Run 