Running is boring

So was that video, no?

Running Shoes

The Ankle of Terror saga has been winding its way through my life for about 4 months now (saga may be an overstatement).  It all started when I purchased some new shoes after gait analysis at Moti on Whiteladies Road, the same place Chloe noted the other day.

In the shop it felt like the Asics Gel Cumulus 13 were designed by the gods to grace my feet.  I felt like a king as a trotted along the treadmill.  A few days later a burning pain seared round my ankle during my run, I stopped iced and rested.  Problem was every time I wore them it returned, like a cheeky bad penny.

Everyone tells you that shoes are so important, if they’re wrong you’ll end up walking like you’ve got a vicious bout of piles.  Problem with advice is that you never think it’ll happen to you.  

I returned to Moti today worried that they’d refuse an exchange.  I couldn’t have been more wrong, they guided me through the process again, giving me chance to think about what I needed and wanted.  Trying to get me the best shoes, to prevent injury but also to run well.  

Turns out I returned to the old faithfuls, Nike, which were what my old shoes were.  It remains to be seen if I’ll get on well with them, but I’ve not felt any pain walking in them so far so it’s an improvement.

I don’t like Asics anyways.

Nike Zoom Waffle XC VII

Nike Zoom Waffle XC VIIWhat a mouthful. Since I’m getting into regular interval sessions on the grass at Coombe Dingle and doing the BMC Mike Sully Mob Match tomorrow, I thought now was the time to invest in my first pair of spikes.

It’s difficult when you get the first of anything, because you don’t really know what you want. Anyway, I went to Easy Runner, because it’s the nearest shop to my house, and it was p***ing with rain, in case you hadn’t noticed.

They were kind enough to let my 6yr old boy try the treadmill while I tried on the Nikes and some Brookes. First new thing was getting my head round the increased snugness of these shoes. I just looked on the Nike website and they say “go down 1.5 sizes” - well I went up 1, and I’m still a bit worried about tightness. But the Brookes seemed to let my toes slop out over the side of the sole, so I went for the Nikes. My daughter thought they looked cooler too, so there’s an added bonus.

So, its all systems go for a satisfying quarter of an hour of misery in the mud tomorrow - but no slipping over. I’m looking forward to running in something firm and positive, instead of spongy things - I think…

Update on Sunday, 22 November, 2009 by Mike

Well, I’ve run in them now and liked them. It has been particularly wet, and I still felt I was slipping a bit, but I never felt I would fall. It did feel like some grip on the heel would be good, but I guess there’s a reason why manufacturers don’t do this. But these Nikes have 4 spikes, wheras the Brookes had 6. Would that have made a difference?

They didn’t feel too tight while I was running, and I wouldn’t want them looser, as I wouldn’t want any feeling of my foot slipping in the shoe as they grip.