Budget Shoes

Honestly, you'd be happier if I wrote about having nothing to post - as I have nothing to post. 

But I can't just leave it at that, can I?   (the question is rhetorical - natch). 

It was time for new running shoes. Past time actually. I usually got 400 miles or so in each pair - and my last was pushing 550. But I've been lazy. 

Asics came out with a new version of a shoe - and everyone was raving about it. The professional running mag reviews went on and on about it too. And as P.T Barnum once said..........a sucker born every second. And I don't think he meant gay dudes. 

The Superblast is the most I've ever paid for shoes.In a way, my last pair, the Megablast would have been, but I had a $50 coupon off of them - which is kind of the only reason I bought them. However, it's an incredible shoe. 

The Superblast???   Ehhhhhhhh

Normally, the styles of shoes I buy are somewhat on the same level, so breaking them in isn't really a thing for me. 

Luckily, where I get my shoes, you can return in 90 days - no questions asked. Even if worn. And I was about to do just that. 

I'll back up a bit. My first run in them was 10 miles. Maybe not a great choice for first time out. But the shoes were loud. As odd as that sounds. When foot hit pavement, you was just a loud clomp. Me - being me - assumed it was me. My gait. The cushion of the shoe. Whatever. So I mistakenly changed my gait but it did nothing for the sound. And that sound was distracting. 

What I did was fuck up my legs and thighs. The gait change I tried just really hurt me. But I kept plugging away. 5 miles here and there and then another 10 mile run last Saturday. By the end of that run, I was set on taking them back. Later that day, my heels hurt so badly I could barely walk  Not an exaggeration. 

And like a moron, I took them out for 6 miles the following day. My running group goes, "I thought you said you hated those....and they hurt".  I concurred. But was giving them "one more chance". 

While they didn't wow me, this time, They didn't hurt afterwards. The sound is still there - and every one knows I'm behind them. 

Still......my thought was "take them back". 

I figured I'd run in them yesterday - and trade them in at the end of the run (as we run from the store). But fuck if I didn't have one of the best and fastest runs I've had in forever. Almost effortless. 

Fuck. 

Long story short (too late!), I think I'm keeping the shoes. I don't think I can do 26 miles in them, but for training I think they'll be fine. 

Mind you, I still have 75 days to take them back, but I might have truly broken in my first pair of shoes. 

.....and yes, they are that ugly. They come in two colours - one being a cool blue, but they couldn't find them in 12.5.  Usually I don't care about the colour, but fuck, these are f'ugly.  Funfetti Shoes. 

Song by: Gord Downie & the Sadies