FEBRUARY 2005 - Week 1

[Sweder]

Ah, we flush out the stat-monkeys . . .
Quick Feb update: I'm on strike. Well, not really, but I'm having some sort of anarchic episode. Scheduled for a late night Lewes lope yesterday, I did go into town . . . but only to pick up a takeaway. A couple of pints of (very well presented) Guinness later, feet up, rubbish telly . . . marvellous!

This morning ripples of guilt wash over me as I consider an unscheduled plod up to Black Cap. I'm staring down the barrell of 14 offroad miles tomorrow, and having bought new offroad boots yesterday - Mizuno Wave X10s, mud-grey, sleek, sexy - feel it would be sensible to break them in on a short offroad meander.

It was a big money day in the Jog Shop yesterday. Not only the offroaders but 2 pairs of Thorlo socks (probably the most comfortable socks in the world) and to cap it all my FLM Big Day shoes: Addidas Adistars with Ground Control System Ar Ar Ar . These babies are gorgeous , far too nice to be desecrated by my ugly plates of meat. The Man from Addidas happened to be at the Jog Shop with his laptop/ foot mat gizmo. For the uninitiated, this comprises a rubber mat over which you are invited to jog, right foot impact then left foot impact. The readout on the laptop shows your impact point, rate of pronation and roll, indicating the most suitable shoe structure for your running style. There was a 3D graphic to demonstrate the condition of my foot on landing. The picture looked like the schematic of LV 426 as the Nostromo came into land in 1979, a geologists wet dream of peaks and troughs. I nodded sagely, hand on chin, wondering what the hell it all meant and if I was related in some way to some form of prehistoric amphibian.

The store guy brought up about a hundred pairs of shoes in various outrageous designs and colours. The first Mizunos fit beautifully (no surprise to me) but they were canary yellow with red stripes - I'm talking LOUD. I reasoned that you'd have to be very very good to wear shoes that bright, and enquired if they came with a free pair of shades. They did not. We moved on.

To spare you the next 45 minutes it all came down to 2 pairs: a set of Grey/ Red Mizunos, a brand I have been very happy with over the last 2 years, or the Addidas Adistars. You should know that I had no clue that the boffin was from Addidas, and I have to say he made no remarks to steer me either way. He was very happy when I went for the Adistars - for the almost imperceptable difference in feel. He then revealed his allegiance to the brand and I express surprise that he had not attempted to influence my choice.

'If the shoes aren't right for you, we'd rather you didn't buy them' he said.
How refreshing.