OK, I admit it. Having sentimental memories about long deceased running shoes is a bit weird, but I bet I’m not alone in looking back over the years and remembering shoes that were just so damned good you wished they’d last forever.
When you’re making your decision about your next pair and preparing to hand over a fair wedge of your “hard earned” you persuade yourself they feel just perfect. But sometimes after a few weeks of running in them, you’re thinking maybe they aren’t so great after all and are looking forward to your next pair, or harking back to some favourites from your past. The expensive mistake (I have a pair of Nike Air 70 React that feel so wrong I can’t even walk in them) is inevitable, but hopefully rare.
There’s a heavy bias towards racing shoes in my favourites list. I guess that’s because they are usually a super lightweight model that makes the very act of putting them on, a statement of intent. You drive a Ford Fiesta most of the time, but the e-type comes out of the garage on sunny days. The one thing they have in common is that at some point during the last 40-odd years – I loved ‘em!
There are one or two big brands I’ve never got on with – Adidas being the main one. I also rarely found a Brooks shoe that felt right, and even Reebok didn’t quite do it for me, but I’ve had enjoyable mileage out of several other brands – Saucony, Mizuno and even the cheap and cheerful Hi-Tec Silver Shadow, which I believe was a very under-rated shoe. A tip worth trying which can make an average shoe feel like a favourite is to retain good insoles from previous shoes, which have moulded to the shape of your foot and transplant them into a less comfortable shoe. I’ve improved the feel and longevity of plenty of pairs by using this trick. Of the everyday road training shoes for the bulk mileage, my favourites have nearly always been Nike or New Balance. A fairly early incarnation of the Nike Pegasus with a waffle sole and a very cool Navy blue, red and silver colouring were an early favourite. I owned 2 or 3 pairs of Asics Gel 101s in succession around the late 80’s early 90s which were just great, and many New Balance models have been favourites too, but which because of their “numbers” method for naming their models – NB 480, NB 630, etc etc – have been lost in the haze of time. But my gallery of much lamented favourite racers includes:
Karhu Stardust – A Finnish brand. Ridiculously lightweight racing shoe, about 155gms – much firmer midsole than most. Circa 1983
Ron Hill 208 – Soft, spongy, V. light. Circa 1985
Nike Terra – Probably my all time favourite shoe. About 160 gms. So soft and cushioned that even my skinny weight crushed them. I’ve never really got over it.
Nike Duellist – Memory says this was probably the lightest shoe I ever wore – about 140 gms maybe ? Midsole tapered away to nothing under your toes, with an upper that felt like tissue paper. White and pale green – a real good looker. For 10K or shorter.
Nike Air Mariah – The Duellist’s big brother. Still light(ish) but with an air cushion, so good for anything up to Marathon distance.
New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon – At the pace I run nowadays, a racing shoe is an unnecessary indulgence. But I still can’t resist them, and this is my current choice. I like them so much I bought two pairs, and at current frequency of racing, they’ll last longer than I will. Lovely, lightweight and a dazzling red upper above a thick white midsole. A firmer cushion reminiscent of the Karhu Stardust.
That’s a handful of mine, what’s yours ?
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