New running shoes (and socks)

I took that giant step today of buying a new pair of running shoes. OMG, I am plumb worn out!

People who "know" me, know this is no small feat in my world. It literally used to take me several weeks (or months) to buy a pair of shoes. I would try them on, go home and think, try them on forty more times, and fret 45 more days or so. Ugh, it was exhausting.

Of course, then running shoe stores started employing these girls with legs up to their braces and shorts the size of dental floss, and I bought whatever was put on my feet.

Now that I'm just another old man runner... while not quite the way it used to be... it is a little more refined. And I've been needing new shoes for awhile. So I ventured into, not one, but TWO running shoe stores today. And... you'd think I would have come home satisfied. But, NO, not me. Why is life so hard?

Well, of course, I have looked at twenty million websites and reviews, and finally ventured into the nearest Fleet Feet store. I explained to the girl (or, young woman) that while I have been an Adidas Energy Boost guy for a few years, I simply was not going to pay their prices anymore. I was interested in the Brooks - either the Launch or the Ghost. My boss became a recent convert to Brooks, and the Ghost is the #1 selling running shoe on the market.

It turns out they did not have the Launch in my size, so she brought out the Ghost, as well as a pair of Nikes. I actually did like the Ghosts. They were perhaps as comfortable as any shoe I've ever tried on. The Nikes were not. So, reverting back to my dimwit days, I blurt out, "Ok, I'll take the Brooks." Except when I got to the cash register I realized I'd forgot to bring my wallet. Oops. So I explained and she put my name on them and said she'd hold them for 24 hours.

I honestly did forget my wallet. However, as I drove home to get it, I thought, "Hmm... maybe this is a sign." So upon fetching my money, I decided to head to the other running shoe store in town. I visited Three Rivers Running and was met by an even younger girl (woman?). She was not quite as knowledgeable about running/shoes and, while nice enough, did not really sell me on buying there. They did at least have the newer version of the Launch (6) and had the Ghost in a better color , but they were the same price as at Fleet Feet. So I headed back across town to FF.

Fleet Feet is a bit smaller store. It is also family-run (I think). So I went ahead and purchased the Brooks Ghost 11s pictured above. They were extremely comfortable, and even at $120 were way cheaper than the last two pairs of running shoes I'd purchased (Adidas $180 and Hoka One One $150). Since I was using my Christmas money from my parents, I also decided to grab a couple pair of running socks. One pair of Balega Enduro Quarters (medium) for $14, and a pair of Feetures Elite no-shows (medium) for $16.

I left the store happy enough. Yes, I could have waited another month or so and gotten newer shoes, and maybe a discount, but I had a super-comfortable pair of running shoes, and two new pairs of premium running socks, and I'd still not spent all my Christmas money. Until....

Until I got home and set my pretty new shoes out. I wasn't overly fond of the color in the store, but that was all they had. However, now I can't tell if they have an orange part, or peach, or... is it PINK!?!?!

You can say what you want, but I am not one of those guys fond of wearing pink! So I am waiting for the wife to come home and correctly ascertain the color of these feet covers.

Bottom line, though... I bought a pair of size 8 1/2 Brooks Ghost 11 running shoes for $120, and two pairs of socks for $30. Yes, maybe it's a lot of money, but this is what I spend my money on. There are no green fees, guns, or musical instruments. This is my livelihood. And that's what happened today.