My Blissful Shoe Ignorance

Say "Hi!" to the Winflo Twins!

Meet the Winflo Twins!

They've logged over 350 miles with me. Cold early spring mornings along neighborhood bicycle trails to training on wooded paths with my coach as well as those special moments on Pre's Trail in Eugene.

We've had some good times. But unfortunately, they're coming to end. They're less than 50 miles from reaching 400 miles. That's the milestone when I retire one pair of shoes for another.

That day is postponed as my recovery from last month's Platelet-Rich Plasma injection has restricted me from running these past four weeks. But given the positive response my left knee has had to the treatment, I'm confident that I'll be back to running in the near future and completing those final miles.

As for those shoes - have no fear! I don't plan to toss them once they reach that threshold. Since I like their color and fit, they'll end up casual shoes for me for the foreseeable future.

But the Twins also signify an end to a mini-era. They're the last generation of Winflo shoes that Nike's producing. (Actually, I bought them a year ago and waited a while before using them.) I've been running in various Winflo's for the past eight years. Although I have a pair of Nike Air Pegasus that I've used as an alternate that still has a couple hundred miles remaining, I'm not quite as fond of those.

That means I'm moving into a new world.

And it exposes my absolute and total shoe ignorance!

"Wait'll those Vaporfly buddies of ours see this pic on Strava!

My Personal Shame

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m always glad to offer running advice. Sometimes a bit too eager to do so. Let me say in my defense that with five decades of experience, I may have a tiny, shiny pearl of wisdom or two that I can share.  Pacing.  Cadence.  No problem. Speed workouts. Training for hills. I'm all over that. Running in challenging weather conditions? Sure. I can at least offer what didn't work for me. I certainly won't steer anyone wrong.

But there’s one topic that I can offer absolutely reasonable guidance whatsoever. It's the one running topic that I not only beg people not to ask me about, but that I'll sprint across the street or bury my head into a pothole to escape. I do that because it is the one topic that is guaranteed beyond a semblance of doubt to reveal me as an irredeemable and babbling imbecile.

What’s that?

Running Shoes.

It all goes back to my youth - those innocent days as a naïve high school underclassman starting out in cross country and track. First running shoes I ever tried were a pair of Oregon Waffles. Sure, their soles were as thin as a soda cracker, but heaven help me, I liked them. And since I liked them, that's what I kept buying. Even when I become smart enough to buy training shoes, I bought another pair of Nikes.

And with few exceptions that I'll mention in a bit, that's where my heart and soles have steadfastly remained. Don’t get me wrong.  I know that there are an impressive number of other outstanding running shoes made by a number of other running companies.  Adias. New Balance. Saucony. Hokas. Brooks. And so on.

But for me, it will always be Nikes.  And you’re not going to change my mind.

The Sad Reason Why

Cross my heart - the reason that I only run in Nikes is because I’ve never had any luck with other running shoes. Need examples? Check it out!

Fall 1979 - Being given the perk of a discount on running shoes for being on the local community college’s cross-country team and based on the recommendations of the shop’s owner, I went with a pair of Saucony’s.  While I appreciated the fit and greater cushioning over my Oregon Waffles, they still didn’t feel as “fast.”  My racing times were slower until I gave up on them, returning to my Nikes in time for a solid race at our Conference Meet.

Winter 1985 - First year out of college and living on a "pork-n-beans with generic beer" budget, I opted for a pair of New Balance training shoes, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to afford anything new unless I won the lottery or donated a kidney.  Which proved a mistake as my feet never felt comfortable in them.  End result being that I simply ran less because I no longer enjoyed it as much.

Spring 2018 - Jumping just a couple years down the road, I was again talked into a sharp-looking pair of Brooks that quickly proved as uncomfortable as they were expensive.  Worse, I only wore them that one time before donating them to a charity bin some months later.   But I have to tell you, my feet don't lie. All I can hope is that someone else’s feet liked them much better than mine.

What's the Future for My Feet?

You're gonna laugh or just shake your head. But next up is a pair of Nike's Pegasus Plus. I bought them several months back - fearful that tariffs would drive their prices just past the remains of our Oxone Layer.

Lest you think I'm completely foolish, I will let on that I also conduct research on my running shoes before I take that plunge. I'm hoping these Nike's provide bit more comfort than my other Pegasus's. They're not a bad shoe, but not as comfortable as the less expensive Winflo's have been.

Tiptoeing a bit into the weeds, I should also share that I typically wear new running shoes for a few days as casual ones to help break them in before hitting the pavement. It's also typically about 30 miles before my feet truly become accustomed to a new running shoe.

I know.  I know.  Each of you have other recommendations and you're likely far from wrong. I may be missing out on the best shoe experience of my life.  But thanks to a brutal combination of bad experience, cost and trepidation, I remain loyal to the Swoosh.

Now that I’ve shared this dark secret, what are your thoughts?  I look forward to reading them!

Don't make eye contact, I tell myself.. Just walk away.