New Shooz

Shoe buying exercise was once upon a time a no-brainer.
Walk into an Adidas/Reebok/Nike factory outlet when a sale is on.
Scan the shoes displayed from a 5ft distance, looking for the best looking.
Pick it up and check the price tag.
Do the math, tag price – tag price * .xx (where xx is the discount offered)
If discounted price < Budgeted price, add to consideration set.
Repeat across shoes/stores.
Buy highest(appeal), lowest(price)

This time around I was more informed, partly because of this shoe selection section in Doc’s websiteThe biggest Adidas store in Asia is apparently in Bangalore next to Safina Plaza. . Apart from the usual assortment of shoes and skimpy women wear (they do have a whole floor full of that btw), the store has a Footscan pad. The footscan uses UV rays to measure the impact, transfer of pressure,etc as one runs over it; very useful to measure for any foot pronation (see foto above). This scan is not for everyone; ask for it if you are in there.

After running around the store in different shoes, with the security watching me closely (wonder how they figured I run long distances), I settled for the adiSTAR Cushion 5.

I got a good 40p.c off on the price tag of 6600 rupees (nothing costs much in dollars these days, don’t even bother converting).

Adibberish
Just incase you didn’t follow the hyperlink, here’s all the gibberish that has gone into the shoe (well yes, into both of them).

adiSTAR. These products are designed, developed, and tested with race day performance in mind. They always proudly bear the 3-Stripe logo.

CUSHION More protection from repeated impact
Whether you run 20 minutes or 20 kilometers per day, you have certain biomechanical needs for each single step. If you have a stable footplant your need is simply protection from shock. The shoes in the Cushion segment are designed for this.
Key Benefits
> Shock absorption reduces peak impact
> Enhanced comfort for every stride
> Smooth heel-to-toe transition

GeoFiT An internal footwear technology that enhances fit and comfort by placing padding in anatomically correct areas.

Torsion System Lightweight arch support that allows the forefoot and rearfoot to move independently for better surface adaptation and stability.

adiPRENE® is a highly shock absorbent material that cushions and protects your heel at impact.

adiPRENE® (+) Resilient cushioning used to protect the forefoot and provide a responsive, dynamic toe-off.

quickstrike Outsole cleats have been injected onto a thin base for flexibility, weight reduction and durability.

adiWEAR An extremely durable, non-marking rubber used for shoe outsoles and in other high-abrasion areas.

seamfree By molding, rather than stitching the upper together, seams are eliminated, which makes for a lighter, more comfortable shoe. An absence of seams gives shoes a more natural feeling fit while also eliminating the chances of getting blisters and irritations.

The where-do-we-run Hash Run No. 443

Date: 24 Jun 07

Read all of Shreyas account of his first Hash run here, he really has upped the standards for my posts now!!

Wonderful run and an equally good narrative, must have been one of his best moods, dont miss it!!

Read!!

Bangalore HASH Run No. 442 – The Trespassers Run

Sunday, 10th June.
My last run with the Bangalore HASH was the run 412, I missed 30runs!!
With the shoe clinic by Doc (Dr. Rajat Chauhan) in the morning and the clash of the titans at Roland Garros inviting me to the idiot box, it was quite an effort to get my bum on the saddle.
Our Native Village: The run was at this place called ‘Our Native Village’, arguably India’s only eco friendly resort. Set in the middle of fields near Hessarghatta, there is evidence that it probably is. I was told that the electricity was generated by solar panels, Gobhar gas and a chotu windmill and a natural swimming pool which uses aquatic plants for water purification. The place is run by a very enthusiastic CB (Sibi) who is himself a passionate runner.
There are two routes to the place. You have to take a right turn at the Hessarghatta cross on Tumkur road and drive up to Hessarghatta. The other one passes through Jalahalli Air Force Station and lot of villages on a very winding route to Hessarghatta. You need to take a right turn at Hessarghatta on the route to Taj Kuteeram. About half a km before the final right turn to Kuteeram, take right into a dirt road. Continue on this “Road to the Sky” for 1.5kms, take right at the T-junction and follow the road to the windmill and the ONV resort.
Road to the Sky: While the entire ride was good, I can’t forget the last leg. As you get into the dirt road, the shrubs have given way to the grasslands. The grass was lush green with remnants of a downpour in some places. A gradual incline to the road created an illusion that the road actually went nowhere. The green of the grass only met the blue of the clear sky all along the panoramic horizon, except where the road went. As I rode into the sky, savoring every bit, the view panned out revealing a single row of trees, drawing a boundary to the splendid view. The road ended at those trees.
The run itself was fantastic, with over 40 hashers including some very beautiful ladies. There were loads of false trails, a few long ones, I took at least 6 of them. Like always, there were lots of unbelievable imagery of the Hessarghatta countryside. The only sore point was the heat, far hotter than usual. A couple of forerunners confirmed a distance of about 16kms. The virgins (3 batches of them) got iced, a adieu to French fingers, the Abnash’s new shoes ceremony and three generation hashers on ice, were the highlights at the circle.
This one, coming a week after the KFD, Hennur road run has really put my running back on track.
The photographs are courtesy Abnash. For the entire lot check his photoset here.