Out with the old... in with the new. Yesterday, I finally bit the bullet and bought my new racing kicks - Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35. I've been eyeing these shoes since the Running Room displayed them earlier this year. The Pegasus series get a lot of praise from all the fast runners in my group, and they've also been endorsed by some of my favourite elites. I actually ran the Chilly Half in the 2017 Nike Free Runs. While these were definitely lightweight and comfortable, I found they didn't have the support I needed especially in the forefoot/arch area. They were fantastic for short and fast runs but found they didn't quite hold up for longer distances. I always had my eye on the coral pink-ish colour scheme but as soon as I saw these, I totally fell in love. According to Amazon/Nike website, the colour is Gridiron Carbon Pink". I adore the deep shades of violet and grey, with the intricate 'ombre' effect that the pink mesh scatters along the sides of the shoe. The light pink rubber lining the toe-edge and bottom also make them look so badass while maintaining a tailored and feminine look. Aesthetic-wise, the design is a solid 10/10 for me. I was reviewing the descriptions online and didn't quite understand the "Heel collar tapers away from the foot for comfort around the Achilles tendon." When I put them on, I realized this just meant the tendon area "flares slightly outward. Nevertheless, I was surprised by how comfortably they hugged both the heel/tendon area and the top of my feet (where the 'tongue' sits). As you can see with my previous Vomero's, the tendon area was already peeling. I also had similar issues with my previous ASICS where the heel support never felt quite right, so I'm hoping this design will work well for me. I took them this week for 2 runs - a 7 km loop around the Mississauga Valley when the weather was overcast (hurdling over puddles), and this evening, the usual speed loops (2 km warmup, 2 km speed, break, 1 km speed, 2 km cool down). This evening, it actually started pouring in the last 10 minutes. When I first started jogging, I definitely noticed the difference in support and cushioning. Admittedly, I'd gotten used to the light Free Runs and initially thought the cushioning was too cumbersome. However, after actually RUNNING a few kilometres, I started appreciating the extra "spring in my step". I imagined them launching me forward and absorbing the impact of the ground with each stride. I found the upper area hugged my inner arches comfortably without being TOO tight, especially after the run when doing calf raises on the sidewalk. (side note: where was I during feet anatomy lessons in first year biology?) While the upper mesh design increased "breathability", it compromised shielding against the water/moisture. Much to my dismay, I thought I felt each drop and splash despite avoiding larger puddles. I'm glad I bought these for the summer season where I won't be encountering the harsh winter elements. Let's hope I don't encounter many rainy long runs this season. On the pro side, the traction pattern proved useful when encountering the last remaining patches of ice on the sidewalk. Overall, I am quite pleased and I'm looking forward to getting to know these kicks over the next few months. What else is new this week? I actually never made it to Goodlife yesterday (as I had originally planned). Instead, I agreed to sub for my friend Nav's beach volleyball league (4's). So at 9 pm, after yesterday's evening run, I found myself here. I love beach volleyball more than I love running. Yes, I said it. My borderline 'obsession' just brings out so much joy + enthusiasm and last night was no different. Thanks Nav for having me!!! :) The downside was that it ended at around 10:45 pm. The games just had me so wired that I barely slept by the time my alarm rang this morning. Consequently, the quality of my work day was compromised, and by the time this evening's run came, I was completely exhausted. It didn't help that I didn't eat anything since lunch before tonight's speed work, so I think my performance dwindled. Not to mention I added extra mileage this week to makeup for missing activities because of March Break programs.
So lesson learned - maybe learn how to sleep after volleyball? Decline subbing? Maybe take a rest day from a run if sleep deprived??? I don't know, but I sure am looking forward to this weekend.
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