Saucony and me

Back in the early 80's, when I started running seriously -- going high mileage, looking ahead to, and finally joining races -- I set my eyes on what was then the popular shoes among local fast guys, Sauconys. Though not as fast as they were, I wanted to have a pair of shoes more fitted for running than what I had been wearing on the my feet so far. For one, they would make me feel more like a really serious runner, if not fast. I bought my first pair of Jazz with the triangular lugs on the outsole. They were nice on the feet, snug and cushy. I loved them and ran in them for years. Shoes were more durable then.

The original Saucony Jazz, my first 'serious' running shoes

If I remember right I went through a couple of pairs before trying out another brand.

It was not until 2013 that I wore Sauconys again. I got myself a pair of Virrata while in Manila and immediately ran in them the following morning. The lightness and the barefoot feel were definitely wonderful, but the 5-and-1 running I was doing easily took it's toll on the shoes. I soon had to get myself a pair of shoes, not Sauconys, that would better keep up with the demands of my daily runs.

I did training runs in this pair of Saucony Virratas in 2013

On that same year, I got myself a pair of blue Saucony Type A5s which I used on a number of training runs and an 18-kilometer race where I placed 12th of 170 runners. The super light weight and fast feel of the shoes were really something.

Light and fast, the Saucony Type A5s were on my feet in this 2013 18-kilometer race.

Yes, 6 years after I had my last pair of Sauconys, I am renewing my ties with this great shoe brand. Today I got this pair of blue and black Saucony Kinvara 10s I purchased online. I immediately unboxed it and tried it out - light and comfy for a first impression. The forefoot really felt really roomy. I also like the simple, no frills look. Even now I am looking forward to kilometers of good runs in this new pair, and lot more kilometers of running than what I had in the Virratas and the A5s.I also suppose trying out the A9s this time around isn't such a bad idea.

Thanks for the prompt delivery, by the way, Saucony Philippines.

On my feet soon, Kinvara 10s

A bayside run

I am on a weekend work break, a company outing at a beach resort, 266 plus kilometers away from the workplace. Having fun with co-workers and talking things other than work is a great reliever and bonding experience. The sea, the sand and the cool breeze are relaxing, and the more than a kilometer stretch of shoreline is most definitely a plus for the runner in me.

In the past two weeks, I have only run once, a slow five kilometers at 44.05 minutes. The entire week after that I just snoozed the alarm everytime it sounded every morning and stayed in bed until 5 am, just like the week before. The lazy bug has struck again.

I guess it's also not that easy anymore getting up and gearing up for a run every single time five or six days in seven when you are six decades and a few years old. The age catches up with you somehow and putting in a hundred-kilometer month requires a lot more recovery time than it did several years back. That's not really bad, I guess it's just natural. What's bad is not being able to put in a run anymore.

Yesterday, arriving here and seeing that fairly long stretch of white sand shoreline, I told myself: It would be good to run here in the morning and maybe take a dip in the sea water after. I did just that and felt pleasure, with a touch of a slightly stinging sensation on the sole of my right forefoot, not quite unnatural I suppose after quite a while without it experiencing the stress of running.

There was heavy breathing the whole time, from me solely. It was not something I was fond of. I would rather be breathing more lightly, and feeling lighter on my feet, too. But I felt alive, laboring but alive nonetheless, and that is most exhilarating.

From natural stonewall to natural stonewall on the two outcrops that sandwiched the shoreline, I ran close to where the waves kissed the white sand, like a child at play. I did a double pass and then some. Five kilometers in 41.48 minutes.

I won't be a national level competitor anytime soon or even break a record other than my own personal one if ever, although I sometimes think I can and often dream I do. It's all wishful thinking, I know. Especially at my age.

But being able to still put in a run when I want,  I believe that is a blessing.