Marathon Maiden may not want to read this post. It is with some sadness that this morning I officially retired and donated my New Balance 826’s after 706.1 miles. To accumulate that kind of mileage (and sustain no injuries) on one pair of shoes is rare. Such durability is probably the reason why New Balance chose to discontinue them … no need purchase them every 3 months if you can max out and get huge mileage out of just one pair. Since I could not find an adequate replacement and my general annoyance with NB over the entire situation, it is with some trepidation that I switched shoe brands. What did I choose???
I went with Brooks Launch. Below is a link to the spec sheet if you are interested. I was looking for a neutral, lightweight trainer (9.3 oz.) with solid, but minimal cushioning. The boldness of the colors is interesting. My gear choices are certainly not driven by fashion, but I have to admit that is one hot looking shoe. While it is recommended to break in new running shoes slowly (3-4 miles here and there), I don’t abide by that theory at all. I grip it and rip it. With that, on to today’s Thanksgiving Day run …
I was up and out early. I had no choice if I wanted to get in a decent run, shower and return to the park to watch the Macy’s parade with the family. Since it rained overnight, my plan to run on the path was thrown out the window. I’m avoiding getting the kicks dirty as long as possible. Therefore, I took to the asphalt. The lightness of the shoes was immediately evident. I felt like I was floating on air. As a result, I went out too fast in the first mile and paid for it for the next 6 miles. The easiness and gliding of the past few days were out the window. We were grinding people!! I continued to grit it out until I hit my friendly downhill on the West Drive of Central Park. I was able to accelerate and rest at the same time. These 2 very friendly miles ultimately helped me as I surged up Cat Hill to finish out. No matter how many times you run on rolling hills, they are just no fun and don’t get easier.
In the end, 9 miles at 8:37 pace. While, the new shoes held up well, I do miss my old reliables. I do still have my NB 903′s at only 378.6 miles to bridge the gap. Nonetheless, change is good.
Brooks Launch Spec Sheet (FWIW – I picked these up at a significant discount to the suggested retail price.)