Running gives me valuable time for myself. I work in an agency-based program management job and am a pretty structured person. So I really look forward to my runs, which I schedule religiously. If you want something to become a habit, you need to make time for it and write it down in your journal, just like with any other commitment.
In a normal week I arrive at work twice - a distance of about 6 miles from my home in Barnes, south-west London, to Victoria - and go for a 90-minute run on Saturday morning. I listen to a podcast, take a guided Peloton Outdoor running class with my favorite instructor Susie Chan, or listen to the soundtrack of a musical and pretend I'm the star.
I have always been active - musicals and dancing are my hobbies - and I enjoy going to the gym. But in January 2022, I signed up for a triathlon to raise money to help my friend Shonagh, who, like me, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 37. While training for this event, I realized that I loved running. Since then, I've completed a half marathon, two more triathlons, a duathlon, and an ultramarathon... yet I still wouldn't consider myself a "runner."
Running keeps me healthy: it used to be all about how I look, but now it's about how I feel. Morning exercises make me energetic and ready for the day. On the days I don't exercise, I find it harder to concentrate and motivate myself. Everyone talks about a "runner's high," but only because it's real. The other day I was in a bad mood, ready to kill my husband after a disturbed night's sleep caused by him coming in very late, very drunk, very loud, leaving the front door wide open and snoring all night - you get the idea . A 10km run at work completely changed my mood and I even sent him a nice text!
I don't wear particularly fancy gear on my runs. I always wear shorts because I feel trapped in leggings. A good sports bra is very important. I also wear a tank top, a zip-up running jacket if it's cold, a pink baseball cap - and my trusty Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 sneakers in baby pink, although they're starting to get a little dirty now.
The story continues
When I bought them last year my Nikes cost £35 on the website Vinted. Nowadays you can buy them new for €28. I wear my sneakers all the time: when running, but also during commuting and walks.
But sometimes I wonder if I could go faster.
In September I read about the Ethiopian marathoner Tigst Assefa, who broke the women's record by more than two minutes at the Berlin Marathon. Assefa wore a pair of new Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1s.
After the race, Assefa attributed her performance to "the hard work of the past year." However, in another interview she described her Adizero Adios Pro Evos as "the lightest racing shoe I have ever worn. The feeling of running in it is an incredible experience - unlike anything I have ever felt before."
The Adizero Adios Pro Evo costs £450. You can no longer buy these trainers as only just over 1,000 pairs were made, but you can buy them on eBay for prices up to £2,000.
So when the opportunity arose to try out the world record-breaking marathon trainer, I was intrigued. Would a casual runner feel the benefit of an elite shoe?
These elite trainers are also called a 'single-use shoe', meaning they are optimized for one marathon race, created with elite athletes in mind, to break world records. I decided I would sign up for a race and see if I could bring myself closer to "elite runner" status.
At 105 grams, the sneakers were incredibly comfortable and so light. It felt like I was wearing nothing at all on my feet. On the other hand, the thick sole took some getting used to and I was afraid I would go over my ankle.
But when I started running, I had never gone so fast in my life. I did eight 500 meter sprints and my time dropped from 4 minutes and 5 seconds per km to 3 minutes and 25 seconds. Yes, I adopted the tips to run more efficiently: lifting my knees more and tilting my body weight forward, but I'm sure the springy soles had a lot to do with my speed. When I put my regular sneakers back on to cool down, it felt like I was strapping lead weights to my feet.
I initially planned to run a half marathon around Richmond Park in my Pro Evos, but it turned out they were only designed for road running and not muddy trails, so I entered a 10k race in Battersea Park. To prepare, I completed a 6km road run at a steady pace, shaving 15 seconds off my usual time per km. The sneakers still felt good, if a little unstable around my ankles.
Race day arrived. I decided I would beat my previous 10k race time of 49 minutes 20 seconds at Battersea Park from July (although this was after a drunken night out with my brother the night before). At the start I clocked a runner who looked professional and decided I would keep up with her. She sped away and I later stalked her on the Runthrough Instagram account. She finished first female so I had no chance. I chose another strong looking woman and kept her close to me all the time.
I started well, I felt great. I kept my pace steady because I didn't want to burn out too quickly, but I was definitely faster than normal. But then, about halfway through, I started becoming aware of a blister on my big toe. I wasn't really in pain, but it was annoying and painful.
And although I finished the race with a time of 44 minutes and 24 seconds - a personal best by some distance - I didn't really enjoy the second half of the race. When I put on my old sneakers at the end, it felt like putting on comfortable slippers, such a relief.
I wondered what the reason for my blister was. Was it somehow my fault: had I worn the wrong socks, for example? But by the time I finished the race, I had run 12 miles in the Pro Evos. Since they are intended for elite marathon racing, there can't have been any durability issues this early.
So the question arises: are these £450 trainers worth the money? For me, running is as much about comfort as it is about speed: both relaxation and competitiveness. I can imagine someone wanting to indulge if they have a special race in mind and a friend they want to beat (and of course they can afford).
I've come to realize that my old £35 favorites are no longer good enough. So I'm going to upgrade to something a few notches above my Nike pair, and a few steps below the Pro Evos, perhaps the Adidas Adizero Boston range. Running is great because it's free, but with the right equipment you really feel like you're flying.
As told to Miranda Levy RecommendedHow to Choose the Best Pair of Running Shoes to Take It One Step Further
read more
