Red shoes retired

I bought a pair of size 44 RocLite 295s in the hope that they wouldn't aggravate my right ankle as much as the size 45 pair. After 76km I came to the conclusion that really they were too tight and were squeezing the bones of my foot together on the right and hitting my toe nail on the left. Although Inov-8 claim that they are the same fitting as the obsolete 315s I believe that they are narrower as I was satisfied with 315s in a size 44.

After seeing that used running shoes struggle to reach £5 on eBay it seemed wise to give them to the local charity shop so someone can get use from them.

I think I have to accept that my already-wide feet are getting wider... and that red shoes don't suit me!

A bit grim

It's never great when a run starts in rain, double worse when your guts hurt as well. Anyway I made it to Oxstones along the sloshy tracks and returned on the road.

It was the first trip out for a pair of size 9 Roclite295s and it was only near the end of 15km that I noticed any catch on my ankle. The size 9.5 do seem to be more irritating to my right ankle but they offer more toe room! Hopefully the uppers will stretch as those of the 315s have done to make them a bit more comfortable.  I'm beginning to think that a size 9 right and size 9.5 left might be the top combination. Buying them in different colours so I could tell them apart now seems less of a good idea.

Slowly on Houndkirk Moor

Even though I felt a bit tired I really wanted to do my Saturday long run. To be sensible though I knew it had to be a short long run at under 20km and that I had to go gently.I walked many ascents to keep my heart rate low and walked on the single track across the moor for fear of straining my recovering ankles. The pace ended up as slower than usual but clearly faster than 8min/km ultra pace.

The weather forecast was for a sunny start with rain later and the morning certainly lived up to expectations.

The week's rain was evident in puddles and the softness of the moor leading up to Houndkirk Road. Of course I had wet feet but the well ventilated RocLite 295 shoes let the water out as quickly as they let it in.

I still found that the right ankle area was irritated a little by the shoe and although I removed the lock lacing I was glad to take my shoes off at home. I finding shoe choice a problem at the moment and can't really conclude whether the problem is intrinsic to my ankle or shoe-induced. I suspect that I'd be better returning to size 9 shoes and have tight toes rather than nipped tendons.