We ask a lot of our footwear, demanding different needs for different sports. Do these fit the bill?
By Katie Garner
Gotta love a shiny new trainer!
With the warmer weather hopefully on the slow approach after these numerous bouts of snow, this also means that my running season is on the way to commencing. I am what you would call a ‘fair weather runner’. Running in the dark, cold, wind and rain holds no interest or appeal for me whatsoever, so hitting the treadmill is normally my preferred method of pounding the pavement. However, as the skies brighten, nights lighten, and the sun generally becomes more amenable, running around in the great outdoors is actually a very pleasant way to catch some rays, enjoy the rare sunshine and burn calories in preparation for the jug of Pimms you are planning for later.
With this in mind, my tattered and cheap Decathlon running trainers were looking incredibly sorry for themselves after a good few years of dedicated service. Slightly greying instead of white, beaten up around the edges and with various mud like substances stuck in the grips, I decided it was high time I treated myself to some brand spanking new trainers, especially after these old trainers seemed to be the cause of a nearly falling off toenail (long story, don’t ask).
Just call me speedy…
I decided to turn to one of my favourite sporting brands Adidas for the solution to my trainer problem, as I regularly receive their email updates, and reports of a sale had not gone unnoticed by my panting purse strings. The thing with trainers is that for a decent pair, you have to pay out, but with prices on the up side of £50, the wince you are wearing is nothing to do with mis-fitting footwear.
After tucking a rather nice one piece racing swimming costume in my online basket, I turned to the matter at hand and perused the trainers. I finally zoned in on the Women’s Adizero F50 2. First things first, as you can probably tell by the last trainer hunt I embarked on, I like a shoe with a bit of personality, otherwise known as a loud colour. After far too many years of safe white, I am absolutely loving the continuous streaks of colours that are Adidas’s signature style. The vibrant pink-red colour of the Adizero caught my eye, cleanly accented with white. On first glance, it looked like a solid shoe with a firm heel. I also rather liked the look of the £40 price tag – half price from the original £80, which in my mind, was a fantastic bargain for a quality trainer.
Good grip
Defined as a ‘performance running shoe’, outwards appearances hinted that they would fit the bill, with a special ‘Formation’ heel that actually aims to adapt to the ground to ensure that your run is a smooth and comfy one (although it is doubtful that I would ever describe running as a ‘comfortable’ experience). With a high emphasis on being lightweight, this hot pink shoe is all about speed, with mesh for breathability yet a welded sprint web for added support. The solid grips on the soles also look as if they offer good durability, so I have high hopes that they will last the distance.
I have yet to test these bad boys out on my local pavements and parks. Any other fair weather runners out there, or are you a hard core all seasons style sprinter? Let me know your tips on trainer buying!
Fab colour
