If the sticker says it's true, it's true!

4th training run:

35 minutes around Kepong Metropolitan Park. Early morning run, with a few short uphill stretches. Slight pain on both hamstrings for a day.

2 things I've learned:

1. Running early in the morning feels different from running later during the day. It's harder to stick to the plan when your body hasn't really "woken up" yet. Must get used to early morning runs before the race.

2. One round around Kepong Metropolitan Park takes 23 minutes.

Time left before Siemens Run:

6 days and 8 hours. Time to do equipment check.

The shoe is a sad case... Its soles have been sewn back before. And now, look...


Thought of buying a new pair. But I'd rather buy it after the race at the race venue. They usually have a specialized stall to sell running shoes at special prices on that day.

Went to Midvalley Megamall to check out shoe prices. Any decent pair of running shoes cost more than RM200. Really "good" ones go over the RM300 bracket. Some come close to half a grand. It's madness!

I'm very hesitant to buy commercial brands. You won't really know whether you're buying into its technology, or its marketing.

Nike has a wide range of shoes for every kind of sport imaginable. But its boon can also be the bane. Their shoe line is so diverse, you start to doubt whether or not they are for real.

They put a sticker on it, they say it's running shoes. They put another sticker on it, they say it's for some other purpose. They put a new name on the running shoes, the price goes up a few hundred bucks. Is there a real way of knowing for sure that what you see (and pay for) is what you get?

Same goes for Reebok. Once I bought a Reebok DMX. Supposed to come with some canggih feature that I can't recall anymore today. It's supposed to "feel different" than regular running shoes. It turned out to be true. It felt different!

It blisters my feet.

That's the thing about running shoes, you see. You can't tell whether or not the shoe is really for you until you've tried it on for a few long runs. They can say whatever they like. In the end of the day, they can just put a sticker on the shoe. Or put the shoe in a nicely crafted box. And pass it off as a "new, hebat, high-tech running shoe." When by right, it's actually a generic one that originally couldn't be sold off the racks.

You will "feel different" for a while. But it's all just psychology. Yoooou can't deny that your feet don't lie, and you're starting to feel it pain... Eh, I think some singer said something like this before.

Asics is "the only brand recommended by the Australian Institute of Sports". They put a tag on it. And the price flies over 350 bucks.

Puma doesn't have serious running shoes. They look like they are more in it for the fashion.

Umbro is big on football shoes. Not for running.

The only brand that seems to have reasonably acceptable running shoes is Adidas. Some pairs go for under 200 bucks. Light weight, good cushioning, soles look good, design looks not bad.

They have this new line of shoes called Adizero. It's their lightest shoe. Pretty impressive for its light-weightness. But can't say much about its cushioning for long runs. It makes your wallet light too.

I was hoping to find Brooks running shoes. But it seems like they've dropped out from the commercial market. Can't find them anywhere in Midvalley.

I trust Brooks more than any other commercial brand because Brooks produces running shoes, and running shoes only. My guess is that their specialization makes them less commercialized, and less likely to produce generic shoes, only to morph them into running shoes by putting a sticker on it.

But alas... Their specialization must've kept them off commercial shelves. Anyone who knows where to find Brooks, please let me know.

You see, buying a good pair of running shoes is a very personalized thing. What's important is buying the "right" kind of shoe.

What kind of arch does your foot have? Are you a flat foot, a normal arch, or a high arch?

Are you an overpronator, or a oversupinator? If you have an overpronation problem, your foot tends to roll inward when your foot is on the ground. Your inner part of your shoe wears off faster. If you have an oversupination problem, it's the opposite. Your outer part of the shoes wears off faster.

All this boils down to orthotics. Some shoes have special insoles, specifically desgined to manage the problem of lateral foot motion. It may not be a problem for a 1k run. Or 2k run. But over 10k or a half-marathon, you will definitely feel the problem. I am an oversupinator.

You walk into any Nike shop. Or Adidas shop. Or Royal Sporting House. Ask the shop assistant aka salesman. See if they have any clue on what you're talking about. My bet is, they have no clue. They will tell you which one is on promotion, and which one can discount.

My current Nikes are bought at Ipoh at RM150. That was many years ago. There was this shoe shop at Ipoh's Jusco called Kinta City. All Nike shoes go for RM150. Went there on Kit Soon's recommendation.

"What? You went to Ipoh... to buy shoes??"

"Umm... Yeah."

I need a short-term solution: The cobbler at Taman Selayang...


For only RM1, they are as good as new! Worthy for another 10k run.





Other gizmos I have...

A contraption to keep my specs on my face:


Lasik surgery: A few grand.
One-day contact lenses: 20 bucks per pair.
Geeky contraption: A little more than a green dollar bill.





A device to keep your car keys, photostat IC and some money with you:


Originally an mp3 carrying case for my Creative mp3 player. Strap it around your right arm, and you're good to go.

Nike has an arm strap specially desgined for that purpose.
Nike strap-on case: RM40.
Cetak rompak mp3 carrying case: A little more than a red dollar bill.





Definitely a lot cheaper than preparing equipment-wise for cycling.