I have fallen in love!

Hello lovely runners!

Well, having had one of those "practice" runs yesterday where I went too fast and couldn't go as far as I wanted, I needed cheering up, so I went into town to look for new trainers. I rather hopefully had a quick look round JD and Sports Direct, but they are rubbish, clearly not for the serious runner! Since when did I become a serious runner? Anyway...

As soon as I walked in, they were there, on the top shelf, looking at me, and my heart melted. Sadie-runs, I can quite see what drew you to yours. I am now the proud owner of a pair of On Cloudflows. I had a good few test runs round Runners Need, and I knew, I just knew that these were for me. YES I spent far more than I intended, but I don't care. Who needs money for fuel?!

I might even take them out for a short spin later, as I didn't feel yesterday's effort really counted

Pic coming in a minute!!

Neil

[Dizzysmum17 Graduate10]

Lovely shoes! Envy is my current emotion! Hehe 😜 enjoy - and of course you can run later...what would be the point of new shoes if not to run?? 😂 🏃‍♂️

[Hidden in reply to Dizzysmum17]

Yes I'm still rather smitten I have to admit. I am going to have to give them a short test run later. They are just sitting there, next to me, begging to be taken out.

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Oh I want those! My feet are too weird though. Most frustrating! Enjoy them!

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

Oh no! Would you be able to get insoles or something? What's weird about them?

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Over pronate quite a lot. Those shoes are unfortunately not supportive enough 😭

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

Tasha, you might be surprised. Many five star reviews on the website from runners with funny feet etc. The point is the support is in the clouds on the soles, not built into the shoe. Try the

Flyers, Surfers or Aces, all with more cushioning.

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I’ll read up when I’m due new ones

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

I think the idea is the clouds are designed to guide your feet into the right gait, and provide help with vertical and horizontal movement. Anyway, I shall stop evangelising now lol

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I’d love some. I also hear they don’t last too long though. And bits get stuck in the soles. I still want some however 😂

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

My Flyers are showing wear on the heels after only 131k, but The roadside footpaths round here are atrocious. Anyway, no wear anywhere else and it’s only the surface pattern wearing off. Ive had a couple of things stuck in the soles, a twig once in my Clouds, and the Flyers have picked up the odd small stone, but all these were only apparent when Imgot home, I didn’t know they were there when I was running. However, first time out in my .cloudflows and I picked up a large rock that I could feel and hear and that wouldn’t dis.odge while I was running. That’s the only time it’s been a problem though.

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

Sorry Tasha, I need to turn autocorrect off once and for all. I sound demented!

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Ooh shoe envy....they look smashing Neil.

Actually my asics look quite worn underneath...I think I will take them with me to town next time I go and get an opinion from Fitstuff on whether they need replacing!😆😆😉xx

[Hidden in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

If you want new shoes, and can afford them, go for it! When you wear the same pair for a while, I think we just get used to them, and don't notice that they are less supportive than the new ones. Because I supinate, the heel and outer edge of my current ones are quite worn down, plus they weren't too expensive. I would have got better ones at the time, but I wasn't convinced I wouldn't drop out of C25K

Anyway... looking forward to the obligatory "I got new shoes!!" post from you soon!

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Not sure which ASICS you like, BBR, but I just ordered a couple of the gel type ones cheaply from these guys (Runners Need lady said they’d be good shock absorption ones for me)...

mandmdirect.com/01/womens/a...

One option with this site if you are unsure of fit is to order over £75 worth to get free postage (usually £4.99), then to buy the £1.99 Hermes returns voucher to send back what doesn’t fit.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Ooh that looks like a good site Mountaindreamer thank you!

I have gel cumulus 18's at the moment and would definitely have another gait analysis before buying, good to know how much cheaper they will be on line!😊x

[Hidden in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

They do, they do 😊😊😊

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

They do Jan! 😉 😂 x

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

But they are still so pretty...and comfy..whats does a split in the sole matter!😅😉xx

[Sadie-runs Graduate10]

😍😍😍

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Sadie-runs]

They are gorgeous, Neil! I nearly bought the Flows, but ended up with Flyers. Am going to try the Flows next. SO comfortable, eh? Totally like running on little clouds. 😁 Ah, new shoes! Glad you got some at last. I wish you many happy runs in them.

Sadie-runs xxx

PS don’t forget to do the heel lock maneuver with your laces. 😁

[Hidden in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thanks Sadie, oh they are just the best things ever. Soooooo comfy. I'm definitely very much in love It was you inspired me though, after reading the story of your love affair with yours, the way it started with illicit meetings and fondling, until you just couldn't keep your hands off each other

[Sadie-runs Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Oh you make it all sound rather sordid, Neil! I’ll have you know it is a thoroughly innocent little love affair. But seriously, I hope you enjoy running in them. They are so light and springy, it’s a very different run experience. I feel more in contact with the surface I am running on with On shoes. And they come in such lovely colours. 😍

[Hidden in reply to Sadie-runs]

Having done 10k in them this morning I concur! The love affair continues. Nearly took mine to bed last night

[pinkaardvark Graduate10]

They look great. Like the cloud flyers but with more pods. They should include a spork though in the box for rooting out all the new rocky friends you will be collecting hehe.

[Hidden in reply to pinkaardvark]

Yeah I know lol! But honestly, they are lovely. I will go for a test run later when it cools off and report back about the quantities of general hardore which end up in the pods I'm wearing them now, just to, you know, wear them in, and they are comfier than my slippers

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

Oooo, lovely! 👟🏃‍♂️❤️

Am still trying to justify to my husband ordering 5 pairs of sale running shoes to try on at home!!! (I just can’t bring myself to pay full price for good shoes... I’m not sure it works out any cheaper if I decide to keep too many of them though! 😂😂)

[Hidden in reply to mountaindreamer]

I have to say I was intending to spend about half what I ended up spending, but to be fair, they are the most essential piece of running kit really, so I convinced myself that it was worth getting decent shoes. I did half-heartedly look for cheaper ones, but the moment I set eyes on them I knew it was a lost cause

I really hope you enjoy the 5 pairs that will inevitably be coming your way!!

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I’m promising not to keep them all...😆🤞

[pianoteacher Graduate10]

They're gorgeous Neil 😍 I've got cloudsurfers and absolutely love them x

[Hidden in reply to pianoteacher]

They are nice, I have to say. I'm giving them a test-wear as I type, and later, when it cools off, it will undoubtedly be a test run!

[pianoteacher Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Seem to remember walking round the house in mine for the rest of the day 😂

[Hidden in reply to pianoteacher]

I got Cloudsurfers yesterday! I ran my fastest ever and got 6PR today. Couldn’t believe it!

[pianoteacher Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I saw your PRs on Strava Flick - didn't realise you'd got new shoes! Running parkrun on my own for the first time in 7 weeks next Saturday - hopefully mine will provide me with a speed boost 😀

[Hidden in reply to pianoteacher]

They do seem to

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Congratulations! And welcome to the cloud family

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Who, me? Ive got five pairs now, been running in them since January. Don’t come near me, I’m a chess pit of shoe temptation!

[Hidden]

Brilliant. Join the Bridge to 10k On wearers club. I have more than one model and love them. Those are a gorgeous colour too. Your feet and legs will thank you x

[AndyD Graduate10]

I'm on my third pair of On's (Cloudflyer) now and don't think I'll be looking at other brands for a while!!! I did have a slight bit of damage (not sure how it happened) on my 2nd pair after 400k and I emailed them with some pics... they replied that "shouldn't happen" and sent me a voucher for a brand new pair. Cant beat that for customer support.

Hope you enjoy yours.

[Hidden in reply to AndyD]

When I got the Cloudventure Peak trail shoes, they had a try them for 30 days and your money back if you don’t like them offer on their website. Ive had two pairs of Ons where I got the sizing wrong and had to exchange them, and both times they paid for the return. My only fear is that they will be bought out by some other company and quality and customer service will suffer. Fingers crossed that doesn’t happen.

[Sarakc Graduate10]

Very nice!!! I splashed out on a pair of comfy oofos impulsively this week! 25% off so I couldn’t resist! I’d never heard of Clouds till just recently!! I’ve turned into a bit of a shopper since I took up this running!!! 😂

[Hidden in reply to Sarakc]

It’s all a snare and a delusion. They tell you running is a cheap sport to take up, all you need is a pair of trainers and a few t-shirts. Ha!

[Sarakc Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Ha Ha!! I’m now trying to explain “virtual races” to my husband!! Not sure he’s convinced!! 😂

[Hidden in reply to Sarakc]

Nor was mine!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Wowsers.... they are truly sassy!!!

Many happy runs you xxx

[Hidden in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Floss! I’m going to go on a 10 minute run with them, just 10 minutes, just to get to know them a bit, before my proper run tomorrow!

[ClareO65]

I have surfers- love them. My question is what is the difference between them all? I feel the need to start a collection.

[Hidden in reply to ClareO65]

I'm not a shoe expert, that's why I went to a running shop, all I know is that they caught my eye and said they were lonely and wanted to come home with me!

[quirkybee]

OMG they are totally wow Neil and you'll be the envy of all the runners by you. Fantastic choice and awesome colour. Take a pic of them on and show us. Well done lovely xx 👍👍

[Hidden in reply to quirkybee]

Thanks QB To be fair, they were the only choice they had for those, but they are so lovely and light compared to my old shoes. I went for a 10 minute run this evening just to make sure they were OK, and make them feel loved. I'll try to be brave and take a pic

[quirkybee]

Yes, go for it Neil. I might be tempted to invest In a pair too, heehee 👍😏 x

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Ohhhhh I LIKE those! These trainers need special attention, at least 3 times a week....I can see many happy runs in these bad boys!! When I get home I am going to treat myself...😉