I've been sitting on a 30 € gift voucher - expiry date 1 January 2022 - for over a year, largely because I don't live near any shops that accept it, and hadn't found anything that appealed in those that I had visited.
So in desperation I decided I'd do a 100km+ round trip to check out other options. Ended up, thinking I'd probably run out screaming within two minutes, in the sort of sports shop that's crammed with fashion brands aimed at people around a third of my age.
Well, guess what? They had a few pairs of discounted end-of-range running shoes, so I thought I'd take a look, just in case they had anything that I could use on roads and paths, instead of torturing my beloved Brooks Cascadias.
Lo and behold: a pair of 2019 New Balance Solvi v2, reduced from 155€ to 79.99€. They fit, feel comfortable, and are only 49.99€ with the voucher.
At checkout, assistant takes voucher, puts it through till. Says "We don't give change." I do Mrs Blankety McBlankface. She repeats "We don't give change." I reply "Err sure fine no problem." She puts shoes and receipt in box, I take it, and walk out, not entirely sure what's going on.
Check receipt. The till had applied an additional reduction and the final price was 29.95€! Feeling very, very fortunate this evening.
(I would post a photo, but the system isn't letting me right now!)
A heron, a kestrel, 15k and a blister
It was January and I really did Run Every Day 😀🏃♀️
