It is often the case that a pursuit as seemingly simple as, well, lets take running, can be made into something superhuman by a subtle combination of marketing and a blokey weakness for gadgets. I speak from some authority on the latter. An activity that is hitherto considered normal for anyone over the age of three can become a challenge only to be pursued with the very finest of equipment and the very latest in technology. I’ve realised one of the ways that this occurs is the compartmentalisation and relentless specialisation of once broad categories ( “running” ) into endless niches. Sprinting, hurdles, cross-country, “distance”, trailrunning, marathoning, iron-man, over-pronators, under-pronators… it goes on.
There are shoes and equipment specific to each of these. There is even the catch-all “cross training” shoe and accessories for those that haven’t had the time to read all the discipline-specific literature to be able to work out what branch of running they are actually doing. If you were to wear, say, a jogging shoe while cycling, or a tennis shoe while vacuuming, all manner of bad things reportedly will happen.
Which is odd. Because I remember as a child only having one pair of shoes. These sufficed for school and also for ‘trailrunning’. It wasn’t called that at the time. It was called “running for miles through the local wood pretending to launch attacks on hidden German spy encampments”. Trailrunning is easier on the copywriter. Those shoes worked for every sort of rapid foot-powered transport in between, too. The only time you bought a new pair was when you wore the old pair out, or, being a child, when your feet grew.
Even when I was 14, after I got a job* and could finally afford a pair of Adidas trainers, I dont recall there being much to choose from. You just got the ones with the 3 stripes on the side and the daily teasing moved to someone else. Easy.
Now if I was 14 I’d have to have about eight pairs of trainers just to ensure I had all my daily activities covered. Not to mention the sport-specific socks, “wicking” underwear and breathable-yet-waterproof jacket spun from threads of pure unobtainium. I only had one coat back then too, of course. Now if you asked me how many jackets I have hanging up in the wardrobe, I’d have to answer, well, I’d probably avoid your gaze and mumble.
Can I call time on this one though ? Trailrunning-specific hats. You read that correctly.
I can’t think of anything more to say. A review that begins “running hats aren’t new, the performance and safety features they offer have improved greatly in the last year and a half, said Dana “fruitcake” Ross, the running gear and running apparel buyer for Paragon Sports in Manhattan”
You may read about the greatly improved performance of these amazing headwear items for yourselves here ;
http://trailrunningsoul.com/trs/2008/04/11/gear-test-running-hats/#more-880
*petrol-pump attendant. I’d need a special pair of shoes for that today.
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