Did my first big-ish run in a while this morn, three hours on the road starting at 5.15am, two Faber loops along the way (one ascent on each side), by the River on the way back and through the lush greenery at Dempsey.
Total moving time on my HTC Magic GPS was 2.54, total distance 33.6k. I felt comfortable all the way, constantly reminding myself to take it easy and finish feeling fresh. Done and done. With enough time for a cool down dip in the pool before cycling to work. Schweeeeeeeet.
3h run done
I’d like to think part of the awesome feeling on this morning’s run was due to my new kicks. If you’ve been following my running adventures on this blog for the past couple of years, you’d know that the Lunaracers have been trusty companions to my feet over miles and miles on the road. I first put them on for a 30 minute run the night before the Sundown Ultra in 2008. The next day I went on to win the 84km race in those very shoes.
I’ve lost track of how many pairs I’ve gone through. But each time I take a new one out of the box, it’s ready to go. No need for breaking in or whatchyamacallit. Breaking in is for poorly-made shoes. Not the Lunaracer.
The latest incarnation of the shoe is — no prizes for guessing the name — the Nike Lunaracer+ 2. You know, I haven’t read any brochures on it, so don’t ask me to spill exact terminology here on what’s new with the shoe. But what I can tell you is if its predecessor was great, the Two is awesome.
A big part is the upper. Previously the upper was made entirely of this paper-thin material that was extremely light and not water-absorbent, yet gave good support to the foot in motion. I loved it because a heavy sweater like me would not end up with heavy shoes 30 minutes into a run. Trouble with it, was its texture bordered on a plasticky feeling, which when combined with sweat on raw skin created the ugliest of abrasions.
With the Two, the upper now has some some felt-like material and whatever else inside (you have to see the inside of the shoe for yourself) that makes wearing the Two feel like fluffy bedroom slippers compared to the One. Despite the added plush material, its non-water absorbent property still remains. Today’s three-hour run didn’t soak the shoe at all. Somehow the shoe also feels more flexible with the new upper, less like wearing a starched shirt, if you get what I mean…
The Flywire technology that was in the One remains in the Two — thank goodness. I think it’s really innovative how stitching is used to create support like the cables of a suspension bridge. Nike has also kept the Lunarlite sole, which I love love love. The shoe certainly hasn’t lost any “boing”. My very first pair of Lunars (the one I mentioned a few paragraphs earlier) died on me last week, the upper tore from the sole. Truly impressive life-span if you ask me. In fact the sole could still go on for many more miles, it didn’t feel any less responsive from the first time I wore it.
Overall, I think the Two just looks a whole lot better.
sweet ride: Nike Lunaracer+ 2
Get some and make your feet happy.