We got to the bit about my running shoes falling to bits, so off we went to buy a new pair. Big change from when I bought my last pair, at least 15 years ago but I'd guess a couple of years more than that, in those days you tried them on if you could walk they were considered fine.
Now I walk into a fancy specialist running shop over 40 miles from home, to be greeted by a very young assistant in a track suit who gave the impression that I should rather have gone to Saga for my shoes, she insisted I get on a treadmill so she could view my running style, I asked as a joke, not to switch it on too fast, she took me seriously.
"Have you been on one before" she asked, this was all a bit disconcerting, "yes" I replied, "If you need to, press the stop button" this was either sarcasm or health & safety gone mad. On I climbed and managed not to make an idiot of myself, as I got off she seemed distracted, not helped by a persistent chewing of gum, "I'm not sure" she said. she wandered off in the direction of the till leaving me somewhat stranded, should I follow, leave, or look at the posters on the wall, I chose the latter, I was soon the figure in the picture striding effortlessly over a finishing line to a blaze of camera's.
"hello" back to reality, I spun round to see a bright smiling face grinning from ear to ear, someone obviously used to dealing with people over 20 and someone who could see my rising frustration.
"I was watching you on the treadmill, what you need is......" that was it, all I needed was someone who cared, 10 minutes later I had shoes and a good luck wish as I left.

Back in the days of "when we" and "when I" I ran for a very large SA running club, and anyone arriving at the club with new shoes had to face a torrent of abuse not to mention everyone trying to make them dirty, I've even known people run round their garden in an attempt to make them look used rather than face the start line of a time trial in spotless shoes. I rather miss that, so rather unceremoniously I donned the new shoes and trotted off for a "quick", well, more a leisurely trip round the block, only now I'm trying not to get them dirty I must have looked a sight jumping over the puddles and running round the muddy patches, how times have changed.

To be continued .........