We have all been through it. It rarely gets easier. Breaking Up Is Hard.
If you consider all of the experiences you have been through together. The stratospheric highs and the bottomless ocean lows.
If you remember the feelings when you first met. The hairs standing up on your arms and butterflies in your stomach.
Why Breaking Up Is Hard?
Do I look okay? Should I wear something different?
Is this finally the one? The keeper, the forever partner?
If you can vividly remember these emotions then you can understand.
The new one crosses your path. Your know you will finally succumb and cheat.
You kid yourself it won’t happen. Deep down you know it will.
As you cheat you may look back fondly. You might even have some regret. It doesn’t last long.
You’ve moved on. You will do it again. And again.
But it still hurts. Time may soften the pain. Rose-tinted memories may appear occasionally to remind you.
That is Why Breaking Up Is Hard.
My New Muse
A New Year gave me food for thought. Like many in the northern hemisphere, it’s a challenging time.
The days are short, the nights are really really long. It’s not an excuse.
In my January gloom motivation was low. The internet can be a distraction. There are always temptations on offer.
I got tempted. I was uncertain at first but the seed had been sown.
14th January 2023 was when I made the first move. I knew what I was doing. Still pretending to myself.
16th May 2023 I finally succumbed. Some four months of saying “No” even though I knew I would say “Yes” in the end.
How did it feel? It felt good. Though I did look back. I still care. It’s me, not you.
Maybe we can go out again sometime?
The Planets Aligned
What was different about the 16th May then? I had ummed and aahed about when it should be.
On this day the sun was out although a little fresh. It hadn’t rained for a few days. It was time.
I approached and nervously reached out. It felt different. An unfamiliar feeling.
One last look back wistfully and my mind was set.
Even thought Breaking Up Is Hard I laced them up and stood for the first time.
Not Going To Mark My Muse(s)
The new running shoes are Asics Magic Speed. In Shocking Orange, their words not mine.
I don’t do shoe reviews and don’t intend to start now. I am not technical enough but will say this.
The uppers are thin, I would say almost flimsy. The soles are bouncy and light.
One run into our new relationship they feel lovely.
I am afraid to say I don’t feel we will be together forever. I think I will wear them down pretty quickly.
Guess that’s the nature of how we are together.
I do confidently predict we will have lots of fun this coming summer. We might even go away together.
The Four-Month Courtship
So why did I hold on for so long?
As with most relationships it’s rare you jump from one to the next without some thought, subconscious or not.
For me, there were a number of things which made me pause.
The weather was bad, either frozen, snowing or wet – I couldn’t commit Shocking Orange to that ordeal (I know I will though)
My now ex-running shoes were looking and feeling okay. They were still good to go and embraced the inclement weather with joy.
I like to get my money’s worth, that is I know the milage in them and it was too early to say goodbye.
I still loved my now ex. We had a good time together.
I wasn’t ready to move on until I was.
My Ex
This is who I cheated on. They were reliable and dependent.
Maybe they moved a little slow for me.
They look good when we were out and were comfortable in all sorts of situations.
We were together for 550 miles. That’s pretty long-term for me.
I still see them on a daily basis as they continue to live with me.
I now have a solely walking relationship with them and hope they understand and accept this.
If they don’t perhaps they need to remember they were the new muse once upon a time. It’s life.
Again non-technical non-review – Asics GlideRide 2 Lite-Show French Blue (their words). I like these but not my favourite of all time.
They love to catch stones in their grooves.
My Ex Ex
This one still hurts. Don’t tell French Blue but we still see each other daily too.
We were together for a committed 580 miles. Until they moved over to walking.
That affair is now well into the thousands of miles. They are soft and loose. The laces don’t untie and they slip on like socks.
They too catch stones and all sorts. Every walk is a gravel collection activity.
I think they are up there in my top shoes ever. The full name is GlideRide 2, Piedmont Grey (their words).
Again a reliable shoe and consistent. Felt lighter and softer than Frenchie and just prettier.
We didn’t get together for aesthetics but they really are lovely.
Even my non-running kids who know little or nothing about style, regularly remark how much they like them.
My Wandering Eye
Would I consider myself loyal? Absolutely but I have definitely played the field.
While I’m attracted to Asics types, I have been partial to Brooks, a brief unhappy flirtation with Saucony and a truly painful period with Nike.
Brooks cheated on me by discontinuing my partner at the time. I tried another but wasnt the same.
Saucony was a mistake, I don’t know what I was thinking.
Nike just hurt me (shin splints).
As with most partners, things change over time. Asics seem to be searching for something more.
The grass isn’t always greener. It’s a two-way thing even though Breaking Up Is Hard.
Will I Do It Again?
Where will this all lead? Shocking Orange and I are very happy together. But that was the same with Frenchie, Piedmont, and all those who went before, bar Saucony and Nike.
I have considered buying multiple versions of current muse so to show my commitment. But that feels like cheating in another way.
Imagine the jealousy of changing to the same. It’s just not right.
But if I’m honest I know that that new shoe feeling including the mental lift of running like a child (as new ones make you faster) and the excitement of venturing into the unknown (do white shoes work – nope?) will keep me casting my eye about forever more.
A friend once said that you don’t realise how bad your old shoes are until you put them next to new ones. He was right.
Breaking Up Is Hard. Until I do it again.
Before You Go!
I rarely write as seriously at this :O). I write about stuff which keeps me motivated and inspires me to get out and run.
