Yesterday afternoon, since it was raining, I got the idea to go get my running stuff out of the back of the garage. I had packed 90% of it away when I stopped running and thought I was finished back in April. At that time I also got rid of all but a couple of trail shoes and road shoes. Though I did pick up a pair of Topo Phantom in May for walking.

As I unpacked I had a very pleasant surprise. I found that I had packed away one of my all-time “make me smile shoes”, the 361 Flame v1. It’s just one of those shoes that whenever I’ve run in them, I smile when I get done. I guess I just couldn’t bring myself to part with them and didn’t remember squirreling them away in the running stuff tote, instead throwing them in the pile of shoes that I got rid of at the time.

Since I found the Flames of course I wanted to do an experiment this morning for my run, err run in them. While at the same time I didn’t want to really run outside in them the first time using them again, so I decided to compromise a little and use them on the treadmill. Just to make sure everything feels fine and give me a baseline of what I should expect from them.

I’ve just been running in Topo Specters (I have a pair for the gym and one for home). While I like the ones at the gym, the ones I use for running outside at home just seem…off, even when I’ve used them on the treadmill. With Specters at home I never find my stride with them and labor to run comfortably. I’ve run outside in my gym ones and they feel fine, so I’m wondering if it is just the shoes.

I’ll find out for sure later this week, after getting the baseline in the Flames this morning.

What was today’s treadmill workout?

• 10 minutes shooting basketball to warm-up
• 15:00 minutes @ 6.0 mph
• 5:00 @ 6.1 mph
• 5:00 @6.2 mph
• 1:00 at 6.3 mph
• 1:00 at 6.4 mph
• 1:00 at 6.5 mph
• 1:00 at 6.6 mph
• 1:00 at 7.2 mph
• 10:00 minute cool-down walk decreasing speed

Total: 3.12/30:02 = 5K – The end result of the run was a big smile and a fist pump when I finished. Yeah, the 361 Flames still make me smile even if I’m running my miles in them 2-3 minutes slower. There is just something about those shoes that works for me.

The best part was that while I was working hard at the end, I didn’t feel completely used up when I finished. I’m still leaving plenty on the table.

When I looked at the stats, I was in for huge surprise. When I first started out it had me in the 170s for a heart rate, which that ain’t no way it was that high. I felt fine and was running at an easy 10:00 minute pace that I’ve been doing right along. If I was at 177 bpm I would have been on the floor panting on my hands and knees and had all the trainers surrounding me to make sure I wasn’t going to die on them. Hehehehehe – I didn’t do either, so I’m pretty sure that the watch was either grabbing my cadence or had a hiccup.

After a few minutes the watch corrected itself and was a bit more reasonable for the rest of the run. But those kinds of experiences make it so that I don’t bother looking at biometrics on a watch until I’m done with my run. Then I can chuckle or go WTFO. Though time and distance are kind of nice to know, so that I can stop when I’m supposed to. 🤪

When I finished, I felt fine and had plenty left, if I had wanted to push the body a little more. I think I might have gone sub 30:00 for the 5K without trying. Though doing it outside might be a bit more difficult for a while yet.

I did use my calf sleeves today because my left calf was doing its usual grumpy stuff when I get back into running and the sleeves seem to keep it happy. Otherwise the knee was slightly noticeable to start, but calmed down pretty quickly and the last 15:00 minutes of the run, I never noticed it.

Then I did a lower body session on the weight machines and called it a day.

All-in-all a nice workout and yes, the 361 Flames do still make me smile.