Yes, these are the first real running shoes i ever had, bought in early 1979. How many of you out there still have you first real pair of running shoes? I ran before i bought these, first starting on the cinder track at Lockwood Jr. High wearing leather Nike shoes, the Cortez. After realizing that i like doing this, it was time to get into real hardcore running shoes and the New Balance 320 was the choice for me. I bough these shoes at Lightning Sports on Thayer Street in Providence. At the time, these were top of the line and cost a whopping $29.99. Choices back then weren't anything like today, i could have gone with Brooks, Adidas or Tigers, which seemed to be the choice of many top runners, now known as Asics. The NB 320's weren't the most attractive shoes out there, but they were comfortable. They had a gum rubber herringbone outer sole, not very long lasting. I used to build them up with ShoeGoo to get extra mileage out of them. Funny thing, they were a 9 1/2, i now were 11 but these shoes still fit. It seems the lasts that shoes are built on changed, not my feet. I would beat the crap out of my shoes, lots of miles and running sockless would do that and they would stink to high heaven. Why did i keep these, i don't know, maybe i thought it would be cool to see them 30 years later and compare. Obviously, they don't compare to anything now, not even remotely, but i could probably sell them on EBAY for more than i bought them for in 1979.
Later
Scott
12 comments:
aww, you couldn't sell those - could you?
Nike Pegasus for me. Long gone.
I remember having the Nike Sock Racer and the Air Max in there too.
Bet i could sell them if i tried, GZ
Loved the sock racer, still have a pair. Did a blog entry on them last winter. I am also a big Pegasus fan, that was the go to shoe for me in the 80's.
Great post, Scott. It brings back memories since I used these same 320's and used shoo goo as well. back in '79 I think I could of run in wing tips and it would not of mattered but I think my first shoe was a cheap Brooks variety and then Tiger and New balance. Once I got to college it was mostly Nike or anything the school would give us(ha ha). I used to run sockless as well especially races! Nothing can beat that aroma.
I am sure you COULD sell them. I am just not sure you'd really WANT to sell them. Then again ... for the right amount of IPA ...
That's just it, i would not want to sell then, even for the right amount of IPA! I like my homebrewed IPA the best anyway :) I am bottling some on Sunday.
Cool. I still have my first pair, Nike Windrunners circa 1997.
First running shoes (beside the plastic K-Mart Adidas knock-offs with 4 stripes) were a pair of Adidas Gazelles. Our team could buy them for $13. That was 1973. A month later I bought a pair of Tiger Pintos (now that was a nice shoe). I bought a pair of retro Gazelles a few year ago and they were no good for anything but walking around in. I sold a bunch of old Nike shoes and running magazines on eBay years ago and made some nice cash (a couple thousand). The Japanese were very into the shoes and shoe issues of RW. It was surprising what people would pay for my old stinky falling apart running shoes. My wife still thinks it the funniest thing ever. People paid money for me to get rid of stuff that she was after me to throw out for years!
Great stuff, Jim. I once gave all my old shoes to my mother to sell at a yard sale, 40 plus pair at 1-2 dollars per.
Will you be doing some snowshoe races this year?
Most definately will be snowshoeing! Hoping for some snow to get going and maybe a pair of Dion snowshoes.
Kevin, 1997? I forget that you are still a young runner.
hello, fellow nostalgic pack rat.
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