I am old enough to remember buying Jim Fixx's Complete Book of Running and absolutely falling in love with it. I never expected to have a similar feeling at 79 years old but I just finished reading "This is Running" and was surprised how much it appealed to me as you described today's running culture. Two very different books but both perfect for the times in which they were written. Thanks for providing this old timer with a fun, informative and compelling read. ♥️👣♥️
I’m new to your writing and loved reading about your music-to-running journalism arc. And I also appreciated your take on the diversity contrast between TrailCon and Love Trails.
On the Radical Airflow front: "masterclass in sports marketing" is exactly right, and the Wimbledon placement is such a tell. Satisfy's SpaceLace is doing something similar (picturing Marta Kostyuk's Wimbledon dress by Wilson here)—running keeps looking at tennis right now, and I don't think that's a bad move. Tennis has always had permission to be fashion in a way performance running never gave itself. So what running's borrowing isn't the fabric—it's the license to be looked at. And I love that trail is the one taking it!
Yeah, Love Trails was a good reminder that it's not awful everywhere. If it is, it's a choice.
FloJo did lace first (and best)
And I did comment somewhere that if the black Radical Airflow popped up at Wimbledon someone could have done a Mary Pierce! Also a Nike athlete if I recall correctly.
Okay, school me on Mary Pierce—that reference went right over my head and I want to be in the know when Nike debuts a black Radical Airflow! Also, I didn't know FloJo designed those kits herself, that makes it even better. Though, I did come across Chris Evert in lace at 1971 US Open. (However, my tennis knowledge is entirely from a rabbit hole I went down after SpaceLace and lululemon paisley mesh, so grade on a curve.)
She was a rebellious French-American Canadian who wore a black dress when Wimbledon rules dictate only white must be worn. It was quite scandalous, and hasn't been repeated. And the black Radical Airflow already exists!
Lace... I don't get the lace beyond aesthetic (which is important). I can't help but feel like it would be itchy. Maybe I'll test some out sometime.
Thank you for the Mary Pierce education. I love an apparel scandal! As for lace, I’m looking forward to your lace review. In my opinion, lace is just perforation with fancy PR. Whether it itches is a yarn-and-finish problem, not a structure problem. However, I have yet to see a lace that will pass durability testing…
I am old enough to remember buying Jim Fixx's Complete Book of Running and absolutely falling in love with it. I never expected to have a similar feeling at 79 years old but I just finished reading "This is Running" and was surprised how much it appealed to me as you described today's running culture. Two very different books but both perfect for the times in which they were written. Thanks for providing this old timer with a fun, informative and compelling read. ♥️👣♥️
WOW, Clark. Thank you.
You earned it‼️
I’m new to your writing and loved reading about your music-to-running journalism arc. And I also appreciated your take on the diversity contrast between TrailCon and Love Trails.
On the Radical Airflow front: "masterclass in sports marketing" is exactly right, and the Wimbledon placement is such a tell. Satisfy's SpaceLace is doing something similar (picturing Marta Kostyuk's Wimbledon dress by Wilson here)—running keeps looking at tennis right now, and I don't think that's a bad move. Tennis has always had permission to be fashion in a way performance running never gave itself. So what running's borrowing isn't the fabric—it's the license to be looked at. And I love that trail is the one taking it!
And welcome! Thanks for being here
Yeah, Love Trails was a good reminder that it's not awful everywhere. If it is, it's a choice.
FloJo did lace first (and best)
And I did comment somewhere that if the black Radical Airflow popped up at Wimbledon someone could have done a Mary Pierce! Also a Nike athlete if I recall correctly.
Okay, school me on Mary Pierce—that reference went right over my head and I want to be in the know when Nike debuts a black Radical Airflow! Also, I didn't know FloJo designed those kits herself, that makes it even better. Though, I did come across Chris Evert in lace at 1971 US Open. (However, my tennis knowledge is entirely from a rabbit hole I went down after SpaceLace and lululemon paisley mesh, so grade on a curve.)
She was a rebellious French-American Canadian who wore a black dress when Wimbledon rules dictate only white must be worn. It was quite scandalous, and hasn't been repeated. And the black Radical Airflow already exists!
Lace... I don't get the lace beyond aesthetic (which is important). I can't help but feel like it would be itchy. Maybe I'll test some out sometime.
Thank you for the Mary Pierce education. I love an apparel scandal! As for lace, I’m looking forward to your lace review. In my opinion, lace is just perforation with fancy PR. Whether it itches is a yarn-and-finish problem, not a structure problem. However, I have yet to see a lace that will pass durability testing…
Dropped in oh-so-casually at the end of the “what I’m up to” list: “My second, third and fourth books” 👀👀👀
Haha everything in its correct place