For sentimental reasons...

I keep you...for sentimental reasons...

It's hard to convey music across a blog, but sing the above line to Nat King Cole's version of the song, then think of my closet.

It's full of shoes. Not dress shoes, boots, flats, summer shoes, winter shoes, and more. Rather, it's full of running shoes. While the average women might want a shoe for every occasion, or have to go out and buy shoes to match an outfit, I only have a pair of everyday sneakers, a pair of black dress shoes, and a pair of boots. It's probably safe to say for the average triathlete the occasion is a race and the outfit equates more to gear or sport. And my closet is a good example of the gear accumulation of a triathlete.

Two things yesterday brought this to mind for me. First, I cut the tags on a new pair of Saucony's. Second, I finally bought a new pair of road shoes for the bike.

In digging out the new Sauc's, I had to do a little digging in a pile of Sauc boxes and old shoes. Old Sauc shoe boxes are my sorting system throughout the house, proof that I've been through a lot of these shoes. But here's the roster on the closet floor:

Omni 6: 2008, white laces, 500+ miles, retired, marathon training shoes

Omni 6-2: 2008, dark blue laces, 500+ miles, retired, marathon and Great Illini shoes

Omni 7: 2009, light blue laces, 450+ miles, light use only, Racine and Redman shoes

Guide 1: 2009, white laces 400-450 miles, light use only

Guide 2-1: 2009, yellow laces, 270 miles, default shoe

Guide 2-2: 2010, dark blue laces, 6.48 miles, future marathon shoes

Yes, I buy duplicates so I need laces to tell them apart. And the usual limit on shoes is about 500 miles. That list does not include the Brooks trail shoes, the Sauc non-running everyday shoes, and the other pair of Sauc "gardening" shoes in the basement. But I'm proud to report that I've cleaned up the closet. Both Omni 6's are gone. Looks much different in there now-haha. But it's funny how I can look at a pair of shoes and remember a race in them. It also helps that the Redman shoes still have red mud stains on them. But the miles put on these shoes are memories, and I tend to keep them around like momentos of previous seasons.

Regarding cycling shoes, I've been meaning to buy new road shoes for 2 seasons. I'm not sure what I was waiting for? But I tend to be cheap and want to wear out gear as much as possible before replacing (see running shoe list above). I've had the Nike mountain biking shoes since late 2005, they were a cheap pair of shoes purchased before I knew just how hooked I'd get on cycling. My other cycling shoes are the Sidi's, Italian tri-specific shoes purchased for about $200 in 2008. I love these shoes, and besides, every woman should have a really sweet pair of Italian shoes, right?

Last night I finally committed to buying replacements for the Nike's. Cycling shoes don't accumulate mileage like running shoes, but I still didn't intend to buy expensive shoes. But when I take into consideration the fact that I keep cycling shoes for years, why not go big? Oh, and go big I did! I started off in $100-$120 shoes, but didn't like them. Stiff. Uncomfy. Then I tried the Mavic Pro Road shoes. Not only do they look nice, they are NICE. Light, carbon soles, well-vented, nice wrap around the foot. And yes, expensive. But I've yet to ride in them, that's for this weekend. That will be the true test.

The salesman really knew what he was doing--show me the el cheapo's first, then the el guapo's next. Slick business! But my feet ain't complaining.