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If you want something badly enough…

When the K-Swiss people at the Malibu Triathlon told me that unless I went to Kona, there was no possible way to get my hands on a pair of the new K-Swiss K-Ruuz 1.5s until February 2012, I first got angry but then put a plan in action, and voila:

And these aren’t even ready for sale:

I like that K-Swiss debuted them on their pros at Kona and made them available to the public on the island at the same time!  Good move!

I owe thanks to Tyler who was there to spectate, not race (this year at least).  I got my pair on Thursday and took them out for a little test drive this morning. My initial impressions (it’s hard to comment on anything other than aesthetics and basic feel at this point):

• I dig the red and yellow color scheme, they’re flashy but not too gaudy and look fast!
• The upper is way improved over the original K-Ruuz, it feels lighter, softer and more flexible and doesn’t have the annoying, toe-destroying vinyl piece over the toes.  I wore socks today, but will definitely try them sockless soon.  
• Like the originals, they’re still light and low to the ground.  These feel lighter than the originals, but that could be extra weight from accumulated dirt that I’m feeling!
• The toe box feels a little roomier. I did go up a half-size, but my toes had lots more room than in the original.

I’ve done all my racing – and lots of training – this year in my pair of the original K-Ruuz, and they’re showing their age.  I’m sure I could eke out some more miles in them, but they badly want to be retired and now they can be.

And when it rains it pours. After not getting any new running shoes for six months, I’ve gotten three new pairs in the last two weeks. The Brooks PureConnect, these K-Swiss K-Ruuz 1.5s and a third pair that hasn’t even touched the ground yet. More details on that third pair to come soon.

Seeing as how I’ve run 95 miles in the first 15 days of the month, I guess it’s good timing to get the new shoes!

New shoes, plus a hike in Griffith Park with Elizabeth, Loren, Charlie and the dogs, makes for a great Saturday morning!