WOD (I don't know what it is but I bet it's awesome)
What should I do with my precious shoes (post vote to comments)?
A) Buy a new pair and forget about 'em
B) Burn them and wipe their existence from the face of the Earth
C) Sell them to the highest bidder and go on a lavish vacation with the proceeds
D) Have them bronzed so that one day they can sit in a museum
E) Other/this survey is stupid and I'm not participating
Before you make your assessment please hear me out. I am not a man of expensive tastes nor am I one to splurge on frivolous shopping sprees. However, it has come to my attention that some of you think it is time to replace this fine pair of shoes. It is not so much that they have sentimental value nor that I disagree but rather that they are the best shoes I've worn for the sport. Being lazy and genuinely not giving a shit may also have something to do with it as well. If you were wondering I bought them probably about 5 years ago and had to tape the tongue for about the past 8 months to prevent the bottom from falling off. I should also mention that there was a year that I could not wear them because they were lost in my stolen car. Fortunately they were recovered along with the car about a year later and the celebration of great footwear continued forth. You now know the story behind the shoes and can stop pointing out that they have tape on them (I do recognize this believe it or not). I will respect the will of the survey (for I know Matt P loves survey blogs).
Shem
oh, is that the reason? I just thought you were cheap Blake. =) There’s probably been no cushion at all in those shoes for the past 3 years, you could just run barefoot at this point and you wouldn’t know the difference. Time to get a new pair buddy.
pj844
things and some people are in our lives for a reason and a season. Grasshopper, this season has past, move on.
pj
brother mike
I am glad this is not a scratch and sniff blog.
Why is there no option for ‘keep wearing them they just got broken in’?
Justin Riley
You look like a homeless bum. Get some Inov-8’s!
Scott
Blake: at the throwdown I was watching you and the other novice team at the quad-a-thon, and I heard some young woman behind me say “isn’t he cute with his shoes taped up like that!”. True story.
Get some news shoes. But keep the old ones around just for fun.
Jennifer R.
I second both Justin and Scott. I love my Inov-8’s both for CF and running. They are like barefoot (if you rip the insoles out) except you don’t get little rocks stuck to the bottom of your feet. Plus, the uppers are so flimsy you’ll get to tape them up in no time. You’ll have your old shoes available as a model.
Seriously, after trying the VFF’s and a few others, I really dig the inov-8’s. If I wear shoes at all in my next race, they’ll be my ripped up red inov8’s. Get two pairs. The black go with everything hip fit makes, and the red will make you go faster.
Ashley Latimer
Blake-see Scott’s comment above…you can’t get rid of part of your charm completely! Maybe save for competitions only to get chicks? It’s like “musician, athlete, singer, chef etc magic”. You have “duct taped shoes and I dont give a shit magic” apparently. I would love to know the kind of vacation you have envisioned for option C. No matter the shoes, you kick butt buddy!!
Tashnelson
Show some pride in your image as a bad-a@@ and get some real shoes. Investing in yourself will reap dividends. Let others know you have pride in yourself by showing it. And you are still not required to match shoes to your weight belt, so go with something colorful!
Ari S.
I second Ashley’s comment, but I have one more stipulation. With the money you save on shoes, you should at least get on board with the hot pink spandex pants before the next competition. And if paired with red Inov-8s someday as Jen suggested, you will move twice as fast!
Pat H.
I think you stepped on some tape on the soccer field…
Jamie P
I want some more back story on the stolen car. Stolen, and it resurfaces a year later?? Containing at least some of the same stuff?? That’s intriguing…..”celebration of great footwear”…
Blake
Justin: it’s a little redundant to say “homeless bum”
Shem: They are suprisingly fairly supportive and there’s enough cushion that they don’t hurt. My converse actually have less cushion.
Mike: I had meant for that to be an option but must have forgotten. Leaning in this direction.
Scott and Ashley: Certainly the best possible response to my shoes to date. Gotta give the people what they want.
Jen: For whatever reason I’m not into the inov8s. I don’t know what it is about them…maybe I just wanna be different.
Ms. Tashnelson and Ari: I can think of no better way to demonstrate a lack of pride and self respect than by wearing color coordinated crossfit “outfits” and especially hot pink tights.
Jamie: yes the car was stolen and recovered many months later. It was being driven by some family (I think it was near Arden) and the shoes and a couple other things were untouched (can’t imagine why), but there were a couple things missing and some wonderful additions of their own.
Kate W.
My husband takes a very similar approach to footwear and he and his duct tape vote for you to keep them. I just shake my head sadly, knowing my vote can have no effect.
Matt P
Blake-. I say give the old shoes a new lease on life with some new tape. I have some duct tape with flames on it of you need.
Olga B
Survey says: get more tape, Blake 🙂
off the subject – I absolutely AMAZED by this girl, and what she does after the lift (watch at 2:11) I never thought Oly lifters are capable of, however, it makes perfect sense that flexibility is just as important as strength.
http://youtu.be/xhq6_dVEmE8
Casey
I forgot about your shoes as soon as I read about your car going missing for a year. Hey it was nice of that family to return it with your stuff after borrowing it without permission 🙂 (That story is so odd)
I kinda like your nasty shoes… I say go with your heart on this one 🙂
Alice
Blake, I don’t get rid of old shoes because of sentimental reasons. They are big part of your life, and take you to amazing places, and are with you during major achievements. However there comes a time in every ADULT’S life, when you realize new shoes are appropriate both professionally and athletically. To honor your “over the hill” shoes, I recommend a place of honor, such as a fireplace mantel or the back of your closet. Your loyalty is emotionally refreshing, but that’s where it ends. There is nothing refreshing about your old stanky shoes.
brother mike
You know what those shoes say to the world? They say honey badger don’t give a shit, he’s nasty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg
Jamie P
Thanks for the back story, Blake! So freakin’ odd…and now I digress: in ’04, we had a car stolen and it was recovered after the thief wrapped it around a pylon. We inherited from said thief a decent quality backpack full of just purchased wedding invitations, wedding paper plates, wedding paper cups, wedding paper napkins, 1 or 2 six-packs of Mickeys, a cell phone, men’s clothing (used), and a CD of mariachi music. Matt and I used the aforementioned treasures and had quite a fun Saturday night….
jsully
Option F) Keep them!
jessica
I vote tying the laces togeher and tossing them over the rafters in the box. Blake, they’ve become a part of you. Really, they may have molded themselves into your skin and maybe the bony structures in your feet. Be careful when removing them. This is not close your eyes and rip, like a bandaid. Unless you’d like skin grafts on your feet! Once safely removed, I’d go for a pair of the Merrells. They’re by far my favorite pair of shoes.
Mac
E) Other—get a new pair of shoes, but keep it classy and only wear them one day a week. This will increase their longevity so you can have them for a long time, both enhancing the value of the tale behind them and giving you shoes that are slightly more functional/less puzzling to the public. And duct tape with flames sounds like a good idea; it will communicate that you are embracing the personality of the shoes and treating them as the special, sentimental objects that they are to you.
Unless they start to stink, in which case they will need to be burned. That is not a request.
Hermes Replica
I work at a big bookstore that is pushing their ereader, and I still can’t bring myself to get one either. You’re not alone.