A couple of weeks ago I ran at the Saskatoon Fieldhouse, which has an excellent indoor 200 meter track. The inner lane is 200 meters and each lane increases to the sixth, which I think is around 233 meters. After running on a standard track it felt really tight in the corners, but I quickly got used to them and managed a 15k progression run with the final 5k at threshold pace. When I first started running I belonged to a rec center with a small indoor track. It was 9 laps per kilometer if I recall correctly, and I used it exclusively for my first couple of years of running. I never went outdoors until I moved back to Timmins, where there are no indoor facilities other than around the outside of the hockey ice.

I would sooner run on a track than a treadmill regardless of track length.

in one case they are cheaper ... compare prices of Garmin Forerunner 205 at Running Room ($250) and Mountain Equipment Co-op ($305) ... and I thought the Co-op was a not-for-profit.
Despite the strong C$, prices of US made shoes have not dropped ... but I was told recently, and have no way of confirming or denying this, by a RR employee that the wholesaler prices have not come down.

Thanks for the pricing information on U of T's athletic centre.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by A1Runner:
RR prices suck.<HR>

Actually people have been coming into the store saying the prices of the shoes they wanted were less at RR than SportMart.

Personaly, I have found that I can buy Asics cheaper in Atlanta than at RR with my discount.

Asics is esoecially high because there is no Asics Canada and they are purchased by a distributor in Canada from Asics USA from Asics Japan. I have no idea why.

I do know wholesale prices of most manufactured goods entering Canada bear no relation to the value of ther Canajun dollar right now.

I have no problems buying shoes online as long as I know what I want, but I prefer to buy in person from a run specific store, particularly one I visit often. It gives me the channce to bring them back if I have problems. What do the onliners do?

Here in Smithers I deal with a tri store called McBikes, where I buy shoes about 50% of the time. I also buy from RR in Vancouver (Denham St.) when I am there because it suits my purpose for running in Vancouver. I am there often and keep a set of gear at the corporate office. They cost me list price, wheras McBikes gives me a small discount, but then again I know I can go talk to the top dog in the company on a personal basis if I choose to do so. That's got to be worth something! (My daughter had her pic taken with him last May, but after winning her division of the HM I think JS will want to have HIS pic taken with HER this spring!)

I would not experiment with new shoes online but I buy most of my other gear online through Raceready. I am moving towards high socks (XC ski) now, and am buying them locally, but not at McBikes.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by jcumming:
Actually people have been coming into the store saying the prices of the shoes they wanted were less at RR than SportMart.

Personaly, I have found that I can buy Asics cheaper in Atlanta than at RR with my discount.

Asics is esoecially high because there is no Asics Canada and they are purchased by a distributor in Canada from Asics USA from Asics Japan. I have no idea why.

I do know wholesale prices of most manufactured goods entering Canada bear no relation to the value of ther Canajun dollar right now.

<HR>

even with those goofy discounts that RR comes out with every few weeks RR is still over priced. however, thank goodness for RR's sake they suck in the learn to runners to buy all the gear at RR when they sign on for the clinics, but not all stick with the programs. anyways, it has been a very long time since i shopped at RR. prices too high and many are flakey staff - here today, gone tomorrow. better deals eleswhere. great deals in the usa and expos. some cdn dealers will haggle to. i looked at sportsmart once...pass, not great shoes for what i want.

So I'm jogging along the lake feeling pretty good about myself, having worked up to 35km per week doing 5 and 10ks 4 to 5 times a week. When I notice this elder aquaintance of mine, who is 71 by the way. As I approach, I yell out "Hows it going pete". He replies "Hey how are you maybe I'll jog with ya.". So I slow it down just a little so we can chat for awhile. Do you run down here Pete? I ask. "No I just like to walk but as you know I do Ski, play tennis and golf." Well 30 minutes later peter had completed the approxiamately 5km with me. Did I say he was 71? Did I say he doesn't go on runs......ever? Did I say he was BARE FOOT? Sort of made me think what I've accomplished so far is no big shakes

quote:<HR>Originally posted by backstretch:
I have seen three slightly different types and no I am not mixing up the men's and women's styles. I have also noticed 3 different types of Kayano 13's. I hope it is only cosmetic differences.
<HR>

They are cosmetic differences and it's annoying because half the time the person wants the magenta one and we only have the lightning (that's a colour??) one.

Asics has an exclusive deal with RR for the Stratus in Canada...and I see it has changed from 1960 Ford Fairlane turquoise to Lake Ontario blue.