The perils of peer pressure!

I have a Footwear Problem.

I'm a late convert to running in lightweight shoes. Like Leon, I'm very keen on the Inov8 F-lite 230 as a road shoe, although I prefer the Nike Vaporfly. A preference that is currently of academic interest only as the Vaporfly has been discontinued and the F-lite 230 won't be available in my size until the new models go into production next year.

My F-lite 230s have done 300 miles.

My Vaporflys have done about 550 miles - more than double their allotted lifespan. I have another pair stashed away, but they won't last forever and I need an alternative shoe.

There has been much discussion on Fetch about the Adidas Adizero PRO, as modelled by one Mr Gebrselassie, and several people ordered them and declared them quite satisfactory. For a couple of weeks I dithered and swithered and put them in my cybertrolley and took them out again. They sounded perfect, but I've never worn Adidas below my ankles.

Last week I hit "spend", and they arrived on Monday. A pair for Leon and a pair for me.

They weigh virtually nothing. I put them on and was surprised by how big and baggy they felt. I went out for a run. Although thin, the soles were disappointingly rigid and unresponsive. I decided to reserve judgement until I'd taken them out a few more times.

The next day, I had a sore right shin. Not the fleeting niggle I've had a couple of times over the last few weeks. A proper sore shin.

I should have trusted my own judgement, shouldn't I?

If anyone knows where I might be able to buy Nike Vaporflys in UK size 5.5, please tell me. I did ask Nike if they'd give me some for the 10-in-10, but they sent me back a letter inviting me, in the most pleasantly-worded way imaginable, to go and boil my head.

Meanwhile ... [leafs through chapter on managing early shin splints].