New Fangled Trainers
Over this past 20 years there has been leaps and bounds in the realm of implementing scientific advancements in shoes, and more specifically, in trainers.
Undoubtedly, one of the many advancements has been that the rubber composite stuff that they make many of them from has been able to stand up much better to continuous wear, meaning that the trainers simply last longer.
There has also been so called 'advancements' in the technological aspect of new trainers. There have been running shoes filled with gel, running shoes filled with air pockets, different layouts of those air pockets, trainers with a little pump to enable inflation and deflation of the soles of the shoe, the list goes on and on, and on!
There have also been new designs in the realm of 'breathability' - different ways of helping your feet to breathe while doing whatever you are doing, running, jumping, walking.
The real question is 'do they really do your feet much or any good in the long term?'. Well, the first thing worth mentioning is that these shoes, in fact any major product for the general public will often have gone through extensive testing and research prior to being released on the open market.
These tests will be for both the reason of protecting the customer, but also for the purpose of protecting the company themselves from any big claims arising from foot damage. That said, a lot of the things mentioned here are titled by some as gimmicks, that make little significant difference to the wearer. I would withhold judgement on that as I believe that there must be at least some minor benefit to avoid being 'laughed out' by the media.
I think one of the main benefits from new fangled trainers is likely to be the reduced impact upon the knees. We do not appear to be designed to run on hard surfaces for prolonged lengths of time, and therefore doing so can have an adverse effect on the knees. Some new trainers seem to help cushion the impact.
Whether there is a marked difference between a 30 pound pair and a 300 pound pair? That remains to be seen.
Favourites:
Blogs, sites and forums
Here are some things that have caught my eye for one reason or another. I am not recommending them in any way, just drawing attention to them. Could be favourite in a bit of a mocking way!
FemiPower
There has been an upsurge over the last few years in services, which were open to all before, now having areas focused mainly on women, for example, probably the most famous of them being Sheilas Wheels insurance. Another rising popular example is the 'women only' driving schools such as Girlpower driving school, which boasts being the largest womens only driving schools in Birmingham.
Female Driving Instructors
Although we are all up for being treated equally, but there are still many benefits with a lady having a lady driving instructor. Equal or not equal, I do not want to risk (even if it is just a tiny risk) being leered at by a dodgy instructor, or potentially be in a car, miles away from home with a man who I do not know in the slightest!