Day 31: I Am Number (A)Six

With a Prisoner-punning headline like that, I should be wearing boating shoes , but today’s 365-day charity challenge is affected by that dreaded affliction… my job!

Best laid plans, and all that. I did have big plans for the last day of the first month of The Sole Of Sci-fi, but I forgot to factor in one thing – DEADLINE DOOM! Yes, today is the first deadline for Comic Heroes’ new weekly, digital-only spin off magazine, Comic Review, and there’s still tonds to do. So It’s a pretty basic photo and blog I’m afraid.

And now you’re going to see a man beg. Admittedly the charity total is well ahead of schedule, but it would be REALLY nice to break £400 by the end of the day, and the end of the first month. It’s all in aid of the seriously underfunded Alzheimer’s Research UK, so all I need is 15 of you to donate £1 each. So, go on, be generous. Donate by clicking here. After all, a lot of you must have paid recently!

Today’s pair continues the week of donated trainers theme, these ones thanks to Will Groves. Another pair of Asics! They seem popular at Future Publishing. And they’re really beginning to grow on me as a brand. These ones are hardly “box fresh” as Will apologised to me, but honestly that doesn’t matter. I never expected to get loans of spotlessly new shoes when I started this challenge, so here’s proof – in the name of this challenge I’ll accept trainers loans/donations no matter what state they’re in. And I suspect I’ll get worse! (In fact I know I will…)

Be seeing you.

Usual sign off:

Current total: £385 (be good to make £400 by the end of January, hint, hint)

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish – I can do anything from 8 to 10) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G

Day 30: The Empire Nikes Back*: Imperial Walkers

Some like it Hoth in today’s installment of the 365-day trainer challenge (* A pun that works or not depending on how you insist on pronouncing, “Nikes”)

Here are a true pair of imperial walkers, a phrase which, post-1980 always immediately brings to mind the battle on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back, but pre-1980 must have sounded more like an alternative brand of Zimmer frame.

I kinda don’t feel worthy of wearing these. Or that I should be rapping today’s blog, Which I won’t. Because that would be cringey. Like Bruce Forsyth breakdancing.

They are not only an on-loan pair of trainers – once again donated mighty Steve Gotobed; they’re also a pair he’s going to let me auction on eBay, the proceeds of which will go to the charity Sole Of Sci-Fi is supporting – Alzheimer’s Research UK (have I mentioned before that they’re seriously underfunded and every pound you donate pays for three minutes of vital research?).

So let’s have a better look at what you could be bidding on:

They are a pair of Nike Court Force Hi Premiums, and no, those scratches on the front aren’t signs of wear, they’re detailing (please note: this is not sarcasm!). They’ve only been worn a few times and they come in the original box. There’s a great little cartoon on the tongues:

Haven’t been able to find out much about them online, but they seem to be a limited edition World Cup pair of Nikes (there’s certainly a football in that cartoon), and there’s some text in German on the inside (which I tried to Google translate but it’s in such an over-the-top Teutonic font I can’t quite make it out). This seems to signify we’re talking the 2006 World Cup here. Which is odd because they’re also listed as having been released in 2007. Whatever… they’re a great, great pair of kicks and they’ll be on eBay imminently. I’ll let you know when through the usual avenues.

Thanks again, Steve! You are clearly a trainer connoisseur (but I love the fact you wear plain black Converse mostly).

Spent far too long on the blog today. Tons and tons of work to to today, and I’ve just discovered I’m on the RoboCop press junket next week. Please put cynicism aside – it’s actually really good according to the guy who’s reviewed ir for SFX. I get to see it on Monday. Hmmm, what trainers should I wear?

Usual sign off:

Current total: £385m (be good to make £400 by the end of January, hint, hint)

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish – I can do anything from 8 to 10) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G

Day 29: You’re Going Home On Some Skechers

HULK SMASH! The 365-day trainer challenge reaches a brand with a bit of an image problem… 

The theme this week was supposed to be (and still is) a week of all-donated trainers, but it’s also turning into a week of green trainers. And all that gamma radiation seems to be having an effect on me. Don’t make me hungry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m hungry. Where are the Hobnobs?

Today, I’m wearing Skechers. And I took the bus. Which was full of school kids. And I’ve never felt so self-conscious about what I was wearing. I was convinced they were all pointing and whispering to each other, “Urgh, there’s some old guy wearing teenage girls’ tainers. Gross.”

Because, yeah, Skechers may be trying desperately to enter the trendy, male running shoe market, but to me Skechers are still associated with ads featuring stars like  Britney Spears or the Kardashians, and that lawsuits where their “shape-up” sneakers were accused of allegedly “crippling” women who preferred their gym wear to be pretty rather than functional.

These are  called Go Run with an M in a circle after it, presumably to hammer home they are for MEN! “Look! We’re grey! Women won’t wear grey! Grey is MANLY!” The soles also look bizarrely like something out of an ’80s horror film, probably directed by David Cronenberg.

Having said all that, they are rather comfy, but in a strolling on the beach way. Personally I wouldn’t want to run too far in them. Unless it was through mud so the logos camouflaged pretty quick.

(Today’s main photo, by the way, was taken by Adrian Hill, because I could press the camera’s buttons with my Hulk hands.)

Usual sign off:

Current total: £385… yep, still going up nicely

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish – I can do anything from 8 to 10) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G

Day 28: Mean Green Mothers From Outer Space

Another donated pair today as I attempt to wear a different pair of trainers for every day of 2014.  And remake Gravity.

The second day of my first all-donated trainers week. Presumably by the end of this challenge, weeks like this will be the norm rather than the exception, unless I win the lottery. Which is unlikely. I never buy tickets. These Pumas are another rejected pair from Triathlon Plus, and yes, once again they’re green. What’s everybody up there (they’re a floor above us) got against green trainers?

Actually, I don’t mind these too much aside from the really cheap, overly-shiny, plasticky material over the toe-cap areas. It looks like the kind of thing the guards had to wear in Blake’s Seven and ’70s Doctor Who, ’cos leather was too pricey.

Not entirely sure my attempts to recreate Gravity have worked. They lack a certain something. Sandra Bullock for a start. And money. But hey, special effects aren’t everything. It’s the story that counts. And surely the story of a man trying to wear a different pair of trainers every day for a year for charity gets you right there. I expect David Lynch will be calling  to discuss the film rights soon. What do you mean, he’s already made The Elephant Man?

The title of the blog is actually a reference to Little Shop Of Horrors. So here’s vicious plant that has drawn my blood on a number of occasions. It’s a love hate relationship. I love to hate it.

Anyway, more donated trainers tomorrow. I think I’m being incredibly lucky on so far in that people are donating nice, shiny, barely-worn pairs. I thought you’d all be sending me the most smelly, old, minging pairs, just for a laugh.

Though that could still happen…

Usual sign off:

Current total: £365… yep, still going up!

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish – I can do anything from 8 to 10) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G

Day 27: Lost In Sp-Asics

The first in a whole week of donated trainers with a pair of Asics launched into deep space (kinda) for the 365-day trainer challenge.

Crap Photoshopping ahoy! (But I wanted one shot without my dull brown living room carpet.)

To remind people (or enlighten newcomers) that this isn’t just a blog about me showing off my trainer collection, for the whole of this week I’ll be wearing on-loan or donated trainers. Which’ll probably please anybody fed up of my all cheap plimsolls (never fear – a themed “battered old Cons” theme week is coming).

These are a pair provided by Cycling Plus, and though not quite as green – or garish – as the ones that came from the Triathlon Plus free box (see day 22) there’s still a green theme in the mix, and the laces are like little fabric lightsabers. Gotta admit, I’m very impressed with these. After my moan about Asics being designed for narrow feet earlier in this challenge, I’m going to have revise that to Asics other than their running shoes. These are so comfy, I’d be out jogging right now if I weren’t blogging. And a lazy git.

Here’s what the main pic would have looked like without Photoshop mutilation… erm, manipulation. Or maybe I got that right the first time. You may also notice my posh camera was charged up and ready to  use again today.

This is also officially the BEST RUG IN THE WORLD. Okay, it’s supposed to be for a child’s bedroom not a grown man’s front room, but it’s colourful, it’s educational (if out of date – it includes Pluto) and I work on a sci-fi mag, okay. Besides, you probably won’t notice it because you’ll be too busy sniggering at the amount of dragons and Tibetan singing bowls  around my living room.

Anyway, Monday morning of a very busy week. Must get on with work, otherwise Comic Review won’t get launched on Friday. I keep saying I’m going to scale back on the photos and blogs to do some real work, and this week that may well be the case. Or maybe not. Stay tuned.

Usual sign off:

Current total: £355 

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish – I can do anything from 8 to 10) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G

Day 26: The X-Factor

Mutant trainers with an evil smile in the latest episode of the 365-day trainer challenge…

Sundays… the day when I can stay in, and wear the trainers I don’t want to wear during the week. Usually that’s because I don’t like them for style reasons. In this case it’s because they’re evil mutant trainers intent on causing me pain.

They’re also another Velcro pair; if you’ve been following this blog, you’ll know my opinion of Velcro-fastened shoes already. But at least it lets me highlight that annoying noughties trend of crossing the fastenings to create and X – the kind of fashion statement only fans of The Only Way Is Essex would  think is cool these days. But it does give me a weak reason to give this blog an X-Men theme and show off the fact: I OWN AN ORIGINAL COPY OF X-MEN “DAYS OF FUTURE PAST!” If the film’s massive, I’m going on Antiques Roadshow…

Bloodsuckers!

I’ve only ever owned two pairs of Jack Purcell trainers and they’ve both near crippled me if I wore ’em too long. Converse call them with “the only sneakers with a smile”. In my case, it’s the kind of smile Dracula uses on victims just before he exsanguinates.  Besides which, Purcells only have a smile if you’re looking at them from front on. When you’re wearing them and you look down, they’ve got grumpy, downturned mouths. Which is fitting.

I don’t know why – thousands of people have worn Purcells for decades without being hobbled – but both pairs agonisingly cut into the top of my foot just above the toes. No amount of lace (or –ugh – Velcro) loosening would alleviate the problem. I must have abnormally protruding metatarsophalangeal joints or something. Forget Antiques Roadshow; Embarrassing Bodies here I come!

(Actually, no. Never understood why people would want to appear on that show. If I had gonads the size of coconuts or a seismic farting problem, it’d be private clinic for me, matey. Embarrassing Bodies alway reminds of an hour-long version of that thing they used to do on The Word called I Would Do Anything To Get On TV: “Marcus would doing anything to be on TV so we gave him an amusing tropical disease. How’s the swelling, Marcus?”)

Apologies for the slightly lower quality than usual photo. Forgot to charge my posh camera last night.

Anyway, Sunday. Looks like it’s going to pour all day and Somerset is going to sink. I’ve got a bunch of freelance to do, so it’s probably a good thing I won’t be tempted out on my bike. Yesterday, I managed to cycles halfway to Wales, which may or may not impressive depending on where I live (you could always look up Willsbridge on Google Maps). But it has given me another idea for a mini challenge. When the weather improves.

Usual sign off:

Current total: £355 (come on, pay day for many of us next week – time to donate!)

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish – I can do anything from 8 to 10) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G

Day 25: All Day I Dream About Street Fighter

Adidas trainers on the receiving end of a power move in the latest stage of the 365-day trainer challenge…

Capcom Versus Adidas today, as this patriotic pair of three stripers suffer a pummeling from Ryu. To be honest, I don’t dream about Street Fighter all day (I’m not telling whether the other famous mneomonic for Adidas applies); I’m so rubbish as games they figure pretty low in my things to think about (apart from Monopoly). I’ve only ever completed two video games without the aid of cheats – Parasol Stars and Kung Fu Panda – which is a terrible admission for the once-editor of Commodore Format. But I do like me a bit of Street Fighter, and Capcom Versus Marvel? Kinda my idea of gaming heaven (I love the Hulk’s special moves).

I’m one of those beat-’em-up players that seasoned beat-’em-up players hate; I hammer the buttons randomly and somehow manage to beat them half the time. Mortal Kombat was always the most generous game for us button bashers back in the day.

Because it proved to be a such a massive hit with you lot last time I gave away my behind-the-scenes secrets (way back on Day 5), here’s another revealing look at the no-expense-spared set-up I’ve got going here. Yes believe it not, no CGI (or indeed any Photoshop trickery) has been used in any of these photos so far. Admit it, you’re amazed.

I was wearing these Adidas the day the Torch came to Bitton

The trainers are, in fact, a pair I bought back in 2012. They were chosen specifically because of the red, white and blue colour scheme, and worn when the Olympic Torch was carried right past the house I was living in at the time.

They’ve since mainly seen duty for squash or badminton, though on the rare occasion I have worn them to work Ian Berriman has been a big fan. Which was a surprise; he rarely comments on sartorial matters. He’s too busy griping about Doctor Who and taking the piss out of me for being a pretend Man City fan. To which my only defence is: at least I’m not a pretend Man United fan. Which is a pretty weak defence. (Hey, I’ve supported Man City since I was about eight, but only ’cos I liked their light blue kit – I could probably only name abuout eight players from that entire time.) These are the only pair of trainers I own where my favourite thing about them is the soles.

The flurry of media activity has resulted in a the loan of more pairs of trainers from various sources. Cycling Plus is turning into a bit of a gold mine, and their editor, Rob Spedding, seems especially enthusiastic in his support. He’s even come up with a cracker of an idea, that I hope I can pull off later in the year, with his help. Oddly, though, like the trainers that came from Triathlon Plus’s free box (I’ve still got a pair of them to use) there’s a green theme going on.

Love your shoes.

And please donate if you haven’t done so already!

Usual sign off:

Current total: £355

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish – I can do anything from 8 to 10) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G

Day 24: The Day Of The Fred

Perry makes an appearance on today’s installment of the 365-day charity challenge, but sadly we don’t mean Doctor Who’s famously busty companion…

If I were to say, “Here are a pair of Perrys,” there are some male Doctor Who fans of a certain age who might misunderstand and get a little bit misty-eyed.

No I’m not suddenly coming over all Carry On, and we’re not talking about this pair of Peri’s (to the right – though, it’s a good excuse to remind ourselves). We’re talking Fred Perry trainers (above). These are the only Fred Perry shoes I own; in fact, the only Fred Perry attire of any sort I own. Not got anything against Fred Perry clothing; it’s a fine range with an interesting history. I just think Fred Perry clothes look far better on skinny-shanked, pigeon-chested, pinched-cheeked Mod wannabes, not stocky, overgrown Hobbits like me.

The trainers are very  cool though, so I just pretend I’m built like Paul Weller and not Paul Heaton. I didn’t notice, however, that the soles have started to come way until I saw this photo.  Godammit! Not that I need a new pair until 2015!

Oh, and in honour of this blog’s terrible pun of a title, here are some suitably customised Cons courtesy of Gabriella Mazlo.

I should be writing a much longer blog today, as  a flurry of media activity yesterday (I was in the Bath Chronicle – oh the giddy heights of fame) has suddenly meant that the Challenge has taken on new life. But more on that tomorrow ’cos I overselpt this morning and I’m massively behind schedule.

Usual sign off:

Current total: £355 – increasing nicely thank you!

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish – I can do anything from 8 to 10) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G

Day 23: Adidasipose Or Adiposidas?

Two kinds of far burners star in the latest installment of The Sole Of Sci-Fi charity challenge

Two different ways to get rid of excess fat, but one only does your knees in while the other results in considerable messiness and death.

This is Andy. No, I don’t name the trainers (though you might find that difficult believe by Day 23 of this challenge). Not sure if a grown man naming plush toys is any less weird, but hey ho. Andy the Adipose. Who today is doing a bit of product placement as Andypose the Adidasipose. Or possibly Adiposidas. Either way, it was the sci-fi/trainer crossover that was waiting to happen. In my head, anyway.

I know that so far my selection of trainers (as opposed to the ones I’ve borrowed) has mostly involved canvas and rubber plimsolly affairs, so you may be surprised to learn that these runners do belong to me too. They only look so new because normally they’re only used for the gym (they’re about a year old, in fact). And despite the suspicious lack of wear, I do actually do more at the gym than lean on the water cooler and wave the lightest weights around. Hence the mention of debilitating knee ailments above.

I know “Partners In Crime” isn’t exactly a favourite among Doctor Who fans (especially ones who think every episode should be like a combination of Peter F Hamilton and Aliens), but I have a real soft spot for the season four opener. I love the interweaving Doctor/Donna storylines, culminating in that brilliant mime scene with Miss Foster interjecting, “Are we interrupting?” And – totally going against the tide of fandom opinion – I love the Adipose. I still grin like a five-year old watching a Disney film when one of the little guys waves goodbye and I was stupidly excited when one of them had a cameo  in “The End Of Time, Part Two”. This should not be a shocker from a man wh lists How To Train Your Dragon amongst his favourite films.

That’s yer lot for today, because my bipolar job (half of it makes me extremely happy, the other half is all doom and gloom) is going to keep me very busy today. Exciting time next week, but I won’t be ignoring The Sole Of Sci-Fi. If a certain package ever arrives from Amazon (I think it must be being posted from the Amazon) there’ll be a jade-hued sequel to yesterday’s blog.

Love your shoes (or send them to me).

Usual sign off:

Current total: £335 (Yay! Crept up again yesterday!)

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish – I can do anything from 8 to 10) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G

Day 22: Wake Me Up Before You Day-Glo

Get your sunglasses on for the latest pair of trainers in the 365-day charity challenge. Donate by clicking here!

Apologies for any headaches caused… I think today’s pair of trainers may be radioactive.

These aren’t mine. They’re a pair pilfered from the “free box” in the sports mag division here at Future Publishing. In other words, they’re the ones sent in for review that not even anybody on the sports mags would want to wear. And a lot of them are green, for some reason (though I did find a wonderfully ghastly purple and orange pair that sadly weren’t in my size).

Gotta admit, never heard of Zoot before (though at first look at the logo I thought they were called Zeet – either way, it sounds like the name of a Fraggle). Checking out the company’s website, it’s a specialist in triathlon sportswear, which explains the lack of laces (quick change, I assume?). They may be perfectly designed for function (though to my untrained feet they feel a bit like a pair of bricks) but I’m pretty certain they’re not going to be championed by the next generation of rappers and DJs. Though I could be wrong.

More rejects to come in future installments.

(Oh yeah, and as you can tell from the photos, we just moved offices. Actually we moved about a week ago, but I only just discovered the crate with all my little desk toys in it yesterday. For some reason it was buried deep within the Molly Makes offices. Wonder if Molly’s considering making robots now?)

Usual sign off:

Current total: £325 (help raise the total!)

• Remember this is all for charity, so any pennies or pounds you can spare PLEASE DONATE BY CLICKING HERE.

• Follow me on Twitter to make sure you see what trainers I’m wearing each day.

• If you have any trainers you could donate (either on loan or old pairs you’re getting rid of) which are size 9 (ish) contact me at dave.golder@futurenet.com so we can arrange collection.

• Please, please, please leave comments below! I’m after ideas for mini-challenges, future photoshoots and how I can find enough pairs of trainers!

Cheers
Dave G