The Runner followed in the footsteps of the SL-72/76 as a high mileage daily trainer with a breathable synthetic upper. It features a mesh upper with suede trim, easy lace eyelets, a contoured midsole, and a tread of interlocked, polygon shaped, orbs which offered good wet or dry traction and good durability. In my regular rotation for both cross country and track season – which also included half-marathon training in between, they held up well enough to see intermittent use for at least a bi-weekly run beyond that year. Granted we didn’t notice the “dead” feeling shoes like we do today, and our legs did a greater share of the work than we expect now, but it isn’t just wistful memories that influence the positive impression that the adidas Runner leaves today, in updated materials it would be pretty awesome now.