‘Sure Is Good For Running,’ Writes Shoe Reviewer Who Has Just Stopped Caring
/
istockphoto.com
A gear editor at a popular health and fitness publication has “just stopped caring,” Dumb Runner has learned, recently reviewing a new running shoe with the single phrase, “Sure is good for running.”
The editor, Dorothy Parker, 33, penned the review Tuesday for Running Life, where she’s been reviewing shoes for four and a half years. By one estimate, it was the 360th running shoe review that Parker has written or edited during that time.
Harold Ross, the publication’s editor-in-chief, reportedly sent the copy back for a revision, upon which Parker replied that the five-word review was a revision—the original, she said, was simply, “Sure is good.”
Parker did not return calls for comment.
“I think she just blew a fuse,” said a Running Life coworker of Parker, who asked to remain anonymous. “She’s been at this a long time, and there are only so many ways you can rearrange the words cushion, foam, support, flexible, underfoot, technology, midsole, and iteration into something fresh and new.”
The source guessed Parker has used the phrase “stable ride” at least 50 times this year alone.
“On a video call earlier this week,” said the source, “she just didn’t look good. Sort of glassy-eyed. I saw her mouthing the phrase toe-off to herself, over and over.”
“It’s sad.”
Reached by email, Ross would neither confirm nor deny that it might be time to replace Parker with a new iteration.
“Dorothy is an old favorite around here,” he said, “offering the perfect blend of stability and flexibility.”
“That said, editors do have a certain shelf life, and we need to be mindful of the tradeoff between responsiveness and durability.”
Ross ended his email by plugging Running Life’s Fall Shoe Guide, featuring reviews of 68 new shoes.
