The Running Thread Vol 2
Discussion
Okay runners of PH, recommendations needed.
I've decided that I'm going to enter a few trail running events over the winter, nothing to taxing compared to some of the stuff mentioned here, a four event 10k series, one a month October - January, probably a mix of trails with potential to be a bit muddy in places, another 10k organised by a local running club, and a 5 miler that my sister-in-law has also signed up for. Did the 5 miler last year in road shoes which was manageable but a bit slippy in places.
Also means I can get off road at the weekends over the winter if I fancy it without worrying about how muddy the local trails are.
So I want some trail shoes, seems to be many on the market! Would like some with decent cushioning, currently run in Hoka Bondis which are nice and plush. Nothing too aggressive needed but do also want decent grip. Currently run in a neutral shoe so don't need any stability type features. Would also be handy if they're usable for road running for nights when it's a bit icy or if we get any snow.
Doesn't help matters having big feet as local shops rarely ever have my size (current shoes are a 12 and would probably have been better in 12.5). Budget up to about £100.
Help!
I've decided that I'm going to enter a few trail running events over the winter, nothing to taxing compared to some of the stuff mentioned here, a four event 10k series, one a month October - January, probably a mix of trails with potential to be a bit muddy in places, another 10k organised by a local running club, and a 5 miler that my sister-in-law has also signed up for. Did the 5 miler last year in road shoes which was manageable but a bit slippy in places.
Also means I can get off road at the weekends over the winter if I fancy it without worrying about how muddy the local trails are.
So I want some trail shoes, seems to be many on the market! Would like some with decent cushioning, currently run in Hoka Bondis which are nice and plush. Nothing too aggressive needed but do also want decent grip. Currently run in a neutral shoe so don't need any stability type features. Would also be handy if they're usable for road running for nights when it's a bit icy or if we get any snow.
Doesn't help matters having big feet as local shops rarely ever have my size (current shoes are a 12 and would probably have been better in 12.5). Budget up to about £100.
Help!
C0ffin D0dger said:
Offroad shoes
Personally I would avoid a shoe with a high stack height like many Hokas. I say this as the owner of a pair of Mafate 4s. On any sort of traverse where one foot is higher than the other, it's very hard on the ankles.Personally, I've found SportsShoes to be a good source of cheap offroaders and easy to search - mainly getting last year's models. Obviously trying on is preferable, so I also use my local Asics and Nike discount shops (they're in Gloucester, in case that's of use).
The old argument of cushioning versus feel always crops up - less padding means more control as you feel the ground, but obviously the farther you go, the more of a thumping the feet get. That said, I've done 50+ miles (in one go, not overall!) in Asics FujiAttacks (4s and 5s) and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. The 5s are thinner in the toe than a normal road Asics though, but only a teeny bit. Both were fine for extended road running too. Nothing grips ice or snow properly without micro-spikes.
Salomon Speedcross are moderately well padded in the heel and quite thin in the forefoot and can often be had for a decent price if you don't mid some, er, interesting colours. I would avoid anything goretex/waterproof. Given you're racing for less than 90 minutes, wet feet isn't then end of the world and waterproof shoes hold water in, whereas normal shoes let it out and start to dry off.
Examples: https://www.sportsshoes.com/products/z/mens/runnin...
Enjoy - trails are where it's at!
I have these - they're ace - brilliant lacing system and dead comfy - for me...
https://www.lasportiva.com/en/mutant?options=14402
https://www.lasportiva.com/en/mutant?options=14402
Smitters said:
C0ffin D0dger said:
Offroad shoes
Personally I would avoid a shoe with a high stack height like many Hokas. I say this as the owner of a pair of Mafate 4s. On any sort of traverse where one foot is higher than the other, it's very hard on the ankles.Personally, I've found SportsShoes to be a good source of cheap offroaders and easy to search - mainly getting last year's models. Obviously trying on is preferable, so I also use my local Asics and Nike discount shops (they're in Gloucester, in case that's of use).
The old argument of cushioning versus feel always crops up - less padding means more control as you feel the ground, but obviously the farther you go, the more of a thumping the feet get. That said, I've done 50+ miles (in one go, not overall!) in Asics FujiAttacks (4s and 5s) and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. The 5s are thinner in the toe than a normal road Asics though, but only a teeny bit. Both were fine for extended road running too. Nothing grips ice or snow properly without micro-spikes.
Salomon Speedcross are moderately well padded in the heel and quite thin in the forefoot and can often be had for a decent price if you don't mid some, er, interesting colours. I would avoid anything goretex/waterproof. Given you're racing for less than 90 minutes, wet feet isn't then end of the world and waterproof shoes hold water in, whereas normal shoes let it out and start to dry off.
Examples: https://www.sportsshoes.com/products/z/mens/runnin...
Enjoy - trails are where it's at!
the XA Lite were fine for a mixture of terrain and well surfaced trails, but lost out when it got slippery.
The Speedcross are much better as soon as you leave the man-made surfaces. They are narrower and lower than the XA Lite which took a few km to get used to, but overall it's a much better shoe for off-road terrain imho.
I've done about 60k in them so far, and have a half marathon on Sunday where I'll be using them, so will report back on how they do after their longest single outing.
Smitters said:
I should add, I find Speedcross shoes slippery to the point of danger on wet tarmac - downhills are not great. May just be me though!
The only time my Speedcross touch tarmac is to get from the house to the park where I start my run, which is about 140m. After that I'm on grass or trails other than crossing the road and a factory car-park to duck under the railway and into fields.onedsla said:
Are these races entirely off-road, or a mix of surfaces?
If there's no hard ground, would you not consider XC spikes over a trail shoe for maximal grip?
They are mixed surface, i.e. some hard packed trial like forest roads, some grass, mud etc. One of them specifically states no spikes!If there's no hard ground, would you not consider XC spikes over a trail shoe for maximal grip?
Besides which I'm not that serious! Want something that will just give me a bit of grip off road and protect my feet but that I can also use to run along the canal / river over the winter + the mile or so of road to get there and back from my house.
Thanks.
t wet weather but at the moment I’m using brooks cascadia with no problems.Decent parkrun for me this morning, 18:40 which is 20 seconds faster than two weeks ago. I’m pretty pleased with it as I haven’t done any speed work, the improvement has simply been gained through steady runs, hopefully once I add some speedowrk the time will really come off.
It also wasn’t exactly the ideal start as I left my house at 8:45 and it’s a two mile run to the start! I ended up doing 6:30 and 7:00 (admittedly downhill) miles for the warm up, so overall a pretty good but hard Saturday morning.
On the subject of trail shoes I have a set of saucony peregrines that I’m really enjoying at the moment!
It also wasn’t exactly the ideal start as I left my house at 8:45 and it’s a two mile run to the start! I ended up doing 6:30 and 7:00 (admittedly downhill) miles for the warm up, so overall a pretty good but hard Saturday morning.
On the subject of trail shoes I have a set of saucony peregrines that I’m really enjoying at the moment!
cookie118 said:
Decent parkrun for me this morning, 18:40 which is 20 seconds faster than two weeks ago. I’m pretty pleased with it as I haven’t done any speed work, the improvement has simply been gained through steady runs, hopefully once I add some speedowrk the time will really come off.
It also wasn’t exactly the ideal start as I left my house at 8:45 and it’s a two mile run to the start! I ended up doing 6:30 and 7:00 (admittedly downhill) miles for the warm up, so overall a pretty good but hard Saturday morning.
On the subject of trail shoes I have a set of saucony peregrines that I’m really enjoying at the moment!
Congrats on time, bit quicker than my last attempt It also wasn’t exactly the ideal start as I left my house at 8:45 and it’s a two mile run to the start! I ended up doing 6:30 and 7:00 (admittedly downhill) miles for the warm up, so overall a pretty good but hard Saturday morning.
On the subject of trail shoes I have a set of saucony peregrines that I’m really enjoying at the moment!
I was going to recommend these also
I have a pair of speedcross 4 too which I got for 65 quid for when its very harsh /ice/snow but the saucony are very comortable with decent grip from what I can tell. I used the road shoes too (freedom ISO) so they fit me well.
Such an individual thing.
I think its London Marathon 2019 ballot results week this week, will probably get turned down yet again however looks like we are going down for the 2020 race. The wife has just done the Kielder marathon this morning in around 3hrs 40 (proper results not online yet) against a good for age entry time of 3hrs 45.
Im amazed by her time to be honest, over 20 mins of last years, its a fairly hard course as well with fairly poor underfoot conditions and about 1600ft of elevation.
Im amazed by her time to be honest, over 20 mins of last years, its a fairly hard course as well with fairly poor underfoot conditions and about 1600ft of elevation.
thatjagbloke said:
Congratulations to Mo Farah who today won the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours 5 mins. A great performance against some top marathon runners.
I think this shows he is in with a great chance to win a medal in the world Champs.
Yep, I think he has more speed in those legs. I loved how someone went with him until the last 0.5 mile.I think this shows he is in with a great chance to win a medal in the world Champs.
JimmyConwayNW said:
Where is the best place to find a list of trail running half marathon / 10k events?
I have come to the realisation I significantly prefer running off road.
Runners world is good, plus I use https://southernrunningguide.com for southern events. I have come to the realisation I significantly prefer running off road.
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