I’m trying to make this season a little more fun and a little more about running, so I’ve signed up for the 5 Peaks Trail runs here in Ontario. The first one is coming up in just a few weeks. I don’t do a lot of trail running, so I’m sure I’m in for a big change in these races. I’m wondering if I need to buy trail shoes or if I can just use my regular running shoes? My regular shoes are Asiics Gel Nimbus (I think) and they seem like they would be just fine, but I really don’t know.
Also, any advice you can give me for my first trail running race?
If its a true trail - rocks, roots, etc. - I’d invest in a good pair of trail shoes. Reason is mainly the barrier in the sole - in regular running shoes you’ll get the rocks ‘poking’ you through the sole, and after a while it will start to get nice and sore. The sole will wrap around the rock and all support goes away.
If its a dirt road/non-technical trail, the regular road shoes should be fine and would actually feel pretty good - as it would be nice and soft to run on!
trail shoes are nice for rocky, root infested trails. Your feet are closer to the ground and you are less likely to roll an ankle. I have 2 pair of trail shoes, brooks cascadias and asics trail attacks. Both are fairly light ‘road like’ trail shoes. This month’s Trail Runner magazine has a shoe review.
I just bought the Brooks Cascadia’s for 61 bucks at runningwarehouse.com. They are great shoes very comfortable and I also wear them as casual shoes too.
Was talikng with a pro mountain runner in mid January. This guy was from Aussie and kicks butt.
He was sponsored by Ascics and used these for training off trails. But on trails he used specialised trail running shoes.
Can’t remember the brand or his name, but he is number one when he turns up in this part of the world.
Thanks for the info everyone and thanks for the link matti58. I did do a search, but didn’t come up with your thread. Good info in there.
Thanks again.
Bit late to the party, but I’ve never used trail shoes, and especially in HS XC, we did a ton of trail running. Once you get a little used to it, you automatically “roll” with the rocks under your shoes (Of course, I can currently stand on the outside of my feet with the soles touching, I have very loose ankles). I wouldn’t use a racing flat, but a good training shoe should be sufficient.
I’ve done the 5Peaks series and I’d recommend using trail shoes. The races vary from very rocky to loose sand and gravel, stumps and rocks etc… and depending on the weather you may even get mud in some races.
Even if you don’t end up buying trail shoes I still recommend doing the series, it’s a lot of fun and all the people are really positive, since it’s usually a smaller turnout of keaners.
I’d also check out Running Free they have an excellent selection of trail shoes.
I do tend to use trail shoes when running on trails for the rocky reasons. Also if you hit a rock with your toes they have more protection. In a recent race I used trail runners and Mike road shoes. I was fine for 50k. He did the 30k and could feel the rocks by the end. Also, it wore out his street shoes pretty badly and he had to replace them soon after. So it might be worth it just to keep your road shoes lasting longer!
Everyone’s different but I’ve never worn them. I go in the other direction and sometimes wear road racing flats on the trails.
Maybe I’m missing out on something. I do like the look of some of the new lightweight trail shoes. Inov8 makes some and some other companies have some models out there.
If you’ve been running on trails with normal shoes and they’re working then I say save your money.
AZ wasn’t that bad, but I would still wear trail shoes. Most of the technical sections are ascents, which most people walked on the second run. Most of the descents are on carriage trails. I have a tendency to twist my ankle when I wear road shoes on trails. Trail shoes are meant to be grippy, so you can run with more confidence on the sketchy parts. I am a big fan of INOV8. I’ve use Flyrocs for shorter races and the the Roclites for longer efforts. The INOV8 shoes are nice and light. The Roclites have a little bit more support and cushioning in them than the Flyrocs!
Do you need trail shoes? …NO we ran for years on the trails without trail shoes
Would trail shoes be a good idea?..YES the extra protection and grip that you get on a technical trail is well worth the investment. Road shoes just don’t provide as much traction.
Some shoes to look at Montrail Streak neutral super light fast
Innov8 minimalist cushioning but super light and grippy
Mizuno Wave Ascend3 Posted shoe with lots of protection comfortable on the road as well
Asics Trail Attack 3 basically a DS Trainer for the trails rocking shoe
Remember that your Nimbus is a higher platform than a lot of trail shoes. This high platform can lead to a rolled ankle and lots of cussing.
how do you approach the downhills on your trail runs?
for me, the single biggest difference w/trail shoes is being able to attack the downhills, just let gravity do the work. but it’s still when i’m landing harder, and if there’s that one little rock or root in an odd place, it’ll really hurt the bottom of my foot in normal shoes. for that alone, i love my trail shoes (mizuno wave ascends).
