Forums >Gears and Wears>Question about trail shoes
Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head." - Joe Henderson
I'm doing my first trail race this coming Saturday. I'm trying to decide if I should go out buy some trail shoes or just wear some of my retired running shoes. Whatcha think?
Michelle
I've got a fever...
On your deathbed, you won't wish that you'd spent more time at the office. But you will wish that you'd spent more time running. Because if you had, you wouldn't be on your deathbed.
I wore road shoes for my first five trail ultras with no problems. I eventually migrated to some light weight trail shoes because they offered additional protection from the rocks and roots on the trail. But many trail/ultra runners still wear road shoes. I agree with Jeffgoblue that at this point you would be better off with current or old road shoes rather than trying out new shoes, especially on a course as long as a half marathon. Wear your current shoes and dirty 'em up! It's a badge of honor, just like cuts and scrapes and bruises from falls and debris. Have fun!
Thanks Jeff and Marshall. Looks like I'll wear one of my current pair of shoes.
I don't want to get my brand new running shoes dirty yet!!
I'm the opposite. When I get a new pair, I keep looking at them thinking, "Damn, these things look too clean." Then I intentionally seek out dirt and mud. Gotta break those puppies in.