Technical 15 Mile Trail Run - Need advice on shoes, gear, basic survival :-P

OregonRunner5

I signed up for a 15 mile trail run in the Pacific Northwest for October. PNW is a rainforest so I would expect it to be at least damp with a large chance of scattered showers through the day. Race organizers say the trail can be slippery.

Right now training for balance via jump rope and yoga. I tend to have cranky ankles prone to tendon issues. Also training by running hills. I have never run this tough of terrain however (although I'm planning to pre-run it.)

I've looked at Salomon trail shoes, recommendations? Right now just running in a pair of Salomons I bought at Goodwill. Most of the Salomon trail line has gortex water proofing, but I'm worried that will hold too much moisture in. Am I better off going with a lighter weight shoe that is porous so it can dry out easier? It's a sure bet my feet will be getting wet.

Would love to hear your trail stories and experiences and recommendations. Feel free to add me as a friend, reply or msg me. I need all the info I can get, *CHEERS*

ROBOTFOOD

Long time trail runner here. I run all my technical trail races in HOKA Challenger ATR's. I'd head on over to your local specialty running store and get fitted for a pair of shoes. Try on a bunch of diffrent pairs there and run around the store. They should be able to answer most of your questions too.

As for trail racing, it can be tough, much tougher than road racing. Slow the pace way down and don't be afraid to walk some or all hills. Good luck and happy running!

OregonRunner5

Thanks Robotfood! My closest shoe shop is almost three hours away, I live in the middle of nowhere, but then again I would probably have a whole lot more shoes if it wasn't the case. I'll look up the Hoka shoes and see if I can find a shop to fit me in Portland and try on a few.

I've been doing 10k trail runs and so forth around here locally, but there are no mountains or scrambling or mud puddles...it's pretty cozy stuff. People here seem to get distressed if the pavement is cracked.

I think this run is going to have some serious rock scrambling, do you wear special pants for that, or go in shorts / tights? How do you keep your legs from getting torn up?

ROBOTFOOD

@OregonRunner5 Wow that's quite a ways away! Definitely find the biggest hill near you and do tons of repeats. Not sprints, just run it. Ex: 1mi hill. I would run up and down 5 times to equal a 10mi run with decent vertical. Stairs work too.

And I only run in short shorts. 4in. Usually a previous marathon tech tee. Beanie if it's under 15f. Legs get cut up sometimes if I trip running down a steep switchback. I don't really care. I'm too busy racing haha. If it's raining, prepare to be soaked and muddy. Double the fun!

OregonRunner5

I'm so looking forward to this run it's crazy. I used to get nervous about races and this year it has just been anticipation and wondering what I could do better to prepare. I need to drop some weight, I'm too heavy as a runner and have made a lot of excuses about it but it costs me time and it costs blood flow and it costs agility and that never held me back in shorter races or 5K, but the bigger harder obstacle course stuff and mountain runs ... I don't know if I can do those effectively 25lbs over weight. So I'm here at MFP to help overcome that and get involved with other runners who are crazy about running, I think at this point it might be my religion and my denomination I think will probably be trail running with some road running thrown in and maybe a couple of visits per year to the temple of obstacle runs.

MeanderingMammal

OregonRunner5 wrote: »

Most of the Salomon trail line has gortex water proofing, but I'm worried that will hold too much moisture in. Am I better off going with a lighter weight shoe that is porous so it can dry out easier? It's a sure bet my feet will be getting wet.

I use Saucony Excursion with GTX lining for winter trail, Saucony Xodus and Inov-8 Race Ultra for summer and racing use.

The Excursion can get waterlogged if I go ankle deep, but the benefit is that most of the time my feet stay dry. In winter that's more a temperature benefit than anything else.

The Inov-8 have minimal cushioning so I get much better ground feel and control than in a more cushioned shoe. I've seen people trrail running in Hokas and around here, South West UK, and they don't appeal to me at all. On roads I prefer some cushioning though.

I use debris gaiters with the summer shoes, sunject to the route, to avoid any incursions inside the shoe.

OregonRunner5

I'm looking at Salomon Fellraisers and Merrell Terra Trail, now I just need some money ;-P

Pinkylee77

Just my 2 cents but my son lives in PNW and last summer it was hot and dry with almost no rain. So it may go either way.

Pinkylee77

OH and the best of luck !

MeanderingMammal

Fellraisers get a very good reputation.

ROBOTFOOD

@MeanderingMammal I was looking at the Saucony Exodus the other day. I like to experiment with lot's of types of shoes. But my long time go to road race shoes have been Kinvara 4's (yes old). I'm hoping they'll be kinda similar. Will likely pick up a pair sometime and give them a good trail test.

MeanderingMammal

I like it, but it can be a bit stiff in the sole.

The trails I'm on are generally quite dry and loose and they generally feel pretty solid, particularly when climbing.

ROBOTFOOD

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

I like it, but it can be a bit stiff in the sole.

The trails I'm on are generally quite dry and loose and they generally feel pretty solid, particularly when climbing.

Nice!
I'm in Vegas. Extremely dry, rocky trails. Sounds like it will be similar to my HOKA Challenger ATR's. Kinda stiff. Doesn't bother me.

OregonRunner5

Pinklee77 - the challenge is in October which for PNW = rain. Yup, we did have a dry summer last year. I was on the trail and it was actually on fire once! Yikes, but jumped it at a small point and just got singed not burned (that was probably very stupid of me...but what an adventure.)

Pinkylee77

Yup Fall will likely be wet, was up there visiting last summer and was miserable going back in June and hope it will be cooler.

coalz

I have salomons from several years ago & I still wear them hiking all the time! Never done a run but here's what I don't leave home without when hitting the trails (compression if U can afford) ankle length leggings & smart wool socks medium thickness. Consider it your 2nd layer of skin for protection.
Always wicking quick drying for all layers of garments. Honestly I'm obsessed with merino wool! Warm when wet & breathes great!
Get yourself a pack with a bladder pouch so you have quick easy hydration & can grab gear as need be. AND u can put xtra weight in it & wear when training on those hills.
Patagonia makes a great light weight compact travel rain jacket.
collapsible walking stick,
Emergency kit with ace bandage, athletic tape, mole skin, antiseptic wipes & cream, mini jack knife
& take some Motrin in advance & after to reduce inflammation
bandana (it comes in handy in all sorts of scenarios I just don't hike without one anymore!)
Sunglasses & or hat
"goo". Comes in diff flavors & will help maintain strength & endurance without having to stop & eat solid foods.
A mantra & an Awesome playlist!
Hope this helps Happy trails to you!

Becca_250

I wear Saucony Xodus on heavy muddy trails and Saucony Peregrines on lighter/mixed trails, have done 10+ mile trail runs in them both and never had any issues. I wear the non-gortex versions as I find the gortex version inevitably get wet anyway and when they do they turn super heavy and are difficult to dry out. My feet get wet in my Peregrines but I barely notice as they still stay so light, then I put some newspaper in them overnight and by morning they are all but dry again. I would suggest whatever you go for, try them on first as all brands/models can be shaped differently and I've heard good and bad things about most of the popular trail shoes, think it just depends on your own feet. Get a pair of running socks too but break them in first, i.e. don't take them out the packet on race day!

I trail run 90% of the time, find it way more fun than road running but also know the tarmac would do absolutely no favours for my reconstructed knee. It sounds like you won't be able to practise much similar terrain, so yeah agree with robotfood, try as many hills as you can find and if you can at least pre-run some of the course that would definitely help. It can be quite daunting running on slippy mud, sometimes you just need to put the trust in your shoes/feet! I would also agree slow the pace more, especially at the start when you might be tempted to go for it, as the soft ground and hills require more effort from your legs.

I tend to wear full length running tights which protect my legs, have worn capris but usually end up with scratches somewhere! You could also get a light waterproof that packs back into itself for the showers.

What about water, are you planning on wearing a pack/vest/belt to carry supplies?

EvgeniZyntx

I've used the Salomons Speedcross and XTWings in Tough Mudders and had no issues - extremely grippy, drain well. I prefer a lighter wool sock (even medium thickness socks tend to hold water.)

Pinkylee77

EvgeniZyntx wrote: »

I've used the Salomons Speedcross and XTWings in Tough Mudders and had no issues - extremely grippy, drain well. I prefer a lighter wool sock (even medium thickness socks tend to hold water.)

wool is the way to go, that is what we wear when we hike. My feet are always comfortable

OregonRunner5

Thanks for all the comments!!! I'll look around for wool socks when I get shoes, I've never tried those out before. I need to pick out a good water pack, I have a water belt but it ony holds 12oz and it's about good for four miles is all. I didn't know they had collapsable hiking sticks @coalz - that makes me so happy. I usually find a stick in the woods or bring my own and was worried I wouldn't have access to that on a trail run but it makes mountains a lot easier. I live near a national park that does tiny trail runs and they have a path of about 8 miles with some switch backs and elevation - not 6,000 feet worth - but I'm training there.

ROBOTFOOD

@OregonRunner5 You wont need to bring much for 8mi. 2 water bottles would be fine. Personally, I only carry 1 handheld bottle if it's 10mi+. Ultimate Direction SJ hydration vest for 15-30mi+. And a cliff bar or salty chips. Not a GU fan.

Check out Injinji toe socks. The trail line. Only thing I run in.

OregonRunner5

I'll check out those Injinji socks, because man, that's a cool name for a sock. Those are the toe socks right?

My kidney function isn't the greatest (based on regular testing at the doctor's office, not just guessing ), so I'm thinking I'll have to er on the side of bringing more hydration with me.

I have two upcoming races with time cut offs. The trail run has a time cut off and so does my first half marathon. I really hope I don't get collected half way through and DNF. Not sure if I mentioned the city bus that tried to pick me up the other day during my run. Lol. I must have looked knackered.