If I am going to be running on trails… then I need trail shoes. 

As I wrote about here, I have taken to doing my long runs on trails and I am loving it.  I plan to continue doing this throughout the fall, and I am looking forward to enjoying the foliage change as the season progresses. 

I have done my trail runs to date, in an older pair of road shoes.  This has worked reasonably well, mostly because the trails have been quite dry.  The trails in Western Pennsylvania are likely to get wetter and muddier, in the coming weeks.  When that happens, I am certain that I would be slipping and sliding around in those road shoes.  This is one reason, why I invested in a pair of trail running shoes today.  I don’t want to slip and get injured.

The other reason why I bought trail shoes, was to get a shoe with a rock plate in the sole.  The trails that I use can be quite technical, with lots of rocks and roots to navigate.  Stepping on a sharp rock, without the protection of a rock plate, has been quite painful on a couple of occasions.

It’s been quite a challenge to find some trail running shoes that feel comfortable.  I ordered a couple of pairs online, but both turned out to be too tight in the toe box.  As a result, I ventured into my local REI store this evening, and tried on several shoes.  I ended up buying this pair of La Sportiva Jackal shoes.  They feel comfortable right now, but only a decently long trail run, will tell me if I made a good choice.  Luckily, REI has an amazing return policy, so if they don’t work out, I can take them back.

Now that I have the right shoes, I am even more excited for my long run this weekend.