Hi folks,
I've been roped in at the last minute to do the 16km run leg of the Lorne Adventure Race - tomorrow - after a bloke at work pulled out and our work team needed a runner.
I haven't been doing that much running lately due to injuries and I have no trail running experience, so I'm planning on taking things very easily if I can to make sure I finish. The course starts with beach running, then a few km of rock scrambling along the coast, then some bush bashing, gravel tracks, bush tracks and finishes with roads and back to the beach. Some nasty hills along the way, which I assume I'll be walking.
I'd be happy to take any tips from experienced trail runner types if you've got them.
Footwear-wise I'm thinking I'll need shoes of some sort to manage the tougher stuff - the rocks around the coast are very sharp and some of the terrain sounds a bit murderous through the middle. I've got two choices:
- My Merrell Road Gloves - I've worn these for a half marathon on trails before, but they might not have quite as much feel for rock scrambling and I would need to wear socks - which will get wet.
- My fivefingers (just the basic 'sprint' ones) are better for rocks, I could carry them for the beach, but they might be a bit thin when I start hitting the gravel and stones and they can be a pain to put on. They also give me blisters, but I think I could work out the right spots to tape.
Part of me wants to go barefoot for the first bit and slip on the VFFs when the time comes, but I think the uncertainty might make me play it safe and go with the Merrells. Not sure yet. What does everybody else wear for trail running?
I've been roped in at the last minute to do the 16km run leg of the Lorne Adventure Race - tomorrow - after a bloke at work pulled out and our work team needed a runner.
I haven't been doing that much running lately due to injuries and I have no trail running experience, so I'm planning on taking things very easily if I can to make sure I finish. The course starts with beach running, then a few km of rock scrambling along the coast, then some bush bashing, gravel tracks, bush tracks and finishes with roads and back to the beach. Some nasty hills along the way, which I assume I'll be walking.
I'd be happy to take any tips from experienced trail runner types if you've got them.
Footwear-wise I'm thinking I'll need shoes of some sort to manage the tougher stuff - the rocks around the coast are very sharp and some of the terrain sounds a bit murderous through the middle. I've got two choices:
- My Merrell Road Gloves - I've worn these for a half marathon on trails before, but they might not have quite as much feel for rock scrambling and I would need to wear socks - which will get wet.
- My fivefingers (just the basic 'sprint' ones) are better for rocks, I could carry them for the beach, but they might be a bit thin when I start hitting the gravel and stones and they can be a pain to put on. They also give me blisters, but I think I could work out the right spots to tape.
Part of me wants to go barefoot for the first bit and slip on the VFFs when the time comes, but I think the uncertainty might make me play it safe and go with the Merrells. Not sure yet. What does everybody else wear for trail running?