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Post by colonel on Nov 11, 2007 15:04:18 GMT -5
I just bought a new pair of LA Sportiva Fireblades. This is my second pair and I love the shoe. However, I am continuing to have a problem with soreness in the balls of my feet. This isn't too much of a problem on normal trails but if I step on a sharp rock with the ball of my foot, it is very painful. I think the sole of the Fireblade's is just too thin for me unless the trail is smooth.
I was looking at the Montrail Continental Divides online and the specs say they have a plastic "shield" sandwiched in between a couple of layers of the sole. Supposedly this is protection from sharp rocks. Does anybody have a pair of these? And how do you like them?
The BRMM had a long stretch of gravel road where the gravel was not small pea-sized gravel, but instead was large rocks of the perfect size and shape to inflict serious pain on my already bruised and swollen feet. I have got to find me a shoe that offers more protection in the forefoot.
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Post by rockman on Nov 11, 2007 16:16:48 GMT -5
Colonel, I used to run in the Montrail Hard Rocks and loved them. Plenty of cushion and an amazing heel cup. My only compaint of the shoe is the fact that they get hot in the summer, but then what shoe doens't during a GA summer. The only reason I switched to the Sportiva Fireblade is due to the fact that ever since Columbia purchased Montrail, the shoe has become hard to find at retail. If you can find them at a store, you should definitly try them on. Hope this helps.
Rockman
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Post by GUTS Admin on Nov 11, 2007 16:56:29 GMT -5
I've had two pairs of Montrails with the shield, the Vitesse and currently the Hard Rock. It makes a huge difference, at least for anyone as tender-footed as I am. If you think I'm slow now, you should have seen me before the Montrails!
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Post by mikem on Nov 11, 2007 19:06:16 GMT -5
Hi Colonel,
I ran the BRMM in ASCICS trail running shoes instead of my usual Brooks Beast. These shoes worked well for me on gravel surfaces at Tahoe Rim Trail. However, I am not sure they were a good choice for my 215 lb rhino build at the BRMM because my feet were beat up after the BMK trail (returing to the gravel road was a welcome relief).
I have not found a good shoe for rocky trails. It seems this is highly individual because I had a 105 lb elite runner mention to me that she and her husband only run in racing flats, and that was on the Zane Grey trail, which is notorious for its rocky brutal surface. I timed out of tha run at 17 miles because I could not make up any time on the few downhills. Good luck with your shoe quest.
MikeM
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Post by colonel on Nov 11, 2007 22:28:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips folks! I'll try to get down to REI and check out the Montrails. Although, I just bought the Sportiva's so I might have to dig in my couch to see how much change I can scrounge up!
I was going to run the BRMM in my NB 1061 street shoes just for the added padding, but after talking to Ron Saturday before the race, I changed my mind and went with the trail shoes. I'm not sure if the decision was good or bad. I was doing fine until the trail back out of the trun around aid station. I think that is when my feet started feeling a little tender. When I started down the rocky road was when the pain really set in. At the time I had passed a couple of guys and moved back into 6th place. But stepping on those boulders that everybody was trying to tell me was "gravel" started feeling like knives sticking up into my feet every time I took a step. Even though it was dowbhill I couldn't hardly speed up. And the uphills were brutal too. Both of the guys passed me on one of the uphills and one of them (I think it was Doug Cassady) asked me if that was me they had heard yelling. Oh well, it was a little embarrassing but what can I say? I was hurting. (I think I started out moaning in pain, then grunting with every step, then I progressed to yelling in pain, then finally shouting out four letter words in anger every time I stepped on a "sharp" rock. ... and I seemed to step on one about every other step!!). Once I made it to somewhere around the last aid station the road seemed to be more "dirt" than "rock" so I was able to pick up the pace and I caught up to and passed one of the two guys that had passed me earlier.
I think if I had not had foot problems I could have cut several minutes off of my time ... and of course if I hadn't wandered in the wilderness like Moses, I would have finished a whole lot sooner!
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Post by mateoloco on Nov 12, 2007 9:26:17 GMT -5
Spurgeon,
I too have some Fireblades but I only wear them on shorter runs. I would agree that they don't provide enough protection on any sort of rocky trails. Regarding the Continental Divides, I know Marty wears them and likes them. I don't know of any places that carry them though. I wear Mizuno Wave Ascends. Although they don't have any plastic plate protection, I have rarely if ever felt a rock under my feet. I wore these shoes in my 50 miler and have no complaints about them. I know that Big Peach carries them and I believe that Phidippides will carry them (hopefully soon). Regardless of what shoe you choose, make sure you let your feet heal before running over any more rocks. Let us know which shoes you choose.
Matt
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Post by gitagoing on Nov 12, 2007 14:07:40 GMT -5
when gitagoing was trained and did those 20 miles runs at 2AM to prepare ;D and hurt for success gitagoing wore racing flats in the hills in the races because light is better in those long lasting high hill climbs this is for Bag of Sand and those who have GUTSbecause bag of sand had the courage to ask ;D focus on the GOAL and BELIEVEand dont be a Pumpkin Butt if you wish to achieve your GOALwhy do you think a little girl like Sally can be ahead on those hilly trails climbs and smile wish a Pumpkin Butt like gitagoing had the courage to face the pain and dance with A Sally
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