Trail running? Me? Hah!
Then there I was wearing two different pairs of Salomons (because I couldn’t decide), standing at the base of Park City Mountain Resort, prepping myself for a trail run.
How did I end up in this situation? I’ve always preferred asphalt to dirt. I didn’t tell that to the people at the Salomon mobile showroom. They may have sent me away without letting me try on their shoes, and I love shoes.
The Salomon mobile showroom is traveling across the country to introduce people, like me, who’ve never been trail running. Running pros with the Salomon Trail Tour, armed with information, are teaching people that trail running is easy and available. Many people may think they can’t trail run because they don’t live by a national forest or somewhere people traditionally go to hike. There are trails all over the country, in fact trail running can be a mixed medium. Perhaps you start on asphalt, then a mile later you’re on gravel, and then another mile later you’ve hit dirt.
Ambassadors from Salomon demonstrate trail running isn’t some exclusive club where you need some special jacket to get in. They show how trail running is for any runner, no matter what your speed or experience. Since there is a huge difference in runners the showroom comes equipped with numerous styles of shoes for people to try on and test out on a trail.
This is how I ended up wearing both the Salomon XR Mission and the Salomon XT Wings 3. Shoes tightly tied, water bottle in hand, and my music in my ears (it was turned WAY down), I was ready to run. Our pro took off down the trail at a manageable pace, I was close behind. With every step I kept thinking, “I’m trail running!” Apparently I had psyched myself out into thinking only really good runners could trail run. Not so. Me and my mismatched shoes were doing just fine. I may have tripped once or twice on a badly placed stump or rock but who am I kidding, I trip walking in a store.
The XR Mission shoe was light and had great shock absorbency in the heel. The wider foot bed made it easier to balance when I stepped on a rock or landed awkward. What can I say? I loved this shoe because of its color.
As for the XT Wings 3, it was more like most of my running shoes. The heel and toe were padded, I should probably mention I’m a forefoot runner. This shoe is perfect for someone who plans on running out the door of their house, going several miles on asphalt before landing on a trail.
Thanks to the mobile Salomon showroom I can finally say I’ve gone trail running. So what if it was only 3 miles? At least it was 3 miles on dirt, that left my lower extremities covered in a fine dust. And to be completely honest, I think I may do it again, very soon.
If you missed the Salomon Trail Tour, the team is getting ready to embark on the REI Trail Tour.