running shoes vs. trail running shoes

It takes me forever to find a pair of shoes. I go to lots of stores and try on lots of shoes over several weeks before I settle. I was at Academy yesterday and saw several pair of running shoes that I liked but they were for trail running. I run out here at the house on a dirt track we made by driving the perimeter of a field (yep, we are country :)) It is packed dirt with ruts and a lot of uneven spots. So, are the trail running shoes an option for me or are they for rougher terrain that requires climbing and such? If they would be an option, how do these shoes work when running a 5k in town on the pavement? Just curious.

Oooh - I love it! You guys made your own track! Did you make it a "regulation" size? If you are having trouble finding regular running shoes, and you're training on uneven dirt - you might well get away with one of the "cross-over" trail shoes. Lots of the manufacturers are doing them these days. The are rugged enough for dirt trails, and in many cases, light enough for street running. There is an article here in Traxee on several styles that are highly rated for women: http://www.traxee.com/posts/955-5-excellent-women-s-cross-over-trail-running-shoes. The biggest difference is going to be the treads and the weight of the shoes - which you might notice when you're racing. The other thing you could do - if you can manage the hassle is to order multiple styles from a place like Road Runner Sports online. They carry all the major brands. So if you have a sense of your size, and whether or not you need motion control, are a pronator and what not, you could order various styles and try them all on - returning the ones you don't like (they will take them all back). Once you know the style and manufacturer you like, things get easier because although they make minor updates every season - you can basically order the same shoes when they need to be replaced. Of course, the best would be for you to visit a specialty running store next time you are in a more urban place (plan ahead). That way you could be fitted by a specialist and then take it from there as the shoes need to be replaced. Ah, yes...there are some hassles to country living too!

Posted by: bmoore on Aug 21, 2010 at 03:23 PM

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running shoes vs. trail running shoes

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