good eye! Yes. they did well during the race. when I switched to the Speedgoats at mile 50 is when my feat started to hurt. maybe that was the speed goats, maybe it would have happened anyway. I don't know. but my feeet were feeling pretty good for the first 50 in the Mafate X.
I am midle age obese hiker that want to do trail races 145 kg (320 lbs). My second race in in for weeks 4.2k and plan is to progress to 20k in next 8 months. My goal is to run for pleasure and beat cutof times.
As a hiker I did not have problems transitioning from hiking to slow running. Even with my weight I did not have problems like typical begginers with joints and shin splints. But I do have problems with shoes.
My trusted hiking shoes Salomon XA wild reached end of life. Great for hikes but not so much for trail runs on rocky terrain. With my weight I feel every rock under my feet. Depending of rock size can be very painfull.
Seller in store advised me to get Hoka Mafate X or Speedgoat 6 (not available in my size). Last 2 months I run only in Mafate X. Trainings in them are unbearable. I was hoping I will get used to them over time because those are one of the best shooes on the market, but I cannot. I can run 2k in them tops. Pain and fatigue in bones and muscles (calfs, balk if the foot and especially extensor digitorum longus, I didnt know that muscle even exist before hokas) are so severe that I can barley walk after training session.
First race did old shoes I did 4.2 in 30 minutes now I canot even reach that distance without walking. On flat ground I reach same distance in about 56 minutes.
If any expirienced runner can give me advice what kind of shoes to get, it would be very much apreciated.
Because geolocation and foot size EU 49 1/3 US 15 I would prefere to get another Salomon shoes, because other brands are not available in my country. Maybe I can get them somwhere online but return shipping if they dont fit would be about 30 euros. I would like to a out that if possble.
There's absolutely no running shoe that really works on wet, slippery rocks, you'd need crampons for that or whatever. I just did a 32k/2500m mountain crossing recently in heavy rain, and it was absolutely abysmal, although I'm an avid runner and mountaineer. It took me over an hour more than usual and I really reached my limit several times during that run.
For everything else there are special rubber compounds that are more sticky than regular running shoes (like Vibram Megagrip). A lot of performative trail running shoes (Scarpa Spin Ultra 2, Hoka Tecton X, Hoka Mafate X, Dynafit Ultra Pro 2) use this very sole, others use a similar system (La Sportiva Prodigio Pro). They perform very well in a dry alpine environment, but have, as I said before, their limits in rain and mud. Also the additional grip adds to the already high abrasion, which means your soles will disintegrate even faster than regular runners. Not as bad as the early Salomon Speedcrosses, but don't expect to do 1000k in these boots.
Edit: spelling
It’s great to hear they worked out well for you! I went with yellow too. Put about 40 miles on mine so far and they feel great. Looking forward to using them on my first 50k. It was a choice between Mafate X, Speedgoat, or the Rocket X Trail.
I have the cascadia 17 (now retired from my rotation) and the Gel 13 (bought to replace the cascadia’s). I can’t really comment on fit other than to say I went half a size up in both, but I should have gone for my usual size in the Gel13’s as they’re slightly too big.
The cascadia is a better shoe. the Gel13 has really terrible grip in the mud. I only use it for dry / non-muddy runs. It’s a fairly average shoe. doesn’t really sparkle. not plush. not sure where it excels, if at all.
I prefer my HOKA’s overall (Mafate 5, Mafate X and Challenger 8) but none grip in the wet/mud like the cascadia’s did. The Mafate’s are SUPREMELY comfortable though.
its a shame as the Gel 13’s look really really good.
I have the Mafate X (long distance trail racing), Mafate 5 (long distance trail training, muddy trails) and the Challender 8 (dry / light trail / road-to-trail).
The first two are SUPREMELY comfortable. The non-plated Mafate 5 would possibly work well for you. it’s high end plush.
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Versatile road-to-trail, but struggles on wet, technical downhills.
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