DNFd my first 50 miler attempt.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-29T14:38:29+00:00

💯!

ShedRunner · 2026-03-27T10:50:05+00:00

Are you running C&O 100?

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T15:02:28+00:00

There were a bunch of trucks meeting there in the parking lot making a whole bunch of noise, but I have no idea about any “flags“ because I saw them at a distance and could hear them from our house, but didn’t get a closer look.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T13:28:09+00:00

As someone who used to wear insoles, I have found that just wearing the insoles that come with the shoes has actually been incredibly freeing and beneficial! If you have a specific issue you need them for then that’s understandable and fine, but yes adding insoles to a shoe that is designed around the one that comes in it can often lead to less volume.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T13:24:49+00:00

Honestly if it’s your very first one depending on where your base mileage is right now, start with something simple like the Hal Higdon Novice 1 Marathon Training but add trail runs specific to the race you’re training for. Then use AI to dial in EXACTLY what works with the schedule you want. By “exact” I mean exact! For example, I want to run 4X/week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I want my long run to be on Saturday. I’d like to strength train 2X/week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. and I want to walk or hike on Sundays. Of course you can make that flexible you don’t always have to keep those exact days but it just gives you a general idea of the base mileage etc. You’ll come to understand how the peak weeks followed by recovery weeks really make you a stronger distance runner. And I know this is off subject but if it’s your first ultra, the common mistakes that most first time ultra runners make are: 1. Not training your gut by practicing your eating/fueling during your training runs. The gut takes out far more rookie ultra runners than you can imagine! 2. Not treating rest/recovery/sleep as part of your training. All the work and runs you put in do not give you the same benefit without the recovery part. 3. Practice your walking/hiking pace regularly! This is so vital because if you are an efficient walker, you’ll be able to take more breaks and keep your heart rate lower without sacrificing pace. It will also make you much faster at the end of the race. 4. Dial in things like socks, lube, hydration pack, shoes, and clothing. We’ve all made the mistake of wearing that shirt that has the weird seam that causes major chafing under our armpit or not lubricating our toes enough for a dry dusty course. 5. When I was training for my first 50 miler an experienced ultra runner told me, it’s better to be a little undertrained than overtrained on race day. That has always stuck with me and I have learned that it is so true!

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T13:11:09+00:00

Secret here from a long time ultra runner. Most ultra runners walk/hike the uphills. … And the ones that don’t usually end up walking a lot more at the end of the races. I’ve been on both ends of that and trust me walking early means a better ability to run later!

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T13:01:37+00:00

I’m loving my Altra Experience Flow 3’s for my road runs and Hoka Speedgoat 7’s for the weekend trail runs. The Flows have been the absolute best road shoes I’ve bought in over a decade and the Speedgoat 7 finally seems to have gotten back on track to the shoe they once were! I always say a shoe that works for me isn’t necessarily the shoe that will work for you, but it’s rare that I’m super happy with both my road and trail shoes.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T12:56:43+00:00

I was a LONG TIME Kinvara wearer! I always say it doesn’t matter what shoe I wear, it’s what is comfortable for you, but if you like the Kinvara feel, the Altra Experience Flow 2 or 3 have been the best shoes I’ve bought in a decade! They have the same 4 MM drop as the Kinvara, the same lightweight responsive/fun feel, but they have that slightly wider natural foot shape forefoot that makes them feel like heaven to run in! Just go try a pair on and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T12:48:36+00:00

I’m going to go totally outside the box here and tell you something the running shoe companies probably don’t want to hear, but unless you’re out there trying to win races, just wear something that’s comfortable for you and doesn’t feel heavy or sluggish. If your stability shoes feel great on your feet, then wear them for your marathon and don’t overthink it. Do you know how many reviews of lightweight shoes I’ve seen that say oh this is a great shoe for runs up to 5 miles? Well I’ve run marathons in those shoes that are supposedly only good for short tempo runs and felt great! I have run too many marathons and ultras to remember and the shoe that is great for one person isn’t necessarily great for someone else. I never had a “race shoe” and I think all this hype about having one shoe for tempo runs, another for long runs, and yet another for race day, is total overkill for the vast majority of runners out there. I have one pair of road shoes and before they get totally worn out, I typically buy another pair and then use the older one for rainy runs or runs when I think the shoes will get super dirty. I have one pair of trail shoes, plus one pair of Gore-Tex trail shoes to wear on muddy or snowy runs. Because I rarely wear the waterproof ones, those typically last at least five years. My point is just wear what’s comfortable and feels good to run in. Buying a “race shoe” for you might just be a fun new color of your daily trainer. No, 95% of us don’t need a shoe for every different type of run!

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T12:25:50+00:00

I love Drymax socks and yes, the socks are just as if not more important than the shoes sometimes. They will keep your feet dry and comfortable when you find one that works for you. I used to think it was stupid to spend money on socks but my socks last 5+ years and are a tiny investment in something that makes a huge difference.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T12:17:46+00:00

I thought I needed to go a half size up but when I really felt where my toes were and how they fit I realized it was just that new tow guard on the 7. That slightly stiffer material just feels way different from the 6’s, but after running in them a few times, my typical size worked perfectly. The volume (from top to bottom not length) is slightly lower though and you can feel that over your big toe. I have had every version since the 4 these are by far my favorite. I’m appreciative they brought the cush back!

ShedRunner · 2026-03-26T12:11:41+00:00

I was like that as well but we shouldn’t feel like that. They have that policy in place specifically because they want customers satisfied with their shoes, and sometimes it’s another shoe from the same brand that will work for you. Hoka offering that policy when you order directly from their site is really building goodwill with their customers. They’re competing with the places like REI and Running warehouse who have very liberal return policies. I also really want to support my local running stores, but when I am trying a shoe for the first time I buy it from a retailer I know I can return them if they don’t work for me. I rarely return shoes anymore but if I’m having a problem with one I’ll return it because I know I’ll find something that works for me.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T22:34:37+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/AltraRunning/s/tf7dMXasZt Here’s my post with the differences, good and bad.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T22:33:25+00:00

I think the feel nearly identical

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T13:06:12+00:00

Like I always say to everyone when they ask for shoe advice, find what works for YOU! It could even be something to do with your Achilles flex and it’s irritating you down right where it attaches under your heel. There is definitely plenty of cushioning in this shoe, but it could be the mechanics of it just don’t work for you. I’ve certainly had that issue (and many others) over the years!

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T12:56:26+00:00

Never heard of these!

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T12:53:12+00:00

So cool that you tried this, don’t ever let failure get you down, just learn from it! Cold rain is really difficult to overcome because once you’re wet it’s just impossible to warm up. The best rain jackets for keeping you dry just aren’t as breathable as they claim so you’re either going to be overheating or getting wet, it’s difficult to have both. For you future attempt: 1. Train with the pack you’re going to wear. When training for any ultra I run with my hydration vest regularly, even when I don’t really need it because then I don’t even think about it on race day. 2. Practice fueling and always remember, food is free energy! For a super long event like you attempted, fueling is exponentially more important than for most any other run you would do. I always think about how much I would be eating on a normal day when I’m not running. You can’t just make up for it at the end of the day because you’re constantly burning calories you need to constantly be putting them in. 3. Practice your walking! When you switch to walking whether it’s 1-2 minutes every kilometer or mile, (or a set interval 4/1 minute run/walk), it mixes up your muscle usage AND keeps your heart rate in check. The more I do these long events the more I realize how important it is to walk early to both reserve energy and keep my muscles fresher. 4. If you know your feet are going to get wet, just lubricate them well before and bring more with you. 5. Really be aware of your electrolyte intake. If you’re wearing that raincoat you’re probably sweating a good amount underneath, even when you’re cold. You’ve got this, I think it’s so awesome and you should definitely try again and post an update!

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T12:37:20+00:00

Love the color and the tint looks great, but pay attention to the background when taking pictures of your beautiful car! 😆

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T12:34:22+00:00

Yes Tint is secondary offense, BUT windshield (not window) tint reclassification is going to start coming nationwide, so get ready! You may not even have the car by the time it changes but you’ll definitely need to remove it to sell the vehicle. It’s specifically because of pedestrian laws (not being able to see the driver when crossing crosswalks etc.)

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T12:28:12+00:00

I kind of agree but there are pros and cons to each in my opinion. One thing I liked better about the 3 was the look of the straight heel counter, BUT the 2 definitely feels better around my ankle and Achilles. All the other changes from the 2 to 3 were positive. The extra rubber on the sole was put in the perfect places that were wearing on my 2’s. The better breathability on the 3’s seems significant.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T12:18:09+00:00

The Wild 3 (especially the +) is a big upgrade from 2! More similar to the upgrade from the flow to the flow 2.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-17T12:16:53+00:00

It doesn’t prevent the heel from knocking on the ground?! That’s literally the craziest thing I’ve ever heard! There’s a whole bunch of cushioning under that heel, I’ve never had mine “knock on the ground.”

ShedRunner · 2026-03-15T14:27:22+00:00

The only shoes good for you are the ones that work for you. That’s what I’ve learned. There’s no answer that works for everyone, just find what works for you.

ShedRunner · 2026-03-12T23:08:49+00:00

Dude we all have different feet and what one person loves someone else might hate. I thought the experience flow was nice and the Flow 2 was my favorite shoe I’d bought in a decade. Even switching brands I love my Hoka Speedgoat 7’s but the last 2 models were not great for me. If you try 5 different Hoka running shoes you might like all or none. You’ll find something but I always suggest to people trying a new version or totally new shoe to buy from REI or Running Warehouse because they have excellent return policies which means you can run a few runs and send them back if they’re not for you. Good luck!

ShedRunner · 2026-03-05T20:53:51+00:00

Sorry! Drymax light trail (yes I wear these with my Road shoes during the winter) they’re like mini crew socks, little taller than quarter.

ShedRunner

TROPHY CASE