good trail run and tentative shoe success

I got to the parking area at the trail around 8:30. Things did not go as planned, but thankfully it all worked out okay in the end. I packed my Camelbak with a couple honey stinger waffles and I was just going to hit the trail. But then I took a sip from my Camelbak and something in there was nasty. I filled it only a few days earlier, but didn't end up using it. I was in a hurry and assumed it would be fine.

So I ended up just taking off without water or fuel and I was just going to cut my run short and make up for it later. I wore the Salomon XR Shifts and I really liked them from the start. I had to adjust my laces a couple of times. At first they were too loose and my feet were exhausted after only a mile. But once I got them adjusted right, they were really comfortable. Plenty of support without being too stiff and roomy without my feet sliding all over. It was only 60 degrees, overcast and windy, so I just kept going. I ended up getting to the 7.5 mile mark which is where the trail crossed a road, and turned around there, which was about 1:25 into the run. The trail was pretty technical with a lot of roots. Some sections were loose stone, and there was a stretch about a mile long that was mostly low board bridges over muddy areas. There was about 1330 feet of elevation gain over the whole 15 miles. Some sections were pretty steep, but mostly it was pretty flat or gradual inclines. There were a couple of cow pastures that the trail goes through, so I had to stop to open and shut the gates.

I was really pleased with the Salomons. No soreness, not hot spots, no blisters or rubbing. And it wasn't the easiest run to break them in on.