The events are held in urban parks, with two pre-marked courses set up for people of any age and ability to have a go at. There was also a large selection of trail shoes to try out, as well Suunto GPS watches to test if you wanted, and insoles and foot health experts Superfeet on hand to offer advice.

I met up with my friend Rachel at Mortlake Green near Richmond. She has just started running too and we’re hoping to do the Wimbledon Common 5k together in a couple of weeks time 🙂

With the option of a 2k and a 4.5k route, we decided to do the 2k loop which took us along the River Thames. The surface was a muddy and uneven path, so a good test route for the trail shoes. 

Plus it was lovely to run next to the water, despite the grey skies!

I initially wore the XR Crossmax 2, one of the Salomon “Door to Trail” shoes, designed to offer the cushioning and feel of road shoes, with the grip and protection you need for trails. 

The XR Crossmax 2

I really liked the feel of this shoe, probably because it felt pretty similar to what I’m used to (my Brooks Ravennas). Something which is generally appealing about all the Salomon shoes is their quick lace mechanism, so you don’t need to tie your shoes, just pull the toggle to tighten- very quick and secure!

At the half way point Rachel and I swapped shoes (lucky we’re the same size!) and I ran back in the pair she had been wearing, the Sense Mantra.

Rachel said she really liked this shoe, but for me it didn’t offer enough cushioning. The Sense Mantra is designed as a light weight training shoe for midfoot strikers who want natural motion, protection and neutral cushioning for high mileage training. It was a much lighter shoe, with a more “minimalist” design, so thinner soles which meant I could feel the trail beneath my feet- something I may get used to, but at the moment doesn’t appeal.

The Sense Mantra

When we got back to the stand, we swapped our shoes again for the final pair on offer to try, the Speedcross 3, a mountain trail running shoe with agility, protection and grip to give you confidence on rugged trails.

We ran the 2k route again, and both of us loved these shoes, and not just because of the funky colours! The grip on the bottom gave extra bounce on firm surfaces, which meant I felt light and speedy, and added grip for uneven routes.

The Speedcross 3

They’re perhaps a little over-the-top unless you are intending to run seriously “off-road” but if you’re heading up a mountain any time soon, I would definitely recommend checking the Speedcross 3 out!

For me, I think the most useful pair would be the Crossmax from the “Door-To-Trail” range, which allow you to run on roads from your house comfortably, while still having the extra grip and protection when you make it to the trails – the perfect combination!

Thanks Salomon for a great event, and letting us try out some awesome shoes! Hopefully more people will get involved and discover a love for running and exploring the great outdoors 🙂

Beki x
PS. Crossfit recap to come! Spoiler : My arms are super achey! 🙂