[pct-l] Running shoes

[Fuzz McPherson]

In trail running, ultramarathoners (me included) wear shorter gaiters, not the full calf length ones.  They won't provide any protection, well, not much, from blackberry bushes hitting your ankles, or from that unexpected rattler giving you a bite (not sure whether higher hiking type gaiters do), but they are great at keeping rocks, pine needles, etc. out of the shoes, they are cool, lightweight, and cheap.

I buy mine (I have no financial interest in this site):

http://www.dirtygirlgaiters.com/



--- On Fri, 2/27/09, Susan Alcorn <backpack45 at yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Susan Alcorn <backpack45 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [pct-l] Running shoes
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Date: Friday, February 27, 2009, 8:04 PM

I am a 67-year old woman who has section-hiked 1,900 miles on the PCT and more
than a thousand on paths and roads in Europe. I've hiked in trail runners
for 5-6 years. Before I started wearing trail runners, I had many of the same
questions about plantar fascittis, sprains, blisters, etc. However although my
plantar f. problem dates back many years, I have found that with proper
orthotics it has not been an issue--hard surfaces are the issue (roads). IMHO
trail runners might just strengthen your ankles because of the continual
movement--as opposed to a more rigid boot. However, I use hiking poles and they
provide added stability, power, and added upper body strength. I've had
blisters with all kinds of shoes, but my recent change to wearing toe socks
(Injinji) with a pair of lightweight socks over them seems to have finally
solved that issue, too. I echo the comments about gaiters--they keep the pebbles
out. 
Happy trails,
Susan Alcorn  
www.backpack45.com and backpack45.blogspot.com
Publishers of two award-winning books: Camino Chronicle: Walking to Santiago
and We're in the Mountains Not over the Hill: Tales and Tips from Seasoned
Women Backpackers.


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