Recomendation on trail to road shoe for race - JFK 50 Miler

There is a very famous or infamous professor of youtube that vlogs only about shoes that will definitely help out with this.

Saucony Endorphin edge? Not super good on the roads but it feels like it rips on gravel. hooks up good on trail too.

I think you could run the AT section with any stable road flat. The 4% seem uniquely terrible for that terrain. Alternatively can you do a shoe swap at the towpath so you don’t have to bother finding the best trail shoe to run 26 flat miles in?

The 4% was indeed terrible for the AT. The midsole ended up with many cuts from the rocks, and it was so unstable that I had to walk most of it. When I did run, I would twist my ankles often.

I don't have the option of the shoe swap because I wont have someone available to be there. That is why I need a shoe that can do both. A stable road flat would probably work, but I don't feel too good about running 50 miles on a road flat.

I have no idea how the rocks are on the JFK 50 course, but I've been running trails more in the Atreyu standard whatever shoe, rather than Salomons. Softer, more surface area on the ground. You let air of the tires off-road, right? Stiff trail shoes are bad on my ankles, too.

Throw a thick insole or rock plate insole if you need.

Hoka Clifton the whole way.

I'm running a 50K that is a mix of trail and asphalt in November and wondering the same thing. On trails I currently run in Salomon Speedcross 5 and Saucony Peregrine 11. They are both too trail oriented for a mixed course IMO.

I'm going to look at Salomon models including the Sense Ride 4, the Ultra Glide and the Pulsar Trail Pro, all of which would provide some protection and support on the trail, be road runnable and suitable for long days.

Running on even moderately-technical trails , especially if off camber and with steep incline sections, has turned into a no-go for me in road shoes. Not enough support, not enough grip, not enough protection. I'd rather run a race in shoes that compromise a touch on the asphalt than on the trail.

In that case, I think the speed goat would work. My only concern is they'd feel a little heavy and slow on the flat. I have a pair and they’re very comfortable, but I don’t love using them off trails for that reason. You might look at the Hoka Tecton X (Hoka's trail super shoe). No experience with it, but I've really only heard good things and I think you'd appreciate the lighter weight and carbon plate for the latter portion.

I’ll be following this thread as I’m looking for this type of shoe too. I’ve given up on trying out new trail shoes as it seems like a gamble on if you’re going to get something that feels like half hiking boot (e.g. the Nike Wildhorse used to feel like a running shoe but around version 4 it became a clunky boot). For now I’ve decided to go with trainers that have decent tread. I have Ghosts right now but have realized the heel drop is too big for trail running.

Cliftons are more stable on rocky terrain than the Tectons.

Seconding this recommendation. I just got them. They feel great on road and gravel trails. Great on rougher ground but I don’t like them as much for really technical stuff as they’re a little wide across the front and the toe isn’t protected enough.
I have the Salomon Pulsar but wouldn’t run anything longer than a 10K in those and no rough stuff at all.

Hoka Tecton X would be my guess as a lot of people rave about it being a legit trail racer, but also good on roads.

I'm currently in the Mafate Speed 4 for trails, but it would be a bad choice for roads. Saucony Edge also seems too aggressive for roads.

I just don't understand many of the responses here. This is a 50 miler with 38 miles off road, including 12 technical and rocky miles. If any of that is also rooty, off camber, and/or slick, then there is no road shoe, especially ANYTHING road-racing oriented, that would be a good match for that course.

Much better off getting something you'll be confident in during the rocky/technical portions, and solid for the dirt/gravel trail portion, than worrying about the relatively short(er) asphalt sections.

Something from Hoka or Salomon, tried and true on mixed terrain, that's the way to go here. And as for weight/racing shoes, unless OP is likely to be a top 10 finisher, weight is almost completely irrelevant in a 50 miler IMO.

I tried one of the new Craft super shoes and thought they seemed about perfect for this kind of race. I think they were the CTM Ultra 2s.

For what it’s worth, Hayden Hawks wore the Hoka Cliftons on the first 15 miles the year he won and set the course record. He changed into the Rocket X, but you’d be fine in the Cliftons the whole way.

Maybe look at the Hoka Challenger. Nike Pegasus Trail might be a good option.

Can you swap shoes quickly? Go lightweight before and after the AT, and something stable for the AT portion.