Obstacle Mud Runner - issue 11

obstaclemudrunner.co.uk ForEliteAtheletes toFunRunners 12 FOOTWEAR : REVIEW four months and counting I am slightly biased when it comes to inov-8 as they’ve always been a favourite of mine. I have, like others, experienced minor issues with some shoes in the past, grip wear, shrinkage, laces coming undone but after trying out the new x-talon 260 ultras it seems like all these issues have been resolved. I have been trialling these for just over four months now on a variety of terrains – trails, mud, road even ice and snow. They still feel extremely comfortable. The first race they made their debut appearance in was Red Bull All In in Munich. This event had every possible challenging weather and ground conditions you could imagine. It literally had it all, snow, ice, water and rocks, the only thing missing from this one was MUD! Watching the first wave descend from the side of the ski slope slipping and sliding, my confidence of being able to open up on the course started to rapidly diminish. Tried & Tested My time came and I went out tentatively but as I began to claw my way through the course my confidence grew, I noticed I was gaining space and time on competitors ahead and this was due to keeping traction. The 8mm lugs meant grip was exceptional. I was grateful for the improved protection on the rocky sections through the sides and front with the new rubberised front guard whilst still releasing water after the river crossings. I appreciated how the shoe kept me light and nimble on my feet and the unbeaten confidence with grip allowed me to concentrate on what was ahead not what was underneath. My all-time favourite feature of inov-8 must be the flexibility and lightness of the shoe but with all the added improvements I wondered whether this may have been jeopardised but it wasn’t and I was not disappointed. I would recommend this shoe For more information visit: www.inov-8.com inov-8 X-TALON 260 ULTRA Andrea Berquez (CRTS) Certified Running Technique Specialist. Elite OCR Athlete. Weight 260g Drop (heel to toe differential): 9mm Width on inov-8’s 1-5 fit scale: Rated 4 (narrowest =1 to 5 = widest) Rubber compound: Sticky rubber Lug Depth 8mm Price £135 Here’s the all-important techy bits...