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The XC thread

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Curly45 Jan 2024 9:41pm, 5 Jan 2024 4,587 posts	Quote Pin Curly45 If you're new to XC you can most likely get away with good trail shoes which are much more useful in general life. XC spikes are hard work on the calves unless you have excellent form. I love a friend who ran inter counties last year and she ran in fell shoes. I also have lots of different track spikes, but wouldn't wear them for XC either. They don't have the firmness in the side and back of the shoe for me. Maybe that's just the dried on mud on my spikes 😂
Curly45 Jan 2024 9:41pm, 5 Jan 2024 4,588 posts	Quote Pin Curly45 Have not love jeeez 🙄
SPR Jan 2024 9:59pm, 5 Jan 2024 43,435 posts	Quote Pin SPR Fell shoes are great for most conditions XC I think. My off road trainers are Inov-8; I started off XCing in the X-talon 212, then the 190 before moving to spikes. I don't think a shoe like the trail talon (my general trail shoe) would be useful on XC courses past medium firm though? The issue for me with the X-talons was mud shedding in certain conditions and because I can basically tune spikes for all conditions, it just makes sense. My old XC spikes weren't aggressive (at least I don't think they were as they're essentially a flat with spikes to me) and as long as you were used to flat shoes (which I am), you'd be fine I think. tradeinn.com The dragonfly is a different kettle of fish though.
Curly45 Jan 2024 10:26pm, 5 Jan 2024 4,589 posts	Quote Pin Curly45 Isnt innov8 designed for US trails though so for rocks not mud? Hubby uses sauncony ones and they seem fine, big cleats, no more issues than spikes I reckon but without calf issues. I wonder if runners used to road supershoe era may find cheap flat XC spikes a challenge after all that cushioning? Anyway I am going to need some more 12/15s for Telford I think as mine are getting worn. Suspect it will be boggy.
SPR Jan 2024 10:51pm, 5 Jan 2024 43,436 posts	Quote Pin SPR Inov-8 have shoes for most conditions. The X-talon are for XC/ fell conditions, similar to Walshs. Whether it was specific flaw with them, I don't know, but I can see how mud could pack into any sole with relatively thick and close cleats if it's sticky enough, spikes just don't have the surface area to pick up much and even then in certain conditions you do end up with some clinging on. Agree about supershoes in theory although some a low drop when loaded due to the soft foam so along with instability of high stack/ soft foam, it might almost be stealth XC practice 🤣 I imagine the National will be very muddy especially with the amount of races and runners. I thought that last year though and it wasn't. Haven't decided whether I'll do the National yet, leaning to no and also thinking of trying to get an indoor track race in for February which will likely involve travel as there won't be anything in Birmingham due to the council's woes and the cancellation of the grand prix (open event would have happened the day after on the already set up track).
Curly45 Jan 2024 8:38am, 6 Jan 2024 4,590 posts	Quote Pin Curly45 Fingers crossed for not another crap course like last year 😂 Give me hills and mud together please. Be interested to see what the runners think of Wollaton for inter counties as that is pretty dull too in my memory.
rhb Jan 2024 8:39am, 6 Jan 2024 2,097 posts	Quote Pin rhb Xtalon more than spikes here but probably will use spikes at next race, Tatton Park. It is rare the league courses are heavy enough to make spikes essential these days. Was looking at the new mud-talon blurb and thinking they might be a useful xc shoe too. No national for me this year.
rhb Jan 2024 8:41am, 6 Jan 2024 2,098 posts	Quote Pin rhb inov-8.com
SPR Jan 2024 9:39am, 6 Jan 2024 43,438 posts	Quote Pin SPR From an X-talon perspective, I'm not sure whether they are an upgrade. More cushioning but that probably means more weight and not sure the lug shape change will make a difference?
rhb Jan 2024 10:47am, 6 Jan 2024 2,099 posts	Quote Pin rhb Yeah more cushioning would suit longer runs perhaps, not xc where a bit of discomfort is bearable.