MRTT Giddy Up & Go Half Marathon Relay

I'm so happy that I was able to attend the GMMRTT Giddy Up & Go Half Marathon Relay event while we were back in the states for vacation/operation sell the house!

After only being in New Hampshire overnight following our Cape Cod vacation, mrC drove me to Lake Massabesic for the event. (On the way there we spotted a van full of some of my Sunday Runday Goffstown running buddies. I wish I had a picture of all those ladies smiling and waving at me on the highway!)

Just like the last event I attended, the GMMRTT chapter leaders organized an amazing day. Teams of 3 completed the 13.1 miles, cheered for each other, and munched on food donated by Panera and Market Basket. At the end of the event, door prizes were awarded. It was a great day!

Here are some of my personal highlights:

Seeing my friend, colleague, and running buddy.

Enjoying the beauty of New Hampshire.

My Relay Team.

Supporting other runners.

Running the trail with a little help from my friends.

The bling.

This group of amazing women (and the amazing husbands behind the scenes who pick us up, drop us off, take up the slack, and TAKE PICTURES!)

Are you a member of your local MRTT group? 
What do you love about your chapter?

Salomon XR Crossmax 2 Trail Shoes

A couple of summers ago when I was running on the local trail, I kicked a tree root. It hurt something fierce for days and my bruised toenail eventually fell off. I think I might have broken the toe, too. Ever since then, I've been more apt to run on paved trails, but they are not exactly close to home.

So when Salomon asked if I would like to test run a pair of their trail shoes, I couldn't say no. They sent me a pair of XR Crossmax 2. I don't normally switch up my shoes for trail running, but it makes sense as I do wear different shoes for short and long runs. 

When I first saw them in the box, I thought they were huge. To my relief, when I picked them up they were lighter than I expected. The shoe itself is much larger than my everyday running shoes, but the Crossmax did not feel that different in weight.

One noticeable feature on these shoes is the laces: you don't have to tie them. I struggled with this feature and wasn't quite sure what to do with the extra lacing. Eventually I just tucked it under. 

Made for rough terrain, the bottoms of the shoes offer traction.

I took them on a short trail run. No worries about stubbing my toes on tree roots, railroad ties, or rocks this time!

Overall, I can see why trail runners would chose these shoes. They offer stability, traction, and protection from the elements you typically see on the trails. 

Do you run trails? Do you switch up your shoes on trail runs?

Disclaimer: I was sent a pair of Salomon XR Crossmax 2 for review purposes. All opinions are my own.