7atStates 2020 The Final Post

Finality for Western States should be a belt buckle; a final blog post should be an inspiring race report. Covid changed everything for 2020.

I find it hard to believe that my big race—the race I’ve wanted to do again for 10 years—would have been this Saturday. That today I would have arrived in Squaw Valley. That Saturday I would have left the starting line at 5am, hiked up a mountain and covered 97 more miles in route to the finish line on a high school track in Auburn, California.

In early March I worried about Western being cancelled for 2020–but never really thought it would happen. Now I worry about it being cancelled or significantly altered for 2021. Let alone the normal worrying about the training and injuries.

I also worry about way more important things, like what shoes I will wear for Western States 2021 😀

Top7Trail Shoe Contenders For ws100 2021

  1. Hoka Speedgoat 4 – The SG4 would have been my shoe of choice for 2020—and no new SG5 prior to ws2021.
  2. Hoka Mafate Speed 3 – (Nov 2020 release) These are similar to Speedgoat with a much nicer upper. They’re similar to Evo Mafate too which didn’t work for me, but maybe Mafate Speed 3 will?!
  3. Hoka Challenger 6 – (Nov 2020) These feel like a smoother and softer Challenger 5. Maybe they’ll be different enough for me to fall in shoe love ❤️ 💕
  4. Brooks Catamount – (we’ll have them really soon!) These have a light, smooth semi rockered ride. Will they be enough cushion for someone used to the SG like myself?!
  5. Nike Pegasus Trail 2 – (July 2020) The only thing I don’t like about these is the name?! Why 2? Why not a totally different model name because this shoe is totally different! So much cushion; so wide! Will the high heel to toe drop be hard to re-adjust too? Plenty of time to try!
  6. Altra Olympus 4 – (July 2020) We expect big these from these big oversized shoes! They’re $170 after all: they better blow me away!! 😀
  7. Secret Shoe from a brand everyone knows – (January 2021) I’ve gotten to try them on —that’s all I can say—and have had success with similar shoes; although these new ones take it up a notch!! I’m sure everyone will hear about them soon!

Well I haven’t checked the weather report once for Squaw Valley or Auburn CA, so I’m going to go do that now. Good luck training for your adventures this year and next!!

#7atStates

#seeyouatStates

7questions with Jeff Browning

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Photos by Glenn Tachiyama