Review by Brian Coffee from Trailpeak.com

Montrail AT Plus, a long distance hiking shoe.

I generally prefer hiking in boots instead of shoes. I know a lot of hikers who wear shoes for every type of trails, even scrambling in the Rockies. In fact, I’ve even seen scramblers in sandals. Don’t know how they do it, but it’s not for me.

But some days when you know the trail and you know it’s pretty smooth sailing all the way to your destination, shoes just might do the trick. I’ve tried other light hikers in the past and have been disappointed (no names), so I was a little apprehensive when we were offered Montrail’s new AT Plus hikers to evaluate. 

The name Montrail, for the last decade, has become synonymous with cutting-edge outdoor footwear. In 29 countries, Montrail shoes are worn by people who feel their feet deserve nothing less than the most technologically advanced products. For rock climbing, Montrail learned how to integrate thermo-moldable foam into the pressure zones for a custom fit in a traditionally uncomfortable shoe genre. For hiking and ultrarunning, where users spend non-stop days on their feet, Montrail created the Integrafit last based on digital scans of thousands of different feet. For everyday comfort, Montrail created a uniquely contoured, thermo-moldable sandal. These innovations and a dedication to bringing the best performance to extreme and casual users alike have created a reputation for the best fitting, high-performance footwear on the planet.  

With this reputation in mind, I ran the AT Plus hikers through their paces. The first thing I noticed was the outsoles, which seemed much more rigid than the other light hikers, more like a hiking boot. They also have a ‘rockered’ heel allows you to land on a flatter surface than just on the back edge of the heel. I’m sure that, scientifically, this also gives you somewhat of an assist on the takeoff phase of the step, although I didn’t notice it. Another aspect of the sole construction that I appreciated is the Grytonite^TM compound that contributes to sure-footedness in all conditions. They have a nice low cut around the ankles (important to me) and are very lightweight.

The AT Plus is a very comfortable hiking shoe. A lot of hiking shoe reviewers say… 

that you should generally consider throwing away the factory insoles and get some good ones. Not the case here. These insoles are good right out of the box. They also seem to have a wider toe box that most of their rivals, although only one width, no choice. The wider toe box should reduce ‘black toes’ to a large degree. It does, however, give the shoe a more rounded look at the toe, which might be a bit less aesthetically pleasing to some buyers. But good looks don’t always mean good shoes, do they?

Even though I haven’t yet had a chance to try these shoes in the mountains (2 blizzards in April), these hikers have performed very well everywhere I’ve taken them. Lightweight and low-cut, the AT Plus is built for fast packers and those who demand a high performance, long distance hiking shoe.

Manufacturer’s Description:

• Nylon mesh upper with thermoplastic weld support bands create seamless support and lockdown over the foot.
• Synthetic leather rand coupled with high abrasion printed material for support and protection.
• Dual density compression molded EVA midsole, with heel and forefoot internal pods for cushioning.
• A firmer 360 degree perimeter density surrounds a softer center for support, protection and stability on the trail.
• Full length Gryptonite™ outsole with multipurpose lug pattern constructed of a (top secret) sticky rubber compound engineered for optimal performance with a combination of traction and durability on both wet and dry surfaces.
• Gore-Tex waterproofing
•    Trail Shield – A lightweight/flexible protection material that is co-molded between the    outsole and mid-sole for underfoot protection from rocks and trail debris.

Welcome to a 4-part series brought to you by Montrail and written by Dr. David Horton, the king of race directors.  Every Wednesday for the next month, Horton will deliver information and valuable know-how on what it takes to be a successful race director.   We’ll start with the preparations, and then go on to talk about the specific things to address leading up to race day.  Week 3 will be all about race day, and week 4 will cover some specific stories and unique happenings that Horton has witnessed.  We welcome your feedback and comments.

RACE  DIRECTING:    FUN—TONS of WORK—REWARDING—STRESSFUL—TIRING—FUN

By David Horton

Have you ever thought about directing a race?   It may look easy on race day to the average runner, but it is NOT.   If you ever direct a race, you will either direct MANY more, or you will never direct another one.   It will either destroy you, or you will get addicted.   It is sort of like running an ultra.  After you do one, you immediately say, “I’ll never do that again.”  And then sometime later, you’ll start planning on when you’ll do your next one.

Directing races is just like that, but more so.   Completing my first ultra (JFK in 1979) was so rewarding.   But directing my first few races was probably more rewarding.   Completing an ultra is difficult, regardless of the length . . . Directing a race is even more difficult.

I have directed 60 ultras.   After each one is over, I think to myself that I don’t want to direct another one.   A few days later, I begin thinking of what I will do different next time.   I make mistakes EVERY race, just different ones each race.

I want to share with you what I think it takes to be a good race director.   I will share with you some of the mistakes I have made and some of the things I think are vital to doing a good job.   I KNOW I will forget some things and, I know you’ll think of things that I should have said or addressed.   I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions you think a race director should or should not do.

1. Race Course: Every person has some special runs in their areas they normally train on.  Is it worthy of developing a race or ultra in that area?  Is it unique, pretty, challenging, flat, rocky, etc.?   Is it private or public?  Stay away from private land and Park Service land if you can.   Use Forest Service land when possible.  The Forest Service believes in multi-use, the Park Service does not.
2. Naming the Race: Picking a good name is very important.  Names like Hardrock, the Death Race, Badwater, Hellgate, and the Masochist, conjure up images of pain and agony and suffering . . . what every runner likes.  When we started the Masochist, we had difficulty thinking of the appropriate name.  My wife said I should call it the “Masochist” because you all are just a bunch of masochists anyway.  She was and is right.  Folks that know that I teach at Liberty University, a Christian university, often ask me why I named one on my races, Hellgate.  Simple . . . Hellgate starts at the Big Hellgate Parking lot next to Big Hellgate Creek.  Names can have an effect on the success of the race.
3. Type of Course: Do you have a loop course, out and back, or a point-to-point course?   Runners prefer a point-to-point course in most cases.  Of the four events that I started in the Lynchburg area, the Holiday Lake is a double-loop course, the Promise Land is a loop course, and the Masochist and Hellgate are point-to-point courses.  I think each one is appropriate for the terrain in those areas.
4. Race Distance: The most popular distance now is a 50K.  In the past it was 50 miles.  You can usually have more runners with a 50K than 50 miles.  The same thing is true in road races.  The most popular distance now is a 5K where it used to be a 10K.  Runners as a whole are softer and more are sissies now than they use to be.
5. Measuring the Course: How important is it to make sure the course is accurately measured to a 50K or 50 miles?   Not very, just make sure it is not short.  If a trail length is 32 or 33 miles and it takes you from the point you want to start at and the point you want to finish, let it be and call it a 50K.  Of the four events I started here in Lynchburg, all of them are relatively close to the advertised distance, maybe a little more . . . HORTON MILES?  But everyone runs the same course.
6. Picking the Date: This can be an extremely difficult challenge.   You have to consider other ultras and big road races held in or close to your area.  It is a major error to schedule an ultra on the same day that another ultra is held in your immediate area.  If there is a big 5K or 10K going on your town, you should not hold an ultra that day.  Many runners might be helpers or participants in your event if the dates do not conflict.
7. Weather: Typically, what is the weather for that time of the year?  Would it prevent you from holding the event?   Having an ultra in December is almost impossible in Colorado.  Having an event in mid December in Florida is very realistic.  Having an event in mid December in Virginia is questionable, except for Hellgate?   Weather helped it to live up to its name in past years.
8. Number of Entrants: How many runners do you want?   In most places, the Forest Service will limit the number of runners you can have, at the most, it is usually 300 to 400 runners.  You may want to limit it to even less than that because of your pre- and post-race locations, parking at the start/finish, accessibility for aid station workers, and safety.  When I first started the Masochist, my goal was for it to someday be as big as the JFK 50.  However, once it got to around 300 runners, I saw that the work involved in directing the event was increasing substantially.  You also lose the intimacy of the event.  I like the atmosphere of the Hardrock 100 much better than the Western States 100.  HR has 140 runners and WS has around 400 runners.
9. Make the Race an EVENT:  I believe in making the race an event.  How do you do that?  I believe in having a pre-race meal and a post-race meal.  What do you like best about an ultra?  Talking with the runners before and after the race is so special.  Ultras that do not do this, are like road races where you come in on the morning of the event, run the race, and go home.  I personally love the fellowship of ultras.  If runners have a good experience, they are more apt to come back year after year.  I hate the course for JFK, but I have completed it 18 times.  I have a good time before and after the race with friends.
10. Race Director: Who should be the race director?  Should you have a board or committee?   Should you have an assistant race director?  I think that every race director should be an ultra runner.  Who best to know what ultra runners like and want in a run, and they can understand runners much better than someone who has never run an ultra.  I guess it would be okay to have an assistant race director and a committee.   However if the committee is big, it may be difficult to make decisions.  I have never had an assistant race director or a committee.   I bounce ideas off my wife and running friends, then I MAKE the decision that I think is best.  I probably don’t delegate enough.

To be continued…check in next week for the rest of Horton’s list of what it takes to successfully direct an ultramarathon.

The third installment of ultrarunning tips from the Doctor, David Horton:

23. Grab something at the aid station and keep walking and eating, relentless forward motion.
24. In the second loop, think about drinking coke and especially Mountain Dew at the last two or three aid stations.
25. Don’t expect it to be easy, the second loop could be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life.
27. You can always take another step.
28. No matter how bad it feels, This too shall pass.
29. The pain and discomfort will end.
30. Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.
31. Don’t stop to take a dump until you really need to and make it QUICK.
32. Regardless of how you feel at any one point, it never always gets worse.
33. You should drink about one half to three fourths of a bottle of fluid between each aid station.
34. If you are stopping to pee every 15 or 20 minutes you are drinking too much.
35. If your urine is clear you are drinking enough. If it is real yellow or brown or rust colored, you need to start drinking a LOT more.
36. Don’t assume the person you are running with knows where to go or assume the runners in front of you know where to go.