New Balance, Hierro, version 3, trail running shoe review

I have been impressed with this trail running shoe from New Balance. I’ve worn these for the past four months. 

They look and feel great. They do however miss being the perfect shoe for me with a few items. 

Yes, they have a great grippy VIBRAM outsole with their “Fresh Foam” mid-sole. Not really sure how long with “Fresh Foam” feel will last. 

The outer sole is not wearing down, even with running on super rough and jagged trails and plenty of road miles wearing them. The color I chose was sweet. The super bright, eye popping Hi-Lite with Black & Bright Cherry. I wear the standard width and a size 14. 

The sold is pretty durable even on the toughest of trails I have run them on. I like how the shoe is  breathable with the small vents on the front of the shoe. it keeps my toes ventilated, yet protected from the trail dirt and dust. 

The shoe fits great, even having a difficult time tying them up as tight as I like them.  They are a little difficult to put on with the “dust stopping” ankle collar. 

After putting them on I have to go back and adjust the ankle collar on the outside near my sock. I wish they were one more set of lace holes near the top, near the ankle collar. Having this extra set of lace holes would help really tighten down some of the slipping my foot does while inside the shoe. I have never suffered from any blisters or toe issues while wearing the shoe. Being a heavier runner, I like the weight and protection of this shoe. 

I can’t wait to see if they produce a version 4, if that’s in the making. I like the shoe even with some of the fitting issues. For any trail runner, I would recommend this shoe. 

New Balance, Hierro, version 3, trail running shoe with me on the 14 mile San Tan Xterra trail run. 

Xterra trail run at San Tan Mountain Regional Park Race Report

I was actually able to get a good nights sleep, the night before. In my head I just kept my thoughts calm and acted like I was just going into another long training run in the morning. 

I arrived early, as I still needed to pick up my packet/number/shirt etc. 

It was cold outside for me, so I dressed in a long sleeved shirt and warm up pants. I also had a coat on while walking around and stretching. 

While walking around I started drinking my pre-workout supplement about a half-hour before the start. 

I knew the weather was suppose to stay cooler, but I wanted to make sure I didn't over dress. So I opted for just my Arctic Cool shirt and my running shorts. I stashed two energy bars and two gels in my Orange Mud hydra-quiver along with a water bottle with some electrolytes in it. 

I planned on using what I was carrying for emergency purposes, and using the water and other nutrition from the four aid stations they were going to have on the course. 

The race started on time. It took me about two miles to warm up and get in a groove. There was one incline during the portion of the trail, and I kept running a pretty good pace up it. 

The next part I would encounter on the trail, was the part I got lost on during a training run, two weeks prior. The course was marked really well with ground markers on stakes and tied in the branches of trees. This portion of the trail is mainly in a desert wash. This made for tough running, like in sand along a beach. There was a four mile stretch of this, at times, thick sand. 

Climbing up out of the wash, I knew the trail was going to be more single track and hard packed trail. 

I was feeling good and was monitoring my heart rate, to not go out to fast and blow up. 

My upper legs were feeling tired from the motion of having to pick them up so high from the sandy wash area. 

The rest of the trail after coming out of the wash, I knew what to expect elevation-wise. When to rest up and walk if needed and when the down hill run could help me gain some time. On the backside of Dynamite trail, I know is a good 1.5 mile downhill before heading up the Goldmine trail. The saddle at Goldmine trail hits at about mile 12.5 and a good downhill from there to the finish line. 

I ended up fast walking up Goldmine trail. I was happy after getting to the top, knowing I was within two miles from the finish. 

I beat my person goal by almost 20 minutes to finish the 14 mile trail run. 

I plan on taking some time off, but know where I need to begin to get faster and improve myself overall for my cycling, mountain biking and running in 2019. 

My lungs and breathing have never felt better

Not as much training as I planned this week, but had some key workouts completed. Trying to keep my power up while running, using the Stryd, power pod on my foot to measure just that.  

Synched with my Suunto Spartan, I can set a target heart rate or power output during a workout. 

I had a slower recover run last Monday, but still felt good afterwards. 

Thursday night, I set up my watch to keep me in my Zone 4 during a two mile run. I wanted to see first off what my power output in that zone is, and also hoped that keeping my heart rate there for the two miles would not have me totally gasping for a breath. 

It worked. I started off taking a little bit to get my heart rate up and then into my Zone 4.  An early downhill jaunt was not the trick, but quickly I had to work harder climbing up out a the area I was just in. Locked into my Zone 4 and just kept plugging away. On the more level ground I had some good speed and was still able to stay in the zone. The course was a one mile loop, I was doing twice. Of course my heart rate was going to go down a little on the descend, but I pushed hard and ran downhill faster to keep it up. Hitting the uphill I had to look down at my watch a few times because it kept warning me to slow down. I had my heart rate into Zone 5.  Pulled back a little on the speed but never fell out of my Zone 4.  Finished one of my fastest back to back miles in 10 minutes each.  I typically average a 12 minute mile as of late with a lot focus on the long steady distance, so not to go all out and blow up fast. 

I am very excited about my accomplishment and my lungs and breathing have never felt better. 

Looking back, could have I pushed myself to be faster, maybe so, but I wanted to stick in the Zone 4 and see where that would put me. 

Looking forward to a good weekend of cycling and running, hoping to get some trail miles in on Sunday.