UK Trail Running Championships, Cotgrave: Sunday, May 20WHY RUN IT?Held over a scenic course (over an approximate marathon distance), this figure-of-eight route is extremely tough with 1500ft of climbing. There are also races over eight miles and 44

Weight 355g Evaluation Despite being an outdoor brand rather than a running company, The North Face has produced a number of shoes that have proved popular with our off-road and adventure-racing weartesters. The Flight Trail is a decent entry

) and those that are spike-friendly – or if you’re a big guy who needs a sturdy but very grippy shoe for cross-country races – the Extrano could work for you.Even without the spike feature, the Extrano is a decent – if slightly heavy – trail shoe. Its rubber

We've reviewed a newer version since we published this.Weight 304gEvaluation The Salomon XA Series is a racing flat for the trail market. Instead of a heavy, element-protected upper, you get a lightweight, highly-breathable, sock-like affair

. However it’s a good shoe for heavier runners looking for a road/trail hybrid, with a supportive upper and midfoot and DynaThane cushioning in the heel. It feels heavy and inflexible to run in but wears better on hard ground. Great for Running on hard

's World's long-time travel partner Mike Gratton and 2:09 Events. The Four-day Challenge, from November 24-27, is a tempting medly of racing, based around the stunning Akamas Peninsular. Day One kicks off with a 6K time trial; Day Two tickles your legs

. The reality is that if you wanted to place well in a two-day race like the X-Adventure, you’d go for a lighter trail shoe than this. It’s not bad, though – it’s like an old-style, protective trail shoe in the rearfoot, with a flexible, performance

fit for a Saucony shoe.In short A good option for trail races or faster-paced off-road training, the Harrier scores well on grip and responsiveness. Unless you’re a heavy or unstable runner, it should be on your off-road shortlist.Try it if you liked

Weight 349gEvaluation The Raid Sport is the little brother of the Raid Race, and for most runners, it’s a better shoe. That’s because while it’s less protective, stable and durable than the Raid Race, it’s lighter, more flexible and more nimble

There are two camps in the trail running world. The first believe that a waterproof trail shoe is as much use as a wire-wool thong. What you need, they say, is a shoe with wide open mesh that lets water in quickly, and then lets it out just