Hit the Dirt: 8 Great Trail Running Shoes for Summer 2025
Here are 8 of the best new trail running shoes for summer.
I turned 50 this past February. As you might assume, it was a big milestone — both as an individual coming to grips with the subtle but real challenges of aging, but also as a runner.
As a somewhat competitive age-group runner, I have found that setting goals each year helps keep me excited and motivated to stay after it — whatever “it” happens to be at the time. So, in keeping with tradition, I sat down after my birthday and thought about what I wanted to aim for in this new decade.
I have loved competing as a masters runner, which is the category runners ascend to after they turn 40. I looked back my most memorable races from my 40s, and there were several, most of them with my team, Whirlaway Racing, based in Methuen, Massachusetts.
I joined Whirlaway back in 2019 when I was 44. I was looking for a way to meet more people with similar goals and passions; running and coffee in particular. To my good fortune, I found many. As a result, my racing became focused on scoring points for my team rather than on setting personal bests, which it had been when I was younger. And I loved this shift. That said, despite the fact that I was getting older, I managed to run my fastest times in every distance from the mile to the marathon in my 40s; more specifically, between 47-49. Believe me, I have been pretty freaking psyched about that.
But what if, I thought, I could defy age even further and set new personal bests in my 50s?
People continuously tell me to be prepared for a substantial shift as I age, to expect my body to start slowing down and my performances to decline. And I am fully aware that this has been coming, but it hasn’t started happening yet, and it doesn’t mean I have to look forward to it. So while the window is still open, why not go for it?
And there you have it. The new goal for this decade is to see if I can best any or all of my times from my 40s. And if not, to see how close I can get and to have fun trying and continue the joy of masters racing.
I ran my first marathon in 2007 when I was 37 years old. I crossed the line in 3 hours and 40 minutes. At that point, as far as racing goes, I was totally clueless and did almost everything wrong. But, we all have to start somewhere, right? Over time, I changed a lot of things including but not limited to my training, my nutrition, my recovery; almost everything, really. And not surprisingly, my race times began to come down.
At age 40, I shocked myself and ran a 3:04 marathon which was a 10-minute personal best. Screw age, I thought. I was going to keep going for it and see if I could run a sub-3-hour marathon, something I had never thought was even remotely achievable when I started this process in my 30s.
I buckled down and dedicated even more time and energy to this new goal. And then in 2018, at age 43, I finally did it at the Baystate Marathon in Lowell, Massachusetts. I crossed the line in 2:59:13 as the seventh woman and first in my age-group. I was absolutely thrilled. And, as you might have guessed, I felt like I had more in me. So, I kept going and improved in all race distances including the marathon, in my late 40s. And I had a freaking blast. I was doing most of the races with my teammates — who I love and am inspired by— and running for points, which was such a different way to approach racing. It’s less of a focus on time and more of a focus on place that’s fueled by accountability and camaraderie. And even with that change in focus, my times came down. Funny how that happens.
I won’t lie and say things haven’t gotten more challenging. They have. I can’t do hard workouts as often as I used to. I need more time for recovery; a lot more. I need a hell of a lot more sleep. Truthfully, I have more bad days than good, mainly from a fatigue standpoint. But I’m still all-in, and I love it like never before. Because the good days, while few and far between, are really good. And that keeps me coming back for more. And while I still have lofty goals, I find joy in the little things along the way. Easy miles with friends, races with teammates, coffee with anyone who will sit down and sip a cup with me. And that, too, keeps me coming back for more.
Bottom line? No matter how old you are or what times you’re running, there is still a performance element to be pursued year after year. And if that gets you fired up, then why not keep the coals burning?
Here are some tips that I’ve been using as a masters runner for keeping my foot on the gas.
Coaches are not just for elite runners. Coaches are guides, partners, supporters, voices of reason. All of us could use this in our lives no matter what stage we are in. When I was a younger runner, I was winging it a lot and doing what felt right or what I felt like doing. After a few years of this, I learned that having someone steer the ship for me in the right direction could make a huge difference on my performance. I am more efficient, more knowledgeable and less stubborn (sometimes) with a coach by my side. I can’t recommend it enough.
As we get older, our body needs more attention and more time for recovery. Things like stretching and rolling, which used to be a “once-in-a-while” thing for me, need to happen daily now. I have to take two and sometimes three days between hard efforts to get the most out of the next one. I get sports massages regularly during a marathon training cycle. Yes, they are pricey. But, other things in life can get swapped out in their place – coffee, dinners out, etc. I’m too tired to go out anyway.
As I have gotten older, I have found that everything is more fun and significantly more fulfilling with friends and teammates. I joined a team in 2019 and running has become so much more rewarding for me since then. I make time to meet up with my teammates regularly for runs and coffee. I look forward to racing because I get to connect with everyone and I love aiming for place over time. Plus I’m so proud to represent my team, people I love, when I’m out on the course.
In 2022, I was having some challenges with my left hamstring. It was just always so tight, and no matter how much work I or a physical therapist did on it, it just wouldn’t get better. So, I started going to Mike Boyle’s Strength and Conditioning. Ultimately, I knew it was likely not improving because I wasn’t strong enough, so I wanted to fully commit to strength, balance and conditioning for my whole body. I have since gone twice a week whenever possible and the difference has been huge. In training, I feel so much stronger and more powerful when I’m racing. I will likely slow down in running but I will continue to lift until I’m old and gray.
This one is a no brainer. We all need sleep. When we get older, we need more. That pretty much sums it up.
I have never been a big drinker. And during a training cycle I cut way back. As you likely know, alcohol of any kind negatively impacts the sleep cycle. So in these last few years I have almost cut it out completely. I will indulge once in a while, but it’s almost not worth it as I just function so much better across the board without it. Particularly when I’m in peak training but also day to day. Side note, there are so many awesome N/A options out there now. That’s my new jam.
I’ve always been a healthy eater. But I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older that I need more carbs to fuel my efforts and more protein to help with recovery. A lot more. Today I will make sure I’m getting protein within an hour of working out to aid in the process of recovery. If this means I have to carry food around with me in my bag or my car, then that’s what I do. Running on empty is for the birds.
When I got a coach and started chasing a sub-3 hour marathon I increased my mileage to 80-90 miles a week. I was running doubles twice a week as well. I believed, and there was some truth to it, that a bigger base would help me run stronger. But at some point, it started to take a toll on me and I was feeling tired more than I was feeling strong. In my late 40s I cut back on mileage, stopped doing doubles and did more quality work on my hard days. I ran my fastest marathon, 2:58:26, at age 47. So, it turns out, at least in my case, less is more.
This one is still tough for me. If I wake up with a runny nose or sore throat, I have typically convinced myself that a going for a run won’t be a big deal. Or I used to. At this point, I know that pushing through when my body feels off in any way, will cost me and likely set me back. Instead, I try to take a necessary rest day (or two) knowing that it will pay off in the long run. Pun intended.
In my 30s I was grinding for fast times. Sure, I had fun sometimes, but the self-imposed pressure was often very high and more often than not I was just going through the motions without really enjoying the process. This started to get old and was a big reason for joining a team. I wanted running to be fun again. Having a new “why,” in this case, running with friends and scoring for a team, brought the joy back for me. Today there is rarely a time when I don’t find myself running or racing because it’s fun versus because I have to. I love that.
RELATED: 5 New Sports Bras Put to the Test on the Run
RELATED: Cool Running Gear: 6 Things We Love and Recommend
Boston-area contributing writer Rebecca Trachsel is a mom, a competitive age-group marathoner, a high school cross country and track coach, and music lover with a coffee problem. She’s still chasing big goals and having a blast along the way.