The Expedition Journals

The new Yushan 3 shoes from 361° take an already brilliant trail running shoe (I ran my first off-road marathon in the original Yushan), and have developed them through better breathability and protection. These are fast and comfortable trail running shoes for all your off-road running pursuits. The updated Yushan 3 design uses an engineered mesh fabric on the upper, create from one-piece of fabric; to ensure maximum comfort and breathability even in summer running conditions. An anatomically designed Pressure Free Tongue contours over the top of the foot for a more customised fit; removing pressure and stress during dorsiflexion. The heel cup is then well padded and locks the heel securely and comfortably inside the shoe. A full length QU!KFOAM insole utilises an EVA rubber blend for extra durability and comfort; while a QU!KSPRING+ midsole technology gives impressive cushioning and protection from rough trail surfaces. On the tread front, the H.A.R.T. (High Abrasion Rubber T...

The Taroko 2 Trail Running Shoes from Chinese brand 361 Degrees are the latest innovative all-terrain running shoes to come out of their highly acclaimed research lab. I had a positive experience with the 361 Yushan trail shoes, so I was keen to test out this new release… Last year, I ran my first off-road marathon in a pair of 361 Degrees Yushan Trail Shoes—they did well… I took line honours, without a single blister or injury, despite having never run further than 25 kilometres before. Since then those shoes have done many runs and races, including last year's Original Mountain Marathon . The OMM was what finally killed the Yushans. Scotland's bogs give shoes a real beating. Since then, I have been lusting after another pair. Then, earlier this year 361 Degrees released the new Taroko 2 trail shoes. I could not resist… 361° was founded in 2003 and has quickly grown to become one of the biggest sports brands in China. Their philosophy is to deliver high-quality runni...

I first ran the Original Mountain Marathon in 2016, on the mountains and marshes of Galloway, Scotland. That event I labelled 'Bog Bashing' for the arduous terrain; we did not believe another location could be so challenging. The 2019 edition, in Largs (also West Scotland) proved me very wrong... The Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) is a two-day ultra-running orienteering event, hosted every October in a remote and hostile landscape. Self-sufficient teams of two must navigate between hidden markers, and camp out overnight in the wilderness. It is a challenge of endurance; pushing both physical and mental limits. When you sign up for The OMM you can pick either the Line Course or the Points Course. This year, my running buddy Ben and I chose the 'A Line Course'; a set order of checkpoints that you have to visit, totalling a direct line distance of 65+ kilometres, with 3000 metres of height gain over the two days. Welcome to Scotland… It is 21:00 on Friday nig...

The Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) is a two day ultra-running orienteering event, hosted every October in a remote and hostile landscape. Self-sufficient teams of two must navigate between hidden markers, and camp out overnight in the wilderness. This is a challenge of endurance; pushing both physical and mental limits. Here is what I am packing... I first ran the Original Mountain Marathon in 2016, on the moors and mountains of Galloway. The weather was bleak, but both my running partner and I relished the challenge. You can read more about that first edition here . This year, we are making a return. When you sign up for The OMM you can pick either the Line Course or the Points Course. This year we have chosen the 'A' Line Course; a set order of checkpoints that you have to visit, totalling a route distance of 65 kilometres, with 3000 metres of height gain over the two days. In 2016, we completed the Medium Points Course; where you visit as many points as possib...

" I have never run more than 23 kilometres before… " is my response, when stood in the fading light at The Needles a fellow 'Challenge the Wight' participant asks if I can " run like you bike ". On hearing my reply, he looks at me with a slight wince " Ah, right… well. Good luck."… As the sunset casts an orange haze on the English Channel, and a warm westerly wind blows in over the cliffs of Alum Bay, I slightly nervously await the start of my first marathon… off-road, through the fast approaching darkness. 21:00 — The gun sounds, and amidst a cheer of support from friends and family, we are off. Up the lane to the coastguard cottages and the old rocket launch site; from where we will then turn eastwards, and traverse the downlands backbone of the Isle of Wight all the way to the finish at Culver Down — 26 miles (42 km) and 2900 feet (890 m) of climbing. This could be a long night. Up over Tennyson Down; down to Freshwater Bay; then up agai...

'Running' perhaps isn't the only adjective that should be used to describe taking on last weekend's OMM in the Galloway Mountains, Scotland. You should also add 'Climbing', 'Scrambling', 'Hiking', and most definitely 'Bog Bashing' to the list; it is a running orienteering event of pretty extreme proportions... Friday saw us drive from Portsmouth to the Galloway peninsula in South West Scotland—a casual 15 hour journey by minibus, picking up my running partner Ben in Penrith. Welcomed at midnight by the cheery OMM team, we settled down for a few hours sleep not sure what to anticipate from the next day's race. The OMM is a run orienteering event series, with events in the U.K, France and even Japan. The events all hold the same format: on the start line teams are given a list of checkpoints out in the mountain wilderness—each one is worth a different number of 'points'. The teams of two then have to visit as many of those...