02 Summer · Running
Running,trail or road.
At 1,816 m you can run high mountain trails or the paved path along the valley floor. Two surfaces, two different shoes: we help you choose the one that suits how you run.
i In short
Sport Extreme, at Via Prestefan 14 in Livigno, sells running shoes and clothing for trail running on mountain paths and for road running. Brands include Salomon, Altra, Asics, Saucony and Nike; for the road, the shop carries Asics and Saucony. Its advisors help you choose drop, cushioning and fit to match your terrain and distances.
C Choose your discipline
Same sport,
different terrain.
B Summer
How to choose
- Trail or tarmacLugs and toe protection for the trail; a smoother, more cushioned sole for tarmac.
Trail shoes have lugs, rubber that grips dirt and rock, and toe protection. Road shoes have a smoother outsole and a more cushioned, responsive midsole. Lugs wear quickly on tarmac; on wet trails a smooth sole slips.
- DropA high drop eases the Achilles and calves; if you move to a lower drop, do it gradually.
Drop is the difference in height between heel and forefoot, in millimetres. A high drop, 8 to 12 mm, takes strain off the Achilles tendon and calves; a low drop, 0 to 4 mm, suits a landing further forward and asks more of those muscles. If you move to a lower drop, do it gradually.
- CushioningMore cushioning for long distances, less to feel the ground better.
Plenty of cushioning protects legs and joints over long distances. Less cushioning lets you feel the ground and makes the shoe nimbler. The higher the stack, the more a secure fit matters.
- FitFeet swell as you run: a finger's width of room at the toe, heel and midfoot held firm.
Feet swell as you run: you need about a finger's width of room in front of your toes, with the heel and midfoot held firmly. That's why many runners go half a size up from their everyday shoes. Try them on with running socks, ideally in the afternoon.
D In Livigno
Where to run in Livigno
The town sits at 1,816 m. A paved path runs along the valley floor through Livigno from north to south for more than 10 km, most of it with a lane reserved for people on foot; at Aquagranda there's a six-lane athletics track, sheltered from the wind by a green wall. In July there's the Stralivigno, a 21 km mountain half marathon on trails, gravel tracks and tarmac.
E Quick advice
Where do you run most?
Our advice
F In store
Tell us how you run
We ask where you run, how far and how often, then let you try several models from Salomon, Altra, Asics, Saucony and Nike. We explain the differences in drop, cushioning and fit, whatever the brand. And in Livigno's duty-free zone, there's no VAT.
G Frequently asked questions
Good to
know.
What's the difference between trail and road running shoes?
Trail running shoes have a lugged outsole and rubber designed to grip dirt, rock and mud. They usually also have a tougher upper, toe protection and a more stable fit. Lugs wear quickly on tarmac, so if you mostly run on roads, a road shoe is the better choice.
What is drop in running shoes, and which should I choose?
Drop is the difference in millimetres between the height of the heel and the forefoot. A high drop takes load off the calves and Achilles tendon; a low drop encourages a landing further forward and asks more of those muscles. If you're used to a high drop, move down gradually.
What changes when you run at 1,816 m?
At 1,816 m there's less oxygen in the air: for the first few days your pace drops and your heart rate climbs sooner for the same effort. Run by feel rather than by pace per kilometre, drink more than usual because the air is dry, and protect yourself from the sun, which burns more at altitude. After a few days your body adapts.
Can I use the same shoe on road and trail?
Yes, for light mixed use: a trail shoe with shallow lugs copes with stretches of tarmac, and a road shoe is fine on dry, hard-packed gravel. In mud, wet grass and on boulder fields a road shoe slips; on tarmac deep lugs wear quickly. If you often run on both, it's worth having two pairs.
Come and
see us.
Every day 09:00–12:30 · 14:00–19:30
Via Prestefan 14 · 23041 Livigno · 1.816 m