We marathon tested the ASICS Metafuji Trail on the runnable off-road at the New Forest Marathon and it performed well. But we still had questions about how ASICS’ carbon plate trail shoe would hold up on steeper, more technical and tricky terrain. So Run Tester Kieran took it to the 5 Valleys Ultra – a 55km, 2,300m yomp up and down the more taxing climbs and descents in the UK’s Lake District. Home to the Bob Graham round, this off-road can get pretty tasty, so it’s a perfect test ground. While we were at it, we put the Garmin Fenix 8 vs Garmin Enduro 3 and gave the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 the ultra test treatment. Hit play to find out how we got on.
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
0:00 – Intro
0:57 – The Race
1:52 – ASICS Metafuji Trail: 12 miles in
5:20 – ASICS Metafuji Trail: Finish line thoughts
7:08 – 5 Valleys Ultra race review
11:49 – Garmin Enduro 3 vs Garmin Fenix 8
14:26 – Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
16:01 – Nike Freefly Soar Sunglasses
Fancy challenging yourself with a Lake District Ultra? Sign up to the 5 Valleys Ultra here:
https://www.13valleysultra.com/enter/
Hey people welcome to the Run testers It's Kieran here I am in the pretty Glorious Lake District here I'm up here To run the five valleys Ultra it's part Of the 13 Valley Ultra race series we've Got a 56 km with about 2,300 M of Climbing through the beautiful Lake District and today I'm going to be doing A race test of the new Garmin Phoenix 8 Up against the Garmin in dururo 3 I have Got the Garmin and dururo 2 on there With a chest strap pair to it for Benchmarking I've also got the aex Met Fuji Trail on my feet I've got some Shocks headphones here and also I've got These new Nike Shades to test as well Whilst I'm out there so we're going to Be doing a test of all that gear and uh We'll be bringing you how I find it Maybe 7 or eight hours running but Weather's good so far I think it's got To rain later so I'll make the most of It now but yeah anyway we're about half An hour away from the start so let's go Get Ready Che with the team Time To [Music] Up away [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]
[Music] So we comeing up to about 3 hours in We've done about 12 miles just hit the First aid station we've done one point Big climb and one big descent we had all Sorts thrown at the shoes so far and the First stretch of this was pretty Runnable uh bit Stony at times but Nothing too taxing and the shoes Performed really well you know it's the Kind of terrain that meta Fuji are going To do well In then next thing I felt when you hit The kind of steep grass he climbs the Grip went a bit there's not enough grip When you're getting onto these kind of Big patches of sort of wet grass and I've got a bit of sort of wheel spinning Going on again that was kind of Manageable it was okay then we hit The Descent we've just been down some quite Steep stuff there which is fairly Technical loads of rocks everywhere lots Of uneven ground um really steep the Kind of stuff where momentum just Carries you and you Haven to put the Brakes on and that's where these shoes Have got a big problem the stability is No good I've been ankle rolling a lot You know I'm basically it's firing me Off in all directions I'm really Struggling I don't think it's just the Issues that you know terrain is testing And difficult and I've seen some other
People doing the same but you've got a Fairly big stack on here it's pretty Wobbly and that energy even when you're Running bits that are sort of steep and Stony but kind of runnable I'm sort of Yeah I'm feeling like I'm not completely In control and it's not a very Comfortable feeling so I haven't enjoyed That last section actually it's Basically I felt like I'm really in Danger of doing an anchor and I don't Think that's entirely the shoe so I'm Not saying it's just down to the metap Fuji but this terrain you know it was a Test it was the reason I brought them Out here cuz I wanted to see if they Could carbon blate that kind of flight Fo blast foam hold up in this kind of Stuff and I think I'm getting my answer Here which is it's just a bit too Lively Energetic for somebody like me who's not Particularly gifted on those deep Technical Downs I would be struggling on Some of those anyway in shoes that were More stable more ground contact more Controlled but yeah it's it's it's a Struggle it really is at the moment and It's um yeah it's not left me looking Forward to the next one but we uh we Crack on [Music] Right [Music] [Music]
N [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] So that is the five valleys Ultra done I Think it took me just short of 8 hours 35 36 miles or something Big takeaways here for the meta Fuji are That they're not ideal for that terrain Lots of nice runable bits where the shoe Comes to life but when you're on the Steep technical Desense there's just not enough grip They are a little bit too energetic There's too much bounce there not enough Stability there A lot of times I was Hitting uneven ground I was getting Quite a lot of roll on the ankles and I Just didn't feel 100% in control uh when You hit the roads and in the valleys and The runner little bits they come to life And they're great for that but as kind Of we suspected these shoes Are probably going to be better suited To the runnable trails things that you Can attack things that aren't really Steep like some of the stuff out here You know you're feeling out of control You're breaking a lot maybe better
Technical Runners would be able to deal With these shoes on that kind of terrain But for your average Runner I think it's Going to be too much you wanted Something a bit more stable definitely Something with a little bit more grip it Was very wet out there so yeah Comfort Wise though overall in this year I've Got no problems from toes bashing for That distance 8 hours on feet that's Really good they did slip a bit I had to Retie them and get a bit more of a Secure lock down I did feel a bit more Movement from the heels than I really Wanted early on but overall toebox Comfort all of that kind of stuff no hot Spots no blisters no trouble so yeah I I Still like the shoe I would just choose Them for more runnable Trails they are Probably not the best if you're going to Go steep technical slippy rocks grass All that kind of stuff but yeah anyway That's me done I will do the watch Analysis back in the studio because I'm Tired um and I'll talk to you about the Sunglasses and also the shocks as well Back there but uh yeah for now that is The five valleys Ultra Done hey people it's the morning after The race so I did the fine Valley Ultra Yesterday 55 56 km probably about 2,300 M of climbing did it in just under 8 Hours managed to get in 53rd I think Overall I'm trying to have a little word
About the race actually this is the Second year that this Series has been Running it's by the company uh by the The great run company do the great North Run Great South run and yeah overall the Race I thought was super well organized Um everything from when we arrived for Kit check which was pretty fast no big Cues the registration process all of That they flowed you through it was just Really well organized stressfree nice And easy trackers on the packs which and The live tracking on the day is really Great as well that service was good and Then yeah I just thought it was like a Really nice warm welcome from everyone For this race it just had a bit a family Kind of armound sort of hug feel to it Which was really nice um and then the Location absolutely spectacular to be Out here running in the Lakes so then I Thought the course actually was Challenging I was wondering what we Would get out there whether this would Be appropriate for kind of beginner Runners I just met someone at breakast Actually this was their first Ultra so You can come and do it but I think the UPS you know you I think the max climb Was maybe 6700 M uh there was two of Those big climbs then two really steep Descents the climbs were difficult they Were punishing I think the hardest bit Was actually coming down those steep Des
Sents it was very wet yesterday it was Very sort of slippery at times the Terrain was very technical it's the kind Of steepness that is sort of dragging You down and you you have to sort of Really put the brakes on to stop Yourself you know now gifted descenders Or you know Trail Runners down might Find it a little bit easier I found it Really quite testing it's not something That's my kind a natural wheelhouse and I have to admit coming off you know both The first and the second climbs I was Like I think I'm going to go home I've Come here by mistake but you you get Those two big climbs and descents done And then actually the last bit which is Really quite nice is is runnable it's More runnable and it eases out so you Put a lot of the kind of punishment Happens up front and then we got treated To Glorious weather and the other thing To say is the aid stations were really Well stocked there was three of them Along the course and they had everything You would want from Pizza to uh rice Pudding to the best bit was the Biscoff Um Donuts mini Donuts which are Ace but Sweets electrolytes Coke everyone was Super friendly super helpful soup there Was everything really and I yeah I Thought that was a really nice kind of Warm welcome all of them actually had Inside bits as well they're in Halls and
Stuff which is really nice just to get Out of the conditions it was a bit wet That's a nice touch as well and then You've got this kind of Glorious finish That you come in around the back of um Kzk by the lake and there's you know we Had a glorious kind of backdrop with a Sun dropping the only thing I will say About that as you come through the town You know that you're about 200 M from The finish line and then they sort of Turn you right and swing you all the way Out for another kind of what felt like About 3/4 of a mile probably isn't that Much to get back in and at that point I Was like oh why have you done that you Know that that got to the psyche a Little bit I get why they do it because You get this kind of Glorious finish With the photographs coming back down to The lake but it did feel a little bit Cruel at that point uh the only other Thing yeah I mean I other than that I I Thought you know you get these really Nice slate medals which are different And really nice at the end there's teas And coffees and more stuff um as you Cross a Finish Line people taking Clipping your track off handing you a Cup of water looking after you and it Just felt very well done actually I Thought it was very well organized I Think that's kind of something You' Probably expect from the team behind
Such big races like the great North and Great South run overall if you're Thinking about this I I think if you're New to trail running you might want to Try the 22 first there a two valleys 22 Km run that might be a bit more in your Wheelous if you're brand new to it this Five valys is a definite test and I felt On some of that really sort of steeper Technical terrain even for someone I've Got experience of doing this it was Challenging really challenging and I Found it quite hard so that one is a Step up I'd say I think for sure the Seven and then the 13 valleys are for People who got a lot of experience and Uh have got a bigger ability to suffer But overall I thought this race was Really great we finished through kzk Here got the moall behind me you comeing Through the town it was yeah it was like A magic finish got a good good support From people in the town and it's a Lovely location to start and finish so So yeah I thought it was I thought it Was a really well done race and one I'd Highly recommend I would just be very Careful about where you which of the Races in the series that you decide to Do depending on your ability and if You're going to come and do it Definitely try and get on some of the Sort of steeper descents I didn't and I Sort of paid for it but yeah anyway time
To go Home so during the five valleys race I Had the Garment in Juro 3 and the new Garmin Phoenix 8 AMOLED 51 mil in the Same GPS and general setting For both I plugged the five valys route In and followed that course so I was Using the mapping throughout and that Kind of real time navigation that is a Factor when you're considering the Battery burn stats that we'll go into in A minute now the major differen is here The Enduro is lighter on the wrist and I Much prefer the nylon strap that you've Got for getting a better fit you can Make smaller kind of micro adjustments To the strap here that you can't win You've got these kind of hole punch Style silicone straps that's something That I find really useful during Ultras Where you might want to change and Adjust as you go that strap and the Lighweight I think make the Enduro Marginally more comfortable that's how I Found it on race day now the big bright AMOLED screen of the phoenix8 was much Better for following the course and Seeing the detail on the maps during the Race I found both pretty easy to read in Most lights sometimes I had to fire the Uro 3 backlight to get more of that kind Of visibility but the screen on the Phoenix 8 also just makes for a much Better experience overall when you're
Doing the route navigation looking at The battery life then over the 8 hours I Rased the Enduro 3 burned 14% the phix 8 Burned 15% I expected to see a much Bigger drop off from the phoenix8 by Comparison so that was actually quite a Surprise when it comes to GPS and heart Rate the Phoenix 8 clocked 35.99 miles The Enduro 3 clocked 35.8 miles the Enduro 2 that I had as well clocked 3592 Miles the official course is listed at 35.1 miles so that's pretty consistent Across the board good performance I Would say the GPS total elevation was a Slightly different story The Phoenix 8 Clocked 2289 M the uro 3 2253 3 m while The uro 2 had 2303 M so a bit of Difference there now digging into the Tracks the Phoenix 8 and the uro 3 both Did a good job we're both reliable piny On the trails we were mostly out in open Clear sky so you'd kind of expect good Performance but over the 35 miles There's very few signs of troubling Deviations off the routs none of them Really go particularly Wayward heart Rate was a bit more hit and miss both The optical heart rate sensors had Wobbles but the Enduro 3 Optical Definitely struggled more the main Problems occasionally spiking higher Than the chest strap and dropping lower Than that chest strap that h10 that I Was wearing at the aid stations when I
Was stopping then in the final 3 hours Where the course was probably more Runnable and we were more consistent in Terms of the movement the Enduro 3 Really struggled with a long period of Reading far higher way too high than the Chest trp the phoenix8 also read high For a section but nowhere near as off The beat as the Enduro 3 now move moving on to the shocks I Chose the new shocks open run Pro two Headphones because I wanted something That would offer The Best of Both Worlds For this race let me tune into the world Around but still have music when I need A kicking the pants off and during Ultras you're not really sure when You're going to want the music often It's not all the time I also wanted Something that was going to stay put on The steeper descents most inar buds Aren't really going to stick in your Ears when you're really battering down The Steep Lake trails I wore the shocks For the whole eight hours the neck band Design here is great for just dropping Dring them around your neck and Forgetting that they're there no Fiddling with getting buds in and out of The case when you just when you want to Stop listening to music or listen to Them again it's really easy just to flip These up and put them back on on the Move as well without having to again
Fiddle around in a belt now I wasn't Playing music the whole time probably About 30% of the time I used 30% of the Battery overall and these are definitely Short Ultra friendly they may not last 100 kmers for motor Runners Lo now Generally I found the audio pretty Standard for bone conductors not as rich As you get from in ears up top high up The on the wind I found the audio didn't Really have the punch to cut through Sometimes but in The Valleys it was Nicely solid we also had 30 minutes of Torrential rain in which they got very Wet and survived okay which is a good Test for that ip55 water rating no Problems there overall I'd be happy to Choose these again for a race like this Though I think I probably still look at The open swim Pro over the open run Pro 2 you will sacrifice some battery life There but for the same price you're Going to get the added durability and That mp3 phone 3 playback option that You don't get on These I was planning to use my trusted Toosi swix sunnies for this one but Before the race I was actually given These Nike flyfree saw Shades to test Now they come with clever Interchangeable lenses so you can easily Choose a tint that you want for Different runs and conditions there's a Lens for row tints designed to block
Bright reflected light from hard Surfaces there's a Terrain tint that Increases the contrast for better Perception on on the uneven Trails now I Also really like the nicely adjustable Nose bridge that you get here it's great For tweaking them to fit my wonky busted Nose which I always struggle with There's also a lot of flex in the arms So you can really get a secure fit and They hold really well with almost zero Bounce even on those kind of heel Crashing steep descents that I went down In the Lake District they're pretty Light as well with good coverage I did Get some fogging up at times from the Lenses I think that was mainly when I Was blowing really hard on the steeper Climb but overall I found them light Comfortable protective good coverage Good visibility they are much pricier Than I would usually pay for running Sunnies just because I tend to lose mine Or break them scratch them all those Kind of things but if you're more Careful than me and you're looking for a Good set of versatile running shades With this style then these are worth a Look so there you have it that's been my Race test of the five valleys Ultra and The aex Meta Fuji Trail bunch of other Kit in there as well too uh got one of These look at that lovely slate medal You'll get one of these as well if you
Want to sign up for next year you can do 22k or 55k there is a longer seven Valleys which I think it's 110k and then There's a big beast of 180k race out the Entries are open now go check it out Hope you found that useful uh don't Forget to like And subscribe ring the Bell do all of that kind of stuff thanks As every for stopping by and listening To me talk about Kit and races and uh Yeah hope to see you again soon on the Channel in the meantime happy running Everyone