Disclaimer: I received the Under Armor Horizon RTT trail shoes to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

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I have been running off and on for quite a bit of my life, but the most consistently for roughly 5 years, and I have only been trail running for the last year. Since haven’t been on the trail running scene for very long, I am a newbie when it comes to knowing much about anything trail…

Don’t believe me?

My first trail race was run in road shoes…yes. Road. Shoes. Total newb!

There is something about the trail that just feel so much better than the roads…and it keeps drawing me back!

Today, I am just Thinking Out Loud about trail running and my opportunity to try the new Under Armor Horizon RTT trail shoes!

As I mentioned before, I am a relatively new runner (5-ish years) and even newer to trail running (1 year or so). In my time as a runner, I have grown more fond of trail running and seemingly made more friends on the trails than on the road!

Off the top of my head (or thinking out loud) my favorite reasons to head to the trails are : 

• Being in nature in its rawest form
  • While some trails are paved or have paved sections, most of the trails that I run are gravel, dirt, rocky, or earth. 
• The people are very laid back and seem to always have a positive attitude
• The aid stations are buffets!! Hello fruit, sandwiches, chips, candy, gels, potatoes, wraps…you name it, it has probably been there!
• I lose my train of busy thoughts out on the trail…
  • I find that when I am running trails, I am less likely thinking about the loads of laundry waiting for me when I get home, or the dishes piling up in the sink, or the bills needing to be paid this week, or dinner that needs to be made…
  • Plus, if you are thinking about much more than your next step, you may find yourself staring at the sky on your back… Roots, rocks, stumps, and just plain dirt can sneak up on you and lay you out flat!
• Hearing nature sounds is calming
  • Birds singing, bees buzzing, crickets chirping, animals scurrying away from the trail…
• I can brush up on my ninja skills… Don’t believe me? Go run the trails after a good rain : ) All the 8-legged friends are making new ninja-skill training traps…
• The “me time” away from the hustle and bustle…

​Time on the trails is truly the only calming “me time” and nothing can take that away…except for a rogue spider web – and that just turns me into a ninja. : )

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Under Armor Horizon RTT

When I was given the opportunity to try the Under Armor Horizon RTT trail shoes as a BibRave Pro, I jumped at the chance to try new trail gear! To be honest, I own a few Under Armor branded clothing, but I had no idea they were making shoes as well! 

Product Specs (from the UA website)

• Durable PU & textile upper for breathability & reliable protection
• Reinforced welded synthetic material in critical areas for increased durability
• Mesh heel with dual protective welds
• Molded collar foam package for added comfort
• Charged Cushioning® foam puck placed under the heel for responsive comfort
• Lightweight, full-length EVA midsole for optimal cushioning
• High traction rubber lug outsole for dependable traction on a variety of conditions
• Offset: 7mm
• Weight: 9.2 oz.
• Imported

As a new trail runner, I was unsure what all of this meant – so I just needed to get out on the trail to see how they felt!!

Out of the box, the shoes looked great! The soft materials would surely keep my feet dry, the lugs would help me grab the earth with every step, and they were lightweight! I couldn’t wait to hit the trail!

My first experience in the Under Armor Horizon RTT was on the local trail by my work. We had some rain the previous couple days, so I was unsure the trails were going to be in good condition for running, but I decided to try and get in a few miles. Minus my new found ninja skills (aka, spider web clean-out with my face), I enjoyed the feel of the shoes!

The lugs, or deep treads, are perfect for getting through the muddy conditions without major build-up and I was able to feel stable on unstable ground. While the shoes felt a bit stiff, the stability it offered was great for the unstable surface below my feet. 

Through the following week, I had a few shorter trail runs and the shoes still felt good!

The black color made my feet feel hot in the full sun – but this wasn’t a major deterrent from my liking to these shoes.

From the gravel levee trail to the dirt/rocky/roots river trail, the Under Armor Horizon RTT kept me on my feet and feeling comfortable.

My first longer run in the Under Armor Horizon RTT was out on the Konza Trails. My pal Tara and I were able to chase the sunrise in the varying terrain in this natural Prairie Preserve. I wanted to start with a “reasonable” distance in my new shoes, and 10 miles seemed reasonable enough to me (plus, it was already in my training plan) : )

From the loose gravel to the limestone staircase, gradual grassy climbs to rocky descents, we trekked 10 miles to start the day. My feet were comfortable throughout the experience but my laces kept untying. The laces that come in the shoes are detailed and pretty, but there is something about the texture of the material that made them prone to loosening up and untying…

Whatever, with views like these, I was alright with stopping once in a while.

My next big run didn’t turn out quite as planned. With sleeping in and family time taking priority of the weekend, I wasn’t able to get out for my long runs (the longer of the two) until Sunday afternoon.

I headed out with many trail miles on the map and my UA Horizon RTT on my feet! I first hit up Washington Marlatt Park – where there are lots of dirt/grassy trails, rocky climbs, and open views : ) My feet were feeling great, but as the sun started to set, I began to get anxious of my plans. With necessary water/fuel stops, I soon decided that rather than take the linear trail around town,  I would just stay on our side of town and make the most of my miles.

While the Horizon RTT is a trail shoe, they did well on the roads as well! They were a little less responsive on the concrete/pavement but they helped me grip the road through the many water puddles I bounded thorough and the gravel “pull off” areas on the side roads.  

The biggest test of these shoes was my 24 mile preview run out at Clinton Lake – the stomping grounds (literally) for my first 50m race in a few couple weeks! The Hawk 50 is going to be a test of my will and strength, and I am planning on suiting up with my UA Horizon RTT! While I will be packing a few changes of socks, I am confident that these shoes will take me the full 50m distance!

Overall, I have enjoyed the UA Horizon RTT!

With a little less than 100 miles on them, I have had less bunion soreness, they are wide enough for my monster feet, the lugs are just big enough to make romping through the woods easier in muddy conditions, and I like the fun colors that they come in (hello blue and red!!). 

As a newb trail runner, I found a trail shoe that I wouldn’t mind purchasing a second pair…and since Under Armor has several other trail shoe options as well, I wouldn’t mind trying more of their styles!

What are other BibRave Pro’s saying about the Under Armor Horizon RTT trail shoes? Check them out!

Amanda      Heather     Tedrick     Zenaida     Lisa     Randall
Frank     Jennifer     Amy     Jessica     Vanessa     Angie
Matt     Bradford     Casey     Brenda     Mel     Dyenna     Fallon

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Today, I am linking up with some of my favorite bloggers 🙂

Amanda hosts the awesome Thinking Out Loud Thursday and happens to be the day that I am posting this!

A couple other linkups I am posting with are the Tuesday’s on the Run, Wild Workout Wednesday, and the Running Coaches Corner! 

I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and start a conversation!

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