Nervous Again: Going Downhill Fast at the Inov-8 Descent Race+
A 96-second plunge off the world’s most dangerous ski slope in running shoes revives race feelings I thought I’d outgrown.
Author
Adam Chase
Infamously known as the “Shoemelier,” Adam W. Chase has tested more than 1,000 running shoes over his year as gear and trail editor for multiple magazines, brand ambassador for multiple companies, and President of the American Trail Running Association.
Raised in Boulder, Colorado, Chase thrives on endurance sports in the mountains. He played soccer, rugby, wrestled and ran and did triathlons during college and continued with marathons and triathlons in law school before jumping into ultramarathons and snowshoe racing, which led to adventure racing.
Chase has won more than 20 ultramarathons, has been on many sponsored running, snow shoe and adventure racing teams and has been inducted into the Colorado Running Hall of Fame. He is the co-author of “The Ultimate Guide to Trial Running,” and four trail running guides (with Nancy Hobbs) and has served as a writer and/or editor for Running Times, Triathlete, Competitor, Men’s Journal, Trail Runner, UltraRunning , Elevation Outdoors and many other sports publications.
Chase lives in Boulder, where he practices law with the firm Hutchinson, Black and Cook, LLC. Most importantly, he is the proud father of two sons, Noah and David.
My Stories
The Pluses and Perils of Profiting as an NCAA Athlete
A guide to help college students navigate the NIL sponsorships and NCAA ruling maze.
Cushioned Trail Carvers: Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 7
With one eye for function and another for form, Nike refined the Terra Kiger for the trail shoe’s best fit, ride, and grip to date.
Comfy — and Quick — Trail Cruiser: The North Face VECTIV Enduris
The North Face VECTIV Enduris is a well-cushioned ride with plenty of teeth, a surprisingly fast roll, and a wallet-friendly price.
The World’s First Graphene-Enhanced Midsole: Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max
The Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra is the first shoe that uses stronger-than-steel Graphene its midsole foam, and the result is long-lasting cushioning that holds up over the burliest of trails.
Snappy Stability: On Cloudswift 2.0 Review
Escape the squish: On's redesigned Cloudswift delivers a secure fit, stable platform and responsive underfoot feel.
Super Shoe Showdown: The Best Racers Head-to-Head
We ran in 10 super shoes back-to-back and compared their feel and ride so you can narrow your search for the best model that fits your stride and preferences.
Altra Provision 5: The Support of an Invisible Hand
The Altra Provision 5 provides creative stability through geometry, proprioception and subtle guidance, while delivering a smooth, neutral, balanced ride.
HOKA Mach 4: Shoe of the Week
HOKA's crowd-pleasing, revamped Mach 4 delivers plush uptempo performance.
Topo Athletic Cyclone: Shoe of the Week
The Cyclone is a perfect lightweight trainer/racer done the Topo way, with a superb fit and responsive feel.
Asics Trabuco Max: Shoe of the Week
Asics make a burly trail statement with the Trabuco Max that grips onto and rolls over rough terrain.
Skechers GOrun Razor Excess: Shoe of the Week
There's nothing excessive about this well-appointed trainer, which delivers the snappy Razor ride with a touch of comfort for logging long miles.