Good Content from: Saucony Athlete Grayson Murphy

Trying new things and being adventurous are two very important ways that I like to live my life. Being a “trailblazer” is a title that I like to pride myself on, always trying to follow my own path wherever that may lead me and whatever that may look like.

So, when I heard about the Switchback 2 from Saucony, I knew I had to try it out. A trailblazer in its own right, the Saucony Switchback is an ingenious combination of shoe and lacing technology. Made for adventures, this shoe had a look and technology completely different than any trail shoe I had ever seen. I was immediately drawn to the low-profile and minimalist look of the shoe and the idea that with the BOA lacing system, I wouldn’t have to worry about my shoes coming untied in a race or other inopportune moments. The shoe also appealed to the road and track running background that I have as it closely resembled a racing flat which excited me. I had never considered the idea of having a racing flat for trail running but behold: the Switchback!

My most memorable time in the Switchback is the  2019 XTERRA Trail Run World Championships where they carried me to a victorious gold and helped me set a new course record. The shoe handled crazy Hawaiian mud and clay with ease and grace and not once did my shoes come untied or was I worried that a stubborn mud pit would suck the shoe off my foot. It was a solid day on a solid pair of shoes. 

With the lack of racing in 2020 I haven’t been able to bust out my Switchbacks as racing flats but I have been using them for shorter trail runs where I am looking for speed and agility. They are great for those days when you are looking to really push the pace on the trails and they are light and flexible enough that they are plenty comfortable to run on the road to the trailhead.