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"Gravel Running"......
 

"Gravel Running"... just no

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[#13535704]

I'm now convinced bikeradar is just trying to get a rise from readers - people commenting on ragebait still count as engagement... 

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/pas-normal-studios-salomon-a-new-terrain-for-movement

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 10:05 am
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Gravel running has been a thing forever, in the same way that gravel riding has been. Just that some companies have realised there's some money to be made from it.


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 10:14 am
tall_martin and nicko74 reacted
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So that's what I did this morning, I've always called it just running or jogging depending on pace.


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 10:38 am
tall_martin reacted
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Gravel running is basically just 90's cross country, I'm going to dig out a pair of old silver shadows and keep it real!!!😉


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 10:43 am
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So that's what I did this morning, I've always called it just running or jogging depending on pace.

Sadly no. This is a tree falling in the woods scenario. You didn't know what you were doing was gravel running therefore it was just plain old fashioned and quite frankly boring "running". I'm embarrassed for you.  Now you know however and then crucially, buy some shoes marketed   designed specifically for gravel running then you may call yourself a gravel runner. Until then - meh - jog on 'running' boy.  


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 10:45 am
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 Bazz
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I think I posted a link to an article about this in the big running thread a couple of months a go, shoes with a tread inspired by gravel tyres and all that jazz, but yeah basically running apparel manufacturers have seen how easy it is to get cyclists to part with a bunch of cash and are seeing if runners will take the bait.

Look out for trail races near you being re-branded as gravel events soon 😂


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 10:48 am
reeksy and nicko74 reacted
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I quite fancy a "Gravel Running"©  vest with incorporated water bottles... hmm let me guess - £150 + bottles?

edit: Ooh no, quite a bargain at £60! 

Also to be combined with a Gravel Specific bandana at only £33! What a time to be alive!


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 10:55 am
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Well that's told me, Convert. 🙁 I was so pleased with my Salming S2 Exo En Route, now I'm going to have to wear dark glasses and a baseball cap pulled down low when I go running on my local trails.


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 11:02 am
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I ran a large chunk of a "gravel ultra" (race down a canal towpath) this weekend. I wore road shoes. Does this make me a bad person? Do I need some new shoes?


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 11:11 am
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Posted by: Bazz

I think I posted a link to an article about this in the big running thread a couple of months a go, shoes with a tread inspired by gravel tyres and all that jazz, but yeah basically running apparel manufacturers have seen how easy it is to get cyclists to part with a bunch of cash and are seeing if runners will take the bait.

Look out for trail races near you being re-branded as gravel events soon 😂

I remember it - or actually, I remember the rage it induced in me 😆. I'd hope that people who do any sort of running/ jogging are intelligent enough to see that this is just marketing drivel, there is no new niche; but I may be overestimating people

 

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 11:17 am
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Gravel running is basically just 90's cross country, I'm going to dig out a pair of old silver shadows and keep it real!!!😉

👍

 

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 11:20 am
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Until then - meh - jog on 'running' boy.  

Surely 'jogging on' is entirely the point, and not the insult you intended. 😁


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 11:31 am
nicko74 reacted
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I think most runners (and cyclists) don't really care what the marketing term is, they just want kit that works for the runs/rides they enjoy. 

Modern mountain bikes became so capable that they were overkill on tame trails. There was always a large group of riders who just enjoyed getting out in nature and away from the traffic but who weren't really interested in an adrenaline sport and didn't want the risk of injury that comes with technical trails. For them a rigid bike with chunky tyres was always a decent option. In the early days we had rigid mountain bikes (sometimes called all terrain bikes). For a while we had fatbikes. Now we have gravel bikes and we've always had tourers that could go off road. But they are all just rigid bikes for riding on tamer trails. 

Similarly with runners; "road to trail" shoes have always existed for the runner who wants to mix running on a road with running on tamer trails (forest paths) etc where a chunky trail shoe isn't the best option. If the shoe manufacturers want to stick the word gravel on my road to trail shoes then I don't really care. As long as I can get a shoe with a decent amount of cushioning for running on hard surfaces and enough tread that I wont fall flat on my face as soon as the trail gets remotely slippery (while still having good grip/feel on smooth roads) then they can call it whatever they like.

It's probably less of an issue for running than cycling really as most keen runners already have a decent number of shoes to cover different conditions anyway whereas lots of cyclists still want one bike to cover a wide range of stuff.  


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 11:46 am
 DrJ
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Posted by: lunge

I ran a large chunk of a "gravel ultra" (race down a canal towpath) this weekend. I wore road shoes. Does this make me a bad person? Do I need some new shoes?

And you didn't die? You had a lucky escape! Get down to the shoe shop toot sweet !!


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 11:48 am
nicko74 reacted
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and not the insult you intended.😁

I know - pretty coincidental - what are the chances. Imagine if I'd have chosen it deliberately....that would make me some sort of comedy genius 😉

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 11:53 am
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Posted by: roverpig

lots of cyclists still want one bike to cover a wide range of stuff.  

Are you new here? 😁


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 12:01 pm
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Yes, that was a pretty daft thing to post on here wasn't it. I was talking about normal people though 😀 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 12:21 pm
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Posted by: nicko74

I'm now convinced bikeradar is just trying to get a rise from readers - people commenting on ragebait still count as engagement... 

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/pas-normal-studios-salomon-a-new-terrain-for-movement

 

 

Isn't that just trail running? I've been doing it for a while now 🙂 I even have jorts 

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 12:46 pm
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Guys... we happily ride 'Enduro' bikes on paths and trails... 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 12:53 pm
 DrJ
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Guys... we happily ride 'Enduro' bikes on paths and trails... 

Burn him !!


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 1:03 pm
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Posted by: jameso

Guys... we happily ride 'Enduro' bikes on paths and trails... 

"we" and "ride" are possibly superfluous for many in STW...

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 1:11 pm
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I'm allowed to hike a bike, but running is strictly off the cards - Consultant's orders. Has quite a bit to do with fracturing my hip socket and not having had a new one fitted (slight NHS oversight). Running will mean I need a new one sooner.


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 1:16 pm
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I'm allowed to hike a bike, but running is strictly off the cards - Consultant's orders. Has quite a bit to do with fracturing my hip socket and not having had a new one fitted (slight NHS oversight). Running will mean I need a new one sooner.

Where does that fit with gravel running vs running? Or is it just another category of shoes that are needed - the non-runners non-gravel shoe for those times when the sofa is the preferred option? (Formerly known as slippers, but the industry is going through a hard time recently so rebranding is necessary.)

I'm less bothered by gravel shoes but am fascinated by expensive lightweight camp shoes. You take your boots off after a hard days walking, pitch your tent, slip on your camp shoes and instantly tear them open on uneven ground or ram a pointy rock into your sole (and your soul!). 😀 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 1:56 pm
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I'm all for it. Ive long wanted to swap between various bikes on mixed terrain. But without a support van thats been impossible. Now i can go running with a rucksack on with multiple pairs of shoes in it and swap out as I go. Start on the road with road shoes (obviously) then swap between trail, gravel, fell running and approach shoes before finally donning some climbing shoes before summiting my local hill.

 

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 2:23 pm
aggs reacted
 DrJ
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Posted by: Blackflag

approach shoes

Always wondered what to wear when departing from my objective.


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 3:08 pm
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Posted by: DrJ

Posted by: Blackflag

approach shoes

Always wondered what to wear when departing from my objective.

Converse

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 3:20 pm
 DrJ
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Posted by: matt_outandabout

Converse

🙂


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 3:46 pm
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Posted by: lunge

I ran a large chunk of a "gravel ultra" (race down a canal towpath) this weekend. I wore road shoes. Does this make me a bad person? Do I need some new shoes?

Thats roughstuffing. Totally different. Bring your running anorak and tuck your ronhills into your red socks 

 


 
Posted : 27/05/2026 6:10 pm