After three years of sticking with the same running shoe, I recently changed it up so I could expand my horizons and go vertical.

It wasn’t a monumental change — just a different model of the same shoe — the Adidas Supernova Trail 5. I had been running on the Supernova Classic since I started marathon training in 2005 in Los Angeles. But in order to battle ice, snow, mud and other obstacles on local trails this past winter and now, spring, I had to beef up the traction on my soles.

At first I wasn’t sold on the Supernova Trail because the inside arch of my foot was hanging over the inside of the shoe, creating intense blisters. It was making my six-mile runs feel like 12.

But as my editor pointed out (he was the one that suggested the shoe), shoes need to be broken in and blisters are just part of a runner’s life. So I powered through, and lo and behold, the shoe stretched out and the blisters went away.

Designed for runners looking for a trail shoe with a moderate amount of support, the Supernova Trail has a second-to-none torsion system that adapts to uneven, rocky terrain for smooth runs on the toughest trails.

The Supernova Classic has remained unchanged since 1998 and I have always been satisfied with the feel, fit and performance. I went through three pairs of them training for and running in the 2006 Los Angeles Marathon.

The Supernova is designed for runners with minimal-to- moderate overpronation who want a support shoe with ideal fit and cushioning.

The trail version isn’t much different, except that it’s more durable on the bottom. It retails for $95 but I got a pair for $59.95 at www.runningwarehouse.com. They were shipped right to my door within two days.

The only drawback is that the Supernova Trail 5 comes in God-awful colors. The latest version is black with pink Adidas stripes. My pair is gray and blue. Performance over fashion, I guess.

<i>csack@aspentimes.com</i>