Congrats on your achievement and thanks for sharing a bit of that experience with us.

I'm trying to build up my cardio so that I can hold a brisk jogging-pace for a few hours, with the plan to start trail running very soon.

I have a question for you about footwear: what style of shoe do you think works best for trail running? I've already bought a pair of zero drop New Balance trail running shoes that are basically a thick pair of socks with rubber soles on the bottom, but I'm not convinced that they'll offer my feet enough protection or support for long outdoor runs.

What's your view on this, if you don't mind taking the time for a poor soul like me ;)