As I was looking over the registration for the Mountains-to-Sea Trail 12-Mile Challenge, I noticed this line wedged between “Camping Options” and “Be Aware”:

“Montrail will provide shoes for you to wear test!”

I’ve heard of getting a T-shirt, a water bottle or a hat at a race. But a loaner pair of shoes? Used shoes: Isn’t that a bowling thing?

“They’ve been doing it for a little while,” Jason Page told me when I called Bull City Running to inquire further. “They,” are Montrail shoes; Page and wife Kim own Bull City Running, which is organizing the MST 12-Mile Challenge as a benefit for the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

“They” — again, Montrail — “did it for the Rock/Creek Stumpjump 50K,”   Jason said. That race has 5,000 feet of elevation gain through the mountains of southeast Tennessee, certainly more of a test than the MST 12-Mile Challenge. Still, even 12 miles along the less vertiginous Falls Lake Trail (a k a the South Shore Trail, a k a the Falls Lake portion of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail), seems like a lot for a new pair of shoes.

Actually, corrected Jason, these aren’t new. They’ve been pre-worn in other events. Like bowling shoes.

Here’s the deal: The test shoes, Montrail’s Mountain Masochist, will be distributed at packet pickup at Bull City Running on Friday, April 9, the day before the race. There’s a limited number of shoes available, Jason recommends arriving early if you’re interested. Packet pickup begins at noon and runs until 7. Run in the shoes at the race, then return them to the smelly shoe bin at the finish and get some free Montrail swag. Jason says you won’t be able to buy the shoes you ran in — they’re destined for more feet on a trail down the line. (And hopefully a bowling alley-style disinfecting as well.) But you’re welcome to come back to the store and buy a new pair.

OK, the chance to test-run a pair of top-flight trail running shoes is tempting, as is the free-swag-yet-to-be-identified. But taking a new pair of shoes (new to you) sans break-in on a 12-mile trail run? Is that advisable? I asked Jason, who won the state cross-country championship his junior year at Millbrook High School and was a 4-year letterman in track and field and cross country at UNC.

“I wouldn’t do it,” he replied.

I, on the other hand, as a non-competitive race participant probably will. Provided, that is, that these pre-worn shoes have been XK-12d.

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About the race: The Mountains-To-Sea Trail 12-mile Challenge on April 10 begins at Bayleaf Church Road and follows the FLT/MST 12 miles to the Falls Lake Dam. There’s a bit of up and down and while the trail is in good shape, it does have rocks and tree roots. The run begins at 8 a.m.; runners will be shuttled from and to the Falls Pointe Shopping Center. The race is part of the Falls Lake Festival, which will be held at the finish. Cost is $35, registration is capped at 250. More info or to register, contact Bull City Running.