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I'm planning to do a local road Marathon in the Spring. I did my first 'proper' race earlier in the year, a hilly half in 1hr40. I've been upping my mileage lately and hope to be doing fifty miles a week by the new year and aiming for 3hr30 ish marathon.
I'm not sure the fractional gains of a super shoe would benefit me too much at the pace I plan to run, roughly eight minutes per mile.
I used Saucony Speed 3 for the half and it was good for the most part but I did experience some anterior tibialis problems for a few weeks after so not sure I'd want to use them for a full marathon. This is on my right side but I've been doing additional physio strengthening and trying to improve technique.
I've got a pair of On Cloudflyer 4 that I've been used for everyday stuff and they are reasonably comfortable and quite firm and I think I'm preferring firmer shoes than squishy.
Any advice from people who have used or not used super shoes for less than elite times?
What does a proper expert in a proper running shoe shop say, having examined your feet and your running technique?
The potential for injury makes me think the time and cost would be worth it. Given the time and cost of layoffs amd physio - guess how I know this!
The 'super' shoes do give you a noticeable step in performance, but not only that, they also seem to lessen the recovery time post run, i.e. don't beat your legs up as much as an average daily shoe. That being said, not everyone gets on with them.
If I were you I'd just get some shoes you are comfortable in and break them in before the marathon.
I wouldn't wear a shoe that had hundreds of miles on them for a marathon but then I would for a long training run so it just depends on your outlook to these things. Oh, and good luck.
Oooh, running shoe chat, my favourite subject!
I thing the so called super shoes with carbon plates can be helpful to any speed of runner, though there are some that definitely work best at the faster ends of the spectrum. As alanf says above, they feel great to run in but also aid recovery. I tend to keep a pair fresh for races, but before a marathon I'll generally do 1 long run in them to make sure they don't cause any issues, and ideally one shorter race to see how they feel at pace.
Given you like On shoes you definitely prefer a firmer ride.
With that in mind I'd be looking at the Adidas Pro 3. Personally I prefer the Nike Vaporfly, but it's soft and not overly supportive, the adidas shoe is a bit firmer and has a bit more support in the shoe so would likely suit you better. The other one to look at is the Puma Deviate Nitro 2, it's not as "extreme" as the 2 I mention above and feels more like a fast training shoe than a balls out race shoe.
<p style="text-align: left;">I'm not sure I fully trust the opinion of retailers when all they do (not all of them obviously) is put you in a pair of Brooks stability shoes. I've got the hump with my local because I've bought three pairs of shoes all costing over £120 and the owner/manager's customer rapport is dreadful so I'm not going to go there anymore.</p>
I’m not sure I fully trust the opinion of retailers when all they do (not all of them obviously) is put you in a pair of Brooks stability shoes. I’ve got the hump with my local because I’ve bought three pairs of shoes all costing over £120 and the owner/manager’s customer rapport is dreadful so I’m not going to go there anymore
@ovoderbars, I'm glad someone else thinks that. No experience I've had with analysis from running shops has resulted in me buying shoes I liked. In fact, one resulted in my buying a pair of Brooks Launch, possibly the worst shoes I've ever run in.
What's worth noting is that if you buy direct from the shoe manufacturers many let you run in the shoes and send them back if you don't like them. Brooks, Nike, Hoka and ASICS certainly do, and I think Saucony do too. It does mean you have to pay full price for them, though there's nothing to stop you working out you like them, sending them back and buying another pair from a cheaper source.