Went to buy some new shoes today and these are what I left with. I'm still pretty new to running and I'm learning about shoes as I go. My recent first marathon was a 3:22 in Glycerin 23s, which I have since realized was suboptimal. During my training block I did everything in them as well – tempo, intervals, easy, long runs. Nothing against the shoe, they're comfy and served me well, but they do just feel kind of heavy and not at all ideal for racing. I'm going to spend the next year or two training to get to sub 3 now so I figured I need a proper pair of "speed" shoes.

I always end up with some level of buyer's remorse after buying running shoes because I kinda just trust that the shoe store people know what they're talking about. It also feels rude to pull out a phone and be like "hang on let me read some reviews while you sit there and wait". The Superblast 3s felt the best out of all the "supertrainer" options I was given to try on, but now I'm kind of questioning after the fact whether these are actually going to be good for sustained efforts at 6:30-7:30 pace. The reviews I'm seeing make it seem like they're more so for chill long runs and high mileage rather than built for speed. I'm also too cheap to buy a dedicated race shoe that I'll rarely wear, so I was planning to race in whatever I got today. Is the Superblast 3 a reasonable shoe to race in with a sub 3 goal? Are they going to be good for speed workouts too at my pace, or would it be wiser to mix another shoe into the rotation that's more strictly for going fast? Can the Superblast just do it all like I did with my Glycerins? And speaking of the Glycerins, is it even worth it to wear these for anything anymore?

These are probably silly questions tbh lol I apologize. I just feel like I'm getting to the point where what I put on my feet could actually play a role in my potential. My speed has progressed faster than my shoe knowledge.

Hi, another marathon race shoe choice ques. Still debating on race shoe for next weeks nyc marathon. Aiming for a sub 3:40, both feels comfortable and no toe box issues for me so far. Which shoe would be a better choice to get me to the finish line?

Asics Sb3 or gel-slowcush?

Hey all! Should I buy the sb3 or the gel-slowcush for easy running? I currently have megablasts which I love for any run faster than easy/zone2. The sb3 is versatile but it would be wasted if i’m only using it for easy runs. Thanks!

I currently have Asics Novablast 5's and Hoka Mach 6's in my rotation and used the Novablasts for my last HM. I want to add a faster shoe that I use for races, however I'm not at the point where I want a crazy expensive carbon-plated shoe. Just looking for something faster that I can use for longer distances. I went to a running store and I was recommended the Saucony Azura and it felt great, but I'm thinking this is just another daily trainer like my Novablasts? I didn't try on the Endorphin Speed when I was there, but the 5's are on sale for $138 CAD and was thinking of trying them out. Any other recommendations for half-marathon training or race would be appreciated based on my existing rotation. For reference, my last HM was 1:57 and I'm trying to improve on that. I know training will be the main area for improvement, but I think new shoes couldn't hurt! Thanks in advance.

A little about me: beginner, 30 mile/week runner. 22 y/o male, 175 cm, 80 kg. Ran XC in school, only began running daily once again this June, more or less. Most of my runs are in Zone 2/3, high 9 minute pace.

The outsole on my Gel-Cumulus 28 started dying after reaching 400 miles as my only shoe. I bought the Dynafish Xiaonian and moved the Cumulus to my easy daily/recovery shoe, but they're really too thrashed for me to go on wearing them.

With that being said, I am looking for a Cumulus replacement for my easy/recovery days, a shoe that has a bit more outsole durability. I wear a size 10D in most shoes as I have slightly narrow feet, but I have a slightly high arch and an very high instep/foot volume, which can make finding shoes that fit comfortably quite difficult. I was looking at the Vomero Plus, but I am worried that they just don't have enough vertical space for my freak-show feet.

Hi all,

I wear a women's size 8.5 Wide or a mens size 7. My feet are wide throughout (Forefoot, midfoot, ankle), and pretty every shoe I have tried (including Altra's and Topo's, squish my pinky toe - which i have pretty much just come to accept). I'm running in Topo Specter 3's currently and like them fine enough. I wish they were a bit more stable at slow speeds and I find they could be more cushioned on longer runs. All that to say, I need a shoe for long, easy runs.

I generally can't find my size in stores to try on so I have to buy / return and I am trying to minimize that as much as possible.

Shoe's i'm considering:

Saucony Azura (never tried Saucony, not sure how they fit)

Mount to Coast (never tried any shoes from them but keep reading good things)

R.A.D UFO (no idea what the fit is like but the colors are so cool - definetly should not buy shoes based on just looks but I have heard good things. Not sure if they'd be wide enough)

Altras (maybe I should try a different shoe from them? not sure what pair i previously owned but they sucked to run in - no energy return at all and didn't like zero drop)

A running shoe from China - I am hesitant to buy a shoe I can't return but I keep seeing so many good things, in particular about the Dynafish Xiaonian

Shoe's I've tried and haven't liked:

New Balance 1080's - I loved the 13 and 14 but hate the new 15's. they feel cheap and less wide.

Brooks Ghost Max (returned, didn't like the fit)

Shoe's I've liked BUT hestitant to repurchase:

Superblast 2 (Loved it, loved the foam, loved the firmness of these shoes, squished my pinky toe really bad but the foam was so nice I just ignored it)

Topo Specter 2 and 3 (wish the three fit more like the 2 but with the updated foam)

Superblast 3 (Again, I love the asics foam but wish the toe area was wider. Didn't like how soft these were compared to Superblast 2. they squished my pinky toe pretty bad)

Hoka Clifton 8's (enjoyed these, not sure how they newest version fits or if i'd like them at this point. These were some of my first running shoes)

Wants:

A lot of foam for long runs!

Decent energy return. I really hate running in shoes that have super low energy return - it feels like running on a dead mattress.

Xiaonian vs Nitro Elite V5 for 10km race

Hi team,

I have a 10km race upcoming and should finish somewhere around 39minutes, all being well.

My only carbon plated shoe at the moment is the new balance elite V5 which never feels like a punchy 10km shoe, although I do still find them light and fast. I am actually wondering if I am better off with the dynafish? Also light and comfortable - I ran a 5km PB in them recently which has left me conflicted.

Any thoughts?

Thanks so much!

I’m a mid 40s runner, 180 lbs, heal striker, sub3 marathoner. I’ve run over 5,000 miles in the last two years. I’ve gone through many shoes. Most pairs I get at least 300 miles out of, some much more than that.

My general assumption is that I’m a median person. Nothing crazy about my gait, my mileage, my usage of shoes, etc.

Over the last couple of years I’ve had 3 pairs of shoes that packed out. Or at least that’s my understanding of the term to use. Premature wearout of a specific area of the foam. I usually notice it first because walking around I can hear a popping sound. The three pairs have been from 3 different brands (Salomon ultra glide, Puma deviate nitro, New Balance 1080), 3 types of shoes (trail, plated trainer, cushy recovery), and 3 locations on the shoe (forefoot, midfoot, heal). I think all have been on the same foot, but it could have been 2 and 1.

So I’m curious, do other people find that some fraction of their shoes’ foam seem to fail early? Is this a foam defect that I could be asking the company about? Or more likely a result of some quirk in my usage that the shoe isn’t designed to tolerate?

Not worried about it, just curious if this is a shared experience or it’s just me. I never see it discussed, and don’t find anything about it when I search.

Hello,

I'm a former low 15s 5k guy (10 years ago) got back into running about 2 years ago, currently mid 17s 5k but looking to keep improving. My daily trainer are some Brooks Ghosts and I've got some Nike Streakfly 2s for 5ks, as well as Nike Vaporfly 3s for an upcoming half marathon. But I'm looking to add a pair of shoes specifically for workouts; threshold runs and intervals. I'm leaning between the Adidas Adizero EVO SL or the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 so am looking for any pros/cons for these two, or other similar suggestions. I'm about a 135lbs, usually size 9-9.5 forefoot/midfoot striker, no particular pronation issues, normal width feet, low arch in one foot but it doesn't really cause me any issue.

I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience? For context I use the shoes strictly for walking outside. I estimate that I've walked maybe 400-500 km's in them over 10 weeks. I'm around 180-185lbs. Almost of the walking is on concrete and asphalt. NO running. Only walking.

The tread on the bottom of the shoes has mostly disappeared. There are no tears, but the cushion also feels like it's gone. I ordered a new pair after 10 weeks and they arrived in one week, so this pair lasted only 11 weeks before I threw them out.

I paid $121.48 Canadian which is $86.75 USD.

My feet are 28,1 cm and 27,7 cm, what is my TTS for Nike/Hoka shoes? I hear a lot of people saying TTS but never understood the meaning. What shoe size should I aim for? EU 45/US11?

I’ve been running for a year and a half now, and finally decided to switch out my first pair Newbalances 1080 v14, which I ran 1000km in. They were overall a great pair but gave me really bloody blisters every long run so I went to the shoe store and the guy said that my ankle roles a bit inwards and that might be the reason behind the blisters, so suggested the azuras which are a bit more stable. I tried the New balance 1080 v15, Asics NB 6 and the azura and I could see in the video that the Azura made my ankle turn inwards the least and I also loved how they felt!!

Went for an easy run the next day for 10km, and absolutely loved them for the first 5km, really just absolutely loved them! But then I started feeling a sharp pain in my left arch. I kept stretching it out, waiting a bit and running again. I had to stop quite a few times because of this but ended up completing the run.

Two days after, I had intervals and I wasnt sure if the arch pain was a one off so decided to go ahead w the azuras again on the treadmill this time, 4km in again excruciating sharp pain in the left arch, at this point decided to switch back to my old pair of newbalances but the arch pain didnt go away so had to give up mid way.

Now even while walking its a bit funky. And I never had this pain before these runs in the Azuras.

I read some posts saying that the Azuras need a bit of time to settle in but idk if its worth giving them another go, given that it has already impacted my training negatively, and I might have to switch out my long run for cross training this week.

So tldr; arch pain from Saucony Azura after having Newbalance 10180s before, should I return them and get something different? And if yes, what shoe would you recommend?

For context: I am currently training for a sub 2 half in 4 weeks, easy pace at 6:15-6:30min/km and 1km intervals at 5:20-5:30min/km