Marathon Weekend 2026

[matt and beth]

Bailed on Asiscs and Nike many moons ago. The toes box was way too narrow. Saucony and or NB!

 

[sandam1]

I'm a lot like @camaker - princess feet and a old model shoe hoarder. I wore New Balance 870s for many years until they were discontinued. I found an okay replacement (I can't even remember now what it was) and then NB brought back the 870s for one year. I bought every pair of them that I could find and afford. I even bought a few lightly used pairs on eBay.

When I went through the final pair, I switched to the Asics GT-2000, which worked for my feet, but caused terrible blisters. Going into Dopey 2025, I knew that I couldn't chance the blisters and I was back on the hunt. I'm now in the Mizuno Wave Inspire 19s and am now back in hoarding mode. I've tried the 20s on and I think that they will work, but I'm still looking for as many pairs of the 19s as I can find.

BTW if anyone is looking for retired shoes, I've had decent luck with www.relaygoods.com. They have store returns (or at least that's where it seems like they get them) for really good prices. I check regularly as they get new shoes often.

 

[sandam1]

If anyone wants to stock up on throwaways, Kohls currently has their additional 50% off clearance sale going on right now. I got sweatpants for $5 each (and they are NICE ones) and Big One blankets with Minnie Mouse on them for $4.

And for everyone who is hoping for hot weather for MW, you may thank me. I've virtually guaranteed it by buying these warm clothes.

 

[Herding_Cats]

@sandam1 I bought winter jackets at Costco for $5/ea 2 months ago! We are determined to have warm weather in January!!

 

[FFigawi]

SAFD: I was a Brooks Ghost gal but something went wrong with the 15s (feel flat after less than 100 miles) and I've pivoted away from them. Endorphin speed 3s have been my speed shoe but I don't like the feel of the 4s. I've added the Novablast 5s to my rotation which are the perfect blend of cushion and spring for speed. They are so springy and bouncy that when I wear my Ghosts I feel like I'm running on Old Navy flip flops

I don't know anyone who likes the Speed 4s. Not sure how they messed them up so badly. We're all hoping the Speed 5s are released and usable before the Speed 3s are completely gone.

 

[rick1zoo2]

ASICS Novablast 5. In prior race weekends, my knee and ankle joints were sore afterwards. After running the 5k and 10k at this year's Dopey Challenge on Brooks Glycerin 21, we went to the Expo where I found the Novablast 5, and wow what a difference. I used them for both the Half and Full and my knees felt great afterwards. They are super comfortable and give a bit of a spring to the step. I got a second pair and alternate between the two, and will probably get a third soon.

 

[KCO5988]

SAFD: I used to be a one shoe all runs girl. Like not even just a few of pairs the same model, only one pair of shoes. It was a minimalist shoe Nike used to make. Well, I'm not in my 20s anymore and have birthed two babies and my feet could not do that now haha. So currently I do:

Brooks Glycerin: Easy short runs and easy long runs (I need something new for my next training cycle because while I loved the 14s the 15s are not great)

Asics Novablast: Speed and tempo work, long runs with pace efforts

Nike Alpha Fly: Race shoes and 2-3 training runs per cycle (typically a long run with pace efforts and a longer tempo run)

Thinking I'm going to need to add another shoe into the rotation as I add training days, since I mostly am just alternating between the Glycerin and Novablasts.

 

[The Expert]

Hierro (v8) trail shoes; those feel like a NB880, if anyone was wondering

Thank you! They have these in my size at my local REI, so I may pop in and try them out.

And for everyone who is hoping for hot weather for MW, you may thank me. I've virtually guaranteed it by buying these warm clothes.

@sandam1 I bought winter jackets at Costco for $5/ea 2 months ago! We are determined to have warm weather in January!!

STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!!

 

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: Shoes! Who doesn't love talking about shoes. I must admit that I do have a shoe issue. So always in the market to pick up a new shoes. LOL.

My marathon shoe right now is the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4. Wore this for last years marathon at MW and loved it. My feet felt great the whole race. But I need to nail down the lace situation. They kept coming undone during the race and cost me probably about 10 minutes on my time. Going to try the lace lock systems people suggested earlier this year.

For daily runs, I really do like the NB 1080v12. But they are becoming harder and harder to come by.

Now, the shoe I am now in love with is the Adidas Adizero EVO SL. The first time I ran in them, I was super impressed by the speed and the cushioning. There is no plate in the shoe, but it performs like plated shoe. I ended up buying two more pairs to stash away for the future (MW 2026 of course). I am even contemplating wearing them for the marathon as they are that good. The only part I am not a fan of is that the Continental Tire rubber on the bottom of the shoe isn't the best on wet cement.

Another daily trainer I am looking to try out it is the Nike Vomero 18. The new design caught my attention. Nike's toe boxes have always been too narrow for me, so I am hoping this one will be wide enough.

 

[marty3d]

SAFD:

I've primarily been a Nike runner for the last 15 years after shifting away from Brooks that was killing my knees - long story short - Nike used to be my account and on one of my first visits to Beaverton they put me through a full running/ gait analysis and I've been running in variations of those recommended shoes ever since.

Tempo Runs/ Intervals/ Shorter runs - Pegasus (I buy at the outlet so always tend to be a few generation behind - currently running in the 39)

Long Runs - Vomero (Or race-retired Vaporfly)

Race Day (10k+) - Vaporfly (used to run race day in a combo of either Pegasus or Vomero but finds the Vaporfly leaves my legs feeling much better post-race. Don't think it makes me any faster but my recovery is much improved which alone makes it worth it for me)

Trail/ Wet/ Winter - Pegasus Trail / Hoka Speedgoat

In general, I've been happy and mostly injury free with this mix which is why I haven't branched out more. I am tempted to try some different daily trainers - and with some of what I've heard about the new Pegasus models - now might be the time - they're also the shoes I'm going to have to replace the soonest so I love this topic - I'm already starting a list of which shoes to try next.

This winter I branched out to the Hoka's due to a recommendation on this board and I've been very happy with them - especially the Vibrim outsole which has MUCH better traction on snow than the Nikes.

 

[marty3d]

Another daily trainer I am looking to try out it is the Nike Vomero 18. The new design caught my attention. Nike's toe boxes have always been too narrow for me, so I am hoping this one will be wide enough.

Looking forward to trying that one too - currently running in the Vomero 17 - I'll likely need to buy a new pair which will be the 18 by the end of summer. I'm lucky that I've never had an issue with the Nike toe boxes though.

 

[sandam1]

STOP IT RIGHT NOW!!!

My abject apologies in advance! But the deals really were too good to pass up. If it makes you feel any better, I decided to wait on buying the bathrobes until closer to race day AND I'm getting some new tank tops made. So those actions might balance things out. Maybe?

 

[Dopey 2020]

SAFD Currently I have 5 pair in rotation. I’ve always been a Mizuno fan for trainers and long runs, but they screwed up the last couple versions of my long run shoe so now it’s just the Wave Riders for my everyday basic run. The Saucony Endorphin Trainer is my long run shoe now. The Endorphin Pro 4 was my race day shoe but has moved to speed workouts and faster paced long runs. My new race day shoe is the Endorphin Elite 2. And for fun I had to get the runDisney Adenalines at SS. I can’t run in Brooks Ghosts at all but can get through 3-5 miles in the adrenalines so I got them to change it up on occasion. If I had to pick though, I’d say I’ve become a member of team Saucony.

SAFD: For training I alternate between a variety of shoes, primarily New Balance 1080 and Hoka Cliftons. But recently I have found a race day shoe that has blown my mind. I’m not a fast enough runner that I’ve ever notice a marked difference with carbon plated shoes. Until I started running races in the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2. Never have I felt so propelled forward by the rocking motion of a shoe. Adding to that they are so light with a very comfortable upper. The soles are so squishy and impact absorbing. The only downside to that squishiness is they are not the most stable shoe and take some getting used to. But the pros far outweigh that con and I’ve run my fastest 10K, half and full marathons in them in 5 years. Highly recommend.

​

Couldn’t agree more! The Elite 2s are a game changer.

I don't know anyone who likes the Speed 4s. Not sure how they messed them up so badly. We're all hoping the Speed 5s are released and usable before the Speed 3s are completely gone.

This! I brought back the speed 4s after one three mile and a one mile run. Felt great the day I tried them on but were horrible every step after that at any speed. It’s like they were flat right out of the box. Can’t wait to see if the 5 offers up some redemption. I still have my last pair of 3s in my owners locker at Disney with 500+ miles on them as a backup.

 

[Kerry1957]

I remember some random on a trail
race absolutely bear foot. Simply amazing

Was he really really hairy? He might have been running bear paw. If not he was probably running barefoot.

 

[jmasgat]

So explain to me --succinctly--all of you who run in multiple shoe types: what it is that actually feels different across your shoe types/your body. "Flat"?? "Faster"?? "Better"??--how do you know? Not looking for basic fit things like "the toe box/arch/insole" fits me well. I am just curious--as an oblivious/unaware person-- what you really get out of the different shoes and also how you got there.

Not sure if I should really care about this anymore, since I really don't plan to race, and don't feel bad after running in the same shoes for training and racing (other than the usual post-race feel), but I am curious.

 

[Kerry1957]

SAFD I currently am running trails in Hoka Challenger ATRs. When I occasionally hit the pavement and for street races I run in Hoka Cliftons.

 

[Herding_Cats]

So explain to me --succinctly--all of you who run in multiple shoe types: what it is that actually feels different across your shoe types/your body. "Flat"?? "Faster"?? "Better"??--how do you know? Not looking for basic fit things like "the toe box/arch/insole" fits me well. I am just curious--as an oblivious/unaware person-- what you really get out of the different shoes and also how you got there.

Not sure if I should really care about this anymore, since I really don't plan to race, and don't feel bad after running in the same shoes for training and racing (other than the usual post-race feel), but I am curious.

For me, I can compare the 3 shoes I'm most familiar with.

NB880 are like a "regular shoe" with *some* cushion (in my opinion) but not so little that I can feel every pebble and crack in the pavement or shoulder of the road.

NB1080 are(were) a softer, taller version of the 880. They don't do me any favors for speed, but they keep my legs happy when I'm out there for 3+ hours.

My NB Supercomp Trainers (v1, and almost everywhere I've read, people loved the v1 more than anything else they put out after that for this model) make my running feel significantly less strenuous. And faster. Like 30-45sec/mi faster without more RPE. They're bouncy. Like...a trampoline minus the part where you sink down. They make my foot roll/toe-off smoother and less "clompy."

 

[col1]

For shoes I only ever have one pair, I will sometimes have 2 as I do now when one pair is coming to an end and I am breaking a new pair in but the “old” running shoes become my daily wear.

I was always Nike Structure Triax until an update left them hurting my arches. I then tried various ones buying often on price.

I have settled for the time being on NB 680s as they are very comfortable and buying last seasons means somewhat reasonably priced.

I would consider a pair of “super shoes” if I ever got fast enough that it matters i.e. within striking distance of a BQ. However I think that is highly unlikely

 

[Zutroy]

So explain to me --succinctly--all of you who run in multiple shoe types: what it is that actually feels different across your shoe types/your body. "Flat"?? "Faster"?? "Better"??--how do you know? Not looking for basic fit things like "the toe box/arch/insole" fits me well. I am just curious--as an oblivious/unaware person-- what you really get out of the different shoes and also how you got there.

Not sure if I should really care about this anymore, since I really don't plan to race, and don't feel bad after running in the same shoes for training and racing (other than the usual post-race feel), but I am curious.

I love running in different shoes. Below is a picture of my rotation from last year. Since then I’ve added the ASICS Superblast 2, Adidas Evo SL, two pairs of Adios Pro 3s, Adidas Prime X2 Strung, and Nike Alpha Fly 3s. For me it’s drop, stack height, weight, uppers, and foam. Do I want road feel? I’ll grab the Saucony A8. Do I want to go out fast? Pro 3s. Am I going long? Superblast. Do I want a monster shoe that is a testament to humanity’s hubris? Prime X2. They all feel different, and most of that is the different types of foam used.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I'm getting cross-eyed looking at those laces that run off to the side.
It's like the shoes were designed by Picasso....