Marathon Weekend 2026

[Stitch&Co.]

SAFD: How about a shout out for stability shoes! That's my only choice. I have 3 different brands/4 pairs in current rotation.

Favorites: Brooks Adrenaline GTS. I've got 2 pairs currently going while using an old pair for my everyday shoe. They feel good and do everything I need them to. This is the second version I've used and I haven't been disappointed. Color options are good so no issue there.

2nd Place: NB 860's. These were the ones I first started with and I can't say I really had any problems with them, but I wanted to try something else so I tried the Brooks. The current version feels cushier than the Adrenalines and I like that. A completely random issue is that I get small pebbles in these shoes. I don't know what it is about the fit, but it only happens with the NB so these get relegated to shorter, easier mileage. Nothing longer than a 10K race max but other than that little issue, they are comfortable and I like them.

3rd Place: Saucony Guide. What can I say? They are ok, not my favorite. Nothing impressive, nothing I can really describe, nothing special. I will wear these to the gym and they would be fine for everyday wear, but they are just not a shoe I would grab first. I wear them sometimes, but that is more because I have them and they are not wore out yet.

Last Place: Brooks Glycerin GTS. I thought I would try a shoe with more cushion last year. It sounded like a good idea after how bad my feet hurt after the marathon, but these just did not work for me. I guess I just need more support.

As for why I use different shoes, I just think it's better for my feet to not be in the same shoe constantly. Different contours, arches and cushioning allow my foot to make small adjustments and not get too complacent. I don't know if it really makes a difference or not. But if one company changes their shoes too much at least I've got an alternative that I know works.

 

[radiodome21]

SAFD: Having just gotten back into running and expanding my running mileage I currently only have 2 pairs of running shoes. I ran the Springtime Surprise 10k in my now retired Brooks Glycerin 20s and now rotate between my Mickey Ghost Max 2 and Brooks Glycerin 21. I love the Glycerin shoes. Same with the Ghost Max 2. However I’m tempted by picking up a pair of Ghost 16s that Brooks just dropped the price on over the weekend. I’ve run in those in the past but I can’t remember anything about them. I love the cushioning on my current shoes but my wife think I might do well in the ghost, which is her favorite.

 

[BigEeyore]

SAFD: Like @Stitch&Co. I have to be in a stability shoe and the choices are limited!
For the past several years I have run mostly in Brooks Adrenaline GTS, sometimes alternating with the Saucony Guide. I am a "one shoe at a time, for everything/anything runs" kinda girl. I'm not fast enough to justify a "race day shoe", and I'm too lazy to do speed work/tempo runs etc. I did recently buy a pair of Gel Kayanos that I have yet to try.

Shoes are SO expensive though! So I started stalking E-bay and I've been able to score some nearly new shoes in the $30-40 range. Since I typically wear out a pair of shoes in about 3 months, I have to try to save $$ when I can! (I did splurge on the rD Brooks though!)

 

[Dopey 2020]

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’ll break my choices down in general as opposed to specific shoe details, basically -

Daily trainers - Mizuno Wave riders similar to Brooks Ghosts or Saucony rides, traditional shoe everyone knows, average weight, average cushion, on the less expensive side of things and comfortable for me. I could use them for long runs but prefer more cushion at 10+ miles

Long run/recovery - currently Saucony Endorphin Trainers, more cushioned/softer, all around more comfortable for me. They feel like a favorite slipper on my foot and can go miles without feeling a constant pounding. They are heavier but I’m generally going slower. If I want to speed up a long run I’ll use an older race day shoe.

Race day - currently Endorphin Elite 2, the newer ‘super shoes’ have foam that is explosive under foot with carbon plates that work with it to keep you stable and propel you forward. It is definitely noticeable, as well as being much lighter, so after training in a heavy shoe, perceived effort is cut drastically. In short, they make it easier to go faster. I could be happy running in a super shoe all the time but being they are double the cost and probably last half the miles I’ll have to keep the others until I hit the lottery.

How I got here is a long drawn out process of me trying new things. When I started running I actually remember arguing with a friend that shoes really didn’t matter. Once I started putting in regular miles I discovered how much they do matter and about 8 years, 10,000 miles, and a few dozen pairs of shoes later I’ve found what works well for me.
Of course next year the companies will change them…

 

[KCO5988]

Okay I have a POT opinion question for marathon weekend. I have two marathons I can use for a POT. One is 30 seconds faster than the other, however the results website for that race is crap. The search function is terrible, and the website doesn't create unique links for your result when you click your name. I'm worried that if I use that, the person verifying may have trouble finding my result and just give up. I expect both times would put me in the same corral, if we are going by years past, so I'm leaning towards using the slower time with better website to be safe. But since they added new time estimate breakdowns for registration, I am slightly worried they may change up the corrals, going back to more smaller corrals like pre-covid. Someone with more rundisney wisdom, please help me decide!! Hahaha

 

[MissLiss279]

Okay I have a POT opinion question for marathon weekend. I have two marathons I can use for a POT. One is 30 seconds faster than the other, however the results website for that race is crap. The search function is terrible, and the website doesn't create unique links for your result when you click your name. I'm worried that if I use that, the person verifying may have trouble finding my result and just give up. I expect both times would put me in the same corral, if we are going by years past, so I'm leaning towards using the slower time with better website to be safe. But since they added new time estimate breakdowns for registration, I am slightly worried they may change up the corrals, going back to more smaller corrals like pre-covid. Someone with more rundisney wisdom, please help me decide!! Hahaha

How easy is it for you to find your results on the web link? Is it just scrolling down to where your name is?
I have often used POT that don’t link to my results specifically, and the results are just one long list of finishers.

(Long story ahead; TLDR if you can find your results, runner relations may be able to help you out if for some reason the people verifying POTs originally can’t fine it.)

I had a friend for her only runDisney experience just put the basic race website down (REVEL and not to the results page). Since she has run several of their races, when they looked at the results, they found her time for one of her other races (not the name of the race she listed for POT), so it didn’t match and was outside the POT. We went to runner relations, and the lady was able to understand why she was put in a non-POT corral (maybe there was a note), but we were able to explain that was for a different race, so when runner relations went to the website and looked up the results for the race my friend had listed as her POT, she was able to verify that it was eligible for a POT corral, so my friend was bumped up corrals.
I don’t think you should have any issues using the faster time, but I’m not sure how much it will matter. Are the minutes the same? Ex. 4:13:15 and 4:13:45?
Based on one of my previous corral placements, it made me think that they may drop the ‘seconds’ from race times when placing people in corrals. I think I had a time of 1:55:20 (or something greater than 1:55) for a half, and the corral A cutoff was 1:55, but I was still placed in A and I was surprised. I can’t say that this is always true or just happened to work out for me that once.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Okay I have a POT opinion question for marathon weekend. I have two marathons I can use for a POT. One is 30 seconds faster than the other, however the results website for that race is crap. The search function is terrible, and the website doesn't create unique links for your result when you click your name. I'm worried that if I use that, the person verifying may have trouble finding my result and just give up. I expect both times would put me in the same corral, if we are going by years past, so I'm leaning towards using the slower time with better website to be safe. But since they added new time estimate breakdowns for registration, I am slightly worried they may change up the corrals, going back to more smaller corrals like pre-covid. Someone with more rundisney wisdom, please help me decide!! Hahaha

Is there a way to link your division results for the faster race rather than the entire field’s results? Less for them to sort through?

 

[Zutroy]

SAFD: How about a shout out for stability shoes! That's my only choice. I have 3 different brands/4 pairs in current rotation.

Why are stability shoes your only choice? I’ve found that anyone who goes into a running store for a “gait analysis” always seems to walk out with stability shoes. Generally motion control shoes try to correct over-pronation by adding rods or denser foams medially, but studies have shown this leads to increased injuries because it changes running form without addressing the causes for pronation.

Pronation may not even be an actual issue, but rather a symptom of muscle weakness in the tibialis posterior and gluteus medius. These muscles stabilize the hips and knees. If they are weak, instead of keeping the pelvis aligned during running, it tends to dip, causing the planted foot to collapse inward (aka over-pronate). Shoes don’t fix this, and can set you up for more injuries.

 

[KCO5988]

How easy is it for you to find your results on the web link? Is it just scrolling down to where your name is?
I have often used POT that don’t link to my results specifically, and the results are just one long list of finishers.

(Long story ahead; TLDR if you can find your results, runner relations may be able to help you out if for some reason the people verifying POTs originally can’t fine it.)

I had a friend for her only runDisney experience just put the basic race website down (REVEL and not to the results page). Since she has run several of their races, when they looked at the results, they found her time for one of her other races (not the name of the race she listed for POT), so it didn’t match and was outside the POT. We went to runner relations, and the lady was able to understand why she was put in a non-POT corral (maybe there was a note), but we were able to explain that was for a different race, so when runner relations went to the website and looked up the results for the race my friend had listed as her POT, she was able to verify that it was eligible for a POT corral, so my friend was bumped up corrals.
I don’t think you should have any issues using the faster time, but I’m not sure how much it will matter. Are the minutes the same? Ex. 4:13:15 and 4:13:45?
Based on one of my previous corral placements, it made me think that they may drop the ‘seconds’ from race times when placing people in corrals. I think I had a time of 1:55:20 (or something greater than 1:55) for a half, and the corral A cutoff was 1:55, but I was still placed in A and I was surprised. I can’t say that this is always true or just happened to work out for me that once.

If I hit “show all” at the bottom and scroll down by time I can find it easily. But the search button just never works. I would prefer to avoid runner relations because you never know how crowded that’s going to be. And the times are not within the same minute, which is part of my hesitation.

Is there a way to link your division results for the faster race rather than the entire field’s results? Less for them to sort through?

Unfortunately there were no divisions. The only marathon I’ve ever done that didn’t have divisions.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Okay I have a POT opinion question for marathon weekend. I have two marathons I can use for a POT. One is 30 seconds faster than the other, however the results website for that race is crap. The search function is terrible, and the website doesn't create unique links for your result when you click your name. I'm worried that if I use that, the person verifying may have trouble finding my result and just give up. I expect both times would put me in the same corral, if we are going by years past, so I'm leaning towards using the slower time with better website to be safe. But since they added new time estimate breakdowns for registration, I am slightly worried they may change up the corrals, going back to more smaller corrals like pre-covid. Someone with more rundisney wisdom, please help me decide!! Hahaha

What is your time? The POT chart here on Disboards is generally accurate, so if you're not on the edge of corrals, I'd submit the one with a direct link just for ease.

Here's the link, make sure to use the first table labeled WDW M, Goofy, Dopey: https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-cutoff-confirmed-times.3699036/post-59585654

 

[Stitch&Co.]

Why are stability shoes your only choice? I’ve found that anyone who goes into a running store for a “gait analysis” always seems to walk out with stability shoes. Generally motion control shoes try to correct over-pronation by adding rods or denser foams medially, but studies have shown this leads to increased injuries because it changes running form without addressing the causes for pronation.

Pronation may not even be an actual issue, but rather a symptom of muscle weakness in the tibialis posterior and gluteus medius. These muscles stabilize the hips and knees. If they are weak, instead of keeping the pelvis aligned during running, it tends to dip, causing the planted foot to collapse inward (aka over-pronate). Shoes don’t fix this, and can set you up for more injuries.

I have always over-pronated. Do I have some weak muscles, sure, but its not the only issue. The stability shoes don't cause me any extra issues so I am okay with sticking to them.

 

[UNCBear24]

SAFD: I've been running in Brooks almost exclusively for the past six years. My current rotation includes the Ghost Max and Glycerin, but have added the Topo Athletic Atmos this spring. The Topo's have a wider toe box which I love and now use for all of my long runs.

 

[jrsharp21]

SAFD: How about a shout out for stability shoes! That's my only choice. I have 3 different brands/4 pairs in current rotation.

If you are looking for another stability shoe option, check out Puma ForeverRun Nitro. While it is not a max stability shoe, it does have some stability characteristics to it. I used this shoe last summer for my daily trainer. I tried it on a whim from reading some of the shoe review sites, and I really liked it. It fit my foot well. I would say this shoe wouldn't be a shoe of choice for super long distances. I would say this shoe is for around up to 10 mile runs.

 

[matt and beth]

The talk of pronation and shoes. What do the supinators wear?

 

[jrsharp21]

The talk of pronation and shoes. What do the supinators wear?

I believe the suggestion for supinators is neutral running shoes.

 

[PrincessV]

SAFD: I’ll see all the Princess Feet and raise you an Aging Ballerina-Turned Runner Feet! My body will only tolerate two shoes at present:
Altra Escalante 4
Altra Torin 8

I have a dozen other running shoes that I bought over the years for running or for daily use and my body rejects them all, even just for sitting at a desk at work. And to compound things, I prefer the Escalante in one size for non-running use, with thin socks, and a half-size bigger for running, with thicker socks. So I have the smaller size in all white, black and white, and grey for daily use. And the larger size in black and white for running now, with another color bought on sale still in a box for when they're needed. I run vastly fewer miles than I used to, though, so this should keep me situated for a couple years, at which point I may not even be running anymore.

The talk of pronation and shoes. What do the supinators wear?

It used to be neutral shoes. But I’m “dead neutral” on one side and supinate on the other due to scoliosis and I’m finding that as shoe companies increase stack height, they’re also adding a bunch of stability to supposedly “neutral” shoes, so very few neutrals work for me anymore - they mostly feel like they push my gait outward. Trying to find truly neutral, non-maximum stack shoes is a real challenge these days.