Let’s talk about shoes. You had to know this was coming. You can’t have a blog about marathon training without a discussion about running shoes, or lots of discussions about running shoes!
Personally, I’m fascinated by running shoes. I read articles about them. I watch YouTube reviews on shoes I’m interested in or just curious about or that I already own. I stop at the running store weekly to check out the clearance rack. Usually, I stop in mid-week or on Friday before they put all of the good shoes out before the weekend. I’ve found some great shoes this way at far lower prices than purchasing them brand new.
Shoe companies really play into my obsession with shoes, as well as lots of other runners by tempting us with the latest models each and every year. Really? Was there really that much change in shoe technology in the last 11 months to warrant an entirely new shoe model? I highly doubt it but, it keeps us all coming back to check out the latest and greatest. As much as I hate to admit it, I look forward to reading about the newest trends and shoes each year and heading to the local shoe store to try them out for myself.
My fav’s
I’m no longer running in the shoe style I was first fitted for when I started running consistently. My first shoe was the Saucony Triumph 18. Looking back on it, I don’t think it was a good fit. The heel slips so I need to use a special lacing technique called a “heel lock” just to keep the shoe on my foot. It’s also rather heavy and bulky compared to what I prefer to run in now.
My favorite shoe is the Saucony Speed. I’ve noticed that since the second version of this shoe came out it has gained considerably in popularity. I have the original version and the second version. The third version just hit the stores a few weeks ago but I’m not quite ready to make that investment. My plan is to wait until I find it on the clearance rack during one of my weekly visits and snag it for $60 bucks in a couple of months just before my marathon. It will happen.
In the meantime, I’ve also discovered that I really enjoy the ASICS Novablast 2. I tried on the first version and it was really nice but I decided to pass on it that day. A few months later I was perusing the clearance rack and spotted the second version. I fell in love the first time I put this shoe on my foot. The fit was great on my skinny heel and the cushion under my foot was firm but plush at the same time. It felt like I was walking on bouncy cushions but it was also really stable and secure.
The Novablast 2 has become a regular in my rotation between the Speed 1, Speed 2 and my other favorite, the New Balance Rebel V2.
New Balance Rebel V2
New Balance is my go-to brand for trail shoes but I don’t typically have a lot of luck with their road shoes. During one of my visits to the clearance section at the shoe store an employee mentioned the Rebel V2 to me during a conversation about a possible contender to the Speed. It’s not a very popular shoe and usually when someone buys this model it’s because they already know it’s what they want. Therefore, it took a while for me to find one on the clearance rack. I was so excited when I found a pair in my size after several weeks of checking the shelves. It really was a long-shot and I’ve never seen another pair since.
I like to use the Rebel V2 as my hill repeat shoe. It’s extremely light and has a flexible sole but is well cushioned to soften the downhill impact. I’ll be adding it back into my shoe rotation starting next week when I add in hill work on Monday runs. The V3 was just released, so of course, I’ll need to check it out, too once it hits the shelves.
Today’s run
In the spirit of rotation, I ran in my ASICS Novablast 2 shoes for today’s 5 mile conversational pace run. This shoe is great but it is a bit on the heavier side in comparison to the Rebel 2 and Speed 1 & 2. My legs felt a little heavy for the first three miles but the cushioning felt great under my feet. I ran in my Speed 2 shoes yesterday which are bouncier and lighter, so it could have just been the added mileage and slightly heavier shoe that made my legs feel heavy.
As a whole, my run today was good. I kept my pace in the base training heart rate range and I hit an average cadence of 179. It’s getting colder in the morning. I’ve been wearing a long sleeve overshirt for the past two runs because temps are in the high 50’s when I run in the morning. Too cold for a tank for this SoCal girl.
Workout
- 5 miles at conversational pace