In a past life, I was a running shoe monogamist. I found just the right style that I knew would carry me forward for miles and then bought several pair so I had stock to spare. You know how this story ends, right? The manufacturer changed the structure of the shoe. Sigh. And, just like that, monogamy was thrown to the wind.
Instead of settling on just one replacement pair, I decided to have a poly-amorous running shoe relationship. Now I have three rotating running shoes, alternating use depending on effort and distance. The rotation means my shoes last longer, and it gives my body more opportunity to engage different muscle groups. Allow me to introduce you to my loves:
If you can’t be fast, look fast
- The Speedster. I say all the time, “If you can’t be fast, look fast.” Sleek and lacking substance, my Altra Kayentas get slipped on for shorter, faster workouts. I wear them for heartrate tests and tempo runs. They make me feel like Allyson Felix, pushing off with my toes and increasing turnover. But Sally Speedster does me no favors on long runs. She starts to lose her cool after about 45 minutes, and my knees tend to bear the brunt of her breakdown. Heartbreakingly, Altra has decided to sunset the Kayentas so I’m currently looking to swipe right on a new pair.
Slow and steady wins the race
- Old Reliable. Let’s talk about the easy runs, form drills, hills… all workouts that give you more than what appears at face value. My Topo Magnifly do the same thing for me: they are necessary to my success, get me through the hard times, and do double-duty with working different muscles. The Magnifly is a zero-drop shoe that has some cushion for my city-dweller pavement runs. Old Reliable, however, leaves me feeling like I’ve just stepped from the pages of an AARP magazine instead of Teen Vogue. Now that I’ve hit 50, function beats fashion.
In the merry old land of Oz
- Surrender, Dorothy. Oh, the long run. Whether you run it by miles or hours, it is a lot of time on your feet. Dorothy gives me everything I need to pass the time. The Topo Phantoms are a cushioned shoe that maintains neutrality, which is welcome in a world of polarization. I fought adding cushion shoes into my repertoire, after all, I poured millions of dollars into physical therapy to not need a stability shoe. But Sarah Bowen Shea can be rather persuasive, so I gave them a whirl. With a 5mm drop, I get more cushion under my cranky heels at mile 15 and still feel speedy given their ruby red appearance. And at the end of three hours, I can assure you, there’s no place like home.
Another Topo aficionado! I rotate the Ultrafly for my Old Reliable; the Zephyr for half- and full marathons that leave my legs feeling good through the finish and no black toenails; the Cyclone for 10K and shorter speed that keeps me springy; and occasionally the FlyLite for 5K or track. BTW, I’ve tried some New Balance “super shoes” too, the RC Elite v. 1&2, and after several races, the nod and faster times still goes to Topos. Oh yeah, almost forgot the Topo MT-3 for road-to-trail. Do I have a Topo problem?
I adopted a treadmill, and all shoe loyalty went out the window. I have one for the mill, one for the trails, and one for the road. I like your approach as well based on what type of run is on the plan. I have been a loyal Brooks runner for quite some time, Cascadia on the trails and Ghost for the other stuff. Funny how we still stay brand loyal.
I used to prefer Nike, but now willing to try any brand as demonstrated by my current shoes. I have a speedwork shoe (Saucony Kinvara 11), 2 different every day/long run shoes (Nike React Infinity and New Balance Fuel Cell Prism), and a rainy day shoe (Nike Winflo Shield). I’ve also worn Hokas in the past and am preparing for the NYC Marathon and trying to decide between Hoka and Saucony for race day. But I doubt I will get a carbon plate. I am not convinced they are designed for every-day/average runners.
For years, I was a devotee of New Balance. I wandered the wilderness after NB modified my favorite model. Spent years navigating among Saucony, Mizuno, Altra, Brooks, Newton, and Topo. The trifecta of wide toebox, narrow heel, and arch support is NOT easily found in the most common running brands. I happened upon Topo years ago when they had a split toe model. Then the company seemingly went underground for a time. When they resurfaced, at least to me, I was struck immediately by the obviously wide toebox. What a GREAT FEEL. AND even better surprise, they actually had arch support! The heel could be a tad narrower, but thanks to fun lacing methods this can be remedied.