FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3

I'm the same size as you, but old, slow, and more money than sense,so I've tried a few different race shoes even though many on this sub will say that I don't "need" race shoes. For me, two attributes that are critical for them to work are that they have relatively soft foam and on the flexible side. I caught the AP4 at my local outlet store at a great price ($125!) and they are head and shoulders above any other I've tried. They are light, comfortable, definitely makes me faster, and legs feet feel great after. Two others I've used that worked well, but not as fast are the NB SC Elite v3 and the Atreyu Race Model. (You can get the Atreyus on their web site for $100 at the moment)

Endorphin Pro 4! I love these. The Speed 5 is my current favorite all time shoe. The pro 4 is slightly less stable over marathon distance because it’s squishier (to me) but I use Superfeet Carbon (now called run I think) inserts and that fixes it. FWIW there aren’t many shoes I hate more than the Supercomp v3. It put me off anything supercomp permanently.

SC Elite, Hoka Rocket X3 and Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 are the most beginner friendly race shoes. I love the Pro 4. I recently ran a 1:31 half in these. Some colorways are on sale for around 130.00 right now.

IMO the greatest benefit to carbon shoes are how they help with training and that’s why you’re seeing a lot of new records. Most runners think of carbon shoes as the racing versions of those shoes, but most companies also make a trainer version of the same shoe that are more durable. I’ve found that I can do my training runs in those shoes with less impact on my body or with the same amount of impact at a faster pace. Less impact helps recovery and helps to do longer runs more easily during a training block. My last version of the elite trainer v3 got 1200km of use so they’re also quite durable for the price.

To me SC Elite v3 fits in this category. It’s not quite a racer but it can pick up in a long run well enough.

I will come out of left field and say I’m liking the Skyward X, Skechers Aero Burst and Supernova Prima. I’ve given Hyperion Max 3 a shot and it’s got a lot of promise. If I want something with more of a plate, SC Elite v3 is a great cruiser. Skyward X isn’t going to be a great choice if you’re wanting to do any race pace miles, but for churning up miles without putting a lot of wear and tear on the legs? It’s fantastic. Supernova Prima isn’t the most exciting shoe on the earth, but it disappears on the foot, is a great mid of bounce and firm; and is more than adequate for churning up miles. It’s also frequently on sale for like $60. If I need to do race pace miles or a longer workout section of my long run, I’ll typically wear my race shoes. I will wear SC Elite v3 or the Skechers for long runs with less lengthy pace work. I don’t get along well with SB2 (I loved v1), and MagMax is just..,meh for me. I didn’t have any issues with Neo Vista 1, but sold mine because I always had something else I’d rather run in. My Hurricane 24 are a bad mojo shoe, so idk if I’ll try the 25. I haven’t run in the Megablast (yet). My priorities for long run shoe are comfort, ability to control my pace (I don’t want something propelling me or forcing faster turnover), disappears on my feet, doesn’t suck all the energy from my stride, reasonably stable, at least a 3/5 on the fun-factor. I tend to lean conservative/plain/boring for easy/slow miles and save my exciting shoes for speed work. So my “best” long run shoes are going to reflect that vs being the pinnacle of shoe technology.

Alphafly and many other race shoes are designed to facilitate fast turnover and the geometry of the shoes (and plates) limit certain movements in the foot/ankle (because they helps reduce effort to run fast). Race shoes are also pretty unstable (for the most part) because elements that provide stability also have weight. The vast majority of my long runs are not at race pace, nor do I want to do them at race pace, nor do I want to artificially limit foot/ankle movement on all of my long training runs. And deep in a training cycle when my long runs are long and I’m running on weeks of cumulative fatigue, unstable shoes are just a misstep/compensatory/overuse injury waiting to happen. Alphafly is a phenomenal race shoe because it’s designed to help you run as fast as possible for a couple/few hours. It’s absolutely not the best training long run shoe. Unless you’re running all of your long runs as fast as possible - in which case you’ll not be needing any shoes while you recover from whatever injury is coming.

And that’s what makes the world go round (we are all different). You asked what the purpose was and why someone wouldn’t pick Alphafly/Prime X. I was giving you reasons why I wouldn’t (and don’t) pick a race shoe for my long runs. I wouldn’t pick Alphafly most of all because they don’t fit my feet. But for race shoes in general, unless I’m in a race lead up and doing a significant number of miles at race pace, I’m not wearing a race shoe for my long run. I’m glad they work for you though-we should all be doing what we like and what works for us. I was just answering your question as to why someone wouldn’t choose to not use a race shoe.

If you’ve got your heart set on a plated shoe and need something more stable, try the Asics S4 (that’s the name of the shoe-not an abbreviation). It’s designed for people working on a sub 4 marathon time, so it’s a bit less light, a bit more comfortable and a lot more stable because it is made for people who will be on the course for longer and they will be more likely to have some form breakdown due to fatigue. It’s not a stability shoe as in something with medial support, but it’s built TO be stable for runners who will need that extra support in the closing miles of a longer race. The New Balance SC Elite v3 and 4 are quite stable-but not quite as much as the S4. I haven’t run in the 5, so idk. The Endorphin Pro 4 is also pretty stable. You’ve already got great suggestions for strength work and other shoes. Keep in mind the strength work you need to do isn’t in brute strength. You could squat 600lbs and still struggle with this. You need to strengthen all the little wiggly stabilizer muscles that are responsible for keeping your body in line when you’re on an unpredictable surface. Those are the muscles that are getting fatigued. Balance stuff.

Hey everyone! I own and have tested many New Balance in 2E and 4E sizes, and they have still been too narrow for my square feet. I decided to buy two pairs of SC Elite v3, one in D and one in 2E. I can confirm what I have always assumed - they are 100% identical. The outsole/midsole is exactly the same in all dimensions. The insole is the same, same identification text on it and everything. But what shocked me the most is that even the upper is identical! I first tested them subjectively by putting them on, and felt zero difference. I have then done some objective testing by measuring the upper in various places relaxed and equally stretched - it is the same… So.. New Balance makes nice shoes, and their quality is generally better than the competitors. But don’t buy them because they offer wide sizing, because they really don’t. For running shoes, I can recommend everyone with wide feet grab Brooks Glycerin Max 1 before stock runs out.

I already did it for Rebel, 1080 and now the Trainer v3. They are identical.

If only you were able to find them, it would be New Balance RC Elite v2. Those shoes were fantastic for beginner marathoners. Exceptional comfort and a good bit of propulsion, too. v3 and v4 are similar from comfort perspective and are relatively lightweight, so you will be good with them, too. Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 — outstanding option. That's my go to racer. V4 has become slightly more aggressive, although still very stable and comfortable. It also has better upper. If you can still find v3, go for it, otherwise v4 is a great option as well. Hoka Mach X2 / X3. Amazingly comfortable and propulsive trainer with a towering stack of around 45mm in the heel. X3 has better and more safe heel collar, but it's slightly heavier. X2 can be a nightmare for some runners, so I was able to put a small patch to the heel to prevent achilles rubbing. Worked like a charm and added almost no weight at all. Go for Mach X3 if you can find it to avoid this fuss. The shoe is truly great. Adidas Evo SL, Asics Superblast 2 — traditional safe bets for an efficient tempo long run.