Ride 15

**My stats:** 66 kg / 1.76 m / EU 42 / 5K: 27:00 / 10K: 57:00 / HM: 2:10 **Current shoe:** Saucony Ride 15 / Age: \~4 years (since release) / 350 km Hey everyone, I have my first official half marathon coming up in 3 weeks, and I’m wondering whether I should upgrade my shoes or if it’s a bad idea this close to race day. I’m aiming for a sub-2 PR and have been training quite intensively. I’m currently using the Saucony Ride 15. They’ve been great so far, but I feel like they’re starting to wear out. Recently, I’ve had a few flare-ups in my lower back and right knee. I know the mileage is relatively low, but I’m more of a seasonal runner, so they have been sitting idle for 5-6 months on end for the past years. I have only gotten really active since last summer. I also used to be 10kg heavier which might have put additional wear on the shoe. I’ve been browsing the sub for alternatives, and some commonly recommended options I’ve seen are: ASICS Novablast Puma Deviate Nitro 4 Adidas Boston 13 Saucony Endorphin Elite In terms of what I’m looking for: I would likely fully replace my current shoes. I really enjoy running 10Ks, but I’d like something versatile enough for different types of runs. My budget is around 250, although I’d be happy to spend less. What would you recommend, and is it even advisable to switch shoes this close to the race? I’m not very deep into the running shoe scene and not set on carbon plates, I might just have been influenced by reading the sub haha. Have a great rest of your weekend!

I’ve run 5 marathons now with a PB of 3:28. I can keep a 3:15 pace and feel fine lung capacity wise, but I always get dead quads around mile 20 that slows my pace to a 9:00-9:30 pace, even with proper fueling. I’m aiming for a 3:15-3:20 in June. Back when I got back into running again few years ago I got really bad ITBS and I had to stop running. I eventually went to get a gait analysis done and was fitted with a Saucony Ride 15. Within 2 weeks I was running pain free and haven’t had issues since then. Being afraid of injuring myself again, I’ve been buying them over and over again and finally they stopped selling them in my size. I only ran in them and raced in them. Anyways, today I went back and did a gait analysis again and was basically told my form looks great, but I outgrew the Ride 15s a long time ago, my legs got too strong, and I’ve been fighting them for a while. We ended up on Saucony Kinvara 16s and I’m really excited for them, especially if I’m not having to fight my shoes anymore. I’ve been debating racing in them like I did the Ride 15s (after all nothing new on race day, they’re already an improvement over what I previously had, and she recommended racing in them), but thought about trying a super shoe instead I asked her what her thoughts were on super shoes and she basically said that while they’re incredible technology, they’re incredibly hard on the body and as a result a lot of people don’t run marathons again afterwards with them. This part felt a little off to me, even though the rest of her advice has always been spot on, but I absolutely understand the “incredibly hard on the body” part, and that’s what concerns me. So my questions are: \- Just how hard on the body are they? I’m wary of hurting myself obviously, even long term \- Is it worth it to race in a super shoe for my upcoming race in June? Or should I try the Kinvara for that race and then do the super shoe for the marathon in October? \- Besides the obvious fueling solution, how much do the shoes actually impact “dead leg” late in the marathon? \- If I do end up deciding to try the super shoe, which one? I know, that’s the age old question and is personal to each person, but I’ve mainly been looking at the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 (or 3 if I wait a month) and Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB. The Brooks I can get on a discount for much cheaper is mostly why I’m looking at it (like $110), but I’ve heard it’s not as good as others, like the Endorphins.

Yeah that’s kind of what I’m leaning towards, I might start experimenting with the Brooks since the latest one is supposed to be a big improvement and fixes a lot of the complaints about the foam, plus I know Brooks has a pretty good return policy if I find it does not work for me on speed runs The leg preservation is definitely the biggest thing for me I think, I’m sure I’ll still hit the wall and slow down, but nowhere near as bad. The pounding does me in and makes the last 6 miles absolutely brutal, more-so than I think it should even. My legs are just dead and I have to walk every so often. I do wonder if switching to the Kinvara in general will help, if I truly was fighting the Rides for so long, I could see that not being beneficial to leg preservation lol

Ride 15s were the BEST!

I love mine ! I had to return the 18s because they caused discomfort. Got the 19s and they feel like my ride 15s. no complaints no discomfort

I wouldn't use an evo SL for anything over 8 miles personally, but if you've run further in them then that, have at it Edit - don't bother with the pro 4s yet. Do a few races and then if you feel like it, get them then. They are great but to be honest, only really with if you've been running a bit as they are unstable and need the rubber to know their stride first