My most recent race shoe purchase is the AP4. Haven’t run a full in them yet, but have done some shorter races.
Previously, I’ve raced halfs and fulls in the Clifton 8, Vaporfly 2, Alphafly 1, Endorphin Speed 2, Adios Pro 3, Zegama 1, Topo Specter 1, Endorphin Trail, Endorphin Pro 3, Endorphin Speed 3, and Tyr Valkyrie Speedworks.
AP3 has been my favorite of those. Ran 2 halfs and 2 fulls in them plus an ultra and then put a lot of miles in them as a daily trainer. Great shoe. AF1 was great too, but I did a lot more daily miles than races in those.
No suggestion for a shoe — lots of good recommendations already — just wanted to chime in to say that blisters on the ball of your foot isn’t from the shoe being to small, but the opposite. You might actually need a tighter, more locked ifit rather than a size up.
Shoes I use and enjoy for longer runs:
Topo Specter OG…haven’t tried the 2
Saucony Guide 17
Specter is smoooooooth although it feels a bit less bouncy than it did when I was a lighter runner (went from 64kg to 80kg all from swimming mass). Sometimes it’s a bit firmer now than I’d like. Overall a pleasure.
Guide 17. Really roomy fit. Protective AF and soft, not much energy return. Light enough, though. Always pleasurable even going slow and steady.
Oh dear....
Let's see what I can name from memory...
1. Track spikes
2. Carbon racers
3. Altra Vanish for speed days
4. Mizuno Vista for fast long runs
5. Asics Nimbus for cushioned easy runs (won these in a raffle)
6. New Balance something for cushioned easy runs (bought these because they're cute)
7. Topo Terraventure - favorite trail shoe
8. Saucony Peregrine - cute trail shoe
9. Altra Olympus, and 10. New Balance Leadville - trail shoes I just don't wear much but are in too good shape for me to toss
11. Saucony Endrophin, 12. Topo Specter, 13. Adidas Adizero - these were all the Boston themed shoes, and I wanted them all. I've only worn the Saucony so far. They're all tempo shoes.
14. Brooks Ghost - fun print, given to me as a gift.
15. Brooks Revel - Christmas pattern, so I save these for Christmas runs
16. Nike Zoom Fly - tempo, won these in a raffle
17. Altra Escalante Racer - don't love these, but they're small, so they're solid for when I'm traveling and need a shoe that doesn't take up space in a suitcase.
18. Altra Escalante - These has 355 miles, so I can probably toss them.
Um. I have a problem...
I've been team Brooks glycerin for years, but I just got a pair of Topo Spectres and they feel great. Plenty of room in the toe box, makes my feet a little happier.
AgentUpright
