Specter TASPM1, TASPW1

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.

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...

Or the Topo Spectre / Cyclone for real Pebax foam. Both comfortable while still having great energy return and some ground feel.

I’d wear whatever your long run shoe is, at those paces. Don’t overthink it. Comfort is gonna be king for 5+ hours on your feet. I ran a 4:27 last year in max cushion Altras, then a 3:55 in the spring in Topo Spectres. Still haven’t talked myself into a super shoe. Maybe once I’m pushing for 3:30.

Topo Athletic. Specter or Cyclone. Love them.

Topo has a whole line of wide toebox shoes. The Atmos is great for easy, long miles, the Phamtom is the daily trainer, the Cyclone for speed work and the Specter for longer speed efforts

They actually narrowed the toe box in the Bondi this year so you may have to go with a wide width. It’s a lot firmer than I remember, but that may make it feel more nimble while running, enabling to go at different paces. I second the Topo recommendation. They have the Phantom for daily training, the Cyclone for speed work, the Atmos for recovery runs and the Specter for longer marathon training runs.

The TYR Maverick is a daily trainer that can do most paces, not a race day shoe. It’s not soft and mushy, but has a good amount of stack height while not feeling bulky. The toebox is quite accommodating as well. The Topo Specter, anatomical toebox, race foam that can be used for daily miles & uptempo work. The Maverick is only $150 but they have sales on all of their stuff regularly and the Specter is discounted since the 3 is coming out in several months