As I have progressed as a runner, my shoe rotation has evolved quite a bit as well. I used to run in one pair of shoes–doing all of my easy, long, and fast runs in them, but since working at Skinny Raven Sports (the local running store here in town), I have become a bit of a shoe snob. Or maybe I finally just know what I like. 😉
Either way, I have a vast collection of running shoes for running on trails to the pavement and roads as well as staying upright on icy surfaces in the winter. Each pair of shoes have a purpose and often a specific workout when I use them, so needless to say I have a fair amount of shoes (ahem. . . . .currently 15 pairs in my closet).
As a word of caution, while these are my favorite running shoes, they may not be what your foot likes, so while I am happy to give my opinion and share what I like, I always advise people to go into a store (Yes, a brick and mortar store.) to try on shoes and see what feels the most comfortable to you–that’s honestly what it comes down to.
Daily Trainers
New Balance Beacon v3
The New Balance Beacon is one of two shoes that I love for daily training runs (easy runs as well as long runs). I was first turned onto these when I told our New Balance rep (who helps our shoe buyer at Skinny Raven determine what shoes to bring into the store) what I wanted in a shoe, and she pointed me to the Beacon. That was over two years ago, and I haven’t wavered since. I love how lightweight but cushioned they are. However, I am picky about my cushion–I don’t like cushion that is too squishy or marshmallow-like in that I feel like I am sinking into the foam too much. These are the perfect combination of cushion with a nice responsive feel. The toebox is nice and wide for my slightly-wider feet, and the heel cup is secure, which is often a make-or-break component.
I just got my third pair of Beacons in the mail and chose the white/light purple color, so I am excited to break them in and use them for this current marathon training cycle. (Wish me luck in keeping them clean for as long as possible.)
Brooks Running Ghost
The Brooks Ghost is my other go-to shoe for easy runs and long runs. I just purchased the Ghost 14, and I am in love! I tried to like other shoes when I was trying several on at the running store, but nothing fit my foot like the Ghost. I used to be a Launch fan but didn’t love the updates as much as they revamped the shoe, so I turned to the Ghost.
To me the Ghost has a similar feel to the Beacon in that it is lightweight but still a decent amount of cushioning. I don’t care for the heaviness of more plush shoes, so the Ghost is a happy medium. Overall, the shoe just fits my foot like a dream, which is crazy how much you can tell that just by slipping your foot into the shoe. As you will see, I am a big Brooks fan.
Other shoes I occasionally wear:
Saucony Ride 14
Diadora Mythos Volo
Speed and Tempo Workouts
Saucony Endorphin Speed
I absolutely love the Endorphin line that Saucony has come out with for their racing shoes. I actually own three pairs, and I am thoroughly impressed. I have both the Endorphin Speed v1 and v2 and both are phenomenal. I love the ‘speed roll’ in the shoe that makes it feel like it has a carbon plate in it, when it actually doesn’t. I currently am training in the Endorphin Speed 2 and used it for a 10K and 12K race where I PRed in both events.
Brooks Hyperion Tempo
When I first slipped the Brooks Hyperion Tempo on, I knew they were made for my foot. I loved how snugly they fit, there was good cushion, and they felt lightweight and fast! I used these shoes on countless treadmill workouts last winter, and I also used them at the Skinny Raven Half this summer. I have purchased two pairs so far, and I was very close to using them for my last marathon until I discovered a different shoe.
Marathon Shoes
New Balance Rebel v2
My marathon back in August was the first time I didn’t wear a thin, flat racing flat, and I will never ever go back to those. While I love the lightweight-ness of those “old” racing flats, they feel like they have no shock absorption and just caused my legs to break down too quickly for a full marathon. This time around, I wore the New Balance Rebels, and I am obsessed. I loved how lightweight they are yet still very cushioned. My legs seriously felt great (relatively speaking, of course–this is the marathon we’re talking about) throughout the entire 26.2 miles.
As for CIM (California International Marathon) coming up in December, I am still undecided which pair of shoes I will ultimately wear. I really, really like the New Balance Rebel shoes, but I also got a pair of the latest Saucony Endorphin Pro+ shoes, which are their carbon-plated shoes. This is the first time I’ve owned a pair of carbon-plated shoes. I have only tried them on in the store and always thought they were so bizzare, but I love that the Sauconys actually feel like a regular shoe.
I need to try the Pro+ on a long run (with workout) and see what I think and how they compare before deciding which pair to wear for the marathon.
Trail Shoes
Saucony Peregrine
I am not too traversed in trail/mountain running, but I know a good trail shoe when I see one and put it on. I got these Saucony Peregrine trail running shoes a couple years ago and used them on a few trail runs last summer, and they performed so well. They are well cushioned with really good grip for the trails. These are a model I sell frequently in the store when fitting people for shoes.
Brooks Catamount
If a shoe company ever sponsored me (which would never happen in a million years), I hope it would be Brooks because of any shoe company, so many of their shoes fit my foot the best. I wore the Brooks Catamount on a couple of trail runs this summer and during hikes many times, and they were amazing every time. The Catamount is a lighter-weight trail running shoe or one that can be used for racing. The traction was good (although I didn’t use them on too-technical areas), and the shoe did not slip off my heel, which is vital when trail running.
Winter Weather Shoes
Icebugs
The only weather element I could not run in prior to discovering Icebugs was ice. I remember trying to run in my regular road running shoes during a couple particularly icy winters, and it was literally impossible to run on the ice. However, I have now discovered Icebugs, and it feels like running on dry pavement they grip into the ice so well. It is seriously mind-blowing. While they aren’t the world’s most comfortable shoe, they have drastically improved the fit of them with their latest NewRun model, so I’m happy to compromise a bit of comfort for a pair of shoes that will allow me to keep running outdoors during the winter.
So that’s a look at my current shoe rotation. I have tried a few other shoes in the past couple years of running but haven’t loved any as much as these. The last time I blogged about my running shoe rotation was May 2018, and there is only one pair of shoes that is the same (the Ride!). Like I said, working at the running store has exposed me to a lot of shoes I probably wouldn’t otherwise consider, so I’m happy I can choose from such a wide selection and really find what works for me!
