Your Go-to Guide to Running Shoes
In this week's newsletter, I wanted to share a guide to running shoes to help you pick out your next pair.
My favorite analogy is to compare running shoes to golf clubs. There are so many types with different uses. Don't be surprised if you know of a runner who has multiple shoes in the rotation.
(You know one already. Me. I'm that guy.)
But even if you want to simplify your approach, you can get away with just one pair for running too.
With the right running shoes, you can train at your best for every step.
Let's dive in.
Daily Trainers
For beginners or those who want a simpler approach
Daily trainers are running shoes that do it all. During your training, you'll encounter many types of workouts: easy run, tempo run, intervals, or long run.
You could even race in them too.
I like to consider these shoes a jack of all trades, master of none. They will do fine with all types of running workouts, but the shoes wouldn't be exactly the absolute best. This is a tradeoff if you just want one pair of shoes for all your training.
Because Daily Trainers can do it all, you get great value from the shoe. You're definitely winning if you find a pair of Daily Trainers at a discount too.
Some of the highly regarded daily trainers include:
Tempo Day Shoes
Made specifically for your faster workouts
Having "fast day" shoes will immediately bump you up to advanced runner status.
These shoes are meant to go fast. This means that the shoes are lighter, and they have the technology to help you too (more fancier midsole foams, plates, rocker geometry, etc)
What I love about Tempo Day shoes is that they'll last you a long time. When you consider that most of your training is spent on slower paced running, you'll likely only use your Tempo Day shoes, once or twice a week.
Another cool thing about Tempo Day shoes is that you could also use them for race days. Because they are already lightweight and with the tech to go fast, they could easily be used as a race day pair for shorter races.
I recommend that tempo day shoes could race 5k to 10k distances.
Here are some of the best Tempo Day shoes:
Long Run Shoes
The ultimate comfort for big distances
For your long runs where you're out to conquer miles after miles, you'll want long run shoes.
These shoes offer you the most comfort for your feet. The cushioning will be to the max, and the upper materials will feel, dare I say, luxurious too.
If the Tempo Day pair of shoes is your Civic Type R, then your Long Run pair is your grandparent's Lincoln Town Car.
I recommend these shoes for any run longer than 6-8 miles or any run greater than 60 minutes.
Here are some of the best Long Run shoes:
Race Day Shoes
Saving the best shoes for race day
Race day shoes are special.
Race day shoes for the half-marathon to marathon distance really have led the way for running shoes to evolve to where they are now.
The first "super shoe", the Nike Vaporfly 4%, rocked the running world upside down. Some considered the shoe mechanical doping - the shoe was THAT good.
These race day shoes are pricey, but for good reason. (Shoes in this category are $200+) These shoes have a ton of tech jammed in.
- Super foams that are soft, resilient, but bouncy.
- Carbon plate inserts to not only stabilize the super foam, but provide a bounce on push-off too
- Super light weight materials to help you run your fastest over the long distance
These shoes will last you a long time considering that you are saving them just for race days. And trust me that you would want to save them for race days because most models will have minimal grip at the bottom of the shoe to save on weight.
These are the best Race Day shoes available, half-marathon to marathon distances:
Having the perfect shoe rotation
Takes time to get it right
If I was a beginner looking to run and race, I would buy a pair of daily trainers to do all my workouts in.
Racing in the daily trainer pair 5k to 10k distances would be fine.
Racing greater than 10k distance could be tricky. I'm afraid the foam by the time race day comes around wouldn't hold up for the race distance.
If you're looking to get more advanced in your shoe rotation in addition to your daily trainers, I would definitely get a pair of tempo day shoes as your next pair. I know for me, the lighter shoes gives me the confidence to take on the faster workouts.
I hope this guide helps you pick out your next pair of running shoes.
Happy running out there!
