How many shoes do you rotate and for what purpose

Short Easy Runs - Mizuno Wave Rider, NB 880, Saucony Kinvara

Longer Easy Runs - Nike Zoom Elite, Nike Zoom Structure

Medium Long Runs - Nike Zoom Elite

Long Runs - Boston Boost

Intervals - Saucony A6, Nike Streak 4, Skechers Go Speed, Nike Streak XC 3

4 pairs

P1 - Are my bread and butter mileage shoes like Pegasus.

P2 - Lightweight trainers for tempos

P3 - Last seasons flats for track work

P4 - New flats for racing

I'll dig out an old pair of P1 for a muddy trail run.

Sexist pig. There's chicks here too.

I rotate about 4 pairs of trainers at one time, not for any particular reason other than I like mixing things up for my legs/feet. Also helps for doubling not to use the same pair twice in one day (so it can dry out).

I wear the same flats for east runs, long runs, tempos, and long intervals so it doesn't much matter to me. I might switch to spikes for short track workouts.

I have a pair of running shoes, a pair of non running shoes and a pair of sandals. I'll buy a pair of racing flats as I start doing more workouts.

I have a pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 15's(Neutral shoe with decent amount of cushioning) with about 600 miles on them and I can probably put at least another 200 miles it on it. I have 2 pairs of Mizuno wave sayonara's (lightweight neutral shoe, but not a racing flat), one that is brand new and one that has 250 or so miles on it. How do you guys recommend I rotate these shoes for

mizuno wave ride: every day shoe for any easy or normal paced run

worn pair of sayonara's: tempos and track work

new pair of sayonara's: race.

assuming u dont have another pair for race day. otherwise id say start using the new sayonaras for tempos and long intervals. its pretty safe to do track work with worn shoes but the tempos, especially on the roads, can pound the legs a bit much if the shoe is worn out

and to answer the original question:

4 pairs of shoes

Easy/Normal Runs/Long Runs: Peg 31s (I have 2 pairs, just switch back and forth between them)

Long Tempos: Zoom Elite/Racing Flat

Track Work/Short Tempos: Racing Flats

Current Racing Flat is the Zoom LT2. If I have a marathon flat (lunaracer for me) on hand I will often use that for longer tempos but the zoom elite feels quick and has a bit more durability so i like that currently. Really anything faster than easy pace I'll move into the zoom elites until I get down to shorter stuff at which point ill move to flats.

Pegs: soft and cushioned, save the legs a bit

Zoom Elite: enough there to protect the legs a bit but still feel fast to help me mentally run faster

Zoom LT2 (or any flat): prepare me for what I will be racing in and feel fast. Getting ready for indoor so I want a minimal flat like the LT2, if I was getting ready for road races like 5ks and up I would run in the shoe I would be racing that event in.

For those who rotate different TYPES of shoes, do you do it for injury prevention or performance optimization?

The latter makes sense especially re: racing flats but what about injury prevention?

I rotate 4-5 pairs of the SAME exact shoes with a differrent stage of “wear” and I am wondering whether I am doing myself a disservice compared to swtiching everyday for the legs/feet to experience slightly different stresses.

Any inisght appreciated!

Sub18Hopeful wrote:

For those who rotate different TYPES of shoes, do you do it for injury prevention or performance optimization?

The latter makes sense especially re: racing flats but what about injury prevention?

I rotate 4-5 pairs of the SAME exact shoes with a differrent stage of “wear” and I am wondering whether I am doing myself a disservice compared to swtiching everyday for the legs/feet to experience slightly different stresses.

Any inisght appreciated!

I can't prove that it helps, but it makes sense to me to wear different models of shoes on different days in order to stress the feet/legs slightly differently. Also, of course, there's the part about letting the shoes get thoroughly dried out before wearing them again.

My current rotation consists of two Saucony Kinvaras, one men's model and one women's (I'm a female with fairly big and wide feet), one Skechers Go Run, and one Skechers Go Meb Speed. I have yet another old pair of Kinvaras that I wear for races.

I'm currently using six shoes.

Everyday mileage: adidas Supernova or Glide 8 (700+ miles on these, only wear occasionally)

Shakeout: adidas Pure Boost (not the greatest, only wear occasionally)

Workout/long run: adidas Boston 6 (current favorites, one in 11, one in 11.5)

Race: adidas Adios (I'm eyeing the sub 2, but I don't have $180)

OP: How old are these Mizuno Wave Rider 15's? They're on model #21 now.. might be time to replace those.

Also the Wave Shadow might be a better lightweight training shoe. And the Sonic as a racing flat. If you're looking to stick to Mizuno.

This is what I do also. I usually have my normal trainers, Wave Riders right now, and then a lighter neutral trainer.

I think using the same model at different stages of wear would also work to some degree since you are getting slightly different stress on your feet and legs on a daily basis.

- saucony freedom

- saucony kinvara and a6 for faster runs

Shoe salesman wrote:

OP: How old are these Mizuno Wave Rider 15's? They're on model #21 now.. might be time to replace those.

OP's post is now 3.5 years old