For the sub 2h40 runners, did you find running a marathon in flats or trainers better for performance?

Raced in the same shoes I trained in.

same.

flats..but not track flats, decent cushion, but racers for sure.

Flats.

I did workouts in them at least twice a week, including long tempo runs, so I was used to them.

I wored on marathon trainers i did trained in

A Six Jello wrote:

Raced in the same shoes I trained in.

Me too. But I always trained either in racers or trainer/racer hybrids.

I've always used a lightweight training shoe/racing hybrid too. I'm always willing to give up one ounce of weight for a bit of extra cushioning welcomed over the last few miles.

Some examples of shoes I've used:

Asics DS Racer

Brooks Racer ST (not made any more?)

Mizuno Elixer (not made any more) or Sayonara

NB Vazee Rush (LOOOVE this shoe!)

I never even thought to wear trainers. The elites wear flats. Bikila ran barefoot. I wear trainers when I'm pacing a marathon, but if I'm racing I'm wearing racers.

racing flats. never do workouts in them, only races.i try to use my big Asics Kayano shoes for training so the racing shoes feel light and breezy

first marathon wrote:

Used to racing in flats up to the half marathon. Do most of my mileage in trainers. Workouts in flats too.

Just wondering from guys running sub 2h40m think about this. Flats are lighter on your feet for a long time but not much support, Im thinking it might cause some cramping after 2hours of running

Red and White Zoom Streak for training.

Red and White Zoom Milers for racing.

good luck sputnik wrote:

racing flats. never do workouts in them, only races.

i try to use my big Asics Kayano shoes for training so the racing shoes feel light and breezy

first marathon wrote:

Used to racing in flats up to the half marathon. Do most of my mileage in trainers. Workouts in flats too.

Just wondering from guys running sub 2h40m think about this. Flats are lighter on your feet for a long time but not much support, Im thinking it might cause some cramping after 2hours of running

Me too I train with ankle weights and in tuxedo shoes so that when I race it feels amazing!

I wear Asics for trainers and Mizuno for flats... The flats are good but the last miles in the half get hard on the feet...

Any suggestions for Asics/Mizuno flats with a little extra support?

I ran a MP workout with my current flats today, and honestly between them and trainers the pace isn't all that fast so there isnt much difference.

Of course I didn't run 42.2k.

i ran 2:36 (boston 2015) in the zante 1s, which sat between my fast workout shoes (hyperspeed 6) and my clodhoppers (supernova glides, peg 31s or 32s);

before that i'd posted a 15 min pos split 2:54 in wave mushas (no longer made);

after that i dnf'd boston 2016 in the kinvara 7s;

i'm leaning toward the boston boosts for my marathon at the end of april (although, the zoom elite 9 is tantalizing). (goal is a delusional 2:30)

i'm 5'8" on my best days and around 150, i.e. not so gracilis as the Romans would have said. i'm also not efficient, what with the legs of someone much shorter and a cadence of 205 at mp.

in other words unless you're efficient, sacrifice some lightness for something that'll preserve your legs after mile 20.

I train in trainers and race in racing flats. The only exception being my 3 marathons, which I have run in trainers (ASICS GT-2000, PR of 2:37).

I am shooting for sub-2:30 at Boston and am going to try running in flats for the first time, NB 1500v2. This thread has made me a little apprehensive at that decision, but I'm sticking to my plan regardless. I'm 5'10'' and 140lbs.

I have race my marathons in the Lunar Racers which worked well for me. I wore the same shoes for all of my marathon pace runs, and trainers for easy runs. If you have worn flats for the key workouts in your build up, I wouldn't expect any problems on race day.

2h 30m 30s

Saucony Kinvara

General training done in Kinvara & Fasttwitch (Fasttwitch is "stability, but not enough posting to do anything. It's firmer than the Kinvara which is nice to alternate)

Faster stuff up to 20km done in A series

I would recommend an in-betweener shoe.

I train in the 1500v2's also and am planning on wearing them for an upcoming marathon.

Why are you apprehensive about them? I've always thought of them as more of a lightweight trainer than a true racing flat.

I think I went through a bit of a transition period getting used to them when I first started wearing them for all of my training (rather than something more padded on easy days), but now they seem to serve me well on 18 - 21 mile runs. Personally not at all concerned about them in a marathon.

Racing flats

Racing flats. All 24 marathons. PR 2:37:06