Help Me Choose a Marathon Flat

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I want a flat because I train in lightweight shoes and flats and have for years. I want to run around 3:20-3:30, but I don't believe there is a set pace where I person should wear a flat or not. I want to run as fast as I can, so I want a shoe that is going to help me do that.

+1. it's not about speed. it's about effort.

I loved, loved the Asics Hyperspeed 4. They felt like a flat, and had such a crisp response. The Hyperspeed 5 and 6 have a softer, squishier feel. At least they don't feel heavy, but they do feel soft. I love them for training, but I have scoured the internet for the last of the 4s in my size to hold on to for races.

Good luck, please let us know what you settle on!

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I want a flat because I train in lightweight shoes and flats and have for years. I want to run around 3:20-3:30, but I don't believe there is a set pace where I person should wear a flat or not. I want to run as fast as I can, so I want a shoe that is going to help me do that.

You are blithely ignoring that there is an obvious and very real difference between running for 130-150 minutes and running for over 200 minutes. As well as the very real differences between yourself and these runners.

Runners who should wear flats for the marathon are generally looking at less than 150 minutes (2h30m) of running, maybe 160 for women. You are going to be running for more than 30% longer and taking 30% more steps. That's thousands of impacts.

Furthermore, and more importantly, runners in the should-wear-flats category have a far longer and more intensive training history than most of us. 120mpw, 100mpw or even 80mpw is more than I sense you have behind you, and the muscular changes that come with that are huge.

Don't run in the Adizero Adios just because it is the lightest in the series, or the WR shoe, or whatever. Your own pride will hurt your performance when your calves cramp 3 hours in and you don't finish as hoped.

If you're considering the Adios, why not the Adizero Tempo or Boston??

Why flats wrote:

The flat failed you last year, legs beat up,tired , sore ...? 4 hours marathon. Very , very few people , can run efficiently for 26 miles in 6-7 oz shoes. Even the most elite of elite would never run in flats for 3:30- - 4:00 hours.

This^

I wonder what percentage of "my legs cramped up" marathon disappointments are due to decent recreational runners insisting on going a step lighter than they should for a distance that is 1/3 - 1/2 of their weekly training mileage?

SMJO wrote:

Nike is ant-Adidas but not Mizuno and Asics?

She's making an reference to her boyfriend, Nikeman. (Yes, her boyfriend's handle is an apparel brand.)

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I've already established that I will wear flats. I've worn them in marathons before.

Not successfully. Why not learn from your experience?

Your stubborness on wearing flats for an event that will take you 3h30 minutes is ridiculous. Gebrselassie himself would not wear the Adizero Adios for a race that would take him that long.

Skooled wrote:

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I want a flat because I train in lightweight shoes and flats and have for years. I want to run around 3:20-3:30, but I don't believe there is a set pace where I person should wear a flat or not. I want to run as fast as I can, so I want a shoe that is going to help me do that.

+1. it's not about speed. it's about effort.

Dumbest rejoinder to one of the dumbest posts of the year.

It is about many things. "Effort" (or arrogance) is not going to get someone with 8:00/mile form and 60mpw (?) training through 200-240 minutes of running in flats. The OP should know from her apparent prior experience.

at your pace it's more important to look good. Therefore, I would go with Nike Free, Nike Shox or stylish wedge sneakers.

open sesamoid wrote:

Gebrselassie himself would not wear the Adizero Adios for a race that would take him that long.

Yes he would.

open sesamoid wrote:

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I've already established that I will wear flats. I've worn them in marathons before.

Not successfully. Why not learn from your experience?

Your stubborness on wearing flats for an event that will take you 3h30 minutes is ridiculous. Gebrselassie himself would not wear the Adizero Adios for a race that would take him that long.

Ugh just shut up already. I'm no Geb, but I've worn flats for 6 hour races with no cramping at all. Flats don't cause cramping when you're adequately trained.

You're an idiot wrote:

open sesamoid wrote:

Gebrselassie himself would not wear the Adizero Adios for a race that would take him that long.

Yes he would.

Well, since you put it that way.

Seriously, are you on the autism spectrum?

Ultra Walkathon wrote:

Ugh just shut up already. I'm no Geb, but I've worn flats for 6 hour races with no cramping at all. Flats don't cause cramping when you're adequately trained.

THAT IS THE POINT.

TX has worn flats for a 3:30 race and it took 4:00+ ... wait for it ... because of cramping. It is clear that she is in fact not "adequately trained" for running 26 miles in flats.

Congratulations on your six-hour race.

Lots of runners worry more that they "look" like racers when in fact they run 3:30 - 4:00 marathons. She said her legs were beat up by the first 10 miles of Boston. This is a gentle downhill.... You won't change Her mind, even though trainers would be much more efficient over 26 miles.

So I stumbled onto this thread thinking txRUNNERgirl was a fairly fast near-elite and needed flats. Well...

I suppose she's been scared off this thread by now but I do have to state my agreement with the latter comments that she should in no way be running in a racing flat. Or at least, any shoe that is providing less than the support and cushioning that she clearly needs. As stated above, the first 10 miles of Boston are not really a big deal and shouldn't leave you ruined if you are properly trained and wearing the right shoes. Now, I don't know what the right shoes for her are but one of the golden rules is don't do anything on marathon day that you haven't already tried in training.

Very few people have an efficient stride where flats would make any difference, let alone a 4 hour marathoner I think her last post was she already said she was wearing flats. And corrected the last 4 hour marathon by saying 3:58 xx something. What ever, I don't think anyone should be considering flats at 9:00 + per mile pace.

For those who still aren't reading the entire thread: I wear flats in marathons. I also train in flats and have done so for the past 8 years. Prior to this, I wore neutral, but cushioned shoes and had injuries. After I switched to flats, I stopped getting injured. The question is not whether or not I'm wearing flats because I have already made that decision.

I am not elite, but you don't have to be to benefit from light-weight, low-profile, flexible and responsive shoes instead of high-heeled bricks. If you want to debate this, take it here:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=1468037

Boston had nothing to do with my shoes. I wore flats at my other 2 prior marathons, including Houston the year before where I ran my qualifier. My legs did not cramp in that race because it was not a hilly course. I did not do much hill training prior to Boston, so that is why I crashed.

I have chosen the shoe I'll wear at my next marathon, the Adidas Adizero Adios Boost. I tested these in a few workouts, including a 15 mile run that felt like an easy effort, but ended up being about 20-30 seconds per mile faster than my normal easy pace. My legs never got tired.

I thought the thread was help me find a pair of flats. You choose daily trainers. The current adidas flat is the

adidas adiZero Takumi Sen. I would not recommend them because of the reference to 9 min pace above.

open sesamoid wrote:

You're an idiot wrote:

Yes he would.

Well, since you put it that way.

Seriously, are you on the autism spectrum?

He might not wear Adizero Adios but he would wear lightweight flats. That is without question.

I don't think you know what autism means either, but whatever, that's a par for the course.

Racing Flats 5 wrote:

Very few people have an efficient stride where flats would make any difference, let alone a 4 hour marathoner

Thanks for reminding me why I hate this website.

Lightweight flats reduce distal weight. The tips of the extremities are the last place you want to add weight if you think of them like levers. This has nothing to do with speed or technique. Yet people feel the need to come on this board anyways and rubbish like "very few people have an efficient stride would make any difference" as if they have a clue what they're talking about.

Anyways I'm going to leave the forums for a long time again because I know the know-nothings like you never will.