So I've been running for 25 years and in my younger days I was good enough to represent my country at 10k and half marathon. I'm still pretty fit in my mid 40s and could probably go close to 30 for 10k with a bit of specific work (not much point mid pandemic). I had very little injury issues until around the 38-40 mark, but in the last few years Achilles, calves, soleous, plantar have all bothered me. I'm pretty sure age and accumulated miles don't help. But....I've tried a fair few of the recent innovations....rocker soles, super foams, plates, carbon, the whole shabang. All I notice is that I get more and more issues. I strongly believe that these additions simply move the problems we have elsewhere. In the last few months my feet have ached, my Achilles have burned and my runs have been miserable.
Then I bought a pair of Brooks Revel 3, mainly because they were $40. The upper is not pointy and allows my toes to move, the sole has no plastic, no shank, no plate. The midsole is a simple foam and the outsole is a durable rubber. All of a sudden in this simple flexible shoe that moves with my foot my pain has diminished. I can run normally. This feels like a shoe from 20-30 years ago and I couldn't be happier. No doubt it will be orvis already discontinued! If only they would release a low cost trail version and a version with 2/3 of the materials to race in. I'd buy all 3.