road flats for marathon

I'm no expert, so please other people post, but just a bit of common sense: When i run in flats, my calves get tired, so i wear flats during training runs for the purpose of strengthening my calves. If you're not used to wearing flats at all, try running a tempo run and see how sore you get.

The answer to this question depends upon your weight and the neutrality of your stride. Without more info, it is tough to tell.

Do not wear them if you don't train in them regularly. I would go with a light (10 oz) trainer.

If you do run in them regularly, do a few long runs in them and see how your legs/feet feel.

I train in flats almost all the time, and I've wore them in marathons and had adverse affects towards the end. I now go with light trainers. The extra 2 ounces does wonders for me.

I weight about 150, and I'm around 6 feet tall.

What are some good light weight trainers?

Just picked up a pair of NB 833's, so far like them alot. They weigh in at 11.3 oz for a size 11. I have worn Wave Precisions in the past and liked them alot.

As far as weight the rule of thumb is a second per oz per mile. So by going with the 833 over Mizuno Phantom racer....

I would lose (11.3 - 10.2) * 26 = 29 seconds for the marathon. Your choice, flat or light trainer.

Is adidas Rotterdam too heavy for marathon? sub 2:20

run the marathon in whatever shoes you train in. be it the mayfly or the beast.

I would definitely get some lightweight trainers flats. I wear the asics ds racer and love it. Make sure you do a couple workouts in them, a tempo and a longer (more than 90 min) run in them.

Ryan

Try the Nike Elite Trainer. I think it is a solid shoe for a half or full marathon.

I almost always wear flats for the marathon, I tried the light weight trainers and it didn't feel quite the same. The Nike Air Streak's work great for me. I do some longer runs in them, and a handful of races prior to the marathon. flats are not for everyone, see how they feel in a longer race before wearing them in a marathon.

If I can run a half marathon happily in a pair of racing flats, should they be okay for the marathon?

i ran a pr in my NB RC330s...i am a 2:40s guy myself and i woul;d not recommend trainers for the marathon. but that's just me.

yep

I know a guy who ran 2:23 in Brooks Beasts. I can run comfortably and with no undue fatigue due in flats, even marathons, and even in very light flats; but my PR is a half hour slower than "The Beast" (Dan Feldman, ran Boston 2002 in 2:23 in Brooks Beasts, no kidding)

adidas wrote:

Is adidas Rotterdam too heavy for marathon? sub 2:20

Generally, if the flats feel ok in the half, I will wear them in the full. You want to break them in but not break them down. I wear my older racing flats for training and use the new ones for racing.

You don't really "break in" the shoes as much as you "break in" your legs. You need to become accustomed to wearing racing flats in training and build-up races prior to your marathon race. I'm not saying wear them for everything but you've got to wear them regularly.