realiTEE

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Everyone’s running journey is different, and when I started mine, I didn’t think trainers would be such a big deal, but they are! So I will take you through my running journey trainer by trainer and share with you what I learnt, what worked and what did not.

Nike Pegasus 38: Known for its reliable cushioning and versatile style, the Nike Pegasus 38 was a workhorse shoe for me. I started my Half Marathon training in Jan 22 in this shoe and did EVERY run in this shoe all the way over the finish line on the 1st May 22. Back when I got these I knew nothing about running shoes; I knew they were jazzy, I knew you needed to size up, and that is where my education ended. What I learnt more than anything from this shoe is that you can have just one do-it-all shoe, but it is dependent on your weekly mileage; if you’re a casual runner, then you’d probably get away with one pair; if you’re training for a charity event and you don’t think you’ll do a race again then also one pair however if you are taking running seriously or you live in a wet climate you probably want at least two pairs. If you live in a wet climate, get a second pair because there’s nothing worse than putting on damp trainers.

Hoka Clifton 8: I feel like this was quite a famous shoe, and after all those months and miles in the Pegasus, these felt like clouds on my feet. They definitely provided the smooth and comfortable ride, they promise, but for me personally, I found them a little bit clunky and found I was catching them against one another as I ran, and I’d stumble a bit.

Puma Deviate Nitro 2: This is my first plated shoe, and I didn’t get on well with this shoe at all. Designed to propel you forward with every stride, I don’t think I was quite ready for these, but after a lot of mileage, two half marathons and a 10k, I was quite sentimentally attached. I did buy these thinking they were white trainers, but they are actually see-through, so when I went on a 15k run, which resulted in a pool of blood in the footwell of the shoe, I was sort of stuck with them, which worked out well in the end. These were also the lightest shoes I’d had at this point, which did make them great for travelling with, as I had a weekend trip in Dublin while training, and one of my races was in Lisbon. This was also the only trainer I’ve had where I had to size up significantly; I wear a UK 7 in day-to-day shoes and a UK 7.5 in running trainers, but here I went up to 8.5.

Nike Invincible 2: The shoe I bought because it was pink and comfy, even though I am against buying running shoes just because they are pink (see here). It was also heavy and clunky, more so than the Clifton 8. This actually replaced the Clifton 8 for me, and I really liked them to start off with, but the longer I ran, the heavier they felt, and I just felt like I was expanding more energy running than I needed to. That said, I think they’re good if you’re starting out, and they will definitely provide you a lot of cushion and protection when you’re running.

Nike Vaporfly 2 I fell in love with these trainers the moment I opened the box. I got these with the Invincibles in the Nike Black Friday Sale 2022, and if I’m honest, I didn’t need these, but I got them anyway and realised I just had too many shoes. These were also nice and light, and I travelled with them without taking up too much room or weight in the case. I ran a 10k race in these and loved them; however, I still had my Puma that felt similar, so I decided to sell these on eBay as they help their value well.

ASICS Metaspeed Sky: I was hyped to get these trainers, but they aren’t suited to me as a runner. It’s designed for a much faster pace than what I tend to run at, and as a result, I did end up selling these after running a half marathon in them.

ASICS Novablast 3: I first got to try these at a run club in London, which was great, and I loved them from the moment we set off. Quite a versatile trainer, I bought these in the same colour I tried at the run club as they were black and purple, ideal for my winter shoes in the UK. As I wasn’t training for anything from October onwards, I wore these for every run as they are incredibly comfy but still very responsive.

Saucony Speed 3: The only shoe I brought to Australia with me, which turned out to be a mistake because even though I love these, they are light, agile and comfy. Doing 3+ runs a week in these did leave my legs tired and struggling to recover between runs. A plated shoe isn’t always the answer!

ASICS Novablast 4: In order to start my marathon training, I knew I needed something comfy, with plenty of cushioning for those long miles and something that would help me remain injury-free all the way across the finish line. When I went only to buy myself a new pair of Novablast 3, I found that ASICS had released version 4 and I could collect it from the store in one hour! I was itching to try these, and although I think they are a little bulkier than the 3s, I still love this shoe and have already started upping the mileage. My legs are much happier now that they have rotation, and I’ve found that the light weight of these means I can also pick up the pace on longer runs.

I don’t even think I want to work out how much money I’ve spent over the last two years of this running journey, but a top tip for anyone looking to get started is to always check eBay. I have bought and sold trainers on eBay, and it’s great if you’re after a pair of the more expensive shoes as sometimes it can take a while to try the trainers, maybe run a race and realise they are not for you. I brought my boyfriend Alphaflys on eBay and then sold them for him after he ran a half and said they were really uncomfortable for his running style. Also, some people who like to always have the latest shoes might not have done many miles before sticking them on eBay, so you can find some pretty good deals.

What’s your favourite or least favourite running shoe? I’d love to know; leave a comment below.