Best Marathon Running Shoes According to Expert Shoe Buyer

Jewels Busenberg, Senior Running/Cycling Footwear Buyer at Zappos, is back again with more tips for women over 50! Whether you’re embarking on your first marathon or you’ve run the race before, gearing up for a big run is no small feat. Preparing for the race is extremely important considering what you put into anything is what you’ll get out. To ensure running your best possible marathon, one should first consider their choice in marathon shoes.

Shopping for Marathon Sneakers: What to Look For

A good marathon shoe should have added cushion for comfort and shock absorption, breathable materials to help with foot swelling, especially in warm weather, and be lighter in weight than a casual sneaker. They should also have some energy return, with a durable outsole and, in some cases, extra stability.

While a regular running shoe and a marathon shoe are fairly similar, people should be aware that there is a difference between shoes for racing and shoes for long-distance. A long-distance training shoe is designed to withstand a higher mileage. They often tend to weigh more because of the durable components that brands build into these shoes. A racing shoe, however, will be lighter and faster, but tend to wear out quicker.

When testing out the best shoes for your next marathon, your shoes should make you feel energized and not sluggish. The shoe should not be so heavy that you have to think twice about what’s on your feet. Everyone has a different opinion on if they want to feel like they are running on clouds or if they want to feel the road beneath them. Your personal preference will determine how much cushion you would want in your marathon shoes.

Picking a marathon shoe that works for you is very important. Since this is a long-distance run, your shoes will help prevent fatigue in the hips, joints and arches of your foot for your running gate cycle. The last thing you want is hip pain on mile 20 of the race because your shoe had no support, or a blister on your toe because you actually needed a wider width. The best way to break in a new marathon shoe is by running shorter distances first or walking around in them doing everyday errands. Additionally, cotton socks are the worst thing a person can do for their feet when running. Instead, opt for a moisture wicking sock. Feetures and Drymax make great running socks, as well as Brooks.

For those looking to style their run, comfort and ease of use is key, so I would start there. Once you find the silhouette of tops and bottoms that you love, try going for the fun colors, not just black shorts. There’s so much out there in bright colors and prints that can really up your outfit game. Wear a cute hat to protect against the sun and maybe buy some fun sunglasses.

Additional marathon suggestions include a good, supportive sports bra. The Brooks Bras are the most long lasting carefully engineered bras out there in my opinion. They come in a variety of closures and strap styles as well. I would also suggest buying a hat or a reflective visor, sunglasses, a good water bottle or hydration system, and possibly a phone armband. And you can’t go wrong with Airpods/headphones and a solid playlist for those long training days.

Best Marathon Shoes

Although there are a lot of factors that go into each of the top shoe styles you’ll see on a marathon course, depending on the runners’ needs, there are lots of choices on the market. Some top styles of marathon shoes include Brooks Ghost 16, Brooks Adrenaline 23, Hoka Bondi9, Hoka Clifton 9, Cloudrunner 2, Cloudsurfer, Fresh Foam X1080v14, Fresh Foam X 880v14.

When it comes to training shoes, it may be necessary to switch them out before the big run. If the shoe you are training in has reached around 300-500 miles, then I would suggest getting a new pair at least 4 weeks before the event, breaking them in, and then wearing those. You never want to try a new pair of shoes on marathon day even if it’s the same model.