Race Day Shoes

We tried to keep pace with Skechers Performance Athlete, David Fuentes, to find out what to consider wearing when we lace up on race day. 

Skechers GORun Ride 7 $90 
This is a lightweight, medium-cushion shoe, with more stability in the midsole. It also has new fabric knit upper for superior breathability.

Hoka Clifton 4 $130
This is ideal for long-distance running and training.

Nike Zoom Fly $150
This shoe is fast, efficient, and has a sock-like fit.

New Balance 890 (replaced Vazee) $99
While versatile, this shoe takes some time to feel comfortable running in it.

Skechers GOmeb Speed 5 $130
A neutral training shoe with lightweight cushion and stability.

David Fuentes’ Shoe Advice

Don’t make dramatic changes from your normal running shoe: Some may think that choosing a lighter, faster shoe for race day is a smart choice. David Fuentes suggests sticking with a shoe pretty close to what you’ve been training with so that you’re less likely to have an injury. 

Don’t over-tighten your shoes: Trust us, the big, bad asphalt monster won’t suck your shoes off. Feet swell when running long distances. Give them some room by not over-tightening your shoes. Let the blood flow freely! 

Mimic course conditions: Sounds logical, right? Test out your race day shoes eight weeks out from the race at about one to two times per week. Mimic your race’s course conditions so you’ll get a better idea of how your feet will feel in your shoes.
Opt for more weight: Why would I want a heavier shoe? If given the choice, Fuentes chooses the heavier shoe over the lighter shoe so that the extra cushion and stability will in turn save his legs for longer races like a marathon. 

Rotate your shoes: Easy Run Shoe: Skechers GoRun Ultra Road II is a lighter maximum-cushioned shoe with built-in responsiveness. For how much cushion this shoe has, the weight is on par with some of my other training shoes, and even race shoes.

Trainer/everyday run shoe: Skechers GoRun Ride 7 is a lightweight, medium-cushion shoe, with more stability in the midsole. It also has new fabric knit upper for superior breathability. 

Race-day/workout & race simulation shoe: Skechers GOmeb Razor is a neutral training shoe with lightweight cushion and stability. This is the official shoe of Meb.