Light and Fast Training/Racing Shoes

If you've been training to run fast for a while, you know that good running form starts with your ability to sense and feel the ground, and that most of the time you should be running in lightweight shoes that match the dynamic flex and agility of your feet. There have always been a few such models available, but more are on the way -- including the crop we've reviewed here. If you've been used to running in high-off-the-ground shoes with steep heel-toe ramp angles, you should slowly transition over four to eight weeks, alternating between your old shoes and new shoes, gradually moving toward more use of the new ones. And, you should be consistent about doing form drills and relentlessly maintaining your general strength or core strength.


* weights listed are for men's size 9.0 and women's size 7.0


Shoes:

adidas adiZero Adios

SIZE MASTERS

More From Runner's World

 

If you've been running long enough, you probably know there's sometimes a half-size variation between brands. While that issue is mostly irrelevant if you're buying shoes at a specialty retailer (because you can just try on the next size), it can be a real pain if you're buying shoes from an online store. At shoefitr.com, you can type in your typical shoe size and it can spit out the best recommended size of a particular brand and model based on measurement scanning it has completed. The application was designed for online retailers like runningwarehouse.com, but it's accessible to consumers as well.

There's been plenty of debate about shoe styles and running form. Here's a quick rundown of what a few elite American distance runners wear for various workouts and race distances.

Other lightweight, minimalist shoes to consider include:

* adidas ClimaCool Chill
* ASICS GEL-Hyper Speed 4
* ASICS GEL-DS Racer 8
* Avia Avi-Bolt II
* Brooks Green Silence
* Brooks Racer ST 4
* New Balance 101
* Nike LunaRacer+ 2
* Pearl Izumi Streak
* Puma Roadracer 4
* Saucony Grid Fastwitch 4
* Zoot Ali'i 3.0