Looking for other experienced marathoner’s opinions and recommendations on racing flats for a full marathon. My current PR is 3:00 and looking to go 2:50 in 3 weeks. I figure racing flats could add just a little bit of extra over the course of 26.2 miles. I have tried Nike Lunaracers for a 20 mile run and seemed to have good luck but that is also a 10k shy and nowhere near race pace. So who runs full marathons in racing flats and if so, which shoes?
I have no pros or cons in general, but based on how much time left to race, I would not experiment now. Too late for that. If you have not done most of your long runs by now in some pair of racing flats, I certainly would not do it now, 3 weeks to go. That is just me.
agree it’s probably too late to change, but I’m liking the Adidas Adios and Boost Adios models… sort of light weight and a great shoe to run in.
Looking for other experienced marathoner’s opinions and recommendations on racing flats for a full marathon. My current PR is 3:00 and looking to go 2:50 in 3 weeks. I figure racing flats could add just a little bit of extra over the course of 26.2 miles. I have tried Nike Lunaracers for a 20 mile run and seemed to have good luck but that is also a 10k shy and nowhere near race pace. So who runs full marathons in racing flats and if so, which shoes?
Lunaracers will definitely be great for a marathon if you ran a successful 20 miler in them. I have worn Lunas for a 4th place finish at the US 50k Champs (my longest run pre-race was 20 miles). Rob Krar (although not sponsored by Nike) runs in Lunas for 100 mile victories. When I saw the title of your thread, I was thinking: “Only if he’s talking about Lunaracers.”
You’re going to crush 2:50!!!
Run with what you know works for you. Crush it.
Looking for other experienced marathoner’s opinions and recommendations on racing flats for a full marathon. My current PR is 3:00 and looking to go 2:50 in 3 weeks. I figure racing flats could add just a little bit of extra over the course of 26.2 miles. I have tried Nike Lunaracers for a 20 mile run and seemed to have good luck but that is also a 10k shy and nowhere near race pace. So who runs full marathons in racing flats and if so, which shoes?
The lighter you are the better the success will be with racing flats. How much to you weigh? I would lean towards using the Lunaracers if you are sub 150 lbs and targeting sub 2:50. Many moons ago, I did my marathons in 2:48 to 2:57 and the fastest were all on racing flats, with the slower ones closer to 2:57 in training shoes. I weighed 136-140 lbs for those. I believe the fastest one I was 139 if I recall correctly…remember just dipping under 140 lbs for race week.
Awesome. Looks like Lunaracers will be fine. I weigh right at 150 so probably wouldn’t be too much of an issue. I appreciate all of your input.
Lunaracers are more cushioned than most trainers I’ve owned. I don’t consider running a marathon in those to be much of a risk at all. At least not in terms of pounding. Obviously you’ll want to have done a few runs in them but it’s not like you’re lacing up a pair of 3.x ounce Pirahnas or NB 150s.
Thats true. They are borderline considered being racing flats in my opinion. The are on the heavier side and have a slightly higher drop compared to some flats. Still much lighter than my Brooks Pure Cadence 3s. Thanks for the help.
I’d say you’re good to go w/ Lunaracers. And if DaveRoche gives you the stamp of approval, thats pretty much all ya need.
Looking for other experienced marathoner’s opinions and recommendations on racing flats for a full marathon. My current PR is 3:00 and looking to go 2:50 in 3 weeks. I figure racing flats could add just a little bit of extra over the course of 26.2 miles. I have tried Nike Lunaracers for a 20 mile run and seemed to have good luck but that is also a 10k shy and nowhere near race pace. So who runs full marathons in racing flats and if so, which shoes?
I have ran most of my marathons in the past few years in Lunaracers. I wouldn’t call them racing flats - they have a ton of cushioning and just happen to fall in a category of their own thanks to Lunar foam.
ditto on the lunar racers. Best - Shoe - Ever. I always have a pair in training rotation and another pair for any non-trail race from 5k to marathon. I would wear then off road if I didn’t love the Nike Kiger so much.
Lunar racers are as cushioned as many trainers; perfect for marathons. You’ve already done a long run in them; you’re good to go.
And if DaveRoche gives you the stamp of approval, thats pretty much all ya need.
Many horrible calamities begin with such endorsements.
It sounds like you’re all set with the Lunaracers.
I have run marathons in the Brooks Racer ST4’s which probably have a little less cushioning than the Lunaracers. Those worked fine.
I did one marathon in my Saucony A4 racing flats. My race time was good, but my legs took a tremendous beating. I could barely walk after that race.