Eli "fetsh" Heiman
Gear
I rotate between five pairs of running shoes. I have one daily trainer for regular runs, plus two faster shoes — a cushioned pair for tempo workouts (LT2 and slower) and long runs, and a lighter pair for speed work and intervals (vVO2Max and faster). Then there’s my race day shoe, and finally a minimalist shoe with no cushioning or heel drop that I use for easy days or when I feel especially strong or adventurous.
This is the current snapshot of my shoe rotation. It’s mostly based on the theory I describe in this guide: A Guide to Your First Pair of Running Shoes — and the Second One.
Daily trainer
For my daily trainer, I usually stick with the classics — Nike Pegasus or Mizuno Wave Rider, following the guide. I just grab whichever looks nicer or feels more comfortable that season, since the brands always tweak things a little anyway. Since my Mizuno Wave Rider 29s have already reached the end of their mileage, and the Wave Rider 30 still hasn’t made it to our neck of the woods, I gave in to the hype and picked up the Adidas EVO SL. The weight, the foam, the looks — all genuinely impressive and fun. After some disappointment, I bought the ASICS Novablast 5, which are also very good in some ways and very bad in others. So for now, I’m still waiting for the Wave Rider 30 and trying to squeeze the remaining miles out of the shoes I already have.
Quality sessions
High-cushioned
The high-cushioned speed category should theoretically be for supertrainers. These are non-carbon racers — modern foam and stiffeners, but simpler, more durable, longer-lasting, and with a slightly more comfortable upper material. The Saucony Endorphin Speed used to be the standard in this category. I went through two versions of the Endorphin Speed, but they didn’t work for me — I couldn’t feel any cushioning at all, and they felt way too narrow.
That said, I don’t insist that shoes in this category have to be true supertrainers. I’m perfectly happy with more cushioned daily trainers, as long as they make me want to run fast. The Mizuno Neo Vista 2 did that well enough, and even the ASICS Novablast 5 could fit here. But right now, the spot is occupied by a true supertrainer — the Nike Zoom Fly 6.
Low-cushioned
For the low-cushioned speed category, I want a small drop around 4mm, light weight, and excellent ground feel. This used to be the Saucony Kinvara (too narrow for my taste) or Asics Noosa Tri (perfect). But for a while, both were following the high-cushion trend — adding stack height and drifting away from what made them great.
But thankfully, the pendulum seems to be swinging back. The Adidas Adios 9 has become my discovery of the season — minimal stack by today’s standards, a slightly higher drop that somehow doesn’t feel like it, and that rare combination of speed and ground feel I’ve been chasing. The only downsides: a rather narrow toe box and an upper that breathes poorly.
Racing day
When I run my first sub-2:42 marathon, I’ll definitely buy myself the best super-shoes available that day. But since I’m not exactly reaching for the stars yet, super-shoes from two seasons ago work perfectly fine for me. They’re good-looking, light, and comfortable.
Alternative daily trainers
In the alternative daily trainers category, there’s a minimalist shoe, a shoe with protection from wind and mud, and various other shoes that haven’t found a proper place in the rotation.
Minimalist shoe
As a minimalist shoe, I’m using the Altra Escalante 3 this season. They’re kind of perfect: good upper, very roomy toe box, light weight, excellent ground feel, and they look amazing. Since I’m not using them for the foam, I’m hoping I don’t have to retire them after 1000km and can keep wearing them until they fall apart, because the Escalante 4 are all ugly.
A miles eater
I expected the Adidas EVO SL to be the perfect daily trainers, just like all the reviews promised, but they didn’t quite deliver. The upper is absolutely terrible — it’s basically just a mosquito net. It gets dirty like a mosquito net and feels about as comfortable as one, too. And, as usual, the toe box is too narrow, so I have to wear them half a size larger than I’d really like.
Shitty weather beater
Everyone needs a pair of shitty weather beaters for heavy rain and ankle-deep muddy puddles. Preferably black, for obvious reasons. The Nike Pegasus Shield were the perfect example of this genre. These days I don’t have many occasions to wear them — the right weather just doesn’t happen. So these Asics GT-1000 9 GTX are already five years old but only have 160km on them. But you never know, the opportunity might come up.
Though honestly, unless I specifically need to keep my feet dry for some weird reason, I usually just reach for my loud Asics Noosa Tri 15 — no amount of mud is going to make them look any worse. And then straight into the washing machine after the run.
