The Running Thread --2025

[fatmanatee]

I actually tried the Magic Speed 3 recently and they did NOT work for me at all. They're very narrow and very firm. So if you're okay with that, great, but be warned! I do, however, love my Metaspeed Edge Paris-es with a slightly disturbing level of passion. They're definitely not what you would call reasonably priced, though...

I was looking at those too! But they looked very similar to the Speeds and yes, they're 80 dollars more expensive. Interesting...

Should also note that when I last looked at the Paris's it looked like they were running out of stock and I wasn't sure if they were done with them (I assume they're named after the Olympics), looks like they may have been restocked though. I also wear Asics for volleyball and it seems like they have a weird habit of running out of things randomly.

 

[Zutroy]

Speaking of shoes, have started looking into carbon plate race shoes, any thoughts or recommendations? My preferred race shoes are Hoka Cliftons, have also used Asics Gel Kayano. Have been looking at a couple of options, both look good, but open to other ideas. Asics Magic Speed looks like they're similar to the Gel Kayanos, so from a perspective of not being a significant change from what I have they might make a lot of sense. Also intrigued by Nike Zoom Fly, only worry in this case is the heel looks like a big change from what I'm used to. I wouldn't say that I'm a heel striker, although to be honest I'm not sure I have the best sense of my own form to know if I'd be considered one, but I do see that the Zoom Fly's have less "roll" than what I normally use. Lots of good reviews though. Nice thing about both these options is that they're reasonably priced so they feel like sort of a beginner carbon shoe. At this point I'm mostly just looking for an extra boost for a new PR if possible.

Anyway, open to thoughts!

What will you be using these for? Races, daily trainers, threshold runs? What pace will you be running in these shoes? Generally carbon plates aren’t that effective below 8 minute miles, and the high stack height makes them unstable at slower speeds. I find the foam (especially ZoomX) firms up at faster paces, whereas it’s almost like a marshmallow walking in them.

Both the Magic Speed and Zoom Fly 6 I’d put in the tempo run category. The idea for these shoes is that they are companion trainers to the Metaspeed and Vaporfly shoes, allowing you to train with a similar foam and plates in a more durable form factor. I’ve heard great things about Zoom Fly, but less than good things about the Magic Speed, since ASICS took a snappy minimalist racer and added a ton of stack height to it.

My current rotation I have the Superblast 2 for long runs or easy days, Vaporfly 2/Adios Pro 3 for 10K+ threshold runs, Saucony Sinister for speed days, and I’ll rotate Endorphin Pro 1, Speed 1, and Speed 3 as well depending on how I’m feeling.

 

[KCO5988]

Speaking of shoes, have started looking into carbon plate race shoes, any thoughts or recommendations? My preferred race shoes are Hoka Cliftons, have also used Asics Gel Kayano. Have been looking at a couple of options, both look good, but open to other ideas. Asics Magic Speed looks like they're similar to the Gel Kayanos, so from a perspective of not being a significant change from what I have they might make a lot of sense. Also intrigued by Nike Zoom Fly, only worry in this case is the heel looks like a big change from what I'm used to. I wouldn't say that I'm a heel striker, although to be honest I'm not sure I have the best sense of my own form to know if I'd be considered one, but I do see that the Zoom Fly's have less "roll" than what I normally use. Lots of good reviews though. Nice thing about both these options is that they're reasonably priced so they feel like sort of a beginner carbon shoe. At this point I'm mostly just looking for an extra boost for a new PR if possible.

Anyway, open to thoughts!

I just bought a pair of Nike Alphafly but don't have a review yet. They were 25% off on Nike website, so that was a bonus. Planning to wear for Princess 10k and can circle back with my thoughts after the race.

 

[fatmanatee]

What will you be using these for? Races, daily trainers, threshold runs? What pace will you be running in these shoes? Generally carbon plates aren’t that effective below 8 minute miles, and the high stack height makes them unstable at slower speeds. I find the foam (especially ZoomX) firms up at faster paces, whereas it’s almost like a marshmallow walking in them.

Both the Magic Speed and Zoom Fly 6 I’d put in the tempo run category. The idea for these shoes is that they are companion trainers to the Metaspeed and Vaporfly shoes, allowing you to train with a similar foam and plates in a more durable form factor. I’ve heard great things about Zoom Fly, but less than good things about the Magic Speed, since ASICS took a snappy minimalist racer and added a ton of stack height to it.

My current rotation I have the Superblast 2 for long runs or easy days, Vaporfly 2/Adios Pro 3 for 10K+ threshold runs, Saucony Sinister for speed days, and I’ll rotate Endorphin Pro 1, Speed 1, and Speed 3 as well depending on how I’m feeling.

Would be for races. Goal is <2:00 POT, so about 9 min per mile.

 

[FFigawi]

Speaking of shoes, have started looking into carbon plate race shoes, any thoughts or recommendations? My preferred race shoes are Hoka Cliftons, have also used Asics Gel Kayano. Have been looking at a couple of options, both look good, but open to other ideas. Asics Magic Speed looks like they're similar to the Gel Kayanos, so from a perspective of not being a significant change from what I have they might make a lot of sense. Also intrigued by Nike Zoom Fly, only worry in this case is the heel looks like a big change from what I'm used to. I wouldn't say that I'm a heel striker, although to be honest I'm not sure I have the best sense of my own form to know if I'd be considered one, but I do see that the Zoom Fly's have less "roll" than what I normally use. Lots of good reviews though. Nice thing about both these options is that they're reasonably priced so they feel like sort of a beginner carbon shoe. At this point I'm mostly just looking for an extra boost for a new PR if possible.

Anyway, open to thoughts!

Have a look at the Metaspeed Edge+ or Edge Paris, and also the Saucony Endorphin Pro. They’re all excellent race shoes and are fairly stable. Not as stable as the Kayanos, but stable enough that you won’t feel like a baby giraffe. I switch between the Edge+ and the Pro depending on the weather. The Edge+ are not quite as grippy when it’s wet.

 

[Zutroy]

Would be for races. Goal is <2:00 POT, so about 9 min per mile.

For a half: Vaporfly or Endorphin Pro. Both are nimble enough to allow the quick turnover that I find difficult in the bulkier high stack shoes. For a full: Alphafly or Adios Pro. The Adios Pro 3 is an absolutely brilliant shoe with a trash upper (that honestly doesn’t both me, but literally rubs some people the wrong way). I’ve heard the upper in the Pro 4 is much better, but the foam is softer.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

I was looking at those too! But they looked very similar to the Speeds and yes, they're 80 dollars more expensive. Interesting...

I don't know if the specs are similar, but in practice, no, they do not feel similar at all. My go-to easy run shoe is the Novablast (have used 3 and 4), and I'd say the Metaspeeds are closer to a race version of that than to the Magic Speeds. Honestly I have never worn a shoe that I disliked so much.

I have also raced in the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3s, and while you can usually find pretty good deals on whatever the last model of these was, for me they didn't quite line up with the shape of my feet and so didn't work as well.

Whatever you end up with, I'd recommend ordering from like a Fleet Feet or Running Warehouse where they have a return policy that allows you to actually try the shoes on a run and return them if they don't work for you - everybody has a slightly different foot.