u/flying_porygon

I’ve run 5 marathons now with a PB of 3:28. I can keep a 3:15 pace and feel fine lung capacity wise, but I always get dead quads around mile 20 that slows my pace to a 9:00-9:30 pace, even with proper fueling. I’m aiming for a 3:15-3:20 in June.

Back when I got back into running again few years ago I got really bad ITBS and I had to stop running. I eventually went to get a gait analysis done and was fitted with a Saucony Ride 15. Within 2 weeks I was running pain free and haven’t had issues since then. Being afraid of injuring myself again, I’ve been buying them over and over again and finally they stopped selling them in my size. I only ran in them and raced in them.

Anyways, today I went back and did a gait analysis again and was basically told my form looks great, but I outgrew the Ride 15s a long time ago, my legs got too strong, and I’ve been fighting them for a while. We ended up on Saucony Kinvara 16s and I’m really excited for them, especially if I’m not having to fight my shoes anymore. I’ve been debating racing in them like I did the Ride 15s (after all nothing new on race day, they’re already an improvement over what I previously had, and she recommended racing in them), but thought about trying a super shoe instead

I asked her what her thoughts were on super shoes and she basically said that while they’re incredible technology, they’re incredibly hard on the body and as a result a lot of people don’t run marathons again afterwards with them. This part felt a little off to me, even though the rest of her advice has always been spot on, but I absolutely understand the “incredibly hard on the body” part, and that’s what concerns me.

So my questions are:
- Just how hard on the body are they? I’m wary of hurting myself obviously, even long term
- Is it worth it to race in a super shoe for my upcoming race in June? Or should I try the Kinvara for that race and then do the super shoe for the marathon in October?
- Besides the obvious fueling solution, how much do the shoes actually impact “dead leg” late in the marathon?
- If I do end up deciding to try the super shoe, which one? I know, that’s the age old question and is personal to each person, but I’ve mainly been looking at the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 (or 3 if I wait a month) and Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB. The Brooks I can get on a discount for much cheaper is mostly why I’m looking at it (like $110), but I’ve heard it’s not as good as others, like the Endorphins.

We have an adjustable split king and love it, the only issue is the gap between 2 beds gets in the way of cuddling/other activities.

I know they make gap fillers/bed bridges on Amazon, but we do Scandinavian style and have separate sheets and comforters for each of us. Unfortunately the bed bridges don’t work with our setup as we then wouldn’t be able to put the sheets on.

Any recommendations on how to fix the gap? It’s the Sleep Number adjustable base of that makes a difference