When to wear carbon plated running shoes

We often get asked about the merits of carbon plated running shoes.

Should they be used in training and racing, and are they suitable for easy and long running?

You will have noticed elite athletes wear them at top running events, such as marathons and trail races. They are noticeably ‘fast’ compared to normal training shoes.

Even if the difference is just psychological, this is also a bonus. However, while you will see ‘runfluencers’ on social media wearing them on daily runs, they are not designed for easy distances, as you could wear them out and leave yourself exposed to injuries.

They can, however, be worn in during practice sessions in the weeks building up to your main race, as well as specific sessions designed to simulate marathon conditions.

This is why we recommend smart shoe rotation, to ensure you have the right footwear for the right occasion.

For easy roads, wear shoes such as Nike Pegasus 38 or 40, or for a long easy road, Asics Novablast or Nike Pegasus.

For road sessions, we opt for worn supershoes that still have some life in them, like the Nike Vaporfly, Alphafly, Adidas Adizero pro or Asics Metaspeed.

For easy and long dry trails, we suggest Hoka Speedgoats or Inov8 G270s, and for long muddy trails, our picks are the Inov8 Mudclaw or Inov8 X-Talon Ultra V2.

For trail sessions, we like the Nike Ultrafly or Adidas Speed Ultra (specifically the Tom Evans model). For road hill sessions, we recommend Nike Pegs, while for ultras, we like the Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra.

For advice on the right shoes and other essential running accessories, contact expert marathon coach Maximum Mileage Coaching today for optimised marathon training tips.