Running kits
The short list for what you are starting.
Running shoes
On the wall today, in store.
Which shoe do I need?
Pick your distance. We tell you what kind of shoe it wants, and which ones on our wall fit.
A daily trainer with medium cushioning. Comfortable, durable, nothing extreme. This is also the right first running shoe.
Look for
- Medium cushioning
- Neutral, or stability if your feet roll in
- Durable outsole
- A fitting in store before you buy
Not this
- Carbon-plated race shoes
- Fashion trainers
- Buying your old size without measuring
More cushioning under you for the second half, with enough stability not to wobble when you tire.
Look for
- High or maximum cushioning
- A rocker that keeps the stride rolling
- Breathable upper for heat
Not this
- Minimal shoes
- Race shoes for every long run
On our wall
Two shoes, honestly: a cushioned trainer for the miles, and a lighter, faster shoe for the long tempo runs and the race itself.
Look for
- A cushioned trainer for most runs
- A plated or fast-foam shoe for race pace
- A fit you have run in before race day
Not this
- Racing in a shoe you have never run 15 km in
- Doing every run in the fast shoe
On our wall
A race-day shoe with a plate, kept for race day and the key long runs, plus the trainer you did the block in. Try both on the same floor; your feet pick.
Look for
- Full-length plate and race foam
- The trainer you logged the miles in
- Socks and timing you will race in
Not this
- A new shoe in the last three weeks
- Race shoes on easy days
On our wall
What matters
Every runner we meet is running a different run: the 06:10 loop, the Sunday long one, the first 5K in years. The shoe should match the run, not the advert. We ask what, how far, where and how often — then we tell you plainly what each shoe is for, and what it is not for.
In store
Marathon Fit (measure, try, pick)
The running wall: Nike, adidas, ASICS, PUMA, Skechers.
Cushioning, explained in one wall
Firm to soft, low to tall. Every running shoe sits somewhere on this scale, and the right place depends on the run, not on the price.
Size check: measure at home, fit in store
Most people wear the wrong size in at least one brand. Here is how to get close at home, and why the final answer is a fitting.
Compare: how Marathon puts two shoes side by side
Only a multi-brand store can compare across brands. Twice a month we do, on the same facts, and we never name a winner.