A short time after I started running and realized I probably needed some proper shoes, I fell in love with the ASICS Gel. Nothing had ever felt so good and they took me through my first races and challenges.

After Christopher McDougall’s book Born to Run came out, the barefoot/minimal shoe rage started. I went with a Merrell/Vibram hybrid. They didn’t have the separate toes so I felt less conspicuous wearing them. They felt freeing but I quickly moved onto the Altras.

I may not be a foot boss but I’m pretty passionate about foot health, so I like that Altras have a zero drop and a wider, foot shaped, toe box. These are still my main shoe but there have been many other lovers in between.

Then the pendulum swung the other way and maximal shoes entered the scene. Hokas offer maximum cushioning but I feel the early models (of which I have a pair) not an attractive shoe. I wear these for runs when I’m feeling beat up. 

With a curiosity for trail I adopted the Salomon Speedcross. With their winter tire treads you can confidently cruise through all the terrain of technical trails and differing weather. These special loves, live in a plastic bag because they are often caked in mud. Side note: just found my headlamp in there 🙂

For serious marathon training you must include hills and then speed work. My collection includes some Saucony racing flats and newly acquired yet to be worn, New Balance track spikes. I’m super excited to try these out – stay tuned.

A fellow runner spoke of the Topo brand, which I wasn’t familiar with, so I added a pair with curiosity. They do feel nice, maybe I will get them again, maybe I won’t.

For many years I have been using the Under Armour MapMyRun app. In recent years they created a shoe that paired with the app so I brought a pair into the fold. They’re kinda fun, kinda naggy. Every so often the app will tell you if your cadence is on pace and at the end will give you some running tips based on your workout. I don’t get much out of these – wouldn’t purchase again but it’s always nice to have some fresher shoes in the rotation.

I have two pairs of winter running shoes; Altra Lone Peak and Saucony Peregrine ICE. For snow covered sidewalks I was excited when I discovered my favourite brand, Altra, had me covered. For times when the sidewalks are more ice covered, I pull out the Sauconys.

The queen of the castle, the king of the hill, are the Nike ZoomZ Vaporfly Next%. Yes I bought a pair of these for over $300 when I was aiming for my Boston Qualifier (BQ). I was willing to do whatever it took to get that BQ and maybe it all worked, I got the BQ and beat my qualifying time by over 10 minutes. These precious shoes shod my feet only during marathons.

At the 2015 Toronto Waterfront Marathon Expo I came across the OnCloud. Too bashful to purchase them while on a trip I located one store back home that was carrying them at the time and got a pair. They are in my current rotation. They feel like a nice light shoe for some shorter runs. They aren’t good on surfaces with gravel as the stones get caught in the grip. Not sure if I’d purchase again but all-in-all they’ve been a good shoe.

In my basement where the ‘dreadmill’ lives I use a pair of Nike Free Run. I purchased these after a podcast I listened to where a coach said she put every one of her athletes in these and all their injuries resolved themselves. I didn’t have an injury but I thought I’d give them a go. I do like them but I also have another pair for indoors for when the mood strikes. They are also Altras but they are most special. I got them at the 2018 Chicago Marathon. They were a special edition for the marathon and I couldn’t believe my favourite brand was doing them. Mostly they sit on the t.v. stand as a decoration and a fond memory.