Marathon racing flats for middle of the pack?

Am also considering the Adidas Adizero line.

I'm not as fast as you. I've run 9 marathons since age 45 (now 51). 8 of the races were in the T4, T5 or T6 shoes and between 3:16 to 3:10 including Chicago.

It's worth it for me as I have a short stride and high turnover. Typically 200-206 spm @ MP. I weigh 122-124 lbs.

It's a bit late to think about using a new shoe for Chicago but... one of my friends did just that a few years ago stepping into the T4 for the first time a few weeks before the race. It worked out well for him and he said his feet felt better than previous times in a heavier shoe (he runs Chicago a lot).

I do my Tempo runs in them and any long runs that have tempo or MP segments in them. For each race I always buy a new pair and put 4-8 easy mile on them just to check them out. I then use them for training in the next cycle. You could put them on right out of the box and be fine - provided you are used to running in this shoe.

Well, you're faster than middle of the pack. Do you need racing flats? Probably not, but most golfers probably don't need the latest Taylor Made driver either. If you like racing in flats, then go for it.

I have a pair of Adizero Rockets that I have yet to wear, because I feel I should be a little bit faster to wear. It's all relative though, as most elites think the 2:30 marathoners on here are hobbyjoggers. Go for it.

If you want to improve your time and this will help, then go for it.

Now, if you have issues with flats that create problems late in a race, then no.

Not a true flat but lighter than a normal shoe. Mizuno mush a 2. I'm a little older and a little faster but they work for me. A true flat for a 3 hour marathon isn't necessarily a good idea

A true flat for a 3 hour marathon isn't necessarily a good idea

Disagree. Whether flats are a good idea for a 26 miler isn't mostly a function of your pace. A four hour guy who trains solely or mostly in flats should wear them in the race while a 2:40 guy wearing trainers every day until the week before the marathon is probably unwise to make the switch.

Various other physical characteristics like your stride mechanics and rate, and maybe your weight, flexibility, alignment, bone density, who knows what... will also impact whether flats are preferable or a recipe for disaster. Not that you plug all those things into a spreadsheet to get your answer; you work it out by doing, at the very least, some long and MP/tempo runs in flats well before race day.

I'm you, brutha (2:55 marathon PR, 5'9", 155lbs)! I train in DSTrainers (for many years) and run all my marathons in flats. Currently using ASICS Gel Tarther but have used Banditos, Brooks T6, T5, Adizero's, DS Racers. Flats? Hell yes.

I switched to the streak 3 for all my regular runs. I like them a lot. You can definitely run a marathon in them. And yes, no matter how slow you're running, it will always be easier on your legs to wear flats if you get yourself used to them

I am no marathoner, however, out of hand I don't think anyone should say that flats are a bad idea. That being said, if you train in Brook Beasts everyday and than decide a week before a marathon to get the lightest flat available you are looking for a minor disaster to occur. Correct me if I am wrong, but so long as you incorporate flats into your training regime to allow your body to adjust to the lack of support/the feel that they have you should be gravy. With that being said, don't try something radically different before a race that you havn't prepared for or done in your training.

Good Luck.

I don't think you can just grab a flat two weeks before the race and get away with it. I plan to race in the Brooks Launch even though I'd like to go with the T6. I just don't see how I have enough time this close to my goal race to get a good feel for another shoe. Odds are you'll be running inefficiently simply because you're not used to running in the shoe. If you can buy the shoe NOW and do like two workouts in it and feel 100% great, then it might be worthwhile, but it's very hard to know how your feet and legs are going to handle the shoe for a marathon if you haven't put a chunk of mileage in on that model of shoe.

In general, I think flats depend more on the runner than on the speed. A light and efficient foot strike can handle almost any shoe at any pace. Your turnover seems to indicate that you would handle a flat very well. I just think you're too close to the goal race to try it.

I'm similar age, height, weight and mechanics, though aiming for 20 min faster in Chicago (congrats on being a dad!).

If your legs are used to flats on longer runs on pavement, it's worth it. I've run Chicago in the Fastwitch 3 and the Brooks before - it worked well and I seem to have an easier time keeping a good rythm in flats during the latter stages of the race. I tried the Axiom one year and didn't like it. I'll go with the Fastwitch 4 this year.

I wouldn't do it, though, if you have not run serious workouts in the same shoes before. The emphasis is longer runs and on pavement rather than softer surfaces or the ocasional tempo. Your legs could feel more banged up by mile 20 than you like it. At our age, you're less likely to get away with it. Good luck!