The Best Training Shoes for First Time Marathoners
Every great marathon build is supported by the right gear. Here are the best training shoes for first time marathon runnners.
Whether you're gunning for a sub-three hour time or looking for the sweet accomplishment of finish, the process of training for a marathon is just as impactful in the journey as running the race itself. From the four mile aerobic base building runs to grueling two hour slogfests, there's a varied slate of work that goes into building race-ready fitness. And at the bottom of all that—quite literally—is a rotation of running shoes that can support all of that running. Below, we've broken out all of the types of shoes you'll need to train for your first marathon and the best shoe in each category.
Best Marathon Training Shoes for First-Time Marathoners
The best marathon training shoes are comfortable and versatile, while also being able to handle a specialized subset of training workouts. A great marathon training rotation has five key pieces: a daily trainer for everyday running; an uptempo shoe for speed workouts; a recovery running shoe for days after hard runs; a long run shoe; and a race day shoe. There are some shoes that can handle two or three of these categories, but you'll want to have all those bases covered with your rotation. Below are the best options on the market today.
1. Daily Trainer: Asics Novablast 3 ($140)
Marathon training can be a brutal beast, and you need a workhorse shoe that can keep you comfortable over three to four months of intense training. The Asics Novablast 3 offers comfort via a maximally cushioned midsole designed for impact absorption. The Novablast uses Asics' FF Blast Plus foam, a soft compound that feels best at everyday running paces but can also pick up the pace when needed. The Novablast has a ride that skews squishy and soft, which is great for heavy weeks of high mileage — however, if you're in search of a firmer, snappy option consider another daily trainer like the Asics Noosa-Tri 15, Saucony Ride or New Balance Rebel v3.
ASICS Novablast 3
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2. Uptempo Shoe: Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 ($170)
You'll have multiple speed sessions programmed into your plan over the course of your training block, and you need a shoe that can handle the varied paces of marathon speed training. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 is one of the most versatile speed-oriented shoes on the market today. It uses Saucony's PWWRUN PB midsole, a PEBA-based compound that's also in the marathon-racing Endorphin Pro, plus a winged nylon plate that adds stability and snappiness. The Speed 3 feels great for long marathon paced workouts, faster repeats under a mile—and can also be used as a long run shoe. It's one of the best marathon training shoes out there due to the way the midsole foam, plate and rocker work together to make the burden of running easier on the legs.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
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3. Recovery Running Shoe: Saucony Triumph 21 ($160)
After hard days at the track or hour-long workouts with marathon pace, you need a shoe that will pamper your feet in cushioned comfort. The Saucony Triumph 21 is one of the most comfortable running shoes on the market today, using a thick stack of beaded TPU PWRRUN+ foam to create soft landings. The ride is soft, buttery and slightly bouncy, propulsive enough to help you plod along without being aggressively responsive on those days you're holding back to recover. The Triumph also has a well-fitting upper that's roomy enough to avoid having your feet feel cramped on those days where your lower body is feeling beat up. At $160, it's on the expensive end for an everyday running shoe but square down the middle of the market for max cushioned cruiser.
Saucony Triumph 21
4. Long Run Shoe: Hoka Mach X ($180)
With the heavy workload of mileage during the week, the weekend long run demands a shoe that's comfortable but also lightweight and propulsive to keep the legs turning over in the later stages of the effort. The Hoka Mach X uses two types of foam and a plastic plate to help keep you comfortable—and primed for speed—for those long marathon training weekend runs. The top layer of the Mach X's foam is a PEBA compound—the same material used in shoes like the Nike Vaporfly and Hoka's own Rocket X 2 marathon racer. Meanwhile, the bottom is a supercritical EVA that's more cushioned than it is responsive, combining with the other technology to create a smooth ride that's versatile enough for those long runs where you'll be including sections of marathon pace. Plus, because it uses a nylon plate instead of a carbon fiber one, the ride isn't harsh when you want to take it easy.
Hoka Mach X
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5. Race Day Shoe: New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3 ($230)
After months of hard training, you need a shoe to help you capitalize on the fitness gains you've earned and cash in with a strong finish. The New Balance SC Elite v3 is one of the most approachable super shoes on the market today, pairing a soft and wide bed of midsole foam with a carbon plate to create a smooth and stable ride. The SC Elite v3 isn't as aggressive-feeling underfoot as some other super shoes like the Nike Vaporfly Next% 3, so it's a great option for first-time marathoners and anyone looking for comfort over those long miles. The SC Elite is also versatile enough to use for speed days and fast long runs throughout the course of your training block.
New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v3
Final Thoughts
Whether you're hitting speedy repeats on the track or building your aerobic engine with slow jaunts around the neighborhood, each run in your build puts you another step closer to finishing your first marathon. Every great marathon build requires dedication, patience and consistency—a fun and reliable rotation of shoes is just the icing on the cake. This list is a great place to start your shoe shopping journey. If you'd like to see all of the top performance running shoes available for your training, head over the running shoe marketplace where you can find all the specs and technology behind those shoes.
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