Quick roundup of my running & training kicks.

Dor Alaluf
Jul 23, 2017 · 5 min read

They’ve absorbed hundreds of miles. Some more than others. Some get the fun of hitting pavement, some the sweaty floors of weight rooms…They’re essential to most runners. Runners have this obsession with them; on finding the perfect pair, as they can make or break the desire to go outside and get your miles in.

We’re talking shoes. I’ve gone through quite a few pairs since I picked up running about 4 years. Over time I’ve learned how important finding the right pair for each style or type of training actually is. And now that I’m training for my first full marathon, they’re more important to me than ever.

I obviously knew nothing here when I ran when my first half marathon in Nike Free 4.0s…

Side note — I know there are a lot of Nike haters out there in the running world, but this brand has never failed me and I still own a few pairs of Nikes for just about everything except for road running.

What’s in my closet right now?

Let’s get down to business. I’m going to quickly summarize two pairs of active road running shoes, 2 pairs of shoes I use for training at the gym, and 2 pairs of retired running shoes that I now sport for walking or regular day-to-day wear. I’ll do a series of in-depth reviews later on.

1. Hoka One One Clifton 3

I was honestly pretty skeptical about putting on a pair of Hokas, especially after reading “Born to Run”, which raves about barefoot running. But man, I fell in love with this thing as soon as I tried them on. It’s now my go-to shoe for long runs. Not a very quick and responsive shoe, but it’s a lot more forgiving on the legs when you’re out there for an hour plus.

2. Brooks Ghost 9.

My daily trainer. I use these for my short and medium runs and the occasional long run. Responsive while supplying just the right amount of cushion. The toe box is just a bit wide for my liking, but I have a narrower-than-average foot. The average or wide footed neutral runner would love these.

3. Nike Free 5.0 2014

Yes. 2014. I bought these when they were released and have worn them to the gym almost every day and still do so. One of the most comfortable, durable shoes I’ve ever owned. They are Nike Frees, so I haven’t run anything over 5k with them, but they became my go-to kicks for agility and light weight training. I would buy more if they still sold them…

4. Nike Metcon 2

Man do I want to love this panda looking shoe. Labeled as a crossfit shoe, I bought these for heavier weight work like squats, deadlifts, and exercises that require a little more stability on the ground. I was obsessed when I put them on, but was disappointed when the welded upper started coming apart after only a few workouts. Not a big deal. It’s still a good shoe, but I hoped these would be as durable as the Frees.

5. Asics Gel Nimbus 17

RETIRED. But my favorite pair or running shoes to date. I easily put on about 500–600 miles on these with comfort. I also ran my second half marathon (Rock n Roll Brooklyn) in these. Great neutral shoe, great responsiveness with just the right amount of cushion from the gel. Also great for my narrow feet :)

6. Asics Gel Nimbus 18

So the Gel Nimbus went from my favorite running shoe to my least favorite with the 18th installment of the shoe. I jumped in these after such a successful run with the 17s and became so disappointed that I have now left the Asics brand behind. I thought after a bunch of miles they’ll break in and hit that sweet spot that the 17s did, but they didn’t. Not sure what they did with these, but they never felt right, no matter how long I ran with them.


So there you have it — all the running and training shoes that have gotten me through miles on the road and hours in the weight room since I picked up running.

Stay tuned for deeper looks into my two active pairs, the Hokas and Brooks, in upcoming posts. Keep following for more gear reviews, training updates, and more! Let’s run.

Dor Alaluf

Written by

Photographer, traveler, runner. Born and raised in Tel-Aviv, made it in America, back to Tel-Aviv.

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