Asics DS Trainer for marathon distance

--amadeus--

The story so far...

I'm roughly 70kgs with a neutral enough footstrike and fairly clean gait. I have trained in the Asics 21xx model for years without any problems and have done a couple of shorter races and training runs in the Asics Hyperspeed 2 shoe.

I'm aiming at roughly 2:50 - 2:55 and the general consensus is that a lighter shoe than the 21xx is a good idea for the race. However the woman that sorts me out with my shoes advises against going to the Hyperspeeds - her opinion is that as I get to 18 - 20+ and my legs tire my gait will deteriorate and the Hyperspeeds won't have enough support so I greatly increase my chances of cramp, injury or simply just increased fatigue.

She recommended the DS Trainer as a good compromise, lighter than the 21xx but far more support than a true racing flat. They felt good on but are only 30g lighter. Will they make a difference? I am open to suggestions of other shoes but the shop only stock NB and Asics and I don't want to buy online without trying them on first.

Thanks!

menoscemo

Brianderunner normally wear asics 21XX and wore the DS trainers in Berlin without any difficulties (apart from his usual blow up but you can't blame that on the shoes ). Maybe ask him for advice.

BTW if you are a neutral enough runner with a clean gait, why train in Asics 21xx?

nerraw1111

I've used DS trainers all of last year and could not be happier with them. They feel very fast and light in 5km races. The max I've ever in them is about 25km without any issue. Would be the shoe I'd go for in a marathon

Check out Asics Outlet store in Kildare. They've some of the more unusual Asics that might be a good fit.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.232563603464373.77367.176047645782636&type=3

tisnotover

I have run one marathon and wore the DS Trainer for it. Like you had been using 2150's up to then and most of way through training. I switched to trainer for marathon paced runs. they are also a very good shoe in the wet.

have been using ds trainer on all runs now.

I def would not use the hyperspeed. I know one guy who had them on and he had a hard time after 20miles*

*may/may not be related to the shoes!

BennyMul

I was wearing the 2160 up to a month before Dublin, switched to the DS and no issues at all, and im slightly heavier than up (almost 10kg).

--amadeus--

Excellent stuff, thanks a million for all of that. I had forgotten about the Asics store in Kildare, def going to try and get out there, maybe even this weekend. Might give the DS a go, sounds like they should help.

menoscemo wrote: »

BTW if you are a neutral enough runner with a clean gait, why train in Asics 21xx?

Peak mileage is 70+ per week none of which is on grass so the extra cushioning has got to be good for me, plus anytime I have had proper video gait analysis done I am nuetral to mild over pronation so on the assumption that my gait deteriorates as I tire it's best to get shoes with support.

All of which is maybe 0.5% of the reason! The main one is that they are the shoes I had recommended to me back in the day and I have run for years in them without getting anything more than minor niggles that have been fixed with a day or two of rest. So no matter what fancy video slow mo shows if it ain't broke I'm reluctant to fix it!!

Gringo78

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Excellent stuff, thanks a million for all of that. I had forgotten about the Asics store in Kildare, def going to try and get out there, maybe even this weekend. Might give the DS a go, sounds like they should help.

Had a look in kildare before for the DS Trainers & racers and could find neither.

I went through about 4 pairs of DS Trainers before switching completely to the DS racers. I found the trainers excellent, but found I was able to tolerate more & more running in the racers so when the last pair of trainers ran its course (they used to last me about 450 miles before the wear was excessive on one side of the sole) I didn't replace them (I actually screwed screws into them and they are my snow runners now).

I'm trying to transition from the DS racers now to VFF's.

nerraw1111

Gringo78 wrote: »

Had a look in kildare before for the DS Trainers & racers and could find neither.

I went through about 4 pairs of DS Trainers before switching completely to the DS racers. I found the trainers excellent, but found I was able to tolerate more & more running in the racers so when the last pair of trainers ran its course (they used to last me about 450 miles before the wear was excessive on one side of the sole) I didn't replace them (I actually screwed screws into them and they are my snow runners now).

I'm trying to transition from the DS racers now to VFF's.

Kildare have some shoes that seem similar to racers. For instance, they have the Gel Tarther, which apparently is 'big in Japan' according to Running Times.

Their Facebook pages lists for sale for €29.

Running Times review: http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=20841

GoHardOrGoHome

nerraw1111 wrote: »

Kildare have some shoes that seem similar to racers. For instance, they have the Gel Tarther, which apparently is 'big in Japan' according to Running Times.

Their Facebook pages lists for sale for €29.

Running Times review: http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=20841

Yep, Tarther is similar to DS Racers. Nice and light. Also the DS Skyspeed are Similar to the DS Trainers. If they don't have the DS Trainers try the DS Skyspeed.

Just found a link - apparently the DS Skyspeed is like the DS Trainer without the medial post (no idea what that means).

http://blog.runningwarehouse.com/rs/asics-spring-2011-the-ds-trainer-and-a-few-close-cousins/

--amadeus--

GoHardOrGoHome wrote: »

...Just found a link - apparently the DS Skyspeed is like the DS Trainer without the medial post (no idea what that means).

http://blog.runningwarehouse.com/rs/asics-spring-2011-the-ds-trainer-and-a-few-close-cousins/

That sounds suspiciously close to triathlon talk :eek:

Again much appreciated on the info, I'm now sold on moving to the DS Trainer

sconhome

GoHardOrGoHome wrote: »

Yep, Tarther is similar to DS Racers. Nice and light. Also the DS Skyspeed are Similar to the DS Trainers. If they don't have the DS Trainers try the DS Skyspeed.

Just found a link - apparently the DS Skyspeed is like the DS Trainer without the medial post (no idea what that means).

DS Racer has a medial post and is a good racer for most people in Kayano, GT21xx, Omni etc. similar to the Saucony Fastwitch.

The Tarther / Skyspeed / Piranha are all neutral shoes with no medial posting or mid sole stiffness. Be careful of switching from a supportive shoe to a light non supportive racer. Slowly, slowly.

BobMac104

I reckon you.ll be fine in the hyperspeeds to be honest. Worth a try you can get them at a fairly good price these days. I did DCM in them and i was a lot longer than 2 50 in them. :-P

opus

--amadeus-- wrote: »

Again much appreciated on the info, I'm now sold on moving to the DS Trainer

After reading this thread & having a conversation in my local running shop at lunchtime today, I'm now the owner of a pair of DS Trainers as well! The advice I got was that they it should be fine running a marathon in them, first serious try out will be in Ballycotton at the start of March so will be interested to see if they bring any improvement (I'm secretly hoping for a placebo effect ).