My 12 Shoe Rotation

Part I: What does a 12 Shoe rotation even look like?
Part II: Specifically, what are the 12 shoes in my rotation? Almost every brand is represented here. Nike, Adidas, Hoka, ASICS, Mizuno, Saucony, Mount to Coast, even Reebok. Daily Trainers, Recovery Day, 5k/10k Trainer, Race Day shoe, and a 6th category.
I make exclusive content on my sub 3 marathon journey as well as shoe content for members - to join check it out here ... (along with early releases etc...)
/ @midliferunner
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[@dbknickerbocker]

According to my wife - a 12 shoe rotation looks like me sleeping on the couch.

[@MidLifeRunner]

That’s the David rotation, bed to couch

[@dbknickerbocker]

@@MidLifeRunner I would give up the quest for sub-three to win an argument and enjoy a night in the victory bed!

[@anelkaisgood2]

@@MidLifeRunnerthe classic #bedtocouch program 😅🤣🤣

[@jnorthingtonjr]

😂

[@MidLifeRunner]

@@anelkaisgood2 that’s why so many people get motivated to go couch to 5k or couch to marathon . Running away from their troubles

[@tiff7805]

You DID NOT need to call out my pace like that 😂

[@MidLifeRunner]

You won the race to my heart and that’s the only pace that matters 😂 sorry, queen 👸🏽

[@bobgibson1303]

Clydesdale Rotation Daily Drivers: Adidas SL 2, Adidas Supernova Prima Long Run/Recovery: Asics Superblast, Mizuno NeoVista, Adidas Prime X Strung 1 Speed Day: TYR Valkyrie Speedworks Race Day: Alpha Fly 1

[@MidLifeRunner]

So solid. How do you like the TYR shoe? I have yet to try them out

[@michaeltanel3815]

​@@MidLifeRunnerseconding this question - how's the Tyr treating you? Curious as a fellow Clydesdale. Also wouldn't mind a bit of feedback about how you feel about the SL2?

[@WhatMatterstoMatt]

Never too many shoes!!!

[@MidLifeRunner]

The teacher has spoken. Truth is true in every country 🇨🇦

[@tomasdalponte733]

Very good explanation about the use of each shoe. In my case my rotation is also 6 shoes, but different concepts: 1) Workhorse: Fila Float Maxxi, which I use for easy jogs up to 90 minutes. The difference with "recovery" is that I try to make it a little more "firm/ground contact" and less "mega damped". 2) Longrun: Skechers Max Road 6, specific for long distance days. Something that is definitely cushioned, but also agile. It has to allow me to speed up the pace if there are intervals at marathon pace. 3) Recovery: Asics Nimbus 25, for the day after a long distance, a very hard workout or a race. MAX cushioning. 4) Non-carbon speed: Fila KR6, something fast but without a carbon plate so as not to lose the habit and help the foot develop other muscle fibers. 5) Carbon speed: 361º Flame RS, for the key training of the week. Last year's supershoes that are available on sale could go here. 6) Raceday: Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, chef kiss Alternatives for each category: 1) Adidas SL/SL2/Solarglide 5/Solarglide 6 2) On Monster 2/Ascis Noosa Tri15 3) Hoka Bondi 4) Hoka Mach 5 5) Endorphin Speed ​​4 6) Nike Alpha/Vapor

[@MidLifeRunner]

So solid. 6 is where it’s at I guess 😂

[@joshjelden]

Great content as always, Andrew…you turned me onto the Skyward X, which has been fantastic…starting to get the itch for the Neo Vista now 👀

[@MidLifeRunner]

Awesome! They’re definitely a little more squirrelly and supportive. Skyward is like a tank of a trainer, more recovery with pick up. The Neo vista is more propulsive and bouncy. But bigger runners have been saying it’s too mushy. I like both

[@jnorthingtonjr]

You’re the best. Love the lightheartedness of the content yet being informative!

[@MidLifeRunner]

🙌🏼

[@jhelm9681]

Running shoes are fun, they each have their own individual characteristics and feel so while each one might fit into a particular category (i.e. daily trainer, recovery day, race day, etc..) they all have their own nuance. I love waking up every morning looking at my wall of 30+ shoes and going with whatever feel I'm looking for that day. It's kind of like having my own running shoe store in my house at this point. The great thing is now I have so many shoes my wife doesn't have any idea when I've added a new pair!

[@MidLifeRunner]

😂 same. Accurate

[@coreyadcock]

I dislike more shoes than I end up liking. They will be fine for 20 to 30 miles... I look around the closet I'm more the Grinch..."Hate, hate, hate. Hate, hate, hate. Double hate. LOATHE ENTIRELY!" 😂

[@MidLifeRunner]

😂 there’s always a few that I put almost no miles in that give me buyer’s remorse like the under armor speed day shoe, even puma liberate nitro - I just don’t do speed work enough to have that many shoes. But I don’t donate them because I tell myself I’ll run in them one day, but I never do and just feel guilty

[@Miketheswerunner]

I don’t have enough shoes yet. But here is my current rotation this summer. Daily: Saucony Triumph 21, endorphin speed 3. Daily/long run: Asics superbast Trail: Nike pegasus trail 5 Easy/recovery: Saucony Triumph 22 Tempo/speed: older pair of Nike vaporfly next 2%, vaporfly 3. Race day: OG alphafly, alphafly 3 and a new pair of Nike vaporfly next % 2. I will probably buy some more this summer and replace the endorphin speed 3 if something fun like Superblast 2 drops july 5 😅 Forgot about the gym shoe: Saucony Ride 16

[@levandmarthapolyakin-aaron2183]

Um..that’s plenty of shoes even for shoe fanatics.

[@Miketheswerunner]

@@levandmarthapolyakin-aaron2183 i like shoes 👟 😯😂

[@MidLifeRunner]

Love it! Nike has that race day shoe on lock. I might have one more race left in the AF1 and I have the AF3 which I’ll test later this year I’m sure . VF2 are the best

[@seekingUltraNick]

Sooo keep buying shoes and insert them into my rotation?? Got it! As big a Saucony fanboy as I am… I agree with you on the Pro 4’s. Love it, but I need to find a new race day shoe… dang it, anyway!😂

[@MidLifeRunner]

Yeah, I fear there is no 13 shoe rotation. It goes from 12 to 18

[@Panos_79]

I've been waiting for this one ever since you teased it a few weeks back, and no, you don't have a problem, you just have a well-thought-out, completely normal number of running shoes 👀. I usually keep between 5-9 shoes, depending on the deals I can't resist to. As for categories, daily trainers, dedicated long run shoe, workout shoe (mainly my carbon plated racer, since I don't race too often) and finally a rainy day shoe (I'm not too particular about keeping my shoes spotless - Chris of Sagasu is the man to watch for that one - but I don't like seeing them muddy, so I have one for these days) . Congrats for 5k subs Andrew, it's also great to see brands sending you shoes for review. Next milestone will be when New Balance is added to that list, I think that'll be the sign that you've really made it!

[@MidLifeRunner]

haha, thanks Panos! "In theory," this set rotation should prevent me from buying a new shoe until I've run through one in the current rotation....but I just can't see myself NOT trying the SC Pacer and the SC Trainer v3. I can wait on a lot of shoes like Cielo X, Puma Super shoes, Adios Pro 4. Unless more brands send them to me. Also though, there might be value more in the 250-300 mile reviews as most Shoetubers get them to 50 or 100 max and are forced to move on to the next one in for testing, which I understand. I didn't even think about the rainy day shoe, not that I have to worry about that in south Texas.

[@botrytis_cinerea]

It's better face the truth. Let's admit we are addicted. Just trying to sell my Adidas Pro 3 (all black) and NB RC Elite V2 (yellow) on Ebay as I only put 35 km in them and they just don't work for me (they are kept in the basement for months in fact the NB for a a year) while picking up a pair of Saucony Tempus (yes, the vizigold colourway) for £90 seems a good idea. Not to mention that I only put 125K in my Saucony Endo Pro 3 and it's painful not to pull the trigger on the Pro 4 (similar situation with Speed 3/4). Oh, and I forgot to mention that I barely wore my Puma Deviate Nitro 2 but can't wait to purchase the 3 and of course I am already obsessed with the Elite 3 just seeing some pics and first reviews. Oh boy, and you don't want me to get started on the Superblast 2.

[@SantaCruzRunner]

Race day = Nike VP3, Long Runs at high effort = Saucony EP3, Daily = Asics NB3, NB Rebel V4 & Puma Velocity Nitro 3, Recovery = NB MoreV4, Speed = Saucony ES3, Adidas TS9, Superspeed = Asics Metaspeed LD (spikeless) spikes. I built a custom rack in the closet for them with doors, so I can sneak new ones into the rotation. 👀

[@levandmarthapolyakin-aaron2183]

😂unless there’s a lock on those doors, you’re not necessarily getting off Scot free….

[@MidLifeRunner]

Brilliant! There are too many count since I have kept almost every shoe I’ve run in since 2020, in case I have to reference in a video, which I hardly ever do. So I’m not sure my wife would notice 👀 but she keeps track of the budget so she would DEFINITELY see that. That’s why I started to petition shoe companies

[@elliotendures]

This makes me feel better about my 10-shoe rotation and like I can, in fact, buy the Superblast 2 and other stuff this summer despite none of those 10 being over even 200 miles.

[@elliotendures]

For funsies: - ES3, ES3 Runshield, EP3, AP3, PX2S, Superblast, Neo Vista, Supernova Rise, Adios 8, M2C S1 (just got yesterday so 0 miles).

[@MidLifeRunner]

It’s a safe space here at midlife runner. I can’t afford the Superblast 2 which was the exact predicament I was in with the launch of the Superblast 1 when it came out. And then it never went on sale . 😂 but I have my eyes on this one, the sc trainer v3 and the sc pacer v2

[@tak4043]

My rotation: Puma Deviate Nitro 2 for intervals, racing and warm ups of course. Easy, tempo and long runs are for a cross trainer without shoes or socks.

[@jasonangeles3765]

right on! i love shoes so when i got into running i didn't hesitate to educate myself on all the shoes.. i have over 30 pairs over the past 3 years.. oops. my rotation is: sacouny kinvara pro/on cloudmonster/Adios SL for recovery, Boston 12 and Endorphin Speed 3 for DT, Endorphin pro 1-3 and Takumi Sen 8 for fast trainers, Vaporfly 2/3, Adios Pro 3 for race day.. long runs are not common unless i'm training for a marathon but i'll use a combo of old race day shoes and the the Kinvara Pro..

[@MidLifeRunner]

Thanks for sharing . Glad I’m not alone.

[@HaithamSweity]

Consider adding captions for major points -> Example: Daily Trainer 2 "Asics Superblast"

[@MidLifeRunner]

Brilliant - can’t believe I didn’t canva in some text with some chapters . Thanks for feedback and I’ll be on it next time

[@Wings_nut]

The more I think about it, a twelve-shoe rotation is actually quite brilliant, and I have just the shoes to do it with. Thanks for the bright idea, Andrew.

[@MidLifeRunner]

😂 beautiful. In theory it prevents me from buying more but I think we all know how that goes

[@Wings_nut]

@@MidLifeRunner Sadly, I do.

[@Kevin-fz7yt]

Love the info! Now I don’t feel so bad about my 8 shoe rotation. 😃 3 daily trainers, 2 speed day/long run and 3 race shoes. I do love the Prime X!

[@MidLifeRunner]

It’s a safe space here at midlife runner 😂 welcome

[@relax101mag]

I also have a rainy day shoe. Stable, wide base, excellent grip and you don't worry about it getting wet and then drying it out using all sorts of dodgy methods that you wouldn't want to do with your other shoes.

[@MidLifeRunner]

What’s the shoe??

[@relax101mag]

@@MidLifeRunner Hoka Clifton (7 and now 8). It almost forces you to plod along which is kind of a safety mechanism

[@brianalbrecht7209]

Real f it we're doing 5 blades vibes. Love it

[@JaredSoutherland1081]

Just ordered the Adizero SL2 to go along with Novablast 4 for my daily trainers👊🏼

[@MidLifeRunner]

💥 bam! Let me know how you get on with them. I am on a no buy and adidas doesn’t send me shoes . So I have to start a wish list that I rank on a note in my phone .

[@MilesLangley]

I have a trail running shoe and a road running shoe. I could do with a speed shoe, but I’m already dealing with the excessive feeling of owning two pairs of running shoes.

[@MidLifeRunner]

You are a much richer man than I am…from all the shoes you didn’t buy

[@lilpappi007]

Most of my rotation was sent to my by different bands. Really just need to hit up your favorite playlist with a email. Most heavy metal bands are in the running shoe game.

[@MidLifeRunner]

😂 brilliant.

[@edrios3668]

Love this Video! Daily: Superblast, Skyward X Daily/long run: PX1, PX2, Cielo x1 Easy/recovery: Neo Vista Tempo/speed: older pair of PX & PXS - I love the PX and have my half Marathon PB in these shoes Race day: WRP2, Sky Paris, Endorphin Elite Gym: Speed 3

[@MidLifeRunner]

Great collection! Ran in the skyward x today. Do you prefer those or the Superblast?

[@edrios3668]

@@MidLifeRunner - At the moment the Skyward X - love how plush it is, its a tank that will protect my feet. Superblast much lighter, so better when I want to do strides or hills. Tbh the Neo Vista beats them both, what a shoe. If I could only have one shoe it would be the Neo.

[@MidLifeRunner]

@@edrios3668 I agree. I’m loving the Neo vista. Will do a shoe battle after 100 miles between skyward and Neo vista. They are around 80 miles

[@edrios3668]

@@MidLifeRunner If you get a chance to run in the Cielo you will like it, such a fun shoe and surprisingly fast, ran a 10k in 36min dead in the shoe. that said I use it more for daily miles when I want to pick up the pace.

[@robthompson4882]

Just a foot-note 😜 the Canadian shoe rotation I only assume needs to be minimum 19 pairs eh?! (ie. x1.61 miles to km). Thanks for the talking points to rehearse for when I get caught walking in the door balancing boxes…appreciate you (and what’s this, the Midlife Wankah has a Saucony shoe in a list?!??? sheesh! ❤) 🤘

[@MidLifeRunner]

Endo speed 1 was the GOAT. Endo pro 3 hurts my Achilles but I like it?? Anyway, the metric conversion looks accurate. Though I was an English major I would guess most of the population has an excess of sticks and skates

[@chapchappington2475]

Have you run in the edge and sky Paris? If so, did you notice any difference between the two of them?

[@MidLifeRunner]

I haven’t because I would have to pay 250 and I heard Yowana say they’re so similar, it’s not worth buying both . If they ever go on sale, I will DEFINITELY buy them but I’m not holding my breath as ASICS rarely has a sale on their premium shoes

[@KeenanTherrien-Tomas]

My rotation: Easy run- Asics Gel Nimbus 25 Long run- Nike Zoom fly 5 for fast long run, Asics Gel Nimbus 25 for slow long run Tempo- Nike Zoom fly 5, Addidas Takumi Sen 10 Track workout- Nike Zoomx Dragonfly XC (XC version cuz i also use it for cross country races), Addidas Takumi Sen 10 Race- Nike Air Zoom Victory (Im an 800m runner) Trail- Nike Kyger 9 (I use it for xc training) Winter- Nike pegasus shield 39 (snows a lot where I live)

[@MidLifeRunner]

🙌🏼 800m for the win! Got that need for speed!

[@pedrolamothe23]

Daily: Novablast 3, Cloudmonster 1 Recovery: NB 880 v13 (your favorite lol) Tempo: Deviate nitro 2, endorphin speed 3 Race: Metaspeed Edge Paris, rocket x 2 Mixed terrain: couldsurfer trail

[@MidLifeRunner]

Solllllid line up. Minus the NB shoe naturally 🤣 I wish had a bigger budget for shoes or if brands sent me shoes. I’ve run in a couple of puma and the skyward x is my first Hoka shoe in years . I want to try the cielo x 1 and the rocket X . And I’ve never run in an ON shoe

[@mr.h.9103]

Can’t seem to get anyone to answer this question. What are the best shoes for people with dodgy hips? Specifically glute issues.

[@MidLifeRunner]

I had that issue when I first started running. Strengthening my glute med through leg lifts/clam shells and doing “hip hikers” on the stairs (3x20 , 3 times a week) helped a lot. And for the shoes, anything not too soft like the new balance sc trainer v2. And nothing too wide that forced my foot 🦶 into unnatural mechanics. I went more minimal and plain. Brooks Hyperion tempo, Nike Pegasus, ASICS Trinoosa. Honestly I would look into the vomero 17 on sale somewhere like. It’s comfortable but has enough support but also ground contact feel. The only thing is more minimal shoes means I wouldn’t do super long runs until I built up strength. I used to do 3-6 miles when I first started and had hip/glute issue . Could be wrong, of course .

[@mr.h.9103]

@@MidLifeRunner thanks! It’s a glute med issue most likely. They thought piriformis possibly, but doing PT currently. I just didn’t know what shoes would work best for coming back to running. That starts this week so it’s easy miles the next few weeks. Building back up. Thanks again! 😎

[@mongezinkosi]

bro sat down so many times

[@iconik-cn5rm]

Highly recommend Adizero Sl 2 I will say it might change your mind on shoe of yr...budget technology versatility put in one shoe...

[@MidLifeRunner]

I love the takumi Sen. The foam was a bit too dense in the Boston 12 so I’m hoping with less of it, I can really squeeze some juice out of the foam. I will purchase when it goes on sale and that will give me time to rack up miles in these shoes

[@MidLifeRunner]

Thanks for the heads up

[@iconik-cn5rm]

@@MidLifeRunner adidas has sale spend 100 get 30 off comes to 108.00 it's a banger...fun fun fun shoe

[@iconik-cn5rm]

@@MidLifeRunner the sl2 is the perfect fit for Sen the missing piece of adidas adizero line up..just perfect

[@i.p2088]

I have the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro V1 and V2. Taking V2 to a Marathon is so brave.. Need perfect road.. No turns... After I got V2 it made V1 feel so tame..

[@MidLifeRunner]

Yeah the marine corp marathon has a LOT of turns and “some elevation” so I don’t think I’ll take the v2 out for that….at least I don’t think

[@iconik-cn5rm]

my speed day is between adizero sen 9 and adizero Sl ride 15 and long miles nb more v4 ,saucony shift 3 tempo thresh. work triumph 20 adizero boston 11 nb sc trainer 2 trails altra olympus 5 Raindays I pick old-school adidas sl20 v 2.5 with old school broke in lightstrike soft bouncy light great all surface traction. reminds me of puma grip

[@thewalls7770]

The only thing better than a 12 shoe rotation is a 13 shoe rotation.

[@MidLifeRunner]

Looking for every advantage possible without taking PEDs. 13th shoe might be it

[@RunMissouri]

Just think if you ran trails too! another 2 shoes for speed/race and easy/daily.

[@MidLifeRunner]

I like the way you think. 😂

[@matthiassventoest6800]

okay, I had to do a check on myself. I do have a 10 shoe rotation.., but, and it's a big butt. I have a 6 shoe.., road shoe rotation .., and then 4 trail shoes, which all basically do the same thing. I will say this though.., I have never paid close to full price for any of the shoes.., except for the cloud eclipse.., which was marked down 40 dollars.., so there is that. cloud eclipse is a good shoe though.

[@MidLifeRunner]

I love that about you Matthias! Bargain buyers until the end

[@ricHCarboCarbea]

You could have superblast, but then this video will never have existed ... at most ... exagerating 4 shoe rotation . But man i really love shoes that are right now ... hoped that they would existed 10 years ago

[@MidLifeRunner]

Yeah some of my favorite shoes are the do-it-all like the Neo vista or skyward x. These can go 400-500 miles and then I won’t run in anything else

[@ch71225]

so fun, lol, I will add you are not a runner if you don't have a shoe problem

[@therapygrind]

No Love for a single New Balance, but love for Reebok?...good grief....may the running gods have mercy on your soul.

[@MidLifeRunner]

😂 hey they produced my two favorite trainers of 2022 with the rebel v3 and the sc trainer v1. They fell off a bit with the follow ups but I’m looking forward very much to the sc trainer v3 and the sc pacer

[@antonioromulodelcarmen283]

Let's make this easier… buy 1 more shoe so you'll have 13 in the rotation. Then you'll have a 2-mile, 4-mile, 6-mile, etc up to a 26-mile shoe. Hahahaha! 🤦🏻‍♂️🥴 Love the videos man! ✌🏻

[@MidLifeRunner]

😂 thank you. 13 sounds better than a third for each category (18). Starting to feel bad for the shoes I can’t get miles in

[@LuisBecerra79]

Wait 🤔. I thought everyone had like a 20+ shoe rotation 🙈😆😆.

[@MidLifeRunner]

Apparently more people than I thought. . Glad I’m not the only one

[@hkim9151]

A shoe tuber should have at least 30 shoes a year…..12 shoes are not enough.. just one shoe review per month is not adequate to keep your viewers satisfied. 😂….i am not a shoe tuber and currently I have a 9 shoe rotation, and still looking to buy the next new release 😊

[@MidLifeRunner]

😂 I’m showing this to my wife for our budgeting purposes. It’s an investment in our future !

[@justoutlaw6423]

Less expensive then wife rotation.

[@MidLifeRunner]

🎯 and that’s just the shoes!

[@paultimothyL]

I'd show my shoe rotation but my wife may read this and I like my 🛌 🎉

[@MidLifeRunner]

😂 🤫

[@haroholic]

Disagree on recovery shoe, I always want a shoe in my rotation like the nimbus that just slaps me in the mouth when I think of ego-overtaking the guy ahead of me

[@MidLifeRunner]

An ego slapper. I like that. That’s the 1080v13 for me. Can’t break a 9 min pace if I tried in those things

[@haroholic]

You will recover and there is nothing that you can do about it

[@CharlieKirksBiggestFan]

I have invincible, vomero, Pegasus, streakfly rebel 4, audios pro, alphafly 1, alphafly 3, 2 vaporfly 3s, cloudspike. Dragonfly, sc trainer 1, and dragonfly xc

[@MidLifeRunner]

Sick! From the look of it, I bet you’re FAF and have some wicked calf strength

[@CharlieKirksBiggestFan]

@@MidLifeRunner I dunno what that’s means I just run track and xc