TriNSki wrote:
question for the crowd.. I used AP2s in the CIM early December. never ran any long runs in them as I took the "race day only" aspect to heart. Did run a couple of times in them. Probably should have been able to run a sub 3:30 (late 50s age) ended up with sore quads early on and calves cramping at mile 7, first of an increasing amount of calf stretches at mile 9, ended up at 3:52.
how many people train for significant long runs in super shoes before racing in them?
given that the carbon plates are only supposed to be good for 100ish miles(assuming this is still the case as it was with the originals, do you buy 2 pairs, one to train in and one for race day?
anyone else every have a similar experience?
I didn't run marathons with Alphaflys but I learned the hard way that saving them for race day is a risky proposition, as there aren't many shoes with similar geometry and loading. I was training in Saucony Endorphin Speeds as my training speed day shoe, and even rotated my AF1 in like 5 times in the weeks before my Oly tris, and I still managed to strain my calf pretty badly twice despite being well prepared. (I did run my Oly PRs with the AFs.)
Since I'm older and actually have some money to spend on triathlon (heh heh) I relegated my AF1 to training and have been racing with an AF2 that has barely been used. No more calf strains and no more weird leg issues from the transition.
I'll also add that for me, the AF1 holds up a lot better than the '100 mile' mark that people throw around often on the internet. Mine now has 400+miles on it (I log 'em all on Strava) and it feels and goes every bit as fast as my new AF2. Still feels really poppy compared to any non-supershoe, although granted slightly less poppy than when new. I'd happily race in my 400-mile used AF1 over all my other shoes I've ever used except for my new AF2, and even there, I doubt there'd be a difference.
The only way I'll retire my AF1 is if the AF3 is as-good or better and I can actually get them.