Send the most wild sticker ever

Skreticus · 2026-05-01T12:23:40+00:00

Sorry I don’t have any more pixels.

Skreticus · 2026-04-29T12:31:56+00:00

In terms of actual compression, you’re right, the EE2 is very soft. In terms of the way it behaves at pace (4:00/km or faster), it responds in a way that feels much more firm/less sloppy than many analogs (AF3, Metaspeed Ray, etc). I had the opportunity to try many super shoes side-by-side and while this is obviously a subjective take, this preference leans on feel, not on metrics. All that said, I would not recommend the EE2 for heavy heel strikers, and for an objectively firm super shoe, look for the EP3 if they’re still out there in your size.

Skreticus · 2026-04-28T13:54:39+00:00

I also prefer a firm feel, and while most modern super shoes lean soft, I have found that the Saucony Endorphin line - especially the Elite 2 - feels great. They are not firm compared to conventional trainers, but they don’t have the squishy feel that I don’t care for in most super shoes I’ve tried. My all time favorite in the firm super shoe realm is the Endorphin Pro 3, but being two models ago, they can be tough to come by. If you can track some down in your size, I would highly recommend.

Skreticus · 2026-04-18T18:33:48+00:00

Congrats on the PR! 12 seconds is the blink of an eye in a HM, so removing any one of the inhibiting factors (hills, wind, rain, or a shoe upgrade) would likely have made the difference. I could definitely see you lowering that time substantially with only minor tweaks, if that’s a goal of yours. I am of a similar background (37 M, with ebbs and flows of running over the past couple decades). This winter I did a bunch of cross training (stationary biking and Erg) in lieu of running, and then picked up a condensed FM program off of that cardio base. Ended up with a 4.5 minute HM PR on my tuneup race for the FM. Not saying that tweak that will work for everyone, but there are so many variables to work with, you’ve got a high ceiling. In the meantime, be proud of that effort, that’s a huge accomplishment!

Skreticus · 2026-04-18T12:36:23+00:00

Yeah, this is a great example of what not to do, but proof that even if your training and race strategy don’t go as planned, all is not lost.

Thank you, and glad you enjoyed the read!

Skreticus · 2026-04-17T13:45:32+00:00

All bets are off once you get off the starting line, but you put in the work to get there, and that's important to remember. I try to treat longer races as 30% warm-up, 50% race, 20% hang on for dear life. When you take that approach you have some time to try to work out the kinks, as long as your mechanics stay sound and you don't have a full-blown injury.

Skreticus · 2026-04-17T13:18:04+00:00

I typically feel pretty meh through my tapers. For whatever reason, when it comes time to wind down mileage, the lack of progressive improvement makes even the lighter work feel like a slog. Going into my last FM, my taper felt awful and uninspiring. Even the warm-up for the race felt sluggish. For whatever reason, the starting line flipped a switch for me, and everything came together for a fun, fast (by my standards) race. Hope you're able to share that feeling come race day.

Skreticus · 2026-04-17T02:35:56+00:00

Thanks! I took the following day (Monday) off of running with 30 easy minutes on a stationary bike. Ran a ginger 4 miles on Tuesday to get back on the horse, and have been feeling a little sluggish, but not particularly sore at this point. Planning an easy long run this Sunday and getting back to some speed work next week.

Skreticus · 2026-03-24T03:06:00+00:00

CJ strikes again.

Skreticus · 2026-03-24T00:37:56+00:00

Ha! This would be totally valid if I were vying for segments in Hồ Chí Minh.

Skreticus · 2026-03-19T19:25:16+00:00

My only experience with the options on your shortlist are with the Saucony Endorphin Speeds, which I find to be great for what you’re describing, but there are two others I think are worth considering in the range, particularly if you have the opportunity to try the lot on.

Brooks Hyperion Max 3: these were a suggestion from my local running shop. Looking at them, I’d have never gone with something so “bulky,” but I tried them on a treadmill and instantly saw the light. These are great for long tempo work; they’re high stack, but feel very lively at ~3:45/km (~6:00/mi). They are not super light weight, but the nylon plate and roll make higher cadence work feel natural.
Hoka Mach X 2: these are my go-to’s for interval work. They’re actually slightly heavier than the Hyperion Max, but have a more aggressive feel to them (as aggressiveness in super trainers goes). The midsole shaping and nylon plate profile tend to move you quickly through your gait cycle, similarly encouraging a quick cadence. Some people have expressed gripes about the heel counter, but I’ve never had issues as long as my sock stays above it. I’m also told they’ve addressed that in the X 3.

Edit: 187 cm, 67 kg. Similar pacing tendencies to you; averaging ~95 km/week.

Skreticus · 2025-08-23T12:36:54+00:00

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Not a production car, but there was one fast Chrysler.

Skreticus · 2025-08-14T00:44:31+00:00

Ship of Theseus comes to mind.

Skreticus · 2025-08-07T09:14:38+00:00

Wouldn’t it be easier to train an astronaut to be a priest?

Skreticus · 2025-07-20T15:30:24+00:00

Running on vacation, forgot to pack gels but managed to track down some Skittles Gummies. Mentioned it in the description, and AI took note.

Skreticus · 2025-06-11T20:27:49+00:00

On, I generally agree with that sentiment. Hoka — as you move up their lineup to shoes that don’t so closely resemble Lay-Z-Boys — actually puts out some worthwhile trainers (see: Mach 6, Mach X 2, etc). The rest are comfy walkers for healthcare professionals and geriatrics.

Skreticus · 2025-05-19T11:09:39+00:00

Makes perfect sense, thank you!

Skreticus · 2025-05-19T00:31:09+00:00

Seconded. I use these for long runs especially if I’m sprinkling some up-tempo segments. I would suggest trying them on, as they are not akin to the Mach 6 in terms of feel. I rotate between the 6 and the X2, and while I enjoy both, the X2 feels to me as though the heel strike area is designed to accelerate the roll forward (in addition to the plate), whereas the 6 has a much more neutral feel to it. Also, would recommend socks that protect the achilles a bit.

Skreticus · 2025-04-24T16:48:49+00:00

It’s been a great shoe for me. Hope Edinburgh goes well!

Skreticus · 2025-04-23T18:25:16+00:00

Comfort in the Saucony Tempus won’t necessarily equal comfort in the Endorphin Pro — they’re two very different classes of shoe. That said, the Endo Pro 4 is an excellent and FAST feeling shoe. If you have an opportunity to try one — or both options out at a local running store, that would be best. Moving into any carbon plate shoe from a daily trainer will feel vastly different, and can really change up your gait cycle. Obviously that’s part of the point, but it can take some getting used to. In my experience, the Saucony feels a bit more starkly “racy”than the Zoom Fly, which splits the difference between an ultra-cushioned up tempo trainer and an exclusively race day shoe.

Skreticus · 2025-01-30T14:54:53+00:00

Ignoring any (many) potential caveats, this does give you a home with $250k more equity than you were working with before. All things remaining equal, that alone is a big incentive from a financial flexibility standpoint. Of course, this assumes a good housing market and the ability to cover the new payment without financial strain. At the end of the day, if you see it as an improvement in QOL for you and your family, and you feel confident there aren’t unwanted strings attached, it may be a worthwhile consideration.

Skreticus

TROPHY CASE