assistant: Before I lock in a pick, I need one quick detail: **what's your typical cadence, and have you raced in a carbon-plated super-shoe before?** The reason: at your sub-19 5K fitness (that's seriously fast), you're in the sweet spot for a plated racer, but the *type* of plate matters. Some shoes reward high cadence and aggressive foot-strikes (like the Deviate Nitro Elite v4), while others suit stride-focused runners. And if you've never raced in a super-shoe, the transition from a trainer to a plated racer can feel jarring — it's worth knowing what your body knows. Once I know that, I can narrow between the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite v4 (lighter, snappier, cadence-rewarding) and the ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo (lighter still, excellent energy return, strong heel stability for shorter distances).

assistant: Perfect — forefoot striker + super-shoe virgin changes the calculus. You want a shoe that rewards your natural foot-strike without punishing you if your form softens late-race. Here are three picks, ranked by how well they suit your profile: **ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo** is the top pick. FORDY RUNS calls it "felt like I had nothing on my feet," and The Run Testers praise its bouncier FF Leap foam layer paired with a firmer Turbo Plus base — that combo gives you snappy energy return at your forefoot without the jarring snap of a pure carbon-plate racer. Crucially, it's more forgiving than the Sky Tokyo at slower paces, which matters if you're new to super-shoes and fatigue creeps in late-race. At 159g and 5.0mm drop, it's light and low without feeling unstable. FORDY RUNS specifically raced it in a 10K and loved the "improved heel stability" — that's your safety net as a forefoot striker learning the shoe. **Puma Deviate Nitro Elite v4** is the aggressive alternative. EDDBUD notes it "wants you to pick up the cadence" and rewards "harder foot-strikes" — that's your forefoot-strike signature. It's lighter (170g) and firmer than the Edge, with a higher-placed carbon plate that sits closer to your forefoot. Doctors of Running calls it "firm, but it's very snappy," and notes it's the first comfortable Deviate for her. The trade-off: it's less forgiving if you tire. Best if you're confident in your form holding through 10K. **Adidas Adizero Adios Pro v4** is the marathon-friendly middle ground. Kofuzi describes it as blending "the best of the Adios Pro 3 and the Evo 1" into a great marathon racer — it's a touch softer and more cushioned than the Puma, with a full carbon plate that won't punish a forefoot striker. At $220, it's also $50 cheaper than the ASICS and Puma. I have limited detail on this one in my data, but the positioning suggests it's a solid all-rounder for your first super-shoe race. **For a 5K, I'd lean Edge Tokyo or Deviate v4.** For a 10K or longer, Edge Tokyo edges both — the forgiving cushioning is worth the slight trade in snap. You've got the fitness; the shoe should adapt to you, not the reverse. What distance are you targeting first?