assistant: Great goal for your first marathon. Before I narrow down the best pick, I need a couple of quick details: 1. **What's your typical running cadence?** (steps per minute — most runners land around 160–180) 2. **Do you know your foot strike?** (heel, midfoot, or forefoot strike) 3. **Have you worn a super-shoe (carbon-plated racer) before**, or would this be your first time in one? These details matter because at 85 kg, your choice between a super-shoe and a super-trainer (a trainer-weight shoe with race foam) affects both comfort over 26.2 miles and how much the plate helps you. A 4:30 marathon is a solid pace — fast enough that a super-shoe makes sense, but not so aggressive that you need the absolute lightest option. I have several strong contenders in my data, and the right one depends on your biomechanics and super-shoe experience.

assistant: Good intel. At 85 kg and a 4:30 goal, a super-shoe absolutely helps — the carbon plate and PEBA foam give you a real edge over a trainer-weight shoe, especially in the final miles when fatigue sets in. But since you're new to carbon plates, comfort and familiarity matter as much as raw speed. You want a shoe that feels *natural* under your foot, not jarring. Here are my top three picks: **New Balance SC Elite v5** — Best for your first super-shoe marathon. This is the most comfortable super-shoe I'd recommend for a first-timer at your weight. It has a wider toe box (important for marathon swelling), a full-length PEBA FuelCell midsole with carbon plate, and an 8.0 mm drop that matches a typical heel-striker's biomechanics. Doctors of Running calls it "one of the most comfortable" super-shoes and notes it's a contender for super-shoe of the year — they'd grab it for a marathon tomorrow. The Run Testers confirms it's stable and easy to hold fast pace. The trade-off: it's slightly heavier (201g) and not the absolute fastest, but for a first-timer, that stability and comfort over 26.2 miles is worth it. **Nike Alphafly 3** — The speed alternative. Same 8.0 mm drop as the New Balance, excellent lockdown, and a proven marathon platform. It's 3g lighter and the ZoomX foam + Air Zoom units give you slightly more responsiveness. Good choice if you want a touch more speed without sacrificing comfort. **Saucony Endorphin Elite v2** — Excellent reception and $40 cheaper than the Nike. Lean on this if budget matters and you want a well-regarded, proven racer. Less detailed spec data in my retrieval, but the "excellent" reception label tells you it's a solid pick. My pick: **Start with the New Balance SC Elite v5**. It's built for exactly your situation — first-time super-shoe user, heavier runner, marathon distance. The wider toe box and reputation for comfort mean you'll feel confident at mile 20. One last question: **Do you have a chance to test-run any of these before race day?** Even a 3–5 mile shakeout in a super-shoe before your marathon matters — the plate feel is different from trainers, and you want to know how your foot responds before you're committed to 26.2 miles.

assistant: You're making a smart call. Carbon plates are built for elite pace and foam life — they're optimized to work hardest at 5:00–6:00/mile pace, and at heavier body weight plus a more relaxed marathon goal, you'll get more comfort and durability from a super-trainer or a traditional marathon trainer. The energy-cost concern is real: a plate adds stiffness that benefits a 2:15 marathoner more than a 4:30 runner, and at your mileage (20–30/week), you want a shoe that rewards easy running, not one that demands you stay fast to feel efficient. Here are my top three picks for your marathon: **Mount to Coast C1 v1** — Best for your marathon. This is a long-run specialist with 42.0/36.0mm stack (plenty of cushion), a 6.0 mm drop that suits heel strikers, and a moderate rocker that eases your push-off without a plate. It's rated well-regarded, designed for exactly what you're doing — long runs and marathons — and at 261g it's light enough to feel responsive without being jarring. The wide forefoot and good lockdown mean your foot stays stable over 26.2 miles, and the 500–600 mile durability window means you can train in it and race in it without worrying about foam breakdown. **Kiprun Kipstorm Tempo v1** — The versatile alternative. Excellent reception, 8.0 mm drop (even better for heel strikers), and a maximal soft-plush cushion that reviewers call high energy return. It's a speed-training shoe that doubles as a marathon trainer — lighter (224g) and snappier than the Mount to Coast, but still forgiving. The trade-off: it runs long in length and wide in the forefoot, so sizing matters (half-size down). At $170, it's also $10 cheaper. **Brooks Glycerin v23** — The comfort-first option. Pure recovery-shoe cushioning (no plate, no rocker complexity), well-regarded, and at $175 it's the budget pick. If you want maximum softness and simplicity for your long runs, this is it — though it's heavier and less responsive than the other two. **My pick: Mount to Coast C1 v1.** It's purpose-built for marathon training and racing at your mileage and pace. The stack, drop, and rocker are all calibrated for a heel striker running 4:30, and the durability window means you won't wear it out before race day. One question: **How does your current shoe feel on long runs?** If you're already comfortable in what you're training in, the Mount to Coast is the natural step up — same ride character, more cushion and protection for the marathon distance.

assistant: Perfect — the data confirms your instinct. You don't need a racer, and the shoes I recommended earlier are exactly what fits your marathon goal. **Mount to Coast C1 v1** — Stick with this. It's your pinned pick, and the data backs it up. Believe in the Run specifically calls it "a durable, well-priced max-cushion trainer that particularly suits heavier runners" — that's you. The dual-density midsole (CircleCell foam on top, rubberized EVA underneath) feels firmer initially but breaks in and gives heavier runners better energy return as the foam compresses. The Run Testers confirms the wide toe box and stable ride handle easy through tempo paces comfortably. At 261g with a 6.0 mm drop, it's built for long runs and marathons, not speed. This is your shoe. **Kiprun Kipstorm Tempo v1** — Your second option if you want something slightly snappier. The Run Testers calls it a "strong, affordable tempo shoe that coped with a full marathon thanks to its stability and rocker." It's lighter (224g), has excellent reception, and costs $10 less. The trade-off: it runs long (size down half a size), and some runners report hot spots under the big toe at faster paces. For marathon-paced training, it's solid — just know it's firmer and rocker-driven rather than pure cushion. **Brooks Glycerin v23** — Pure comfort-first recovery option. Well-regarded, 309g of soft-plush DNA TUNED cushioning, 8.0 mm drop, and it's explicitly rated for marathon training. If you want maximum softness for your long runs and easy days, this is the one — though it's heavier and less responsive than the Mount to Coast. **My recommendation: Mount to Coast C1 v1 remains your best pick.** Believe in the Run and The Run Testers both rate it highly for heavier runners on long-run and marathon training. The wide forefoot, good lockdown, and 500–600 mile durability mean you'll train in it and race in it without worry. It's not a racer — it's a marathon trainer, which is exactly what you need. **One clarification:** When you asked about the Nike Alphafly 3 earlier, I see you meant the **Nike Alphafly 3 v3** (the carbon-plated racer at $285). That's a race shoe, not a trainer — I'd skip it given what you've told me about preferring comfort and durability over plate technology. The **Nike Vomero Plus** in my data is a recovery shoe, not the Alphafly. Just wanted to make sure we're on the same page. Are you planning to do any shakeout runs in the Mount to Coast before race day, or are you confident enough to go straight into the marathon with it?