assistant: You're in the sweet spot for a cushioned daily trainer that can handle both easy miles and the occasional tempo work as your training ramps up. At 85 kg and 25 mi/wk with a heel-strike pattern, you'll want a shoe with solid cushioning, a forgiving landing, and enough structure to feel stable through longer efforts without feeling heavy. For marathon build-up, I'd focus on shoes that excel at easy-run comfort (since most of your volume will be easy) but can also handle the faster work and long runs you'll throw in. Your heel strike and body weight favor a shoe with good rearfoot cushioning and a moderate-to-higher drop to reduce calf load over time. **Top pick: Brooks Glycerin v23** — This is the mile-eater for marathon training. FORDY RUNS calls it "a premium, plush, versatile mile-eater well suited for first half or full marathon training." At $175, it's a premium daily trainer built for exactly what you're doing: high cushioning, no plate (so it won't fatigue your legs on easy days), and a forgiving ride that scales from recovery pace to steady efforts. The v23 is softer and more traditional than the GTS v22, which matters for the volume you're about to log. **Alternative: ASICS Gel-Nimbus v28** — If you want maximum cushioning and a slightly firmer, more responsive feel, the Nimbus is a legitimate choice. At 42/34mm stack (the highest here), it's built for easy runs and recovery, and Believe in the Run notes it's "a reliable, comfortable max-cushion shoe" with good weight reduction. The 8mm drop is slightly lower than the Glycerin v23, but still heel-friendly. At $170, it's a solid value for the cushioning you get. **Third option: Saucony Guide v18** — If budget matters, the Guide v18 at $140 is a well-regarded mild stability shoe that Doctors of Running says is "fine for easy runs" and "likely the better value on sale." It won't have the plushness of the Glycerin or Nimbus, but it's a solid, economical daily trainer for your mileage. I'd lean toward the **Glycerin v23** for marathon build-up — it's purpose-built for the volume and pacing you're about to do, and the extra cushioning will pay dividends over 16–20 weeks of training. One follow-up: Are you planning to rotate shoes (e.g., Glycerin for easy/long runs, something faster for tempo work), or do you prefer a single daily trainer for the whole build-up?

assistant: Perfect — you're thinking exactly right for a first marathon. You don't need a racer; you need a workhorse that'll carry you through 16–20 weeks of build-up without breaking down your body. The shoes I recommended earlier still stand, and the data confirms it. **Brooks Glycerin v23** remains my top pick. It's built for exactly this: marathon training volume at easy paces. FORDY RUNS calls it "a premium, plush, versatile mile-eater well suited for first half or full marathon training," and The Run Testers notes the improved forefoot stack makes it "a reliable, comfortable cruiser for easy and long runs." At 85 kg with a heel strike, the 8mm drop and 39/31mm stack give you a forgiving landing without feeling sluggish. It's not the lightest shoe here, but that's fine — durability and comfort over 300+ miles matters more than shaving grams. **ASICS Gel-Nimbus v28** is your max-cushion alternative if you want even more protection on those long runs. At 42/34mm stack, it's the plushest option here. Believe in the Run calls it "a reliable, comfortable max-cushion shoe" with good weight reduction. The trade-off: it's heavier and less responsive than the Glycerin, so it's better for recovery and easy days than for any tempo work you might add later. **New Balance 880 v15** at $140 is the budget-conscious pick without sacrificing quality. Doctors of Running notes it offers "excellent stability for a neutral shoe with a pronounced rocker geometry" — that rocker will help with the forward momentum on longer efforts. It's firmer than the Glycerin but still cushioned enough for marathon training miles. I'd stick with the **Glycerin v23** for the whole build-up — it scales from recovery to long runs without needing a rotation. If you want to add a second shoe for variety or to extend durability, the Nimbus works as a dedicated easy/recovery partner. One last thing: as your mileage climbs toward 40–50 mi/wk, consider rotating two shoes to spread the load. Does that fit your plan, or are you looking for a single daily trainer?