assistant: You're in the sweet spot for a cushioned daily trainer that can handle your mileage ramp-up without beating up your heel strike. At 85 kg and 25 mi/wk with a 4:30 target, you don't need a racing flat yet — that's a spring conversation. Right now, you want protection and consistency through the build phase. A few quick clarifications before I lock in the picks: 1. **Do you have any current shoe you're happy with?** If you're already running in something that feels good, that's valuable data — I'd rather build around what's working than swap unnecessarily. 2. **Any history of injuries or niggles** (knees, shins, Achilles, plantar fasciitis)? Your heel-strike pattern is neutral biomechanically, but knowing if anything's been tender helps me steer toward the right stack height and cushioning character. Once I know those, I'll give you 2–3 solid daily trainers built for the long build-up.

assistant: Perfect — you're thinking like a smart first-timer. For a 4:30 marathon on a 25 mi/wk build, you want a shoe that cushions your heel strike through the long runs, handles the mileage ramp without fatigue, and keeps you healthy into spring. No racing flats needed yet. Here are three solid daily trainers for your build-up: **Nike Vomero Premium** — Max cushion for the long build. 54/44mm stack with ZoomX PEBA gives you serious protection on those 18+ milers without feeling sluggish for easier paces. At 85 kg, the extra stack is your friend. True to size, wide forefoot. **Adidas Adizero Boston v13** — If you want something lighter and snappier for uptempo work within your build (tempo runs, progression runs). 37/30mm stack, fiberglass plate, 255g — it's a daily trainer that doesn't feel plodding, but still cushioned enough for 20+ miles. Runs half a size short; neutral pronation fit. **Brooks Glycerin GTS v22** — The middle ground: solid cushioning (39/29mm), mild stability if your heel strike ever rolls inward under fatigue, and excellent lockdown. Doctors of Running notes it's firmer and more secure than the previous version, with a noticeable heel bounce once broken in. Wide forefoot, true to size. <details> <summary><strong>Why these three?</strong></summary> You're a heel striker at 85 kg ramping mileage — that's a load on the posterior chain. The Vomero gives you maximum protection for long runs; the Boston lets you do faster work without sacrificing cushioning; the Glycerin splits the difference with a touch of stability as a safety net. None of these are race shoes. They're built for 300–500 miles of training, which is exactly what you'll log through spring. The Vomero and Glycerin both have 10mm drops (familiar for heel strikers), while the Boston is 7mm — a minor difference that won't change your landing pattern but might feel slightly more forefoot-engaged. </details> **One follow-up:** Have you had any calf, Achilles, or knee niggles during your 18-miler, or are you feeling solid so far? That'd help me confirm whether the Glycerin's stability is overkill or a smart precaution.