After a 4-year hiatus, I finally found my training groove again and completed my 9th full marathon! What I am proud about the most with this one is how I kept up with 20+ weeks of structured training. I was so great with this before 2020, but had the hardest time staying dedicated to this type of training these last few years. Read on to learn all about my turning point.
Read moreA Marathon Training Staple: The Saucony Triumph 18
Sponsored by Zappos. All opinions are my own.
We are quickly approaching the last quarter of the year. I’m sure I am not the only one who had these big goals for 2020 and felt somewhat derailed months ago when everything pretty much came to a halt in our lives. At least that’s what it seemed like. What really happened was life had to keep going, but with a bunch of alterations and limitations. For runners, the biggest change was the loss of racing this year. This, on top of being limited to solo running for a long time, has been the biggest block to staying motivated. I won’t lie—I got a bit jealous seeing some runners continue on their race training programs and smash their PRs with virtual races.
Since I’ve never been into racing virtually, I used the summer to build a good base and keep things easy. I am happy I chose this route during these crazy times, because it helped me truly embrace my love for running and how having a more relaxed schedule can still keep me in shape, while staying sane at the same time! Well, now I’m on to the next chapter! The next race I’m signed up for is my hometown race, the Miami Marathon, at the end of January. My new kicks, the Saucony Triumph 18 from Zappos, came just in time to break them in during my first week of training. If you didn’t know, I get all of my running gear from Zappos. They have the largest selection of products and the best customer service. Plus—they offer free expedited shipping and free returns for a year when you are part of the free rewards program. I highly recommend signing up if you love to shop!
Faster Than Ever Before
I’ve ran with the previous Saucony Triumph versions, including the 17s, which were just on the last tip of their lifespan, and I’m happy to say the Triumph 18 are a perfect update to what was already one of my favorite running shoes. I have been using the Triumph for a few years now for the majority of my easy and recovery runs. They have always been my most cushioned shoe, making my feet actually feel recovered after runs. Although most of my long runs have been done at an easier pace, I usually avoided using the Triumph since they felt a bit heavier than most of my other pairs. I was so happy when I felt the much lighter and flexible fit of the Triumph 18! The faster feel is definitely the most evident update.
Thanks to the PWRRUN+ technology, the cushioning of the Triumph 18, is coupled with a lightweight outsole, which makes the shoe a good option for longer and faster runs. After running two easy 7-milers, I wanted to feel this for myself and used the Triumph 18 on my weekend 90-minute run. I threw in several sets of 1-minute pick-ups to test out the speed in the shoes, and I was pleasantly surprised at the springier, faster feel of this update.
Anti-Fatigue at its Finest
The main reason I loved my previous Saucony Triumph pairs is how much they helped with the recovery process after harder workouts. During marathon training, I schedule these easy recovery runs every other day and sometimes in the evening after running hard that morning, and the Triumph have always helped keep my feet and joints pain free. You’ve probably heard and seen me mention before how important the right running shoes are to help prevent injuries and keep you running long. Well, the Triumph 18 are the perfect pair to rely on for your race training. I am prone to plantar fasciitis and have problematic feet to begin with, so I used to train with extremely sore feet and this was a huge limitation to my progress. Yes, my feet still get sore after hard workouts, since I still sometimes wear the wrong shoes for me, but right after just one run in my Triumphs I’m already ready for my next workout. Keeping these shoes as part of my shoe rotation all this time has truly been one big reason why I have been able to avoid plantar fasciitis for a few years now and push harder during workouts.
I’m excited to bring my Saucony Triumph 18 along with me for my marathon training this fall. I’m only on the first week of this structured training block, but I know it will be a good one! After months and months of dealing with this global crisis and feeling unsure about what the near future holds, I am ready to tackle my next big goals! Even if the race does not happen in January, I still want to give it my all for the rest of this year and try my first real virtual race, and shoot for a sub-3 marathon finish. The Triumph 18 is sure to help get me there. Now, go get yourself a pair from Zappos!