Doctors of Running Podcast · Doctors of Running

#286 Our Favorite Shoes of 2026 So Far, and David’s Running the Boston Marathon!?

·1 hr 16 min·4 clips
Mizuno's Hyper Warp Pro replaces the Wave Rebellion Flash 2 for David's training runs.
Andrea Myers opens with David Salas, and they start with shoes. He has just come back from Hawaii, skipped a vacation run, and is still shaking off the time-zone mess after a week away before Boston Marathon, which is about five weeks out. That keeps the conversation grounded, because the point is not shoe theory for its own sake but what David should race in and how his training is going. They begin with fit. A high medial sidewall in the midfoot, a regular version, and even the idea of swapping a sock liner all come up as they work through how a platform can feel different once a foot is actually inside it. The talk stays practical. They keep comparing midfoot width, upper shape, and how much a shoe's geometry changes the ride after a few miles. The Cloudmonster Hyper 3 gets a strong run. David says he can run fast in it for strides, including efforts around 800 pace, even if he would not call it a workout-first shoe. Easy days are where it shines. He likes it for easy runs, long runs, and the kind of day that ends with strides, because it rolls smoothly, feels stable-neutral, and does not fight a midfoot strike. The rocker matters. Compared with some other On shoes, he finds the forefoot less flexible and the whole package more natural underfoot. Comfort keeps coming up. David notes that On often works for him because of a wider, higher-volume toe box, and he points to other On models he has enjoyed, including the Cloudboom Echo 3 and Cloudboom Strike. The episode ends with a clear picture of a runner settling in, an honest shoe discussion, and a Boston build that is starting to feel manageable.

As heard by us

A practical shoe conversation that stays technical without losing momentum.

The episode centers on David Salas coming back from Hawaii, shaking off the post-vacation fog, and turning attention toward Boston Marathon while Andrea Myers steers the conversation toward their favorite shoes of 2026 so far.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a blunt read on early-2026 shoes and a Boston Marathon update.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on