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Winter isn’t exactly a runner’s paradise. In fact, with everything from limited training hours to darker runs, cold, stiff muscles and the endless struggle of actually wearing the right number of layers, it’s a pretty miserable season to pick up the sport. Unfortunately for many of us though, it’s also the time you'll need to start training if you've bagged a place in one of the UK’s biggest marathons. Whether it’s London, Brighton or Manchester you have your eyes on, you’ll need to be ready to hit the ground running in January. Literally.
While we all know a new pair of running shoes won't fix the winter blues (we've been there), we have to say that the best Black Friday deals are definitely giving us something to be excited about in all the darkness and drizzle. It's not every day you find the best running shoes in the sales, after all. And currently, the Nike Black Friday sale involves 25 per cent off selected items on-site, which conveniently includes three of our favourite running shoes.
Whether it is a marathon you've set your sights on, or perhaps your first 5K, these shoes can get you through every aspect of training ahead of you— all at a pretty decent price too. Just add code GOBIG24 at checkout to unlock the discounts.
As explained by our colleagues across the pond, the Vaporfly needs no introduction in the running world. Widely regarded as one of the fastest shoes you can buy (so much so that there was a debate around if they were legal or the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as some considered them technical doping), just look around at any of the major marathons and you'll notice that they're one of the most popular race day shoes. And for good reason.
Designed specifically for longer distances (we’re talking about anything above 10k here), the Vaporfly is one of the most advanced racing shoes in the game with incredible levels of propulsion. It all starts with a full-length carbon fibre flyplate to help you feel like you’re being pushed along as you run, with ZoomX foam to provide some comfort and a midsole that’s specifically designed to add a bit of stability while still keeping the shoe lightweight.
The key thing to remember here is that this is very much a shoe for race day and speed sessions, and probably not much more than that. But if you want something to make your next race that extra bit more special, this is exactly the thing.
The Nike Pegasus has long been one of the brand’s bestselling running shoes, and it’s not hard to see why. Designed to be an everyday running shoe, it’s one of the best for anyone getting started, offering good support, plenty of comfort and coming in a range of colours and designs that can help you get excited about your daily run.
As far as the design goes, it’s got all of the essentials for a training shoe, combining AirZoom units with ReactX foam to feel both responsive and cushioned while still being lightweight enough that you won’t feel weighed down. This was the first shoe many of us at GQ Recommends started our running journey with, and it took us through our first set of half marathons with ease. And at 25 per cent off? It's a no-brainer.
If there’s one more Nike running shoe we’d recommend putting in your rotation, it’s the Invincible 3. Feeling somewhat comparable to the New Balance FreshFoams or the Asics Gel Nimbus, the Invincible is a shoe that goes all out on cushioning. It’s squishy and comfortable, and if you want something to carry you on easy runs — or anything in which you’re not trying to focus on speed — it’s a great option.
Design-wise, it’s the platform of ZoomX foam that keeps it so bouncy, with a breathable Flyknit upper that makes it lightweight despite the extra foam. If you want your runs to feel as comfortable as possible, this is where to invest. In fact, it’s a good one to rotate in between speed sessions to help ease things up a bit. And that bright yellow colourway? It’s giving winter visibility.
