Road Racing Shoes
Our collection of Road Racing Running Shoes is the pinnacle of our performance product for those who want to go fast, or just feel fast on race day. These shoes are lightweight, powerful and full of awesome tech, from carbon plates to superfoams, all to help boost your performance no matter what goals you're chasing. Explore the best our brands have to offer with selections from ASICS, Nike, adidas, New Balance, Saucony and more. Find the right shoe for your next big event, whether that’s going sub-2:30 or running a 5km fun run.
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Our collection of Road Racing Running Shoes is the pinnacle of our performance product for those who want to go fast, or just feel fast on race day. These shoes are lightweight, powerful and full of awesome tech, from carbon plates to superfoams, all to help boost your performance no matter what goals you're chasing.
Explore the best our brands have to offer with selections from ASICS, Nike, adidas, New Balance, Saucony and more. Find the right shoe for your next big event, whether that’s going sub-2:30 or running a 5km fun run. <!-- split -->
FIND YOUR FIT:
Feel the speed
What makes road racing running shoes so unique is the technology packed into them. Most race day shoes have lightweight, yet super bouncy foams, with a carbon plate wedged in the middle. This means each stride you take is like a loaded spring, propelling you forward.
Race Day geometry
Back in 2017 when Nike came out with the Vaporfly 4%, it was the first race day shoe to move away from low profile racing flats to a high “stack” of foam in the midsole. Since then, brands have introduced more and more stack, creeping up to the world athletics legal limit of 40mm. The large amount of lightweight foam, and a 4mm - 10mm difference (“drop”) between the heel and forefoot, is designed to keep you on your toes and floating.
Fit That Performs
Almost all of our racing models come in a standard D-width to give runners a snug, but not tight fit, so you feel locked in the shoe for race day. A small selection of wide-fit options offers room to move without losing that secure, race-ready feel.
Underfoot sensation
Different runners have different preferences when it comes to the underfoot feeling of a road racing running shoe. Some prefer a firm feel, or tonnes of squish and pop, while others like to feel connected to the ground for shorter distances. There’s no right or wrong answer here, but with the biggest range in Australia, we have something for every type of underfoot feeling.
SHOP BY BRAND
We stock a range of great brands who all have their own distinct approach to race day running shoes. Explore many amazing innovative shoes in our race day collection to find the right shoe for you.
Nike - The OG creator of the race day supershoe, has a different shoe to cover each race distance:
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Streakfly for 5km/10km
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Vaporfly for half-marathon to marathon distance, and
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Alphafly as your ultimate 42.2km cruiser.
ASICS - ASICS Metaspeed Range carriers two versions: the Edge and the Sky. The difference here is in the geometry of the shoes and the underfoot sensation; whether you like to feel the popping sensation of the Metaspeed Edge, or the forward roll of the Metaspeed Sky.
HOKA - HOKA’s Rocket X is probably the most democratic race day shoe currently available. They sacrifice a tiny amount of weight to give some comfort, but it won’t slow this shoe down, it lives up to its name! Whereas the Cielo X1 offers a wilder ride from a crazy rocker geometry, making it very fun, but not for the faint of heart (or the heel striker).
Saucony - Like HOKA’s Rocket X, the Endorphin Pro is a much more democratic shoe, perfect for dipping your toe into race day shoes (pardon the pun). Whereas the Endorphin Elite is so soft and responsive that it lends itself to those with good foot stability.
adidas - With the most podiums in recent years, adidas shoes are built to go seriously fast. The Adizero Adios Pro is one of the staff favourites at Pace Athletic, while the Evo Pro was the very first Hyper Shoe! Built to be optimal for one race only, it’s for a special day out.
Brooks - One of the few brands producing a low profile, or at least a low feeling profile shoe still in this category. The Hyperion Elite is a favourite among those who want that old school racing flat feel.
FAQs: Road Racing Running Shoes
What are road racing running shoes?
Within the category of road running shoes, road racing shoes are pinnacle performance shoes that prioritise speed and lightness. They utilise premium foams designed with responsiveness in mind, and most often contain a carbon fibre plate that removes flexibility from the midsole to create propulsion.
Do I have to use racing shoes for a race?
No absolutely not, you can use whatever shoes you feel most comfortable in for your road races.
Do I have to be fast to use road racing shoes?
This is a hotly debated topic in the running community. At Pace Athletic, we believe every pace has a place and running is for everybody. If you want to feel fast and light on race day in hot new race shoes, go for it! Just make sure you head out on a few runs before a race to wear them in as the stiffness created by the carbon plate in racing shoes can take some time to get used to.
How long do race day shoes last?
Most of our race day shoes will be at their peak performance for 100km to 200km. You can still use them after that and they’ll still be great, just expect a slight decline in performance. You’ll know the shoes are too far gone when you compress the midsole with your hands and the foam doesn’t bounce back to its original state.