Finding the right running shoe can be hard, especially if you’ve grown to love a certain brand or model. For as long as I’ve been running I’ve pretty much exclusively run in Brooks. My friend also works for them, so I get the friends and family discount, which makes trying other shoes even more difficult to swallow. Thankfully, being a member of the Heartbreakers, I get opportunities to participate in many Nike events (through Heartbreak Running Company) as Dan Fitzgerald our head coach runs Nike Run Club here in Boston.

Back in February, Nike released it’s Epic React Flyknit running shoes. As an incentive to try them, they offered to pay for a class at Heartbreak’s Cambridge treadmill studio if you came and ran in their test model shoes. Several friends and I went and took the Long & Strong class that Sunday and tried out the Reacts for the first time.

Picture: My Reacts that I have lovingly worn often

They felt great on the treadmill and I knew a pair would definitely be coming home with me. As an added bonus, we got an extra 20% off if we bought them at the event. I’ve worn them many times for many different types of runs and they seem to work for almost anything. They have a cushy but responsive ride. I don’t want to call how they feel bouncy, but there’s definitely some type of energy return happening with every stride. I set my 5K PR in these recently and I’d probably wear them up to a half marathon distance. For longer distances, I need a little more cushion. That leads me to….

Picture: Tuxedo cat sniffing the new Nike Pegasus 35

Nike has a great relationship with Dan & Heartbreak Run Co., they really did us a solid this year and picked the store to have the exclusive global launch of the 35th model of Nike’s Legendary running shoe the Pegasus. We got an email about a week before the launch that our Thursday speed workout would be in combination with the release party. After my great luck with the Epic React, I knew I was definitely going to snatch a pair up. As an added bonus, the first 50 purchasers received a T-shirt and tote bag designed by our head coach.

Picture: Coach Dan in the t-shirt he designedPicture: Happy Heartbreakers shopping the Pegasus event

I’ve been waffling about what shoes I was going to wear in the Boston marathon as I guide Kyle Robidoux from the 20K mark to Boylston Street. Trying new shoes without a test run is a big no-no, so I decided to wear them on my long run this weekend as Kyle and I discussed race strategy for the big day. The Pegasus 35 was so comfy right out of the box. They definitely have a cushy ride but are light and feel non existent on your feet. I banged out 13 with Kyle in them and was very happy with how I felt. They also look VERY cool.

Video: Training run with Kyle in the Pegasus

I’m so excited to have most of my marathon outfit decided. The Pegasus are going to look so great with the custom socks that Neon Bandits made for the Team With A Vision 2018 Boston Marathon team. Go over to Heartbreak today, it’s the only place you can try the Pegasus on the planet right now. How cool is that!?

Photo: My Team With A Vision x Neon Bandits socks in my Pegasus 35’s I’ll be wearing race day