The only 3 running shoes you need for 2026 training and racing

What a year 2025 has been; I moved coast to coast from Marin, California to Sarasota, Florida back in March, spun off Alastair Running (this site and my Youtube channel) from my original site Trail & Kale (an online magazine focused on gear reviews, stories, and guides for the outdoors), and still managed to get some races in!

I conquered Speedgoat by UTMB in Utah and an awesome Maverick trail event in Wales, UK, visited the French Alps and the UK for family catch-ups and some running, among plenty of other life adventures.

Through all the miles and changes, three running shoes stood out as my absolute favorites going into 2026, and they're the ones I'm still gravitating towards when I go for a run. To be fair, there have been more than 3 that stood out this year, but I have to be ruthless with this end-of-year list.

These 3 cover almost everything I need: a versatile super trainer for most road training (daily miles, tempo/speed work, long runs), a race-day weapon for 10km's to marathons, and an all-mountain trail shoe for ultras and mixed terrain.

I’m skipping daily trainers here, not because they’re bad, but a good super trainer can handle daily mileage just fine (long runs, easy days, tempos). They’re not ideal lifestyle shoes, though, as the tuned geometry wants to move at speed rather than stroll around town.

Yes, you may notice a few Saucony's on here; there's absolutely no bias, I'm simply listing the ones that performed best in my real-world testing across hundreds of miles.

Here’s the rotation that’s worked brilliantly for me.

1. Versatile Super Trainer: Saucony Endorphin Azura (or Endorphin Speed 5 If You Can't Wait)

Price: Endorphin Azura $150 as Saucony.com (available Feb 2026)

Key Specs (Azura): 8.5oz (240g), 8mm drop, 40/32mm stack, PWRRUN PB foam, no plate

Price: Endorphin Speed 5 $170 now at saucony.com

Key Specs (Speed 5): 8.6oz (244g), 8mm drop, 36/28mm stack, PWRRUN PB + winged nylon plate

The Endorphin Azura (full review here) is my top pick if you can wait until February 2026; it’s the most well-rounded super trainer I’ve run in.

Non-plated PWRRUN PB foam gives lively bounce and natural energy return while staying stable across paces. The high stack never feels clumsy, and smooth geometry supports effortless transitions for easy miles, steady runs, or tempos.

It’s genuinely versatile, covering daily training, long runs, and faster sessions in one shoe, offering incredible value at $150.

If you need something now, the Endorphin Speed 5 (full review here) is equally awesome (I love both the same). It has a flexible nylon plate for extra snap on speedwork, though slightly less cushioning and forward roll.

The refined upper fits better, breathability is excellent, and it handles intervals to moderate long efforts without feeling awkward at slower paces.