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January 05, 2009

The ST Stature (Courtesy of Merrell)

I’m planning to run a marathon. What shoe should I get for training?

— The Editors
Santa Fe, New Mexico

gear girl answer

Goodonya for running a marathon. If you’re training on pavement Lisa Jhung, Outside’s master running shoe tester, recommends the Asics Gel Kayano ($135). Designed for neutral to severe pronators, the shoe is the Maserati of marathon kicks. Its Gel cushioning system will cradle your foot during the impact and toe-off phases, yet its Duomax support system still provides the proper structure so you don’t feel cushed out. Wear this baby training and you’ll cross the finish line with your joints in tact.

Do you have a question of your
own?

If some of your training miles are off road, I’m a fan of Merrell’s ST Stature ($120; merrell.com). In addition to fitting like a glove with its waterproof gaiter collar, it’s got a temperature-regulating compound in the footbed that absorbs heat. It also has just enough grip to support lateral traction on the trails (but not so much that you’ll feel like you’re running through wet cement on pavement) and plenty of stability that stays consistent over time and miles.

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Stephanie Pearson: The Gear Girl
When it comes to gear, contributing editor Stephanie Pearson lives by one rule: What you own, owns you. That's why the skier, hiker, biker, runner, canoe paddler, and sometimes yogini is on an eternal quest to find gear and clothing that will enhance her life rather than make her a slave to dysfunctional stuff. During her seven-year stint as a travel editor at Outside, Pearson received three honorable mentions in The Best American Travel Writing series for stories on Guatemala, New Zealand, and Bhutan. Now that she's no longer in the office at Outside HQ in Santa Fe, Pearson hopes to be on the road more and is always in search of functional and aesthetically pleasing gear that's easy to use or clothing that's elegant to wear. Pearson is based in northern Minnesota and Santa Fe. Her latest adventure was on the fringe of the Amazon Basin in Brazil.