The Best Running Shoes for Road

Asics GT 2150

The Asics GT 2150 is at the top of the running game. The shoe's heel is packed with the GEL Cushioning System, which makes it cushier and more supportive than other shoes on the market. Runner's World magazine, which picked the shoe as an editor's choice, noted a snug fit due to the bountiful padding around the heel collar and tongue. Gerner also mentioned the 2150 as one of the first shoes he reaches for when outfitting runners because of its exceptional stability and neutral fit. The newest model, due out in spring of 2010, will weigh 11.7 ounces, about half an ounce less than the previous model, according to Running Network.

Mizuno Wave Precision 10

When it comes to speed work, the Mizuno Wave Precision offers something special. The shoe has a heel built for comfort, but a low-profile forefoot built for speed, the Running Times says. Dave Ferguson, a running coach for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training with 25 years of running experience, laces up Wave Precisions for shorter, speedier workouts.

Saucony Progrid Guide 2

Dr. Jenny Sanders, a podiatrist who writes a shoe blog, gave the Saucony Progrid Guide high marks because "it is torsionally stable (doesn't twist) and has an inflexible forefoot sole, which not only prolongs wear but also prevents excessive pronation or rearfoot collapse." In addition, the Independent Running Retailers Association named the newest version of the shoe, the Guide 2, "Shoe of the Year" for 2009. Gerner favors the Saucony Guide series as a top shoe not only for his customers, but also for himself: "The Saucony Guide has a carbon rubber outsole at rearfoot and blown rubber at forefoot, which makes for a durable yet smooth, cushioned ride," he says.