ASICS Superblast 3 vs Superblast 2: LEAP Foam, Fit Changes & Who Each Shoe Is For | Run Spesh

In this Run Spesh "Solemates" episode from Frontrunner Colombo, Oska and Tom compare the ASICS Superblast 2 and the revamped Superblast 3, focusing on the major shift to softer, faster-compressing LEAP foam (an A-TPU with an EVA stability piece) versus the firmer feel of Superblast 2's EVA/Peba blend. They discuss how the new foam changes underfoot comfort, pace effort, stability, and likely durability (estimating Superblast 2 around 700 km and Superblast 3 closer to 500 km), plus how use cases may shift toward Superblast 3 as a premium super daily trainer for easy miles, recovery, long runs, and even marathons. They also cover improved upper fit/forefoot accommodation, missing rear pull tab, aggressive heel bevel, wide stable base, reduced weight to 237 g, and a 46 mm stack. 00:00 Welcome to Soulmates 00:40 Why Superblast 3 Matters 01:25 Foam Change Explained 02:05 Feel Underfoot Debate 04:03 Durability Expectations 04:52 Best Runs for Each 06:12 Where It Fits in Lineup 07:11 Stability and Break In 08:04 Fit and Upper Updates 09:27 Heel Bevel and Ride 10:26 Weight and Stack Numbers 11:49 Who Should Buy It 12:54 Wrap Up and Release Date

Run Spesh: Oska's Osaka Marathon Debrief, Tommy's Frozen Challenge Wānaka & Maia's Moonlight Half + Superblast 3 Launch In this Run Spesh episode, Oska recaps a busy stretch for the Frontrunner crew six weeks out from Christchurch Marathon, including his trip to Japan to race the Osaka Marathon. He details travel, pre-race logistics, chaotic bottle-drop rules, starting too far back, heat changing his strategy, and finishing in 2:18 with a strong negative split feel—passing 90 runners late and rebuilding marathon confidence ahead of a May Launceston World Champs qualifier attempt. Tommy debriefs Challenge Wānaka in brutal cold, struggling through the swim and transition, freezing on the bike, then warming into a strong run, winning his age group and finishing 10th overall while discussing future pro plans and World Champs goals. Maia covers her Moonlight Half Marathon in Queenstown, nutrition testing, river crossings, and finishing second overall. The team also shares highlights from a quick Sydney trip with Anna for the ASICS Superblast 3 launch, then breaks down Superblast 3's comfort, geometry, and where it fits versus Megablast, plus a Christchurch run club launch and limited stock details. 00:00 Training Week Check In 00:48 Podcast Intro Chaos 01:26 Car Pranks And Speeding 03:15 Japan Travel Highlights 06:45 Tokyo To Osaka Journey 09:45 Race Logistics Bottle Drop 11:45 Race Morning Fuel Fails 15:43 Elite Warmup And Start Mistakes 20:24 Marathon Strategy And Results 23:37 Confidence Rebuild And Next Races 27:03 Tommy Challenge Wanaka Recap 31:05 Freezing Bike And Run Finish 38:43 Rough Roads Recap 39:52 Run Split And Pro Plans 42:28 Shoulder Rehab And Swim Grind 43:45 Moonlight Half Race Story 46:57 River Crossings And Shoe Choice 50:32 Fueling Strategy Lessons 56:16 Bondi Trip And Run Culture 01:05:30 Superblast 3 First Impressions 01:15:30 Launch Details And Wrap Up

Hillary Allen (Hilly Goat) on Survival, Joy & the Brooks Cascadia Elite | run spesh This week on run spesh, Oska and Maia sit down in Christchurch with elite trail runner Hillary Allen (aka "Hilly Goat") ahead of Tarawera 50K. Hillary talks NZ trail life (Hillary Track, oxygen-rich workouts, rugged underbrush, and the joy of trails with no bears), how she went from neuroscience grad school + tennis scholarship to winning the US Skyrunning Series and racing Europe, and what it's really like being a sponsored pro. They go deep on Hillary's 2017 near-fatal fall in Norway (150ft, 14 broken bones), the non-linear recovery (surgeries, learning to ask for help, walking again, depression, journaling, and rebuilding identity beyond "runner"), and why she wouldn't undo it—even after years of ongoing issues. Plus: women's fueling and training, performance pressure vs joy, why "big dogs gotta eat," and a geeky shoe chat from Frontrunner HQ—including Hillary's move to Brooks and her take on the new Brooks Cascadia Elite. If you've ever been injured, lost motivation, or just needed a reminder that you're stronger than you think—this one's a goody. 00:00 Meet Hillary Allen (Hilly Goat) + Her Wild Comeback Story 00:02 Welcome to the Pod: First 2026 Interview & Setting the Vibe 02:26 New Zealand Adventures: Van Life, Hillary Track & Racing WAI 50 03:40 How NZ Trails Compare: Rugged Terrain, Oxygen, and No Deadly Wildlife 07:40 Origins: Outdoorsy Childhood, Science Family, and Tennis Scholarship 10:48 From Grad School to Ultrarunning: Discovering Talent & Early Races 14:29 Getting Sponsored: SkyRunning Series Wins & The North Face Call 17:40 Joy vs Pressure: Staying Motivated When Running Becomes a Job 20:19 Resetting the Spark: Removing Expectations, Journaling, and Running for You 27:12 The 2017 Norway Fall: SkyRunning, Exposure, and the Moment Everything Changed 33:48 Aftermath & Rescue: 14 Broken Bones, Helicopter Evac, and Survival 35:34 Recovery Reality Check: Surgeries, "Never Run Again," and Finding Purpose 41:44 Rebuilding Identity: Momentum, Teaching Science, and Being More Than a Runner 43:20 People First: How the Accident Changed Everything 44:10 Would You Undo the Fall? Living With Surgeries & Choosing Growth 45:54 Accepting the 'New You': Resilience as a Practice 50:13 Learning to Walk Again: Zooming In on the Next Step 54:53 Body Image, Fueling & Gratitude: Rebuilding Trust in Your Body 01:00:38 Why Keep Running? Joy, Mountains & Not Making Racing the Point 01:02:03 Driven, Not 'Chill': Balancing Ambition, School & Recovery 01:04:28 Why New Zealand & Tarawera: Culture, Community and the Full Experience 01:07:39 The Reality of Pro Trail Running: Sponsorships, Training Shifts & Identity 01:10:46 Women in Sport: Fueling, Stigma and Changing the Narrative 01:13:34 Switching to Brooks: When Shoes Make or Break Your Career 01:18:22 Deep Dive: Cascadia Elite—Plates, Foam, Lockdown & Trail Performance 01:26:53 Final Reflections: Advice to Younger Self & Closing Thanks