Simply put, the Race 6 is a phenomenal racing flat! It is light (6.3 oz for US size 10) but has just enough of a sole where I don't feel like I am running barefoot. This keeps the feet protected without beating them up too much.
Optimal uses: 1 mile road races, 5k and 10k (including sprint and Olympic distance triathlons), and for more efficient runners half marathon and potentially even full marathon.
The Race 6 was my go to race shoe all season long from the Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon, guiding at sprint triathlons, downhill mile race (4:36) to my PR at the Steelhead 70.3 running a 1:26:00 half marathon!
The Speed 6 is a great versatile shoe! It is fairly light coming in at 8 oz for US size 10. So not quite as light as the Race 6 but still great for tempo runs, speed workouts, and transition runs off the bike! I've kept a pair of speed laces in the Speed 6 all year so it has been my go to when I want to get out the door quick.
Optimal uses: For less efficient runners that don't want something as light as the Race, the speed will be great for shorter road races and triathlons. Using a lighter shoe on race day will help you hit that next PR! For more efficient runners that don't want to go quite as light as the Race model, the Speed 6 will be ideal for marathons and Ironman triathlons.
The Distance has been my go to training shoe all year long. Surprisingly it weighs the same as the Speed 6 at 8 oz for US size 10. So it is still a relatively lighter shoe compared to a lot of the typical trainer shoes out there. So if you're used to a a more traditional running shoe, you might be better starting off with the Salming En Route which comes in at 9 oz for US size 10.
Optimal uses: For more efficient runners, the Distance is a great everyday trainer. For less efficient runners, it would make a great shoe for marathon and Ironman racing with more cushion than the Race but still lighter than most trainers to reap the benefits of a lighter race day shoe.
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