Race Day Shoes for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle

Every year, Chicago’s spring road racing season kicks off with the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. It’s one of the largest, and one of the fastest 8k road races in the country. We’re here to help you kick off this season with some of our favorite race day shoes from Nike!

First up, the shoe that everyone is talking about right now: the Epic React Flyknit. Built with Nike’s brand new React midsole foam, this shoe is soft, bouncy, and ready to go fast. React foam is softer, lighter, and more responsive than Lunarlon foam which was in some fan-favorites like the Lunaracer and Lunarglide.

Check out this blog we wrote last month about the Epic React Flyknit. We’ve got a handful of these coveted shoes left, primarily at our Old Town & South Loop stores. Hurry in and grab a pair for yourself, or stop by the Shamrock Shuffle packet-pick up and find them at the Nike booth when you pick up your bib number!

Another shoe that was causing a lot of buzz last year is the Zoom Vaporfly 4%. Nike developed a shoe with one goal in mind: run a marathon in under 2 hours. That attempt happened in May of 2017, and they were oh-so-close to breaking the 2 hour barrier. But it’s the shoe that came out of that attempt that has been breaking barriers all over the world. Look at any marathon with some elite level competition and you probably saw the Zoom Vaporfly 4% at the top of the podium. Helping runners improve efficiency by 4% over Nike’s previous fastest marathon shoe, the Zoom Streak 6, we’ve seen PRs all over from people wearing this shoe.

Learn more about the Zoom Vaporfly 4% on this blog from last fall. You can find this shoe at the Shamrock Shuffle packet pick-up as well!

Speaking of the Zoom Streak 6, this is still a favorite among runners looking for fast times, especially at shorter distance races like the 8k. Built like a track spike, this shoe is made to go fast! The midfoot shank propels your forward, while the Zoom Air unit in the Phylon midsole gives you some responsive cushioning. Underfoot, you’ll notice it’s hollowed-out to get rid of excess weight, and the outsole traction pattern optimizes your forward motion by varying the size of the rubber lugs. A Flymesh upper is super lightweight and designed with an internal strap for a lock-down fit. This shoe is available in unisex sizing at our Old Town store.

Last, but not least, the Zoom Elite 9 is a great option if you’re looking for a bit more cushioning, without the excess weight of a typical training shoe. Built on the same last as the Zoom Streak 6, you still get the fit of a racing flat, but with a bit more underfoot for a more cushioned ride. The Zoom Air unit in the forefoot provides the snappy feel, while the one-piece foam midsole maximizes the smooth ride from heel to forefoot. The Zoom Elite 9 is available in men’s & women’s sizes at our Old Town store.

Our Old Town location has the largest selection of racing flats, but if you're looking for shoes like the Zoom Pegasus 34, Zoom Structure 21 or the Free RN Flyknit 2018, stop by any of our locations and get race ready for the 2018 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle!