I actually upgraded to the Nike Free 7.0 and absolutely love them because they have more lateral support and just as light weight. However, I don't run marathons and I don't know how you could do it with 3.0
I ran the Des Moines Marathon in Frees. Not sure I'd ever try it again.Though there isn't a shoe on earth which leaves your feet feeling fine after 26.2 miles of running.
I would respectfully disagree. My Vomero 4's were super cushy, and my feet felt great after my marathon. Quads, hamstrings, etc. were wrecked, but none of the foot pain I assumed I would have. The newer Vomeros have been disappointing, and I've moved on from Nike, but they were the right shoe for me at that time.
Take your time looking and get fitted. It's worth it given how much stress you will be subjecting your feet to, not just in the event, but in all the training leading up to the event. Don't be afraid to look outside your favorite brand. There are a number of great manufacturers.
Plenty of people just power through ill fitting shoes, or simply don't understand how much science goes into a pair of shoes. Sometimes you're lucky enough to slip on something that happens to suit your gait, or maybe you're neutral enough that most shoes are fine. For me, it's not worth the chance of injury to avoid doing a little research. Hell, as an engineer I really can't help myself, but to each his own.
For the record, I bought a pair of Frees right when they came out and loved running in them, but I never ran more than 5 miles at that point. I'm also a little heavier runner than I was then, despite running more miles now. Shoe fit has become a lot more critical beyond 30.
