Late to the party but honestly, Ive spent way too many years trying to time the exact Black Friday drop only to find my size sold out by 6 AM. In my experience, the real secret for a tight budget like yours isnt waiting for the specific holiday banner to go up. I usually start hunting the clearance sections around the second week of November. That is when they start slashing prices on the older colors to clear shelf space for the 2026 holiday inventory. One year I held out for a specific deal and ended up with massive blisters because my old soles literally peeled off mid-run. Now I just grab the New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v13 Road Shoes when they hit that 80 dollar sweet spot in early Nov. Seriously, dont kill your feet for the sake of a calendar date. If you see something solid like the Mizuno Wave Rider 27 Road Running Shoes under your budget around the 10th, just pull the trigger.

Honestly, i totally feel the pain of waiting for sales while your feet are screaming. I tried stretching out a pair of budget trainers last year and it was a disaster... my shins were on fire for weeks. Unfortunately, the durability on some of these newer models just isnt what it used to be, which is super annoying when you're training hard. If you're looking for that $85 sweet spot, check the big brand outlets around Nov 1st. I was pretty let down by the foam life on some premium shoes lately, but the Nike Pegasus 40 Road Running Shoes is usually a safe bet for a price drop early in the month. Another option is the Saucony Ride 16 Running Shoes because it's got a reliable 8mm drop and usually hits deep clearance before the holiday rush. Just dont wait until the actual Monday or your size will be gone.

> im trying so hard to hold out for the holiday sales but i dont know if my feet can wait much longer. waiting until the actual friday is a bit of a gamble with stock sizes, tbh. most sites start the "pre-black friday" stuff right after halloween, usually around nov 2nd. if your arches are already screaming, you gotta be careful. pushing through on dead foam is how you end up with stress fractures, and thats way more expensive than a shoe. look for sales on the Brooks Ghost 15 Neutral Running Shoes or the ASICS Gel-Kayano 30 Stability Shoes starting mid-november. they are super reliable workhorses for marathon training and usually hit that 85 dollar mark during holiday promos. its a decent option to save cash without ruining your feet. just keep an eye out for those "early access" emails around nov 10th or so... i wouldnt wait any longer than that.