ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo: Tested on Mile Repeats, Now Locked Away for Florence

Every marathon block has a session where you find out whether race day kit is actually race day kit. For me that was a set of mile repeats in week 9 of my 18 week plan for the Florence Marathon, and the shoe on test was the new ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo.

Short version: they were brilliant. So good that they have now gone back in the box and will not come out again until the start line in Florence on 29 November.

The Session

The workout was a classic marathon block staple: a 2km warm up, then 5 x 1.6km at 3:45 per km (a target window of 3:35 to 3:55) with two minutes of walking recovery between reps. It is the kind of session that tells you a lot about a shoe, because you are running at a pace a bit quicker than marathon effort, on tired legs, over and over.

Here is how it went, straight from Strava:

• 12.77km in total, averaging 4:13 per km including the warm up, cool down and walking recoveries
• Fastest mile rep: 6:00, bang on target pace
• Fastest 1km: 3:40
• 2 mile best effort of 12:28, my third best of 2026
• A segment PR on a local climb, on a route with 87m of elevation

What stood out most was how consistent the reps felt. The last one felt no harder on the legs than the first, and the shoe did not ask anything of me at pace. It just rolled.

What the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo Is

The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is the latest version of ASICS's top racing shoe for stride runners, the runners who get faster by lengthening their stride rather than by turning their legs over quicker. The key points:

• Midsole: FF LEAP foam, ASICS's top race foam, with a layer of FF TURBO PLUS
• Plate: a full length carbon plate, flatter than on the previous version
• Weight: around 170g, depending on size
• Drop: roughly 5mm, with a stack of just under 40mm at the heel
• Price: around £240 in the UK

ASICS says the Tokyo is lighter and more efficient than the Paris version it replaces. I cannot vouch for the lab numbers, but I can tell you the ride feels lively without feeling unstable, even on a hilly route with corners.

What I Liked

The bounce. FF LEAP gives a proper spring at faster paces. It rewards you for committing to the effort.

It feels light on the foot. At this weight you stop thinking about the shoe completely, which is exactly what you want at mile 20.

Stable enough for real roads. Plenty of super shoes feel wobbly on corners and camber. The Tokyo felt planted through the whole session.

Things to Know Before You Buy

The fit is narrow. The toebox is on the slim side, so if you have wider feet try them on first, ideally in the afternoon and with your race socks.

They suit stride runners. The Sky is built for runners who speed up by lengthening their stride, and it works best with a midfoot or forefoot strike. If you speed up by turning your legs over quicker, ASICS makes the Metaspeed Edge for you.

Race shoes are a limited resource. Super foams lose some of their spring with mileage. That is exactly why mine are now locked away.

Why I Am Saving Them for Florence

The rule I follow with race shoes is simple: test them properly in one or two key sessions so you know they work for you, then protect them. You want the foam fresh and the fit known on race day. No surprises, no blisters, no "should have worn them in" moments.

So the plan is set. The Tokyos have done their job on the mile repeats, they are back in the box, and the next time they come out will be on the start line in Florence.

Fuelling to Match the Shoes

A fast shoe only helps if you have the energy to keep your stride long in the last 10km. The marathon is where fuelling matters most: carbohydrate every 20 to 30 minutes, practised in training so your gut knows what is coming, and a plan you do not need to think about when things get hard.

Just like the shoes, the rule is nothing new on race day. Whatever you will use in Florence, or wherever your marathon is, should be tested on your long runs and key sessions first.

What We Use at FTP Endurance Fuel

For long runs and races we use our own Tart Cherry Energy Chews and Mixed Fruit Energy Chews. They are easy to carry in a race belt or shorts pocket and simple to portion out through a session.

If you are building your own race day plan, the Tart Cherry Taster Pack is an easy way to try them in training, or take a look at our bundles to stock up for the rest of your block.

I will report back after Florence on how the Tokyos and the fuelling plan held up over the full 42.2km. Until then, they stay in the box.