A question for the Runners out there: What brand of shoe do you run?

I currently run in Hoka and Altra.

MAJ Charles Blake can you source the validity of #2? I've never heard of such a thing. I've prepared for marathons before, finished half marathons, and ran cross country competitively for several years, and I've never run with weight. Running is a cardio endurance sport. At first many people have problems finishing a mile without stopping, however after several weeks of increasing the mileage, runners will be able to run their first 5k without stopping.

Absolutely sure. A really good read is "The Endurance Paradox" by Tom Whipple. I'm not suggesting to run with weights, but to add weight training. Deadlift, kettle bell swings other stress to load the body from the ground up not necessarily squats because you don't need that range of motion for running.
Long Distance runners share a lot in common with injury and performance: weak hips. Well, they run all the time, so what are they missing?

Every few years someone comes out with a book for endurance athletes of whatever type and reminds us that cross training (for simplicity sake - doing anything other than the sport you are competing in) is good for you by building some strength and improving performance and they actually train less.

Here is another example, for must runners at the end of a marathon they are gasping or at least breathing hard. It's not from lack of breath, their running has slowed. It's from their sore and aching muscles! Cardio training will not improve leg soreness but strength training will.