Are You Too SLOW To Need Carbon Running Shoes?!

Summary

In this video, the team tests the impact of carbon-plated super shoes on running performance at various paces and distances. While the shoes provide lower oxygen consumption and better running economy, the benefits are more significant for faster runners and shorter races. Slower runners, like Phil, experience minimal advantages, raising questions about the high cost of super shoes for longer, slower runs. The results reveal that while super shoes improve performance for everyone, their real value lies in enhancing speed for shorter distances, prompting runners to weigh the cost against the performance boost.

Takeaways

• 😀 Super Shoes offer a lower oxygen consumption, providing better efficiency across various running speeds, including slower paces.
• 😀 Carbon shoes are beneficial for faster paces, particularly for elite runners, but the advantages diminish for slower runners.
• 😀 For slower runners or long endurance events (like marathon or Ironman), training shoes may be more economical and durable than Super Shoes.
• 😀 Heather, James, and Phil tested the Cloud Boom Echo 3 carbon shoes at different paces, showing varying benefits based on speed.
• 😀 At slower paces, the difference in running economy between Super Shoes and regular training shoes is marginal, but at faster speeds, Super Shoes show significant advantages.
• 😀 The main benefit of Super Shoes is more noticeable at higher speeds, particularly in shorter races like a 5K, where carbon shoes help propel runners forward.
• 😀 For someone like Heather, a faster runner, the Super Shoes offer a clear advantage, improving running economy at higher speeds.
• 😀 For a slower runner like Phil, the advantage of Super Shoes is small, potentially not worth the significant cost, especially for longer, slower runs.
• 😀 James's testing had some skewed data due to an order effect (testing shoes after previous efforts), and a lack of familiarity with certain speeds may have affected his results.
• 😀 The overall conclusion is that while Super Shoes can benefit all runners by improving oxygen consumption, the marginal gains might not justify the high price for everyone, especially for longer, slower runs.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video?

The video explores whether carbon shoes (Super Shoes) benefit runners of all speeds or if their advantages are more pronounced for elite athletes, particularly in different race scenarios like slower marathons and fast-paced training runs.

What type of shoe does Heather typically wear for her runs?

Heather primarily uses the Cloud Monster, a cushioned training shoe, for most of her easy runs and some quality work. It has decent cushion and energy return, with a 6mm drop and weighs 23g.

What were the different paces tested by the runners during the experiment?

The runners tested three different paces: easy pace (about 5:10 per km), marathon pace (about 4:15 per km), and 5K personal best pace (around 3:35 per km).

What was the primary question Heather wanted answered in the experiment?

Heather wanted to know whether carbon shoes provide any noticeable benefit at slower marathon paces, especially when running at the end of an Ironman, or if she should stick to her cushioned training shoes.

How did Heather feel about the carbon shoes during the experiment?

Heather found that the carbon shoes felt slightly easier to run in, especially at faster paces. She noticed a lower oxygen cost during faster runs, but at slower paces, she didn’t feel a huge difference compared to her training shoes.

What did Phil experience when he ran in the carbon shoes?

Phil experienced a noticeable propulsion effect, especially at faster paces. He felt that the shoes helped him run more efficiently on the front of his foot and breathed a little easier during the faster paces.

How did Phil's results compare to Heather's in terms of benefits from the carbon shoes?

Phil's results showed only a marginal improvement from the Super Shoes, particularly at slower paces. In contrast, Heather experienced more significant benefits, especially at faster speeds, indicating that faster runners get a greater advantage.

What were the findings for James during the testing?

James had some skewed data due to possible fatigue from earlier runs and unfamiliarity with the slower speeds in the carbon shoes. While he experienced a lower oxygen consumption overall, his running economy was only improved at mid-range speeds, not at slower or faster paces.

What does the video conclude about the benefits of carbon shoes for different runners?

The video concludes that Super Shoes do improve oxygen consumption and running economy for all runners, but the benefits are most noticeable for faster runners and at shorter race distances. For slower runners and longer races, the advantage is marginal, making the high price tag potentially less worthwhile.

What was the overall conclusion about the use of Super Shoes in slower races or training runs?

While Super Shoes provide lower oxygen consumption across all paces, their benefits are less significant for slower runners in longer races. Runners should weigh the cost of the shoes against the small performance gains, particularly in slower or longer runs.