Supershoes are reshaping distance running

Here's a very good article from The Guardian about the rise of supershoes.

I remember it well: it was published on the morning of this year's Paris marathon - which I was running in - and it made me feel inadequate for not having supershoes of my own.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/07/carbon-fibre-s...

Golf is facing a similar crisis with distance gains caused by driver technology. Many of the world’s famous golf courses can’t hold the best players.

Two of golf’s governing body, the USGA (the United States Golf Association) and the R&A (the Royal and Ancient) have recommended a rollback of the golf ball, which has caused significant debate in golf circles.

Another way that, a bit sadly, running is becoming more like triathlon or F1. In those, there are a lot of rules about what technology you can use. Annoying, but it will have to happen with running - consider that these "supershoes" in part work like prosthetic running blades do, and those are more efficient than human feet (as they are springs).

Off topic: you'd think a university site wouldn't bombard you with pop-ups, ads and subscription sign-up.

Immediate first impression isn't good, for this (presumably) respected publication.

We take up running to get fit and then spend hundreds of dollars on footwear to reduce the effort it takes to run. People are funny :)

This makes me wonder if when the 4 minute mile was broken, and thereafter broken by several more people in short order, was this due to improved shoes?

The example is frequently cited as a "mental shift" causing improved performance, but was it just better shoes?

"... physical attributes more common in this group that are conducive to an energy-efficient gait, including... a high ratio of leg length to torso." I wonder how much the added height of the shoes mimics (or exaggerates) having long legs?

I'm contemplating a switch from the minimalist shoes I adopted not long after Born to Run was released.

Although I don't run as regularly or consistently as I used to, I suspect there are gains to be had from wearing a squishy carbon-plate 8-10mm drop shoe.

I'm on a stint of running at the moment, and wonder whether it's better to persist with my minimalist shoes until I (once again) reach a plateauing of gains, or do I switch now and benefit immediately?

Better running shoes are like recumbent bicycles getting banned from bicycle races or turbochargers from formula 1. I read Nike had in the 80-90 figured out some thicker bouncy sole that was so good they banned it. Now we have faster shoes only in theory. lol

This was the first hit in google (I'm that lazy) it illustrates nicely how all the rules are designed for a competitive sport on equal footing (pun mine)

http://www.uka.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/World-Athle....

> Athletes may not use any appliance, either inside or outside the shoe, which will have the effect of increasing the thickness of the sole above the permitted maximum, or which can give the wearer any advantage which they would not obtain from the type of shoe described in the previous paragraphs

It is kind of sad for real innovation if everything that works gets banned.

Vivid runner here with very low arches.

My question is: do these supershoes work with supporters (that prevent my arches from collapsing)?

EPO