With just one month to go before the year’s most anticipated track and field event, a multitude of exceptional performances by agile athletes have dazzled both local and professional meets.
The University of Washington track team showcased their talent this spring, boasting eight sub-four-minute milers. In a remarkable race in June, four high school runners also broke that barrier. On the professional circuit, three world records were shattered in Paris within a short span of a week. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya set new records in both the women’s 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters, while Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia set a new mark in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase
On Friday night, Kipyegon further astonished track fans by smashing the women’s one-mile world record by nearly five seconds, finishing with a time of 4 minutes 7.64 seconds. This performance was unprecedented, as record improvements are usually measured in mere tenths of a second.
The question of why there have been so many fast times has been endlessly debated. While the introduction of pace-setting technology, known as Wavelight, and the advancement of super shoes with midsole plates that provide extra rebound energy have played significant roles, many sports scientists attribute the impressive performances to several years of training in these specialized shoes. Interestingly, recreational runners can also reap the benefits of these advancements.
Geoff Burns, a physiologist and biomechanics expert with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, believes that consistent training in super shoes leads to better adaptation and performance. This aligns with the specificity principle, which states that runners must train in the same conditions they will face during a race. This includes using the same shoes, consuming the same fluids and gels, and maintaining the same pace.
Super shoes entered the scene in 2016 when Nike introduced their first energy-returning shoes, the Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%. These shoes were clearly faster than previous models, leading the governing body of track and field, World Athletics, to impose limitations on midsole height in 2020. Today, all major shoe companies offer super shoes, and countless runners of all levels have embraced them.
Elite athletes are increasingly drawn to training and competing in super shoes. Lindsay Flanagan, an accomplished marathon runner, has discovered that incorporating super shoes into her training regimen allows her to log more quality days and greater mileage, resulting in quicker recovery and improved performance.
However, some professional runners opt to train in traditional shoes, believing that building strength with traditional footwear and using super shoes exclusively on race day provides an extra advantage. This is similar to the “Nietzsche principle,” where overcoming challenges strengthens individuals. In fact, a recent pilot study conducted by California State University, East Bay, compared fitness gains in runners using traditional racing flats versus those using super shoes. The study found that runners wearing flats experienced more muscle pain but also improved their running economy more than those wearing super shoes.
There are concerns about the potential negative effects of super shoe usage. Two experts in the study of running injuries, Adam Tenforde and Amol Saxena, published an article in the journal Sports Medicine presenting case studies of navicular bone injuries caused by super shoe use. Saxena warns that the shoes can place unusual stress on bones and soft tissue structures. However, it is important to note that there are no definitive reviews on super shoe injury rates based on standard statistical models. Additionally, researchers Wouter Hoogkamer and Max Paquette assert that there is no compelling data supporting significant biomechanical differences between super shoes and traditional ones.
Contrary to common assumptions, both Geoff Burns and Dustin Joubert, an exercise physiologist at Stephen F. Austin State University, have found that super shoes have a longer functional life than traditional ones. The foam midsoles in super shoes retain their cushioning and energy-return properties for a longer duration compared to the softer EVA midsoles in earlier models. This longevity can greatly benefit older runners, who appreciate the enhanced cushioning and quicker recovery offered by super shoes. Bill Salazar, a 77-year-old runner from Arizona, has been utilizing super shoes for over three years and has observed faster recovery times.
Top runners have also reported similar cushioning and recovery benefits. Previously, they would experience fatigue and hit a wall after 20 miles in a marathon. However, while wearing super shoes, they are able to finish stronger and faster as their leg muscles are less fatigued. This was exemplified by Kelvin Kiptum, a Kenyan newcomer who wore super shoes in the London Marathon and achieved the second-fastest marathon time ever recorded, completing the first 13.1 miles in 1:01:40 and the second leg in 59:45. Clearly, his legs were not exhausted.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
