Carbon Plate Running Shoes (Yay or Nay?)

The following is not a running shoe review, it's just my objective 2-cents from a coaching perspective:

 

Back in February I picked up my 1st pair of the newest nerdy item in the running world: Carbon plated sneakers.  I was hesitant to try them, and the rationale is evident toward the end of this blog, but here we are.  Personally, I got the Saucony Endorphin Pro because I was a Saucony person forever, before I switched to Hokas and Altras.  These shoes were definitely the most money I've ever spent on a pair of shoes in my life!  I said at the time that the jury was still out as to whether they've actually "improved my pace while reducing energy demands," as most of these different shoe company ads claim to do.

 

After almost 3 months of running in these shoes (though not exclusively), I am inclined to give them a high grade, though I can't say what % of my increased paces is due to the shoes vs. my work ethic.  I view it as a pie chart, and I know that ultimately my training, not the shoes, is the biggest piece of the pie in determining my race times.  So how much do the shoes help?  I can't put a precise data-point on it, but they are certainly light and haven't given my lower legs/ feet any issues, so I like them.  They feel a bit odd at times because it occasionally feels like I'm running on a rail, given the central placement of the carbon sole, but that might also be due to my hyper-sensory proprioception (kinesthetic sense).  

 

My overall training the past 12 months is better than the previous 12 months, and so on; therefore, I should be fitter on the track.  However, with last week having been my first Tempo-pace workout of the year while on a track and wearing these particular shoes, I was not expecting to hit the paces that I did, so I was pleased!  And I am also hyper in-tune with pacing/exertion.  

 

The math tells me that these shoes improved my T-pace 3%.  That will equate a scale of 10 - 25 seconds per mile for those in the T-pace range of 6:00 - 9:00/ mile.  But similar to high-end cycling equipment, the assumption is that there aren't any other major variables hampering your performance.  So, if you are at the peak of your potential and are looking for a way to get over a hump and/or squeeze out some time, then yes, maybe the shoes are an answer.  But if you're still getting over an injury and/or haven't hit strength training 3-5x per week for 6+ months yet and/or are running over a 10:00/mile, then save your money for now, especially if budgeting is a factor.

 

In sum, I have only run in one type of carbon plated shoe (money is a factor), so the results are narrow, but it seems that the theory of the shoes is at least minimally supported by the claims of me and the runners I coach who use them.  I purchased the orange ones, and I haven't run in orange shoes in many years, so there's also that perk.  If I was paid money to promote the shoes, then yes, obviously "these shoes are guaranteed to give you a PR of your money back," and so goes the world of endorsements in all professional sports.  But for anyone reading this blog who is on a budget, the cost of these shoes is the same as 2-3 professional massages, which might do you better to alleviate the ailments that are hampering your progress.  Choose wisely, my friends!

 

Train hard!

 

Mike