All carbon plated shoes are created for racing NOT TRAINING

Next week will be one year since I bought my first pair of VF3s. I’ve worn them exclusively since then for all training. Older shoes for training and newer pairs for hard workouts and racing.

I’m 47 and running more mileage than ever and healthier than ever. Sample size of 1, but they’ve been great for me.

Edit: Also, earlier this year I ran my fastest marathon since 2014 when I was 36.

From an Outside article I just clicked on: "While no studies to date directly demonstrate that supershoes cause injury..." It cited a lot has what been said. It's easier to run in super shoes so you're not getting muscles working as hard. They affect form. Etc. But they can't link those things to an uptick in running injuries so I stopped there.

The reality is that running can cause injuries for a # of reasons. I also think more people have access to PTs/chiros so maybe more people are getting diagnosed with running injuries but it's likely those injuries were always there/just went untreated/undiagnosed. There's better reporting today than there used to be.

As with everything in running there are quite a few variables but to give a general answer for why super shoes can cause injuries.

As when barefoot running became a thing, supershoes change your running dynamics (generally pushing you to land further forward). If done too much to quickly then it will often trigger an injury. Could be various areas depending on the change in your dynamics.

For the Achilles - I guess the landing forward can cause issues in the calf or ankle which would then put strain on the Achilles. But if you biomechanically ok to handle it then you should be fine..

I get the thinking behind higher stack/carbon shoes causing more injuries. But the reality as, nearly every top college and pro athlete are wearing super shoes for all of their hard workouts. They’re staying healthier. They can do more work. If the super shoes really “caused” injuries, we’d see it across collegiates and pros. We’re not.

3/10

This hasn't been my experience.

Chud

I'm turning 59. I've used carbon fiber plated shoes for years for anything harder than a recovery run. I have an older pair for easy runs, long runs, and tempo/threshold workouts and a newer pair I use for racing and speed workouts. Like a lot of other posters, I feel better, I'm able to run more days and higher mileage without feeling beat up and I'm not injured as often. I like them and will continue to run in them for almost every type of run.

You can't really paint the entire field of podiatry like that. Some podiatrists have patients that are mostly elderly people, and they can be really helpful to them -- helping with bunions, fixing toe nails, etc. It's not very glamorous stuff but it's real and it helps people get rid of pain and walk better etc., and it is more efficient than clogging up doctors' offices with this kind of stuff.

Going into sports podiatry then sure, you are likely get a lot of people espousing theories with limited research support and pushing expensive procedures, but that is often the case for a whole slew of things surrounding sports injuries.

No, I don’t think that is the case. We are seeing less injuries than before if anything. It is part of the reason times have gotten so fast. The shoes allow training faster and harder with less recovery time because the legs are not as beat up.

I believe the main issue with using carbon-plated super shoes for training is their instability. This instability can strain specific muscles and the peroneal tendons. Additionally, the carbon plate may alter toe push-off mechanics and contribute to muscle imbalances.

My experience matches up with this. Never had plantar fasciitis until I started wearing my Vaporfly Next% on daily runs. I never had it in the 20 years before or in the 2 years since I stopped daily running in carbon plates. I can race in them without problem, but daily training is a no no.

A podiatrist is NOT an MD !

+1. I've used my old Vaporflies for easy runs, alternating with Nike Invincible, Zoom Fly 6, Hoka Clifton, Boston 12. No problemo.

Injuries have always been an issue with running. It is something we have to deal with. But I am seeing no increase in injuries due to carbon plated shoes. achilles and plantar fasciitis issues have been around as long as competitive running when your pushing the envelope in your training and hoping you don't go a smidget too far.

Here is a hypothesis;

I believe there could be more injuries from max cushion shoes rotated with supershoes. Some folks run races and workouts in supershoes, then every easy run, or long easy run is done in max cushion shoes. Personally, I do my easy runs in a low stack trainer, think kinvara, adios, and new balance rebel. If I go to more of a max shoe then injuries flare up.

Also narrow shoes don't help either, sorry kinvara, you're nearly out of the rotation. Hoka? Not for me, too narrow. I rotate adios pro 3, endorphin pro 2, boston 12, and adidas evo sl. So two true super shoes and two super trainers, those four rotated for 3 runs a week, every week. Then the other days is typically a low stack trainer, or a medium cushioned trainer in the 36mm heel, 28ish,, forefoot

The amount of downvotes to this is laughably concerning. I don't know if you are a podiatrist or not - I don't think thats the point because you aren't wrong.

Our bodies were created and evolved to be able to do almost any motion (including running) without anything supplemental. We need shoes to protect ourselves from stuff we as a species have made (like hard asphalt).

Modern, hyper-cushioned footwear are overriding our bodies natural cushioning mechanisms and removes the need for the body to move and support itself the way we were created to (a harmonic combination of ligaments, tendons, muscles, cartilage etc).

Go watch these stupid youtube shoe reviews where people put these shoes and sink into the heel to show the shoe compressing 10-15mm - does this really look like it's good for you? And some of these comments defending the prolonged and consistent use of these products? Good god.

You're not abusing your body because Hobby Joggers are much less affected because hobby jogging barely registers any force whatsoever on the body since you're barely moving at anything related to speed and therefore completely safe from injuring yourself unless of course you stub your toe on a curb or something but even then your carbon plated shoes will take the brunt of the force so mostly I'd say you're fine and will remain injury free and can keep hobby jogging for years even decades of blissful jogging as a hobby.