Same with the adidas Adios Pro 3's. Feels like cheating. The first time I ran in them, I ran 30 seconds/mile faster than usual. I remember thinking that I was not in that kind of shape at the time. It's an addicting feeling. Boing, boing...
I've been trying to get the adios on a discount for months. I missed the window when they were going for around half off.
It's difficult to not wear any of these shoes every day. When I wear my endorphin pros, even on an easy run, I am easily a good 20 seconds per mile faster.
I’m of the belief that anyone who took up running after 2017 should be required to run a marathon in the Asics Hyperspeed or Adidas Adizero Adios, just to understand what kind of shoes we were working with.
To be fair the Adios ain't what they used to be. They've been my standby as a general training shoe over the years because I've always preferred a firmer shoe, but the last few models are bordering on too fluffy for my tastes- I'd imagine they'd be a fair bit more forgiving these days even if you like a bit of cushion.
To that end, there's increasingly less options for traditional/non-plated racing shoes especially for the roads, so at this point you're either racing in carbons or grandma's recovery day shoe, and regardless of ability i can't fault people for wanting something that feels halfway fast.
Same with the adidas Adios Pro 3's. Feels like cheating. The first time I ran in them, I ran 30 seconds/mile faster than usual. I remember thinking that I was not in that kind of shape at the time. It's an addicting feeling. Boing, boing...
Exactly.
And you're so busy being pithy that you seem to have missed the point. Yes, its a different feeling. Shoes are tools and this new tool is different from an old pair of Spiridon Golds or American Eagles. Remember the old Nike Air Edges of 1986? Great tread and full length air sole. Boing, boing, boing.
But the Terra TC and the Air Edge were different flats from the ones that Boston Billy wore. I remember seeing his four pair of winning shoes at his old store in Copley SQ in Boston and thinking: "I'd never survive Boston in those." Shoe technology has evolved, continues to evolve.
Looking at the HD video of tokyo marathon, I think I deserve hazard pay for running on the terrible streets of NYC and Chicago. Tokyo looks like a dream to run on those roads.
And right now, its a level playing field. Anyone can get the super shoes, unlike, say, 2016. So yeah, you still have to train. you still have to do 20 milers and track work and long easy runs and still do the damn marathon.
Thats the context. you still have to run the damn race.
Carbon plate in the shoe. Actual spring. Serious mental gymnastics to think it isn't cheating.
Even with all the improvements in modern shoes, they still are only returning more of the force that you as the runner produce with your own muscles. The very best supershoes today are claimed to be around the 90% energy return range, so there is still wasted energy.
It's not cheating until the shoe exceeds 100% energy return somehow, which would mean it is producing energy outside of your own ability.
I think Salvitore could speak more on this if he wanted to, but not sure if he's interested.
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Sure am glad I use the Vaporfly for my races. When the PR police come to check my times, I can explain the Alphafly is the only fast super shoe. :) I get the theory but explain this if its just the shoes then... I started running when the OG Vaporfly FK came out. Marathon 3:47:43 at age 55. I'm now 62, marathon PR in 2024 of 3:08 with a sub 3 try later this year. The VaporFly 3 isn't that much better of a shoe to produce that much more efficiency. Basically, I'm still slow but not as slow but shoes have zero to do with it. Its consistency and better training. I could run my PRs in non-plated trainers like the Adidas Evo SL right now.
Honestly not even sure why I replied to this thread.
I am with "Hmmmm" - I set my PR in the VAPORFLY, not the Alphafly. Good to know I'm not "cheating!"
As I get old and slow, I ran my most recent half marathon in a pair of Pegasus. I was 3 minutes slow than a recent run in the Vaporfly. The training and course were equivalent. Yeah these shoes are faster, we all know that.
Look, marathoners used to plug their guts with pasta before a race. If they paced bad, they'd still BONK! Am I cheating because I chow down 3 gels during a marathon? Or just using the empirical knowledge that has accrued to my advantage?
It is interesting, energy drinks and gels helped bring us to the sub-2:05 era, and now fast shoes have furthered the evolution of the sport.
Should Indy cars all be models from the 50s? 60s?
One thing that IS true, kids from poor families are at a disadvantage on the track, or road...