5K Track Time Trial: Choose a Shoe

+1 for the NB 5280! It’s one of the harshest shoes I’ve ever worn, but also the fastest.

No_Fe_In_Me wrote:

+1 for the NB 5280! It’s one of the harshest shoes I’ve ever worn, but also the fastest.

On the track?

I'd say 5280 or RC Elite for the outsole then. I'd toss in the Reebok RF Pro and Skechers Speed Elite though too. The Speed Elite outsole would be a little less grippy too, but the toeoff is so decisive and the stable plate up front feels good rounding the curves.

Metaracer is meh. Adios Pro rounding corners and flat outsole is questionable.

AhWhatTheCheese wrote:

No_Fe_In_Me wrote:

+1 for the NB 5280! It’s one of the harshest shoes I’ve ever worn, but also the fastest.

On the track?

I'd say 5280 or RC Elite for the outsole then. I'd toss in the Reebok RF Pro and Skechers Speed Elite though too. The Speed Elite outsole would be a little less grippy too, but the toeoff is so decisive and the stable plate up front feels good rounding the curves.

Metaracer is meh. Adios Pro rounding corners and flat outsole is questionable.

Track, indeed. I don't love the fit on my pair of the Speed Elite, and my RF Pros are pretty beat at this point. But I agree, likely 5280 vs. RC Elite. I think it'll probably be 5280, just because it's a rare opportunity to use them but... also don't want to pick the "wrong" shoe...

Albertos Dog wrote:

AhWhatTheCheese wrote:

On the track?

I'd say 5280 or RC Elite for the outsole then. I'd toss in the Reebok RF Pro and Skechers Speed Elite though too. The Speed Elite outsole would be a little less grippy too, but the toeoff is so decisive and the stable plate up front feels good rounding the curves.

Metaracer is meh. Adios Pro rounding corners and flat outsole is questionable.

Track, indeed. I don't love the fit on my pair of the Speed Elite, and my RF Pros are pretty beat at this point. But I agree, likely 5280 vs. RC Elite. I think it'll probably be 5280, just because it's a rare opportunity to use them but... also don't want to pick the "wrong" shoe...

I think, based on the research, that the efficiency gains of the higher stack shoes are still there down to like the 5k. 2 mile is probably the point where things are even. Mile and down I don't think they have the edge.

On the road, I think they probably have the edge in a 5k too tbh, but the efficiency difference is much smaller I think.

I think the question on the track comes down more to traction and stability rounding the turns. I'd probably go with the RC Elite for performance because of the combo of that efficiency gain with that awesome outsole.

Ditto somewhat on the Speed Elite though. I am a 9.5 and have 9. It is certainly snug up front, but good for a short/fast purpose. The Speed Elite with spikes up front would be so good.

Depends on your foot strike. If you are a true forefoot striker, than the 5280 all the way. For me 5k is a toss up. I'm on the balls of my feet for 3k on down. I wear the Victory spikes for those events and the 5280 is the best flat for this even over the LT4. At 5k and above distances, I start to sit back more and more as the pace slows. I'd wear the RC Elite for 10k.

Seems like a lot of people are taking their Next% and Endorphin Pros on the track though too anyways. I think the RC Elite is the best combo of that with a more grippy outsole.

I would go with dragonflys if you can get your hands on them before the TT

MediocreHSRunner wrote:

I would go with dragonflys if you can get your hands on them before the TT

Unfortunately it's on Sunday (and, considering this is my second track race in 6 years since college... probably not a great investment!). I do have some Victory 3s, but think I'd prefer something else, just to mix it up.

Spikes will be better on the track than any road racing shoe.

Ok so my Fuelcell 5280s were also kinda just sitting on the shelf. I think I had just done some strides in them before. I got curios and pulled them out at the end of my first interval workout in a while.

I was a little tired from a good 8 mile cutdown on Wednesday where I pulled out my pair of next% that are half size big and use for some workouts. Went 6:35, 6:20, 6:05, 5:55, 5:42, 5:42, 5:41, 5:27. The next% always just seem to kill it on these.

So today I went out for 3×1mi with a comparison between the next% and 5280. First two miles were in the next% 5:27, 5:20. Then I switched to the 5280 for the last mile and went 5:12. I was cutting down either way and probably would have hit that faster mile on the next% too, but I will say that the 5280s are really nice. They really are basically a spike for the road and get you up on your toes. The outsole is super grippy and I am sure it would work on the track well.

I think it comes down to how much your form breaks down in the 5k. I think the RC or 5280 will do great, but The decision depends on how much you stay on your forefoot the last mile of a 5k. At your speed and having experience with spikes, the 5280 will do great but so will the RC. Slower runners and those not used to spikes will obviously do better in the RC.

Dang! Appreciate the testing. I think the long and short of it is... I don't know how much my form will break down. I certainly have "marathoner legs" (i.e. everything really under 13.1 feels short!) but I also tend to run at least primarily on my forefoot. Ultimately, I think I'll have plenty of chances to run in the RC Elite (especially if road racing returns soon!) and a much more limited set of chances for the 5280 so... even if they "cost me" a couple seconds, I'll give it a go.

Then of course, last night I was thinking how the Adios Pro are really the fastest-feeling shoes I own...

Albertos Dog wrote:

Dang! Appreciate the testing. I think the long and short of it is... I don't know how much my form will break down. I certainly have "marathoner legs" (i.e. everything really under 13.1 feels short!) but I also tend to run at least primarily on my forefoot. Ultimately, I think I'll have plenty of chances to run in the RC Elite (especially if road racing returns soon!) and a much more limited set of chances for the 5280 so... even if they "cost me" a couple seconds, I'll give it a go.

Then of course, last night I was thinking how the Adios Pro are really the fastest-feeling shoes I own...

The right answer is you should wear the same shoe you have been doing all your 1000m reps in.:) The fun answer is the 5280s...

I am someone who would lean towards the higher stack racers probably, but the 5280s are really awesome. If you're a forefoot runner either way, I'd say go 5280.

AhWhatTheCheese wrote:

Albertos Dog wrote:

Dang! Appreciate the testing. I think the long and short of it is... I don't know how much my form will break down. I certainly have "marathoner legs" (i.e. everything really under 13.1 feels short!) but I also tend to run at least primarily on my forefoot. Ultimately, I think I'll have plenty of chances to run in the RC Elite (especially if road racing returns soon!) and a much more limited set of chances for the 5280 so... even if they "cost me" a couple seconds, I'll give it a go.

Then of course, last night I was thinking how the Adios Pro are really the fastest-feeling shoes I own...

I am someone who would lean towards the higher stack racers probably, but the 5280s are really awesome. If you're a forefoot runner either way, I'd say go 5280.

Went with the 5280, and eeked out a 14:57! Think they were a good call (with the exception of bogus Stryd data). Thanks, all, for the help!

So I have to say that I underrated the Asics Metaracer. It feels totally fine but uninspiring when just normal running in it. But I took them out for a workout today and they do really feel good when going fast.

I did 1 mile at 5:14 in the RC Elite and then did 4 x .5 mile. First one was in the RC Elite at 2:36. Then I switched to the Metaracer and did the last three at 2:30.

The RC Elite was super bouncy but felt like too much when really going fast. I still think that the bounce and cushion would really help if your form breaks down at the end of a 5k though. It certainly feels more locked down at speed than the TC though.

The Metaracer has a really nice feel in the forefoot when going fast and forefoot striking. The shoe doesn't seem to transition that fast if you're not forefoot striking though. It tends to feel a bit awkward and uninspired then. The Metracer has a decent amount of cushion for longer races, but just doesn't really feel that good when not forefoot striking at high speeds. It probably works best as a 5k shoe because of this. It could go longer but I don't think the ride would feel that dynamic as soon as your form breaks down. I would still compare it to the Skechers Speed Elite, but it is an ounce heavier and the transition isn't as decisive. The Skechers seems to roll forward better if your form does stray from forefoot striking and feels just as great forefoot striking at high speeds (if maybe a little less soft/bouncy up front but lightning quick turning over).

Albertos Dog wrote:

AhWhatTheCheese wrote:

I am someone who would lean towards the higher stack racers probably, but the 5280s are really awesome. If you're a forefoot runner either way, I'd say go 5280.

Went with the 5280, and eeked out a 14:57! Think they were a good call (with the exception of bogus Stryd data). Thanks, all, for the help!

Anyways, nice work in the 5k in the 5280s.

Think you're right, across the board. I'm probably guilty of this as well, but when a new carbon plated racer comes out, we jump to compare it to Vaporfly and for marathon distance - but Metaracer (seemingly) was never trying to compete in that arena. I don't think it's perfect (it could use a little more stack, probably) but it's damn good!

AhWhatTheCheese wrote:

The Metracer has a decent amount of cushion for longer races, but just doesn't really feel that good when not forefoot striking at high speeds. It probably works best as a 5k shoe because of this. It could go longer but I don't think the ride would feel that dynamic as soon as your form breaks down. I would still compare it to the Skechers Speed Elite, but it is an ounce heavier and the transition isn't as decisive. The Skechers seems to roll forward better if your form does stray from forefoot striking and feels just as great forefoot striking at high speeds (if maybe a little less soft/bouncy up front but lightning quick turning over).

Regarding forefoot bounce, did you see a comment in another thread that Skechers is putting a plate in a Razor 3 upgrade, coming out maybe in October?

hr measurement wrote:

AhWhatTheCheese wrote:

The Metracer has a decent amount of cushion for longer races, but just doesn't really feel that good when not forefoot striking at high speeds. It probably works best as a 5k shoe because of this. It could go longer but I don't think the ride would feel that dynamic as soon as your form breaks down. I would still compare it to the Skechers Speed Elite, but it is an ounce heavier and the transition isn't as decisive. The Skechers seems to roll forward better if your form does stray from forefoot striking and feels just as great forefoot striking at high speeds (if maybe a little less soft/bouncy up front but lightning quick turning over).

Regarding forefoot bounce, did you see a comment in another thread that Skechers is putting a plate in a Razor 3 upgrade, coming out maybe in October?

I did. They seem to be going to route of a lot of different options with the Razor/Speed/Speed Elite.

I think the Razor with a plate is a good proposition. The Razor 3 is excellent, but it is quite flexible/natural for a shoe that fast. I think it is good to have a mix of shoes for training so this flexibility is good for variety, but a bit more rigidity for racing would be good. It does look like a bit of a mix between the Speed 6 and Speed Elite from what I have seen. It has more stack like the Razor and Elite, but the plate looks more hidden and probably is a thinner more standard plate design like in the Speed 6 or other plated shoes.

My guess is it will be like a Speed 6 with more stack, or yeah, a razor with a plate. The question is how that compares with the Speed Elite. I think it will probably feel more traditional/flatter than the Speed Elite which really rolls. The forefoot might end up feeling a bit softer if the forefoot is less present and more of a traditional thin plate design. We will see.

I think Michael (OP) has them already, so we will see.