Average joe runner runs 5k in 34:35. Buy Vaporfly Next % shoes, runs 31:54 a week later. 7.7% improvement.

You're a tough guy to figure out, Rojo. Are you doing this as click bait to get clicks? Are you very concerned that these shoes are ruining the sport? Or are you trying to sell shoes for Nike?

7.7% improvement?! Shut up and take my money!!!

He went from a 10:45 mile to a 10:00 mile? I don't think you could flex the carbon plate walking at that speed.

I cannot believe this video/post made it onto this forum, let alone posted by the cofounder.

I know retired people who've never run before who can then do a 30min/5K. What is so interesting about this video?

I could easily run a 5k faster than that in my Doc Martins.

Kipchoge fan wrote:

This is such a bad experiment...

1.) He know how to pace better the 2nd time and was prepared to suffer more

2.)He would have also improved in any other racing flat

3.)They probably told him to not go all out first time so they can make clickbait video.

Using the word "experiment" is giving this way too much credit.

rojo wrote:

Guy runs 5k in 34:35 in regular shoes. Buys Vaporfly Next % and a week later run sthe same course in 31:54.

That's a 7.7% improvement. Yes it's not scientific but that's crazy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q26cDk8Ccio&feature=youtu.be

Which funnily enough is right on the measured running economy benefit of these shoes from a lab viewpoint (well lab results a fraction lower but factor in the mental proposition, progression in fitness, possible improvement in conditions etc and you are right there).

Didn't read through the comments so I apologize if someone has already made this point, but at that level, this much so-called "improvement" could occur from one day to the next.

I think we can safely assume a 34 minute 5k runner isn't very experienced. They go sprinting out with the crowd, take several walk breaks, and struggle home 34. The next weekend, they either learn from their mistakes or have a friend run with them, go out a full minute 1:30 slower the first mile, allowing them to run the whole way and complete the course significantly faster.

Lastly, a runner of this ability presumably either isn't biomechanically blessed or isn't particularly efficient. Hard to imagine, with these particular shortcomings, that this particular technology would be of much help

rojo,

Given your obsession with "exposing" these "cheater shoes", and how easy it is to get a pair of them and go out and run two time trials, one with other shoes and one with the "cheater shoes", and compare the results, I would be surprised if you haven't done so already.

So is it safe to say that you have done a comparison yourself and failed to find major improvements from the cheater shoes, and concluded that these cheater shoes only work for some people and thus created an unfair advantage for them?

Come on guys. I am pretty sure this is just a sarcastic post toward the improvement from shoes.

Hasn't it already been shown to have very marginal improvement to people than slow? It's much more effective on sub 2:30 thoners than 3:30 plus.

For people in this time range, it reeks of the other contributing factors explanation.

30'+ 5K is not an "average joe runner," THAT'S A NON-RUNNER.

This advertorial brought to you by Nike wrote:

30'+ 5K is not an "average joe runner," THAT'S A NON-RUNNER.

That’s right.

My fat granny could speedwalk a 5K faster than 34 minutes.

Congrats on the new PB I guess.

Salvitore Stitchmo wrote:

rojo wrote:

Guy runs 5k in 34:35 in regular shoes. Buys Vaporfly Next % and a week later run sthe same course in 31:54.

That's a 7.7% improvement. Yes it's not scientific but that's crazy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q26cDk8Ccio&feature=youtu.be

Which funnily enough is right on the measured running economy benefit of these shoes from a lab viewpoint (well lab results a fraction lower but factor in the mental proposition, progression in fitness, possible improvement in conditions etc and you are right there).

Aren't the lab tests indicating somewhere between 4-5% in economy, around 2% in performance? This is around 7% improvement in performance so it would mostly have to be about external factors.

I remember reading that much of the improved economy is tied to fast enough ground contact time, slower than 240ms wouldn't benefit. I'd bet that someone around 31min 5K has significantly slower GCT than that. The low weight of the shoes would help though, if he was running in normal trainers in the first test.

But yeah this thread is much more than the so called 'experiment' would deserve.

How does one even "run" a 30+ minute 5K??

So in other words, a very slow runner psychs himself out with the 'magic' shoes and then proceeds to run another slow time albeit less slow than his previous best?

When you're talking 30+ minutes for 5k improvement can be linked just about the anywhere, even with just a week between performances. You shouldn't be trolling with content like this. Diet and running a few times in between efforts could net that kind of improvement.

oh yeah? wrote:

rojo wrote:

Guy runs 5k in 34:35 in regular shoes. Buys Vaporfly Next % and a week later run sthe same course in 31:54.

That's a 7.7% improvement. Yes it's not scientific but that's crazy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q26cDk8Ccio&feature=youtu.be

It-s not crazy at all.

Robert, 0/10

Exactly. Less than zero out of ten. Sheesh.

Rojo proves once again that even a total idiot can build a successful business in this country. You're the embodiment of the American dream, Rojo. Keep being you.

rojo wrote:

Guy runs 5k in 34:35 in regular shoes. Buys Vaporfly Next % and a week later run sthe same course in 31:54.

That's a 7.7% improvement. Yes it's not scientific but that's crazy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q26cDk8Ccio&feature=youtu.be