Could somebody explain the rationale behind 18- or 19-minute 5k runners wearing super shoes?

Nothing wrong with this IMO. It’s just what they like and what makes them feel good. Many of those runners are the ones who keep up heavily with the running world, and when they see the elites winning races and breaking records in those specific shoes, that makes them want a pair for themselves. All this means is that the companies making these shoes are good at advertising and marketing.

Why are 14-15 minute 5k runners wearing them?

I´m 52 and run 5k´s in 19 minutes these days. I have Alphafly, Adios Pro and Hyperion Elite 2 in my closet. Why? Because they are fun to run in, save my old legs and I also happen to have a lot of money.

Ask a hobby golfer how much money they spend on equipment...

I suppose they wear them because they want to and can afford them and hope the shoes can get them a faster time. Why does it matter to you?

Steffen wrote:

I´m 52 and run 5k´s in 19 minutes these days. I have Alphafly, Adios Pro and Hyperion Elite 2 in my closet. Why? Because they are fun to run in, save my old legs and I also happen to have a lot of money.

Ask a hobby golfer how much money they spend on equipment...

From this I understand exactly why you wear super shoes and golfer buy expensive stuff. You try to justify it incorrectly though.

The answer is simply addiction.

If your justification was founded, then you may have one or two pairs of super shoes in the closet. The third pair indicates that you are addicted to shopping though. This is definitely why golfers buy stuff. In fact, I think that it may be the real reason that they like golf. They actually like shopping, but golf gives them the excuse to continually spend their time shopping for golf stuff and it isn’t very taxing physically. At least with running shoes you actually have to go out and run in them to justify your shopping.

They have money to spend on chasing illusions.

hobby jogger extraordinaire wrote:

Is it just an outcome of group think, wanting the latest and greatest, and keeping up with the Joneses?

Welcome to America! This must be your first day here.

short answer wrote:

They have money to spend on chasing illusions.

If a super shoe helps go from 19:20 to 18:59, then sub-19 isn’t an illusion.

Everyone has goals, whether to run 52 5ks a year, or finish in less than 30min, or whatever. If shoes might help, people will get shoes.

Recreational tennis players use Tour level racquets and Cycling enthusiasts ride the best bikes out there.

Yes, shopping is one of my favourite hobbies and I´m not making any excuses. I also like fishing. You should see all my fishing gear! There is nothing like pulling out the pay card! We also happen to have 3 cars in the family. My plan is to spend all my hard earned money before I die.

short answer wrote:

They have money to spend on chasing illusions.

I don´t for a second believe they will make me faster. Actually, I know they don´t. I have done workouts in "super shoes" and one week later I hove done the exact same workout in a pair of NB1400 and the times are pretty much identical.

A guy in the neighbourhood goes to Poland several times every year and spend a fortune on hookers. At least my hobby is a little healthier.

Not a bad plan. Your general awareness probably makes your life more enjoyable overall.

I think this is the correct answer to the OP question too: people like shopping.

+1

I agree... they are fun.

I work hard all week, I make money, extra 100 bucks on a pair of shoes ain't nothin to me.

Maybe they strive to be 17 or 18 minute 5K runners?

The large study done by nike and strava had a ton of "hobbyjoggers" as the participants, which demonstrated that the 4% (and now other high stack carbon plated shoes) had a considerable impact on their performance. So your point about mid packers (and I'd argue 18-19 min runners are far from mid packers at a road race) not benefiting from these shoes is just wrong. Also, I'd imagine that a lot of these people don't have the talent to reach the <17 min level , so training harder isn't necessarily going to drop their times.

Finally, the cost is less of a problem considering that most post college hobby joggers have decent jobs and stable income, so spending 250 vs 150 $ on shoes isn't a huge deal. It's a lot for a college runner, or a poor person, but I don't think poor ppl sign up for very many road races as it's a very low priority expense.

The super shoes would not exists without a broad retail market. The shoe companies would never spend the money on R&D if they were not able to get the hobby joggers to buy the shoes.

And gear is fun. I am a mid teens handicap golfer. I spent a ridiculous amount of money on a driver. It is the same one that Dustin Johnson uses. I get about 10% more distance with it. But that just means I get to miss the green with my wedge instead of a 9 or 8 iron. But I love my driver. It feels great when I hit it dead center. I am still about 50 yards short of how far DJ hits it (and won't get any closer). But if I don't buy it, Taylor Made won't spend all their money improving the clubs.

I wear them because I can run a little faster in them. Sure I can also improve by training harder, but it's not like that's an either-or thing - astonishingly, I can do both!

Before super shoes: 20-19 min runners looking at the <= 17min runners

After super shoes: the cheap 17-18 min runners looking at the 19-20 'midpackers'

Plus, as other have said, fun to purchase and fun to run

$250+ 2 or 3 times a year totally worth it

runners be shoppin'