Let’s say you have two teammates of similar ability, one gets a pair of next% and the other wears his typical daily trainers. On their next workout where paces are set by their race times and they run side by side, has the kid in the next% actually hurt his training by making the workout effectively easier?
Said differently, if you get next% do you have to increase your workout difficulty or length or you’ve actually softened the training?
I’ve also thought about this. I have worn super shoes in workouts and noticed my legs recover faster afterwards and I get a confidence boost by making the workout seem easier so if there is a physical difference then I think the confidence boost could outweigh that. Another thing all the Kenyan marathoners do their workouts in super shoes and it seems to work for them.
spoopershoes wrote:
I’ve also thought about this. I have worn super shoes in workouts and noticed my legs recover faster afterwards and I get a confidence boost by making the workout seem easier so if there is a physical difference then I think the confidence boost could outweigh that. Another thing all the Kenyan marathoners do their workouts in super shoes and it seems to work for them.
Let's not forget that the Kenyans get their super shoes for free.
I think that makes a huge difference to decide which shoe you want to wear in training.
I don't think using super shoes in workouts is a good idea for a few reasons.
I think doing too many workouts in super shoes can lead to injury for many runners.
You don't get as much of a "boost" on race day if you always wear them in workouts.
It's not cost effective with super shoes costing $100 or more per pair.
The point about recovering faster is valid, but there is also something to be said for running on tired legs. I save my race shoes for race day.
I'd actually say that the other person is training too hard. Your race times are probably in the next%, so if you're training based off of your race paces then you should train based on how fast you would race in the shoes you're wearing. If you're running next% race pace in trainers for workouts, you're running harder than you're supposed to and probably overtraining.
Let's say someone runs a 31:00 10k in next% shoes and they're trying to run 6 x mile at 10k race pace. Wearing Next% in practice they should just run the 5:00 pace. If they're running in Pegasus trainers, I'd say run 5:05 pace. If they're running 5:00 pace in trainers they're running too hard, it's not their true race pace effort (unless they run 31:00 in pegasus as well)
Of course it will. You're running faster with less effort. I have definitely experienced this. To get the same effectiveness, you have to run faster in the workout and not get all giddy and happy and settle for less.
The other person is training too hard wrote:
I'd actually say that the other person is training too hard. Your race times are probably in the next%, so if you're training based off of your race paces then you should train based on how fast you would race in the shoes you're wearing. If you're running next% race pace in trainers for workouts, you're running harder than you're supposed to and probably overtraining.
Let's say someone runs a 31:00 10k in next% shoes and they're trying to run 6 x mile at 10k race pace. Wearing Next% in practice they should just run the 5:00 pace. If they're running in Pegasus trainers, I'd say run 5:05 pace. If they're running 5:00 pace in trainers they're running too hard, it's not their true race pace effort (unless they run 31:00 in pegasus as well)
+1
I go back and forth on whether to do workouts in super shoes. I run workouts in Endorphin speeds and race in Endo Pros and Next%s. I used to workout in Kinvaras. I can do more reps or faster reps in the Speeds vs. Kinvaras. Therefore I can do more quality workouts. I would assume this would benefit me since I'm able to do more quality on workout days.
Interesting question. If we're going to say they're doing mile repeats & the shoes give you 5s & they're running stride by stride then 1 runner is working a little harder. Is that enough to say they're working too hard? Maybe not.
Someone said super shoes can lead to injury. Poor training & wearing flats can lead to injury. I say wear super shoes if you want & learn to dial into effort. If you do 5 x 1k in 3:25, the same stimulus might be 3:20-23. With super shoes or not, you can still train too hard. Get to the right heart rate/effort & the splits will come. So many other things affect workout times.
NERunner03533 wrote:
Someone said super shoes can lead to injury. Poor training & wearing flats can lead to injury. I say wear super shoes if you want & learn to dial into effort. If you do 5 x 1k in 3:25, the same stimulus might be 3:20-23. With super shoes or not, you can still train too hard. Get to the right heart rate/effort & the splits will come. So many other things affect workout times.
+1
I think it is specific to the individual. For me super shoes mean less injuries, especially on hard workout long runs. I can also recover with two easy days and be ready to go vs. feeling residual soreness for 3 or so days.
Also +1 to the guy who said if your training paces are driven by performances in super shoes then running those paces in training shoes is clearly pushing it unless your are obviously much fitter.
I agree