On the roads, the Nike Vaporfly and similar products have made a huge impact. Marathon times and pbs skyrocketed down. The evidence here is irrefutable. But have we been so traumatized by the road shoes effect that we are over analyzing the track spikes?
In 2017, there were 4 boys under 4:01. Reed Brown ran 3:59, but the other 3 boys could’ve easily dipped under 4 if they had the right day or right conditions. If that happened there would be more sub 4 boys then then there are now.
If you look at the data, I can’t see a relevant argument that the spikes make more then a 1.5 second difference in a mile. I ran in college right before the superspikes came out. Finished in 2019. Most of my career was run in the adidas avantis. I bought a pair of dragon flys to workout in and run a few meets unattached, they didnt feel that much different to the avantis. On the flip side, the first time I put on the Nike Vaporflys, I was shocked. They felt so much faster then a flat.
The super spike and shoe debar has been beaten to death on the forums like a dead horse, but I felt like I needed to get out my opinion on the matter.