Yes It's the Shoes, No it doesn't matter

frank shorter\'s mustache wrote:

Too much is made of the super shoes. Yes, they are responsible for the tsunami of faster times. However, it just doesn't matter, Quit yer bitchin!

The move off of cinders improved times. The move away from wool clothes improved times. The move away from leather shoes improved times. The move from away amateurism improved times. Better nutrition improved times.

Technological advancement has, and always will, improve performance. The only thing that happens is...times that were once considered good become pedestrian over time.

Anyone who pays attention knows that a sub-4 on a modern track with super shoes isn't the same accomplishment as running sub-4, 30 years ago, just like running sub-4, 30 years ago wasn't the same accomplishment as running sub-4 in 1954.

So, the shoes make more high school kids go sub-4, so what.

frank shorter's mustache wrote:

So, the shoes make more high school kids go sub-4, so what.

DC Doctor wrote:

Just maybe consider that high school athletes have visibility into advanced training and other tools that were not as widely available 10 years ago. That, plus better coaching, detailed knowledge of what it takes to break 4 in the mile, and a lot more competition overall for both males and females.

Overall, I knew zilch in the 80’s as a high school miler, compared to now where top athletes know so much more about everything. I think they’re only going to get better. We may consistently start to see 4+ High school boys breaking 4 in the mile each year, and no, they’re not breaking 4 because of the shoes. Good tracks now are way superior to what they were even 20 years ago.