Would like opinions on pros and cons of using new shoe technology (carbon plates) for routine long training runs. I'm not so concerned about running faster during the training runs, that will come during races. But do the new shoes help you run farther with less fatigue? Do they help with faster recovery from long runs? Reduce or increase risk of injury? Are there super shoes designed as trainers for more durability than the racing shoes?
I have no scientific data to back this up, but I *feel* like I recover faster, for what that's worth. I like Nike Zoom Flys for long runs, which don't have the super foam but do have a plate.
I also prefer shoes with soft heel counters due to Haglund's deformity, so that often limits my shoe selection to shoes designed for racing or workouts.
Im 40 and injury prone. Recently I've been doing my long tempo runs in supershoes and I am certain that I feel fresher the next day as a result of the shoes.
On one hand, my body isn't really getting the same stimulus it would be without the super shoes, but on the other hand I feel like I'm preventing injury and I'm able to do more miles the day after a hard run. In my mind, preventing injury and doing a bit more volume is worth it. If I was younger and/or less injury prone I might have a different position on the matter.
I’m not happy about this - but as a still fast 43 yo, I’m addicted to the C, and I spend a few hundred $ each year on shoes now. Why? With alphas I can train basically as many miles on all sorts of surfaces (hello concrete 20 miler!) and ‘get away with it.’ - it truthfully brought running back for me, I can run hard and fast and not feel beat to crap the next day. It’s expensive and annoying because of the $, but I’d rather buy shoes and run vs. save on shoes and spend on PT(and miss trainings).