Many manufacturers claim they have produced the best, greatest and/or fastest running shoe on the market but how true is this, and just because an elite athlete wears the model does this mean we should all run out and buy a pair?
Nike spent two years and millions of dollars on the breaking 2 project (well worth the watch actually) with the intention of the Zoom Fly to be the first shoe to propel an athlete through the 2-hour marathon mark or was it for the athlete to break the 2-hour barrier? Anyway, don’t let this small detail get in the way. The project undertaken by Nike was incredible however not much evidence was produced to substantiate the claim of a 4% improvement in run efficacy.
Perhaps the most significant influence on the performance of a shoe is what you think of its performance. If you think the shoe will make you faster, maybe it will. I know I have always selected my racing shoes to feel light and fast which has given me plenty of running confidence on race day. I have used several brands of shoes from New Balance, Saucony, Nike, Asics and so on and can’t say if my shoe choice helped or hindered my performance.
We have a lack of choice in most retail outlets in Australia and generally get advice from a young Uni student whose only experience with running is racing to the bar before happy hour finishes on Uni night. I would prefer to do my own research and buy online through a retailer or from a specialty outlet I know would take care of me if anything went wrong.
What do we suggest you look for to find the perfect shoe?
- Make sure the shoe goes with your race day attire, if it doesn’t match or stand out it most likely will not make you faster.
- Have a shoe that is light, comfortable and suits your foot.
- Think about what shoes you have had in the past. What did you like about them? What didn’t you like?
- Choose the correct heel to toe drop for your running style and ankle mobility. In short, the tighter your calves a higher heel drop will help. Most running styles will suit a 4 – 8mm heel to toe drop. More on this later
- Buy a shoe suited to your triathlon or running race ie a racing flat for most of us is not a good idea when running a marathon or even the end of a Half Ironman.
We agree that most manufacturers will produce similar styles of shoes and perhaps there is no perfect shoe as everyone’s requirements are slightly different. We have chosen our shoe brands based on the fact they are unique in their technology and design from mainstream shoes available in Australia.
This is why we have carefully selected our range of shoes from On running, Salming and Altra and know they are super comfortable while staying light, responsive and durable.
