On this episode, Nathan and Matt have the privilege of interviewing Dr. Wouter Hookgamer about his research on super shoes and how they affect running performance. They discuss what makes a super shoe "super" (the plate, the geometry, the foam, or all three?). They also discuss Wouter's latest writing and research on getting the best results from running research trials. They get Wouter's take on training in super trainers/plated shoes and how they may effect biomechanics. Be sure to listen to this fascinating discussion on super shoes and research!

Dr. Wouter Hookgamer is a researcher focusing on biomechanics and energetics of human locomotion and running. He currently leads the UMASS Integrative Motion Lab. If you’ve been in the running shoe space, and are listening to this podcast you likely have heard of one of his most “famous” studies colloquially known as “The 4% Study”, which looked at the original Nike Vaporfly and produced results that gave the shoe it’s name. Beyond research, he is a runner and ultra-runner himself and was the founder of the Trail Ultra Mountain Alliance.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 3:40 - The Subjective: what's your favorite super shoe?
• 8:01 - Wouter's article: The Fallacy of Single Trials
• 15:33 - Structuring research to achieve more confident results
• 18:47 - Accounting for variabilty in trial results
• 21:38 - Defining physiological drift
• 26:44 - The risks of using single trials
• 38:10 - Wouter's definition of super shoes
• 41:40 - The roles of plates, foams, and geometries in super shoes
• 55:10 - Wouter's take on super trainers and training in plated shoes
• 1:06:36 - Why do some respond to certain shoes and not others?
• 1:12:07 - Wrap-up

As any runner knows, injuries are all too common. On this episode, Nate & David look to bring some education and aid if you've got a foot injury. They look at the anatomy of the foot, common pathologies, and more. Tune in for some practical strategies for minimizing your injury risk and assessing & gaining mobility. On the back half of the show, they review the brand new ASICS Superblast 2, an update to one of our team's favorite shoes.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 8:22 - Keys to injury prevention
• 14:50 - Tips for at-home mobility work
• 22:59 - The anatomy of foot injuries
• 31:41 - Common foot injuries
• 36:22 - Diagnosing & treating different foot injuries
• 43:32 - Asics Superblast 2 Review
• 54:50 - Is the Superblast worth the high cost?
• 59:24 - Superblast vs. On Cloudmonster Hyper
• 1:03:34 - Wrap-up

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The cushioning of a shoe is the the number one priority for a lot of runners, but there's more to it than you might think. On this episode, Matt breaks down the ins and outs of cushioning. He'll define compliance and resilience. He looks at how different amounts and types of cushioning effect biomechanics, and explores why it may be useful to have a rotation of shoes that feature different midsoles.

Studies mentioned in the show:

Kulmala, J. P., Kosonen, J., Nurminen, J., & Avela, J. (2018). Running in highly cushioned shoes increases leg stiffness and amplifies impact loading. Scientific reports, 8(1), 17496.

Malisoux, L., Ramesh, J., Mann, R., Seil, R., Urhausen, A., & Theisen, D. (2015). Can parallel use of different running shoes decrease running-related injury risk?. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports, 25(1), 110–115. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12154

Mercer, M. A., Stone, T. M., Young, J. C., & Mercer, J. A. (2018). Running economy while running in shoes categorized as maximal cushioning. International journal of exercise science, 11(2), 1031.

Theisen, D., Malisoux, L., Genin, J., Delattre, N., Seil, R., & Urhausen, A. (2014). Influence of midsole hardness of standard cushioned shoes on running-related injury risk. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(5), 371-376.

Worobets, J., Wannop, J. W., Tomaras, E., & Stefanyshyn, D. (2014). Softer and more resilient running shoe cushioning properties enhance running economy. Footwear Science, 6(3), 147-153.

It's time for the second part of our favorite shoes of 2024 so far! David and Andrea join in with their picks for daily trainer, performance trainer, and racing shoes of the year to date. They also pick their favorite 2023 models that are on sale at a discount. Let us know what you've loved this year! DM us on Instagram or email us at doctorsofrunningpodcast@gmail.com.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:20 - Favorite daily trainer
• 15:18 - Favorite performance trainer
• 24:34 - Favorite racing shoes
• 44:11 - Favorite 2023 shoe that's on sale
• 51:18 - Wrap-up

We're just about halfway through 2024 so it's time to take a look at our favorite shoes of the year so far! Matt & Nathan get together to break down their favorite trainers: daily, max-stack, lightweight/speed, and best value. They also discuss how our definition of "supertrainer" is changing as more and more brands come out with their versions. We want to hear from you! What's been your favorite shoe(s) of the year so far? What are you looking forward to for the back half of the year? DM us on Instagram or email us at doctorsofrunningpodcast@gmail.com.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:58 - What defines a supertrainer?
• 10:02 - Favorite daily trainers
• 16:56 - Favorite max-stack shoes
• 21:08 - Favorite lightweight training shoes
• 30:28 - Best value shoes
• 35:44 - Wrap-up

Time for another round of "this or that", where the DOR team is on the hot seat! Nathan and Matt are forced to pick between one or the other, no "it depends" (a PT's favorite answer). They throw down on tough questions about Saucony's updates to the Triumph 22, supertrainers, hydration/fueling, and more.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 1:24 - Newton CF vs. other moderately stacked plated shoes
• 6:12 - Triumph 22 or Superblast
• 11:46 - Premium daily trainers vs. Supertrainers
• 14:28 - Do supertrainers need PEBA?
• 16:24 - Triumph 22 vs. 21
• 20:55 - Supportive insoles vs. Stability shoes
• 23:37 - Elliptigo vs. Cycling
• 27:35 - Handheld bottle vs. Hydration vest
• 29:30 - Mach 6 vs. Topo Cyclone 2
• 32:38 - Zero-drop Altra vs. Altra with a drop
• 36:28 - Niche shoe brands diversifying their lineups?
• 38:39 - Shoe width vs. Volume
• 42:06 - Healthy for a year with no PR or a PR followed by an injury?
• 43:48 - Group run vs. Solo run
• 46:17 - Gels vs. High-calorie drinks
• 48:32 - Running shoe store vs. Online shoe reviews
• 54:18 - Wrap-up

This week we are thrilled to share a conversation with our friends at Mizuno Running. Shunsuke, Mizuno’s Global Product Line Manager, and Ayako Suzuki (Susan), the team’s Running Footwear Product Designer, join Matt and Andrea to talk about the brand new Neo Vista. They dig into the brand’s bold new heel geometries (including the one seen in the Japan-only Wave Duel Pro model) and discuss what these new trends mean for the future of running shoes at Mizuno.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:02 - Susan & Shunsuke's roles at Mizuno
• 3:50 - Mizuno's different types of foams
• 7:00 - The design of the Neo Vista's midsole
• 10:50 - Foam composition
• 13:59 - The science between Mizuno's aggressive heel geometries
• 19:48 - The extreme Wave Duel Pro
• 23:31 - Making the Neo Vista stable thru design
• 33:00 - Mizuno's plate composition
• 35:34 - The future of Mizuno's two main shoe lines
• 40:52 - The future of Mizuno's super shoes
• 46:22 - Wrap-up

We've got another mailbag episode where it's all about your questions. Andrea and Nathan team up to tackle a bunch of different questions about superfoams and supershoes. How do you know if a shoe does (or doesn't) agree with your mechanics? Is the difference in energy return of superfoams vs. EVA really significant? Tune in for these and more. We're always filling up our mailbag, so DM us on Instagram or email us at doctorsofrunningpodcast@gmail.com!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 5:50 - How to know if a shoe's plate & geometry lines up with your foot
• 18:56 - Can an after-market footbed increase shoe stiffness like a carbon plate?
• 25:29 - Finding carbon-plated shoes when you have Morton's neuroma
• 33:06 - Are we sure that the energy return of superfoams vs. EVA is what makes supershoes faster?
• 42:28 - Mizuno Neo Vista review
• 56:09 - Wrap-up