It's the 200th episode of the Doctors of Running Podcast! For this milestone episode we've put together a mailbag from some of our favorite running-world friends like Connor Blalock (Running Warehouse), Elisabeth Jennings (Running Explained), Victoria Sekely (Train Smart Run Strong), and more! Nathan, Matt, and David get together to tackle their questions about dream running celebrity friends, 1000mi shoes, the future of racing shoes, and so much more. We're so thankful for each one of you for supporting and following along with our work for this long, and we're looking forward to the next 200 episodes!

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 5:57 - If you could hang out with any running celebrity, who would it be?
• 12:10 - If you worked in the run industry, who would you work for?
• 18:14 - Will we ever see shoes last 1000+ miles?
• 24:28 - What does the average runner put up with in their shoes that could be better?
• 32:00 - Are shoes in the style of old racing flats gone for good?
• 43:23 - What type of "support" doesn't exist that should?
• 46:34 - Do you see any new future limits on race-legal shoes?
• 49:17 - If you could relate your personality to any running shoe, what would it be?
• 55:42 - How would you assemble your dream shoe?
• 1:03:40 - What would you like to see DOR do in the next 200 episodes of the podcast, and in the next 2 years in general?
• 1:11:33 - If the ASICS Superblast 2 was an NBA player, who would it be?
• 1:14:28 - Wrap-up

On this episode, Nathan and Matt have the privilege of interviewing Dr. Wouter Hoogkamer 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 Hoogkamer 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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