If you're in the running shoe world at all, you know cushion and softness are the name of the game. Every shoe brand claims that each new version of their shoes is softer than the last, but what does it even mean for a shoe to be "soft"? How do you compare the softness of one shoe to another? In this episode, Nathan, Matt, and David do just that. They take a list of 10 of our favorite shoes from the past year or two (like the Brooks Hyperion Max, Asics Novablast 4, Nike Alphafly 3, and more) and see how their cushioning stacks up. No spoilers here, so you'll have to tune to see how the rankings turned out!
Chapters

 0:00 - Intro
 2:06 - Defining "softness" in shoes
  14:23 - #10: the firmest shoe
  17:15 - #9
  21:11 - #8
  22:48 - #7
  26:38 - #6
  30:12 - #5
  36:46 - #4
  40:20 - #3
  43:21 - #2
  49:29 - #1: the softest shoe
  1:00:30 - Wrap-up


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#175 How Soft You Say? We Rank Shoes by Softness and How it Can Differ from Runner to Runner

We are Doctors of Running, a group of doctors of physical therapy all working to provide you all with information about the art and science of running and what we are putting on our feet. In this podcast we will be giving evidence-based deep dives into running related topics as well as detailed running shoe reviews. You can also check us out at our website -- doctorsofrunning.com, and on social media @doctorsofrunning

To help us continue to produce content for you all, consider joining our support team: https://anchor.fm/doctors-of-running/support
 Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/doctors-of-running/support

Sports

Running

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	


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#194 This or That? Triumph 22 vs. Superblast, Max Cushion vs. Supertrainers, Zero Drop vs. Low Drop, Insoles or Stability Shoes?

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


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#193 Wild Heel Geometries, the Science Behind the Neo Vista, and the Future of Super Shoes with Mizuno

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


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#192 Mailbag! How to Know if a Shoe's Plate Lines Up with Your Foot, Mizuno Neo Vista Review, Energy Return in Super Foams vs. EVA

2024 has been the year of super shoe updates, with even more to come! Matt & David get together to talk about their favorite racing shoes of the year so far. They go through their honorable mentions and their podium picks. Then they dive into how to find the right racing shoe for your own individual needs (hint: it might not be the "fastest"). We want to hear from you! DM us on Instagram or email us at doctorsofrunningpodcast@gmail.com and let us know what your favorite super shoe has been this year.


Chapters

 0:00 - Intro
 3:00 - David's recent injury
 8:46 - Favorite super shoes of the year: honorable mentions
 17:42 - Third place
  22:46 - Second place
  30:10 - First Place
  37:52 - How to wisely transition to training and racing in super shoes or spikes
  47:28 - How to find the right racing shoe for you
  53:04 - Wrap-up


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#191 Our Top Super Shoes of 2024 So Far, and How to Find the Right Racing Shoe for You

It's time for another round of buy/sell, no maybes, no caveats here. Nathan, Matt, and David debate the utility of plyometric training, the value or supertrainers, running "slow", a post-race beer, and more. Hot takes only here!
Chapters

 0:00 - Intro
 2:50 - Plyometric training will help train for the marathon distance
  11:03 - Supertrainers that cost over $200
  16:24 - Supertrainers are worth it for new runners
  21:06 - Youth racing in Vaporflys
  24:50 - Regular super shoes are better at short distance races than specific 5K/10K shoes
  30:53 - Trainers without outsoles
  34:47 - Run slow to run fast
  44:54 - Post-race beer
  50:04 - Minimalist footwear is a dying breed
  54:48 - Wrap-up


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/doctors-of-running/support

#175 How Soft You Say? We Rank Shoes by Softness and How it Can Differ from Runner to Runner

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