October 06, 2021

Ep. 18: The Super Shoe Advantage with Geoff Burns

1 hour 18 minutes

The PodiumRunner Endurance Podcast is hosted by Ian Sharman, a professional ultra runner and coach with over 200 marathons or ultra finishes and more than 50 wins (www.sharmanultra.com, @sharmanian). We discuss training and racing topics with leading sports scientists and how to practically apply research findings for marathoners and ultra runners.

This episode we’re talking to Geoff Burns, Ph.D., who is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan and has also worked as an engineer in the automotive and medical fields. He studies running, biomechanics, and sport performance, and is a recognized expert for his research on super shoes and the controversies surrounding them. Burns also competes internationally in ultramarathons and was the 2016 National Champion in the 100k on roads.

You can follow Geoff on Instagram and Twitter at @geoffreyburns or check out his website.

This show we’re talking about super shoes and what difference they make in the real world. We discuss:

The recent controversy of the winner of the Vienna Marathon being disqualified for having shoes above the legal sole thickness, despite wearing shoes from the sponsor of the race (Here’s his PodiumRunner article about the Vienna Marathon super shoe DQ and thickness regulations).

Why super shoes are controversial

Does it matter to the sport if records aren’t comparable over time.

How different brands compare to the original Nike super shoes and whether there’s now a level playing field.

What the benefits of super shoes are in practical terms, related to speed and reduced fatigue.

Plus, whether super shoes help on trails given they’re less stable and won’t get as much rebound on softer or uneven terrain.

...more