Have you run in super shoes

 

Over the years, shoe technology has continually evolved. In the last decade, the advent of super shoes has come to the forefront of this evolution. During this time, countless records have fallen to runners wearing these groundbreaking shoes.

I decided to buy my first pair in 2019 for my fall marathon. I was looking for every advantage in pursuit of a fast time and a Boston Qualifier (BQ). When I picked up the shoes, I was immediately impressed. They weighed just 5.6 ounces compared to my 11.6-ounce trainers. Once I put them on, I could hardly feel them as I walked around the house. However, they had a weird bouncy, squishy sensation that felt unusual.

The next day, I laced them up again and ventured out on a tempo run. As I ran, I felt light and springy on my feet. As I ramped up the pace, it seemed almost effortless. My GPS was tracking my pace, and I could hardly believe the numbers it displayed. When I finished the run and reflected on my first experience with the super shoes, I was all smiles.

However, the next day, my body wasn’t as happy. My calves were extremely sore. I turned to a few online resources to better understand what was happening. I learned that these shoes are designed in a way that can stress your soft tissue if your body isn’t used to them. A gradual progression was recommended to allow for proper adjustment.

Presto! Problem solved. I adhered to a slow mileage build-up in the super shoes. This was manageable for me since I always rotate shoes between runs. As I progressed in my training, the super shoes began to grow on me. They felt like an integral part of my preparation. However, as my marathon approached, the shoes started to show signs of wear. I knew the race would be my last run in this pair.

On race day, I lined up at the starting line and glanced around. There were others who, like me, had been willing to pay $300 for a pair of super shoes. I took a deep breath, and then the gun fired. The race was on. As the miles ticked by, my pace and effort remained perfectly on target for my BQ time. When I crossed the finish line, I was ecstatic—I had come in 7 minutes under the qualification time.

Pleased with the performance of my super shoes, I bought another pair shortly after. In my opinion, super shoes are an excellent tool if you’re chasing a fast time. They’re fun to run in and truly put a spring in your step. While the price tag may be steep, for serious runners, they can be a game-changer.