Is Drinking a Beer After Running a Bad Idea?
April 2, 2024
Ever since vibrantly pink Nikes started popping up on finish lines and podiums, carbon plated shoes became the biggest technological revolution in the running world since the GPS watch. Carbon plate shoes claim to enhance your running economy so that you run up to 4% faster than in normal running shoes. That’s a big change in pace! So are carbon plated running shoes worth the hefty pricetag?
(This article frequently references the concept of “running economy.” You can read this article for an overview of running economy.)
Carbon plate running shoes are relatively new, available only within the past few years. These shoes use a specially designed carbon fiber plate to help you run faster. (More on the technology of these shoes below.) Most pairs cost between $200 and $250 – roughly twice the cost of non-plated running shoes. Despite the high cost, these shoes wear down quicker and cannot be used for as many miles.
Carbon plate shoes provide a huge advantage when running. Some shoes claim a 4% improvement in performance. This huge performance boost from a piece of technology has lead to a debate regarding the legality of super shoes.
World Athletics permits carbon plate running shoes – so long as the stack height is 40mm or less. Very high stack height supershoes do exist. However, carbon plate shoes on the market do abide by the rules. Technically, a pro runner would be disqualified for wearing these in a race in which they earned prize money.
As the name implies, carbon plate shoes contain a thin layer of stiff carbon fiber in the midsole. The carbon fiber plate propels you forward more with each stride, especially when combined with the special foam used in these shoes. Supershoes use innovative, ultra-lightweight foams to provide cushioning. Unlike older cushioning, these foams don’t weigh you down. Instead, they aid in energy return while also absorbing shock. Finally, the shoes typically have a rocker-shaped bottom that alters your biomechanics for a more efficient stride.
The hype around supershoes began with the Nike Vaporfly 4%. The claim was it could make you run 4% faster at the same effort level/oxygen cost. 4% improvement is significant. For a 3:30:00 marathoner, 4% faster is 3:21:35! Does the science support those claims?
The 4% claim is actually based on study findings. A 2019 randomized controlled trial published in Sports Medicine found that the lever effects and energy return of carbon plated shoes resulted in an average of 4% improvement for 18 participants.
Since that seminal study, more research has been conducted on carbon plated shoes – both the Nike Vaporfly and models from other companies. From this research, we see that there is individual variance in response.
A 2023 meta-analysis in Sports Medicine demonstrated the wide variation in response. Amateur-level runners experienced anywhere from a 9.7% improvement to a 1.1% decline. While overall, the shoes offered an average medium benefit, some outliers performed worse in super shoes.
Terrain may also impact the efficacy of carbon-plated running shoes. In a 2022 study in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, 16 competitive male runners performed 5-min trials at 13 km/hr pace on flat, 5%, and -5% gradients while wearing Nike Vaporfly 4% and a non-plated Nike shoe. The average improvement in running economy was 3.83% on flat, 2.82% on uphill, and 2.7% on downhill. Notably, three out of sixteen (19%) of the runners had a worse metabolic response to the supershoes.
Given that wide variance in responses, it is important to observe how the shoes work for you. How do you perform and feel in them? You can only learn your individual response through trial and error, which does come with some risk.
For a few years there, most of the research looked at supershoe benefits for elite and sub-elite runners. Now, in 2023, some research has looked at how mid-pack and back-of-pack runners may respond to the new footwear technology. So just how much faster are carbon plate running shoes?
A 2023 study in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance examined the changes in running economy in response to supershoes with runners who averaged a 9:40/mile pace and an 8:03/mile pace. (These paces were 10 km/hr and 12km/hr.) The 9:40/mile pace had a 0.9% improvement – still an improvement, but not as profound as the 4%. At an 8:03/mile pace, the response was slightly enhanced, a 1.6% improvement.
From the data, the researchers concluded that the magnitude of improvement from supershoes is dependent on pace. The faster you run, the more of a response you may see. However, a 1% response may be worth it to many runners. For a 4:15 marathoner, 1% still results in a couple of minutes faster in the marathon distance.
It is vital to note that in this study, the researchers found that five out of sixteen – 31% – of recreational runners had worse running economy in super shoes. Similar to faster runners, supershoes can work for a majority, but a not-insignificant demographic of runners do not respond well to them.
The specific type of shoe may also impact the response. A 2023 study in International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance studied ten runners (half male, half female) wearing the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. (This is technically a nylon-plated shoe.) The researchers found that the runners had a 3.8% reduction in oyxgen consumption at a 10:16 min/mile pace (6:23/km) and a 5% reduction at 8:24/mile (5:13/km). The improvements in running economy were accompanied by some changes in running gait.
There are dozens of carbon plated running shoes available for purchase. As with any running shoes, there is not a singular “best” shoe. Instead, there are several well-reviewed models that may or may not work for you based on your biomechanics. To find the best carbon plated running shoes for you, you may have to go through some trial and error. This list of shoes are some of the models I’ve seen athletes enjoy and race well while wearing in 2023.
References this article for more options of both carbon plated and non-plated marathon running shoes.
A common complaint with earlier supershoes was that they were too soft and stacked – almost like running on stilts. The Saucony Endorphin Elite provides a firmer ride than previous supershoes – while still providing cushion and speed. Many runners I coach who disliked or responded poorly to the Vaporfly found success with the Endorphin Elite.
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Similarly, the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 provides a more stable ride than previous supershoes. The shoe features a wider base than other carbon plated running shoes, without compromising speed.
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If you want a carbon plated shoe that works equally well for racing and training, the Hoka Mach X may be the shoe for you. This shoe features a responsive plate coupled with durable foam.
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Asics divided their Metaspeed shoes into two categories: Sky+ and Edge+. The Sky+ is designed for runners who take long strides. The Edge+ is for runners who want to increase their running speed by increasing their cadence. The Metaspeed are another model I’ve heard recreational runners rave about!
Metaspeed Sky+ Specs:
Metaspeed Edge+ Specs:
Related: How to Choose a New Model of Shoes
A 2023 opinion article published in Sports Medicine looked at five case studies on carbon-plated shoes and bone stress injuries. The researchers observed a trend between navicular stress fractures (bone injuries in the feet) and carbon-plated shoe use.
The theory is that the biomechanical alterations of the foot and ankle in CPS may increase injury risk, especially stress fractures, for some athletes. However, there may have been other factors at play. Three of the cases were related to young (high school) athletes. For the two 30-something athletes, the shoes triggered a stress fracture when they were used for a half marathon race and 22-mile long run with no to minimal prior wear.
While carbon plated shoes may have an increased risk, you can mitigate that risk by carefully introducing them into your training. Start with short test runs. Then, gradually build up to being able to do a couple of workouts or long runs in them. Tune-up races also offer an opportunity to test supershoes. Once you know supershoes work for you, you only need to use them in a couple of key sessions before your goal race.
On the other end of the spectrum, excessively frequent use of carbon-plated shoes may increase your injury risk. Anything that changes your running form can increase injury risk. One of the mechanisms through which carbon plated shoes make you run faster is by changing your biomechanics. As outlined in a 2019 study in Sports Medicine, part of the benefit of these shoes is how they change ankle and metatarsophalangeal joint action during running.
Ultimately, it comes down to your own individual injury risk profile. If you are prone to foot injuries or have risk factors for bone stress injuries, it is worth weighing that in a risk versus reward equation. If your risk factors for injury are low, then cautiously introduce the shoes and look out for any new aches or pains.
Some runners love the springy, energetic ride they get with carbon plated shoes. Because of how fast and comfortable the shoes are, they want to wear them every day. Some runners reach for supershoes regularly in hopes that they can train faster or reduce their recovery times.
As discussed above, using carbon plated shoes too frequently may increase the risk of injury. For that reason alone, it is more advisable to have carbon-plated shoes as one type in your rotation, rather than your only training shoe.
The cost is another factor. Carbon plated running shoes are not durable. A majority of models will last 200 miles or less. At the cost of $250 per pair or more, that’s a lot of money spent on shoes.
Additionally, since supershoes are a relatively new technology, we do not fully understand how they may play out long-term for training response. As Alex Hutchison discussed in a recent Sweat Science column, some pilot data indicates that training in supershoes may not improve your running economy as much as training in traditional speed shoes. It is nothing definitive – any claims require more research. However, it shows how little we know about the training impact of regular carbon plated running shoe use.
In short: save carbon plated shoes for a few key training sessions and races. Many carbon plated shoes have similar versions in a daily trainer within the same brand. You can get the carbon plated shoe for racing and a similarly spec-ed shoe for training.
Related: How Often Should You Replace Running Shoes?
Ultimately, the answer is up to you! If you respond well to them, you may decide that carbon plated shoes are worth the investment. But you do not need carbon plated shoes to run well. Running is already so expensive – there is no need to add in costly shoes unless you want to. Plenty of runners earn PRs, BQs, and age-group placement without carbon plated shoes.
Listen to the Tread Lightly podcast! If you enjoy an evidence-based approach to running, you’ll love this podcast where you can learn from two running coaches with over two decades of experienced combined. For more on how the shoes work and how to use them, listen to this episode of the Tread Lightly podcast.
