[mikestew]

I find the current trend of springloaded shoes that incentivice people to have a terrible running gait absolutely disgusting.

Yeah, that is truly just, like, your opinion, man. “Terrible running gait”? I’m not even going to ask for any evidence because there isn’t any. What there is evidence for is faster times, faster recovery from races and hard workouts. There is further evidence that the shoes don’t work for everyone, some are “super responders” for whom the shoes work really well, others find benefit, and for others the shoes are a waste of money.

What’s disgusting is r/barefootrunning turning shoes (or lack thereof) into a religion when, like many religions, the evidence is minimal.

Signed, a guy with a lot of thin-soled shoes on the shelf, and two pair of Vaporflys.

[PowerElectronix]

The thick soles and their geometry are designed with heel stricking in mind, as it allows for a longer stride while not injuring your heel and not losing energy (that otherwise would be dissipated in the heel impact).

It is an unnatural, unhealthy way of running and it rewards the runner with the better gear instead of the one with bettertechnique and conditioning.