Improved running economy with Nike Vaporfly!

This article looks at the Nike Vaporfly 4% and the effects on running performance

What’s the deal?

Running shoes are constantly evolving, promising faster times and better running economy. After immense success, the Nike Vaporfly 4% (or a similar version) is now worn by most marathon runners, but what is the science behind its success?

What did they do?

19 participants were recruited to test 3 running shoes: the Nike Vaporfly 4%, the Nike Zoom Streak and the Adidas Adios Boost. Participants ran on a treadmill at a fixed speed, whilst running economy (oxygen consumption) and running mechanics (stride pattern) were analysed.

What happened?

Running economy was best in the Nike Vaporfly shoes, with oxygen consumption 2.8% less than the Adidas shoes and 1.9% less than the Nike Zoom Streak shoes. Stride length was also increased in the Nike Vaporfly compared to the other shoes.

What can you tell me about the people?

All participants were male, with an average age of 23. They were elite level runners, capable of completing a 10 km in under 32 minutes!

What else should I know?

Two trials were performed for each pair of shoes. Participants were running at moderate pace of 4.44 metres/second for a total of 5 minutes. A lower oxygen consumption (at a fixed speed) indicates better running economy. Nike’s latest line of running shoes have featured in the first sub 2-hour marathon and around half of top 3 finishes at global marathons.

What will I do differently?

I want to run faster; this is the reason behind AbstractAthlete. Much like with the invention of track spikes for sprinting, technology makes us run faster. However, technology is expensive and sometimes exclusive. At what point does technology become unfair? I personally think it is at the point when “ability to pay” becomes more important that “ability to play”. But I want to run faster, so I might start saving for a pair!

Acknowledgements

This research was published in October 2019 by I Hunter and colleagues from Brigham Young University, UT, USA.

This article highlights our personal take on their research, but there is so much more information available! Check it out here and see what you think!