Persistent Improvements in Running Economy With Advanced Footwear Technology During Prolonged Running in Trained Male
Laura Lyngbæk Madsen1, Katrine Abel1, Anders Aagaard Hansen1
1Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|September 26, 2025
Summary
Carbon-plated shoes improve running economy and reduce exertion during prolonged runs compared to traditional shoes. However, the time course of these benefits did not differ between shoe types over the 80-minute duration.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Carbon-plated shoes are increasingly popular for distance running.
- Their impact on running economy and lactate threshold during prolonged exercise requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effects of carbon-plated shoes (CP-shoe) versus non-carbon plated shoes (NCP-shoe) on running economy (RE) and running speed at lactate threshold (LT).
- To assess these effects before, during, and after prolonged running (80 minutes).
Main Methods:
- Ten male distance runners completed graded treadmill tests to determine RE and LT-speed.
- Participants performed three 80-minute runs at matched workloads (external and internal) wearing either CP-shoes or NCP-shoes.
- Running economy, blood lactate, heart rate, and perceived exertion were measured throughout and after each run.
Main Results:
- At matched external workload, CP-shoes improved RE and reduced blood lactate, heart rate, and perceived exertion compared to NCP-shoes.
- CP-shoes also showed superior RE and lower heart rate at matched internal workload.
- No significant shoe × time interactions were observed during the 80-minute runs.
- Post-exercise, LT-speed and RE improved, with CP-shoes yielding higher LT speeds.
Conclusions:
- Carbon-plated shoes enhance running economy and reduce physiological strain during prolonged running compared to standard shoes.
- While CP-shoes offer immediate benefits, the time course of adaptation during the run itself was similar between shoe types.
- Post-exercise improvements in running performance were greater with CP-shoes.
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