By: David Yang
In the spring, the University of Washington track team produced wonderful results having eight athletes complete the sub-four-minute mile challenge, in which challenges them to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. In June alone, four high school runners broke that challenge in the same race, and only 1,497 humans have ever broken the 4-minute mile. Even more world records were broken by professional athletes.
On a professional circuit, three world records were broken. A new world record in both women’s 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters were broken by Faith Kipyegon from Kenya. Lamecha Firma, another athlete from Ethiopia, set a new record in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Their newly improved shoes definitely help with the pace, and the ever-evolving breeds of super shoes are faster than our normal ones. The technology inside is called Wavelight technology, a pace-setting system using a set of LED lights on the inside of the shoes. The thick and bouncy kicks with a midsole plate that have revolutionized racing are giving higher rebound energy when a runner pushes off. Many sport scientists are advising that training in those specialized shoes can also benefit athletes during races. A physiologist and biomechanics expert with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee also said, “Because the shoes are new tools, so the more we run in them, the better we learn and adapt.” What’s more, scientist are saying that they can benefit recreational runners too.
“Since I’m going to be wearing super shoes in races, I want to get a good feel for them in training,” Flanagan, one of three U.S. women running the World Championships marathon in Budapest in August.
While humans advance in technology, the tools for athletes have changed. They have to wear the super shoes when going through training and races. The new shoes definitely have great assistance to the athlete’s pace.
Sources: