By: Eric Xu

Supershoes are the newest technology: they help improve running speed, and can greatly change the sport all together. Although some argue against them and want restrictions, many believe shoes need to adapt to the sport. Even if this shoe may have some racing benefits, many wonder if it should also be used for training.

Super shoes typically have carbon plates that help people run more efficiently. “As Americans strive to enhance their running performance at the gym, on the track, or in competitions, ‘super shoes’ are gaining more and more attention.” (Arrais Composites, 2023) Super shoes have a massive effect on runners, and most elite runners use these on race day. This is shown in how world records for running are being broken by large margins. In Paris, this June, “… three world records were shattered within a week .”(Cnn, 2023) These shoes obviously are useful, but many wonder if they are meant for training too.

Training with super shoes has multiple benefits: it helps preserve leg muscles. This is proven in an experiment conducted by Dr. Brown, which states,“super shoes tend to reduce the loading on lower leg structures…”(Runners World, 2023) This can help reduce the strain on the leg while training, and reduce the risk of damaging it during training. During training, they can run more efficiently and get more running done in a shorter amount of time. Also, people can get familiar with this shoe, and use it more effectively in a race. Even though super shoes have many benefits, they can also come with a few downsides.

Using traditional shoes can help people work harder. Even though they do not run as much as they could with super shoes, they will use more effort, and thus get better faster. Also, not everyone has access to these. Super shoes are extremely expensive, and on Amazon, most effective super shoes cost over a hundred dollars. (Amazon.com, 2023) Also, these shoes are not proven to be good for our bones. A researcher named Saxena conducted a study on how the shoe affects human bones, and concluded that, “The shoes can put atypical stresses on the bones and soft-tissue structures.” (New York Times, 2023)

These super shoes have benefits and downsides when used for training. Nothing is certain, though, because this technology is still considered new. Until more research is done, and more experiments are conducted, there is no way of knowing if super shoes are better than traditional running shoes in practice.