#146 Designing the Kinvara Pro and Creating PWRRUN HG & Endorphin Elite with Saucony

In this episode, Nathan and Matt are joined by special guests Andrea Paulson and Cory Hoffman from Saucony, to discuss two of their newest and most exciting shoes: the Endorphin Elite and Kinvara Pro. Together, they explore the intricate process of developing and testing midsole foams. Get a behind the scenes look at the development of PWRRUN HG and the unique geometry of the Endorphin Elite.

Learn the origin story of the Kinvara Pro, a brand new dual-density, plated "super" trainer. They walk us through the extensive testing and development process that went into creating this shoe and learn who benefits most from its unique features. With the rise of super shoes and their impact on training, the conversation turns to the data surrounding their usage and how it shapes the way we approach our training.

Oh, and have you been itching to know the real meaning of "HG"? Tune in to find out! Get ready for an engaging, informative, and thought-provoking discussion on running shoe technology and the future of footwear in the running world. 

Andrea Paulson is the Vice President of Product Engineering & Human Performance at Saucony. She leads different, yet connected, divisions that work on every aspect of shoe design, construction and future innovations, as well as biomechanical testing, gathering performance & personal preference data. 

Cory Hofmann is a Performance Engineer at Saucony research laboratory, testing almost every aspect of their shoe: fit, durability, mechanical properties, etc. Cory specializes in testing and measuring running shoe performance, focusing on biomechanics and physiology.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 7:40 - How midsole foams are developed & tested
• 18:22 - How are PWRRUN HG and PWRRUN PB different?
• 21:42 - The developement of the Endorphin Elite's geometry
• 27:30 - Running economy testing for the Endorphin Elite
• 30:28 - Is Saucony heading towards ditching EVA/TPU foams?
• 33:41 - How durable is PWRRUN HG?
• 38:42 - What's next for PWRRUN HG?
• 45:40 - The origin story of the Kinvara Pro
• 53:30 - The testing & development of the Kinvara Pro
• 1:01:47 - Who does the Kinvara Pro benefit?
• 1:13:59 - How does this data impact the conversation about training in super shoes?
• 1:19:56 - How much should we train in plated shoes?
• 1:30:03 - What does HG stand for?
• 1:31:24 - Wrap-up

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