Doctors of Running Podcast

Nate, DJ, and Matt take a look at all the current trends in shoe midsole designs. Do new generation foams really help performance? Are softer shoes better? Do rockers, guidance lines, and higher stack shoes make a difference? What about plates: how much do they improve running economy? Join us for a look at these questions and more. This week's episode is sponsored by Running Warehouse! Memorial Day is coming up, which means lots of deals on your favorite running shoes over the past year is coming up. There's some great shoes you'll want to keep an eye on that we've loved including the Hoka Carbon X2, Saucony Ride 14, and Asics Magic Speed. Spring is also in full gear with some big releases out now including the Nike React Infinity 3, Asics Cumulus 24 with their new Flytefoam Blast Midsole, and the Saucony Axon 2. Additionally, there's a big Brooks Bra sale for 35% off starting mid-May for runners looking to stock up and get ready for the summer. Running Warehouse has been a longtime favorite of ours for their fantastic variety and excellent customer service. Check them out! The Subjective: What's your current favorite midsole foam? Chapters 0:00 - Intro 1:48 - The Subjective: What's your current favorite midsole foam? 13:40 - Trends in misoles foams 25:23 - Trends in midsole geometries 35:24 - Dovetail heels 39:05 - Guidance lines 43:07 - Midsole cutouts 53:29 - Trends in shoe stack height 1:02:53 - Trends in midsole drop ratio 1:05:21 - Trends in midsole plates 1:15:41 - Future trends 1:24:19 - Wrap-up

Nate, DJ, and Matt are joined today by a very special guest, Dr. Matt Trudeau of Brooks Running. Matt gives us insights into shoe research and development at Brooks. He also explains Brooks' unique take on stability, support, and how to find the right shoe for your unique running style. Dr. Matt Trudeau is originally from Montréal, QC, Canada. His background is in mechanical engineering: he completed his Bachelor’s degree at Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS, Canada), and his Master’s degree at University of Sherbrooke (Sherbrooke, QC, Canada) where he studied the role of fascia in poly-articular biomechanics. He then completed a doctoral degree in Ergonomics and Human Factors at Harvard University. He then went on to do a Postdoc with Benno Nigg at the University of Calgary. He now leads the Brooks Future Concepts Team at Brooks, where he’s been for the last 7 years. Matt is also the industry representative on the board of the Footwear Biomechanics Group. The Subjective: How long does it take you to know whether a shoe's going to work for you? Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 1:46 - The Subjective: How long does it take you to know whether a shoe's going to work for you? 2:56: - Matt Trudeau's background 13:01 - Brooks' research methods 21:13 - Examining your own biomechanics when choosing shoes 23:52 - Pronation vs deviation and the need for support 27:12 - Brooks GuideRails & support features 36:53 - The science behind drop ratio 46:51 - Using the comfort filter to find shoes for you 53:49 - Researching the link between shoes and injury reduction 58:25 - Support in trail shoes 1:08:27 - Research and innovation at Brooks 1:12:43 - Wrap up

Matt & David take a deep dive into trail shoes today. They take a look at different types of trail shoe offerings (hybrid, racing, technical, etc.), different types of terrain, and more. They also explore stability & support features in trail shoes. Finally, they review the Hoka Speedgoat 5. The Subjective Do you use trail shoes? Why or why not? When do you strap on your trail shoes? This week's episode is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse! Spring has sprung, which means a lot of new releases we've reviewed and loved have finally arrived, including the Hoka Carbon X3 and soon -to-be-released Asics Cumulus 24. The Cumulus, featuring their new Flytefoam Blast midsole, was a huge surprise for us and an early favorite trainer for 2022. Spring also means shorts season! Running Warehouse has you covered with a host of new offerings along with a few of our favorites like Chief Editor Matt Klein's all-time favorite, the BOA 1' split short (link below!). Head over to runningwarehouse.com to check it all out! Matt's Favorite Shorts from BOA Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 2:40 - The Subjective: Do you use trail shoes? 7:09 - What makes a trail shoe a trail shoe 17:53 - Components of technical trail shoes 21:50 - Terrain that necessitates trail shoes 30:30 - The function of plates in trail shoes 35:04 - Stability in trail shoes 41:35 - Hoka Speedgoat 5 Review 56:13 - Final thoughts

In the second of a two part podcast, Nate & Matt discuss the makeup of shoe foams with physiologist and researcher Dr. Geoff Burns. Dr. Burns takes us on a deep dive into the history, properties, and durability of common running shoe midole foams. Ever wondered what the difference between EVA, TPU, and PEBA is? Dr. Burns has the answers. Dr. Geoff Burns is a physiologist and engineer with an expertise in running. He works for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee as a Sport Physiologist, and he conducts academic research with the University of Michigan. His work has focused on running biomechanics and performance. Geoff is a runner himself and competes internationally in ultramarathons. He was the 2016 USA national champion in the 100km and has finished 5th at the 100km World Championships, twice, in 2016 and 2018.  Chapters 0:00 - Intro 1:18 - The history of EVA and its properties 6:21 - TPU: a new foam on the scene 13:00 - PEBA: a revolutionary foam 20:24 - The confusing state of foams & marketing 24:14 - Supercritical foams 31:24 - Defining foam resilience & longevity 35:40 - Lab testing midsole foams 45:16 - Assessing foam durability 53:46 - Foam thermosensitivity 1:00:31 - Wrap-up

In the first of a two part podcast, Nate & Matt discuss shoe foams and biomechanics with physiologist and researcher Dr. Geoff Burns. In this first part, Geoff educates us about the effects of different shoe properties on our biomechanics. He also explains how biomechanics change while running at different paces.  Dr. Geoff Burns is a physiologist and engineer with an expertise in running. He works for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee as a Sport Physiologist, and he conducts academic research with the University of Michigan. His work has focused on running biomechanics and performance. Geoff is a runner himself and competes internationally in ultramarathons. He was the 2016 USA national champion in the 100km and has finished 5th at the 100km World Championships, twice, in 2016 and 2018.  The Subjective: What's the hardest race you've ever run, and what did you learn from it? Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 1:42 - The Subjective: What's the hardest race you've ever run? 20:00 - Geoff Burns's background and research 32:36 - The effects of shoes on biomechanics 43:43 - The effect of running speed on biomechanics and our experience of shoes 50:56 - Wrap-up

Today Doctors of Running contributors Andrea Myers and Megan Flynn host two very special guests, Selene Yeager and Jennifer O’Donnell-Giles MS RD CSSD. They discuss a broad range of topics surrounding women's health & training–nutrition, hydration, the menstrual cycle, strength training, and more. Jennifer O’Donnell-Giles MS RD CSSD, a registered dietitian/nutritionist, is a board certified specialist in sports dietetics. The mission of her private practice for the past 24 years is to educate, motivate and inspire athletes to use food as a tool to become the fastest, strongest and best athlete they can be. Learn more about Jennifer at her website: https://www.jenngilesrd.com Selene Yeager is a certified personal trainer, USA Cycling certified coach, pro mountain bike racer, and All-American Ironman triathlete. She's also a top-selling professional health and fitness writer and has authored, co-authored, and contributed to more than two dozen book titles. Check out Selene's website at www.seleneyeager.com The Subjective: Do you use nutrition or hydration supplements before/during/after exercise? If so, which ones? Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 2:08 - Interview: Selene Yeager & Jennifer Giles 3:55 - General macronutrient needs for endurance athletes 7:41 - Specific risks for women while training fasted 13:02 - Recommendations for protein supplements 17:20 - Nutritional strategies for maintaining bone health 23:38 - The connection between the menstrual cycle, health & training 29:04 - Hydrating well before, during, and after exercise 38:38 - Artificial sweeteners and gut health 41:47 - Preworkout hydration drinks 44:00 - Strength training for women 47:33 - Balancing aerobic & anaerobic training 49:27 - Recovering well: nutrition, ice baths, and more 1:03:50 - Improving sleep quality 1:10:33 - Closing questions

At the roundtable today, Nate, Matt, and DJ discuss the three questions they're asked most often as shoe reviewers and physical therapists: How does X shoe fit and is it responsive? How stable is X shoe?, and what shoe would you recommend for a certain condition or pain? Also, they take an in-depth look at Asics's latest update to the Cumulus series, now featuring Flytefoam Blast. *This episode is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse! Right now they are having a Spring Savings event at www.runningwarehouse.com, featuring Hoka, Nike, and one of our favorite shoes of the past year: the Kinvara 12. Also this week, the new Hoka Speedgoat 5 and much talked about On Cloudmonser have arrived! We absolutely loved testing the Speedgoat 5 recently. Anyone looking to do long miles on the trail will find much to love. The Subjective: What's your favorite long run shoe? Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 1:18 - DOR Giving: Alzheimer's Association 5:46 - The Subjective: What's your favorite long run shoe? 14:03 - Asics Cumulus 24 Review 40:38 - The three questions we get asked the most as shoe reviewers 42:15 - How does this shoe fit? And is it responsive? 46:30 - How stable is X shoe? 58:34 - What's the best shoe for a certain pain or condition? 1:06:37 - Wrap up Our Favorite Running Warehouse Picks Right Now: Naked Belt - DJ's favorite way to carry all his gels and phone during the run Ciele Hat - Nathan's favorite running hat of all time Coffee Flavored Skratch Labs - Matt's favorite way to recovery post run and get a morning jolt Janji Mercury Track Pants - Social Media Manager Bach's absolute favorite cool weather pants. Soft, durable, and well-fitting with great zip pockets.

At the roundtable today Nate and Matt are joined for the first time by Doctors of Running Contributor, Megan Flynn to answer a variety of listener questions. How does body weight change the impact of super shoes, especially for women? What is Morton's neuroma and what should you look for in shoes to help you deal with it? How do stability shoes impact conditions like genu varum? Join us for answers to these questions and more. The Subjective: What motivates you to keep running? Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 3:58 - Meet DOR Contributor Megan Flynn 12:58 - The Subjective: what motivates you to keep running? 22:16 - What shoes might be good if you have Morton's neuroma? 39:22 - What shoe characteristics influence knee problems? 48:34 - Do mild stability shoes impact genu varum? 54:28 - Does a runner's weight impact their ability to maximize the benefit of supershoes, especially for women? 1:01:16 - Wrap-up

In a very special episode, Matt interviews Laurent Malisoux, PhD about his extensive research into the connection between shoe cushioning and injury rates. Dr. Malisoux is the Group Leader of the Physical Activity, Sport and Health (PASH) research group at the Luxembourg Institute of Health. Over the last 5 years, he focused his research activities on the prevention of sports injury and the evaluation of physical activity. Matt and Dr. Malisoux explore the differences between hard and soft shoes, research methods, injury risk, and more. The Subjective: If you could have anyone on the podcast as a guest, who would it be?  Chapters 00:00 - Giveaway winner 00:57 - Introduction 2:25 - Interview: Matt with Dr. Laurent Malisoux 10:43 - Shoe Cushioning Defined 17:15 - Is there a connection between impact force and injury risk 25:21 - The influence of different levels of shoe cushioning on biomechanics 28:03 - The relationship between body mass and injury risk 41:33 - What does research say about shoes effecting injury rates? 50:59 - In what population does shoe cushioning impact injury rates, and how do we apply that? 1:00:29 - Closing questions 1:02:39 - Interview wrap-up with Matt & Nate

Today at the roundtable Nate, DJ, and Matt discuss how a shoe should fit. How do you asses whether a shoe fits you well? What should you look for when shopping for running shoes? What are the consequences of poor fit? They also take an in-depth look at Saucony's latest update of the Freedom 5 featuring the same PWRRUN PB midsole foam as their Endorphin line. They also review Saucony's updates to the Axon: a max-stack, rockered, budget-friendly trainer. *This episode was sponsored by Running Warehouse. Check out the latest Spring Savings deals at www.runningwarehouse.com GIVEAWAY: $50 Running Warehouse Gift Card (US Eligible Only) To Enter 1. Review this podcast and send a screen shot of your review to doctorsofrunningpodcast@gmail.com 2. Subscribe to our YouTube channel (Doctors of Running) and comment your answer to "The Subjective" (video will be posted on 3/11/22) *One entry per method (max of two entries per person). Winner will be contacted on 3/13/22. Our favorites at RW right now: David's Naked Belt: https://www.runningwarehouse.com/SearchResults/?from=docrun&searchtext=Naked%20belt&opt_perpage=20&opt_sort=relevance&opt_page=1 Nathan's Ciele Hat: https://www.runningwarehouse.com/Ciele_ALZCap_SC_565cm_-_Century_Small_Logo/descpage-CALZLPI015.html?from=docrun Matt's Skratch: https://www.runningwarehouse.com/Skratch_Sport_Recovery_Mix_12-Serv/descpage-SKSRMXB.html?from=docrun The Subjective: What's the best-fitting running shoe you've ever had? Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 4:32 - The Subjective: What's the best fitting running shoe you've ever had? 8:32 - Saucony Freedom 5 Review 17:46 - Saucony Freedom 5 Uses & Comparisons 31:02 - Saucony Axon 2 Review 48:04 - How should a running shoe fit? 1:12:46 - Shoe recommendations for narrow & wide feet 1:15:34 - Outro