Are Super Trainers Worth It? | DOR Podcast #116

 

DOR Podcast #116: Are Super Trainers Worth It? And a Review of the Asics Superblast, with Comparisons

"Super trainers" are the latest trend in shoe design: a next-generation foam, a midsole height of over 40mm, and a stiff rocker (with or without a plate). These new shoes can be a ton of fun to run in with huge amounts of cushioning and energy return. However, they come with hefty price tags and unknown effects on running biomechanics. Matt & David explore this new category of shoes, specifically reviewing the new ASICS Superblast and comparing it to other offerings like the New Balance SC Trainer and Adidas Prime X. Wondering if these super trainers are for you? Have a listen!

Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 RUNSHIELD Review

Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 RUNSHIELD Review: Tackle the Rain Day
By David Salas and Andrea Myers

Winter is upon us and Saucony is bringing the warmth. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 takes all of the DNA from the normal Speed 3 and brings a warmer package. The Runshield upper is water-resistant (not waterproof) and meant to keep your feet warm when running through snow, rain, and cold mornings. This brought some minor changes to fit and lockdown but those that enjoyed the Speed 3 will also enjoy the Speed 3 Runshield edition. 

New Balance Fresh Foam 860v13 Review (2022)

 

New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v13: A Lot of Big Changes
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein

The concept of how stability is executed in footwear has evolved greatly over these past few years. Many major companies have taken to dramatically updating their stability models, many of whom were lagging behind in development. The 860v13 is one of the models that has seen a drastic update. The sole, upper, and stability method are updated completely. Like many of their other performance shoes, New Balance is showcasing some forward-thinking on stability with the changes to the 860v13. They have successfully integrated both older and newer methods into this shoe, creating a balanced ride that provides both guidance and stability.

Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 Review (2022)

 

Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3: Old Reliable
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein

Many running shoes today are pushing extremes. Extremely tall stack heights, aggressive designs, stiff rides, excessively heavy or light weights, etc. Moderation is not as common and is certainly not done as well. The Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 manages to break the mold and takes moderation to a high level. A taller stack height is now present, although not the tallest. A moderate weight is present at 10.2 oz, along with well-balanced cushioning and flexibility. All this with a wider/anatomic fit makes for a consistent trail shoe for moderate terrain. Moderation is something you can rely on, just like the Topo Ultraventure 3.

Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2 Review (2022)

 

Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2: The DOR Favorite Returns
By Andrea Myers, Bach Pham, and Matt Klein

2022 has been a quiet year for Reebok, but an important one in regards to their sustainability goals as they shift each model more and more towards sustainable materials. The much anticipated (at least by us) Symmetros 2 features a partially recycled upper that adds a good amount of comfort and security to the shoe. The Symmetros in general was a huge favorite of DOR in 2022, providing an excellent bevel we couldn't stop talking about and a comfortable sole. The shoe outside of the upper returns relatively untouched, which may be to the delight of the Symmetros super fans we've met over the past two years who have also gotten to enjoy the well-designed ride.

Recovery Strategies to Get You Back to Running After an Injury | DOR Podcast #115

 

 

DOR Podcast #115: Recovery Strategies to Get You Back to Running After an Injury

Running, especially training and racing hard, introduces large amounts of load & stress on your muscles and bodily systems. There are times that altering or reducing your training load can be critical to preventing serious injury. This is especially the case when recovering after a goal race (specifically the marathon), fighting off the beginning pain or niggles, or when returning from an injury. Nathan and Matt explore different strategies to help you recover from big races and keep your training consistent even in the midst of occasional pain. They share tips for water running and take a look at the AlterG and Lever Pro treadmill systems which actually reduce the force of gravity on your body while running. For a deeper look at these three options, be sure to read the in-depth article on our website.

ONEMIX Light Armor Review (2022)

ONEMIX Light Armor Review: Value Plated Racer
By David Salas

Many companies are coming along with their carbon-plated racing shoes. Some are aiming to go as light and fast as possible while some others are looking at the shoe design from a more nuanced approach. Onemix is bringing the Light Armor to the table with the goal of having a marathon racing trainer. This is essentially a shoe you can use as a training shoe and also use for race day if you choose. It is a little bit heavier than some of the other racing shoes, but still light and fast enough to turn over. 

Adidas SP0054 Sunglasses Review

 

Adidas SP0054 Sunglasses Review: Ready for Anything
By David Salas and Andrea Myers

Running accessories have always been a major player in race day choices from athletes. Some are more minimal where others like to have more accessories with them. Like shoes accessories, glasses have come a long way and have also undergone certain levels of innovation over time. Adidas and other companies have continued to try and push performance by focusing on little details and providing sleek and fast accessories. The SP0054 is one of the performance glasses on the Adidas lineup. 

How to Pick the BEST Running Shoe for Your Race Day | DOR Podcast #114

 

DOR Podcast #114: How to Pick the BEST Running Shoe for Your Race Day

You've got your race booked, so now comes the tough decision: what shoe do you wear on race day? With all the super shoes out there now, it can be a challenge to decide which one will be best for you when you toe the starting line. Two of the most important factors are race distance and course. What types of shoes are best for 5K/10K versus half marathon and marathon? What about hills, tight turns, and mixed terrain? Nathan, David, and BJ discuss their experiences with different shoes (both super and "normal") on race day over a variety of different distances, courses, and speeds. They also weigh the impact running economy benefits should have on our shoe decisions. Be sure to check out our friend Dustin Joubert's excellent work testing the running economy benefits of a variety of shoes on his website or on Instagram @labratrundown.

Adidas Adistar CS Review (2022)

 

Adidas Adistar CS: Max Cushion, Max Stability
By Matthew Klein

As running shoes continue to increase in stack heights (sole height), some are getting lighter while others are staying surprisingly heavy. Most of these maximalist shoes are inherently stable thanks to the wider shapes, stiffer soles and rockered geometries. Despite the slow improvements in inherent stability across most footwear (but not all), there have been a decrease in the number of true stability shoes. This is particularly true from brands like Nike and Adidas, where true stability shoes have almost completely disappeared (the Nike Structure is a "Stable Neutral" shoe now technically). The Adidas Adistar CS was a surprise to see from Adidas, given the Adistar was already inherently stable. Those faithful to this brand now have something to rejoice as the CS is a true stability shoe combining new-age concepts of stability with a maximalist design. 

Saucony Ride 15 TR Review (2022)

 

Saucony Ride 15 TR: All Terrain Gem
By David Salas and Andrea Myers

Many people find themselves in interesting situations when it comes to grabbing a pair of shoes. A lot of people find that they like the ride of many traditional daily trainers, but find trail shoes to be a little too aggressive on design. When in need for a shoe to blaze trails it puts them in a weird spot. Saucony fills this void by providing the fan favorite Ride 15 with a few trail specific updates to provide a balanced ride on the trails. 

ASICS SuperBlast Review (2022)

 

ASICS Superblast Review: 45.5mm!
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein

While super racing shoes have been around for several years, the concept of a "super trainer" is still fairly new. These shoes are defined by new-age foams, stiffening agents, and their outlandish stack heights deemed illegal for racing. While New Balance (SC Trainer) and Adidas (Prime X) have had their super trainers out for some time, ASICS has entered the ring with the ASICS Superblast. This shoe runs firmer than the SC Trainer and Prime X, sits in between them in regards to price, shares the ability to pick up the pace like the Prime X and the solid training ability of the Supercomp. Coming in as the lightest of these super trainers at 239g, the Superblast manages to balance training, workouts, and is a blast to run in.

The Truth about Shin Splints | DOR Podcast #113

 

DOR Podcast #113: The Truth about Shin Splints

Shin splints is one of the most common running injuries, but also one of the most commonly misunderstood. When people report having shin splints, the cause of the pain could be any number of things. Today on the podcast, Nate, Matt, and David discuss the truth behind shin splints. That lower leg pain could possibly be a stress fracture, medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), or something else entirely. They discuss ways to understand symptoms & causes of shin pain, as well as tips for rehab and strengthening.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature Review (2022)

Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature Review: Can Sustainable Materials Re-Imagine a Fan Favorite?
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein

Peg Turbo fans: this is a totally different shoe. The original Nike Pegasus Turbo series was the first moderate stack, super foamed trainer. Featuring a full-length slab of ZoomX, it was the first shoe outside of the Vaporfly to feature this foam (before the Alphafly). It was fantastic in that it was light enough for workouts and even racing for some (that did not want a plate) yet had the durability and cushioning to handle daily training. It was quietly discontinued several years ago and many wondered if there would ever be a Pegasus Turbo 3. The Pegasus Turbo Next Nature was then released to the excitement of many. The question you may be asking is: "Does the Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature appropriately step up as the third version of this series?" The answer is astoundingly "No." This is a completely different shoe. While the geometries may be somewhat similar, the upper, midsole, transition, and everything else about the Pegasus Turbo Next Nature is different. The new Natured version of the Turbo is a sustainable daily trainer for those who want to look good while getting miles in.

adidas Adizero Adios 7 Review (2022)

adidas Adizero Adios 7 Review: Speedy
By Senior Contributor David Salas and Contributor Megan Flynn

The Adidas Adios line traditionally has been the racing shoe in the 3 stripe lineup up until recently. Now with the addition of the Adizero Adios Pro series the Adios series has become more of a performance trainer or training companion. The Adios 7 continues the speedy trainer (and potential racer) line with a light weight responsive package. The firmer and snappier platform is combined with a nice bouncy Lightstrike Pro midsole in the midfoot and forefoot. 

Updated with Megan Flynn's review on November 4, 2022.

October 2022 Round-Up at Doctors of Running

 

What? It's November?? No way. This year has flown by in a hurry. October was as busy as every month this year, with a lot of interesting twists and turns for our team as we look towards the end of 2022. In this Round-Up, we go through a fun new release from Asics along with diving back at some of the big things going on at DOR over the last 30 days.

Ciele Athletics Performance Headwear Review

Ciele Athletics Performance Headwear Review
A Doctors of Running Team Editorial

Ciele, like Goodr with sunglasses or Tracksmith, Rabbit, and others in the apparel world, has become one of the first things runners think of when they think running performance hats. Over the years Ciele has grown into one of the industry's go-tos for quality headgear on the run. Their bright, varied designs help provide some seriously good styling, while soft materials and a large range of designs offer runners a wealth of choices. In this review, we check out some of the Ciele line to explore a few of the stylings offered by the brand to help make your buying decisions a little easier.

The Best New Balance Shoes of 2022 | DOR Podcast #112

 

DOR Podcast #112: The Best New Balance Shoes of 2022

New Balance has put out a ton of great shoes in 2022 so let Matt & Andrea take you through a round-up! They picked four of their favorites: the super-stack SC Trainer, More v4, Rebel v3, and the brand new SC Pacer. They break down what makes each shoe unique and how they've fit into their personal rotations. They also take a look at what New Balance has coming down the line later this year and into the next with SC Elite v3 and a redesigned 860v13.

Adidas Adizero Boston 11 Review (2022)

Adidas Adizero Boston 11: A Step Back or Forward?
By Founder/Chief Editor Matthew Klein and Ryan Flugaur

The Boston series has always been a favorite of those that wanted a shoe they could train in that was also fast enough to race in. The originals were almost as light as the Adios series but featured more forgiving cushioning. This made them a frequent choice among elite and sub-elite marathoners given their uniquely combined comfort and speed. All of that changed with version 10, which saw a complete overhaul of the series. Boost was replaced with Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro. Energy rods were placed along the length of the shoe for stiffness. The stack height maxed out, making for what many saw as a completely different shoe. The Boston 11 continues this with a redesigned upper but maintains the changes in the sole that divided many Adizero Boston fans.

Editor's Note: Updated with Contributor Ryan Flugaur's thoughts on 11/1/22.