Mailbag! Stable Marathon Shoes? Does Drop Cause Shin Pain? Wide Toebox Shoe Recommendations? | DOR Podcast #217

 

Mailbag! Stable Marathon Shoes? Does Drop Cause Shin Pain? Wide Toebox Shoe Recommendations?
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 217

We love a mailbag episode, where we get to answer your questions! Matt & Andrea take on a bevvy of listener quandaries. Tune in for discussions about stable marathon racing shoes, the link between heel drop in shoes and shin splints, wide toebox shoes, and much more. We want to hear from you! DM us on Instagram or email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com.

ASICS Novablast 5 Review (2024)

ASICS Novablast 5 Review
By Andrea Myers and Matthew Klein

The most common themes we have been seeing on the running shoe scene is higher stack height, more cushioning, sometimes lower weights, but often higher prices. That has all changed with the Novablast 5. A new update featuring a new upper and completely new FF Blast Max midsole makes for a high stack height, performance trainer that drop a little weight but still maintains a solid $140 price tag. A shoe our entire team has pleasantly surprised by, the ASICS Novablast 5 returns smoother and more comfortable than ever before. 

Monday Shakeout: The Best Half-Marathon-to-Marathon Racing Shoes for Recreational and Mid Pack Runners (2024)

 

The Monday Shakeout: The Best Distance Racing Shoes for Recreational and Midpack Runners
By Matthew Klein

This week we talk about alternative racing options for midpack and recreational runners who may find that many super racing shoes are too aggressive or do not work for them. 

The Science of Running Nutrition: What You Didn't Know About Sweat and Performance | DOR Podcast #216

The Science of Running Nutrition: What You Didn't Know About Sweat and Performance
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 216

On this episode, Andrea is joined by a very special guest: Dr. Allen Lim, founder of Skratch Labs. Allen gives us a breakdown on everything nutrition and hydration for endurance athletes. How should you fuel before/during the run? How do you measure and apply your sweat rate to how you hydrate? What role does protein play in recovery? And much more!

Best Carbon Plated Running Shoes (2024)

Carbon Plated Running Shoes Resource Page

The current trend in racing shoes has been toward super foams and carbon fiber plates. Although plates have been used in the past, their popularity has surged. A new age of fast shoes has come about and now a variety of companies have released their products (some in small batches). For the first time (almost ever) there is an interest from the general public (and not just the competitive runners) in finding the fastest shoe to get them across the finish line. We at Doctors of Running thought it would be helpful to have a guide to all the current models to help you choose if and which one may be right for you.

On Cloudboom Strike Review (2024): Their Bounciest Super Shoe Yet

On Cloudboom Strike Review
By David, Salas, Nathan Brown and Andrea Myers

Due to some recent success from some of their major athletes, such as Helen Obiri, On Running has had a lot more eyes looking at their super shoes. On decided to continue pushing innovation towards a more unique super shoe offering in the Cloudboom Strike by creating what they call a bounce board in the sock liner. This creates a softer and more plush loading experience through toe off on the carbon plate. Was it a hit for the team? Find out below.   

A Guide to Running Shoe Terminology

A Guide to Running Shoe Terminology
By Matthew Klein

This week we have decided to define several terms that we use frequently but have begun to realize are not common language. As a group of clinicians and educators, our goal is to help people understand what they are putting on their feet or how they are training. This can include terms and jargon that we may take our understanding of for granted, so to help you along this journey of knowledge, we have laid out several below that we commonly use. This list will likely evolve and we may even move this to a more official page. For now, we hope this helps clarify our language!

Best Topo Athletic Running Shoes | Buyer's Guide (2024)

Topo Cyclone 2

Topo Athletic is a brand that's quietly grown since its inception in 2013. Known for their low drop, wider fitting footwear, they've garnered a following for their comfort. In recent years, they've also been expanding their line into the performance trainer forum, releasing some exciting new shoes that have elevated the brand into the future. With their focus on fit, natural running shoes to "move better," and newfound interest in competitive midsole foams, it's an exciting time to get to know Topo.

ASICS Gel-Kayano 31 Review (2024): Balanced, Guided Stability

ASICS Gel-Kayano 31 Review
By Matthew Klein

The Kayano experienced an extreme overhaul as it entered its third decade. Transitioning from a consistent traditional medially posted shoe, the new Kayano featured both stable neutral and geometrical stable elements combined with a unique resilient midfoot block meant to spring the arch into and out of pronation. The result was somewhat polarizing, but the Kayano series has maintained its popularity fitting into today's maximal world. Version 31 makes some subtle changes that refine the upper, increases the midfoot bounce and continues this trajectory as an enlightened premium stability shoe. 

Altra Escalante 4 Review (2024): Major Fit Change

Altra Escalante 4 Review
By Andrea Myers

The Altra Escalante 4 is the latest version of Altra's classic zero drop daily trainer. The Escalante has always been known for its wide toe box, high volume upper, flexible sole, and natural feeling ride. Altra says that v4 is a nod to the popular Escalante 1.5, with a new footbed and the same Altra EGO midsole foam as its predecessors. With a 24mm stack height, zero drop, and flexible midsole, the Escalante 4 scores high on the Minimalist Index and is a welcome antidote to the maximalist trends of 2024. As an longtime Escalante fan myself, I was excited to test v4 and see how it compared to previous versions.

Thule Urban Glide 3 Stroller Review after 1200 Miles (2024)

Thule Urban Glide 3 Review after 1200 Miles: For Fast Road Running Families
By Chief Editor Matt Klein 

My daughter is 14 months old as I write this and 95% of my running in the last 10 months has been with her. I have done every type of workout possible, a race, all types of terrain and accumulated over 3000 stroller miles. The last several months of running has been primarily in the Thule Urban Glide 3, the update to the popular Urban Glide series. While the Guava Roam I tested was excellent for training runs and trails, the Urban Glide 3 has been the fast road stroller that not only helped me push workouts harder but also was my stroller of choice for what ended up being a sub 17 stroller 5k. After over 1200 miles of testing, the Urban Glide 3 is akin to a road super shoe. It is the light, fast, smooth stroller that can easily handle pace changes, racing and longer efforts as long as you stick to road. The difference from a super shoe is that you can use this all the time as it also works well for walking and daily use. The Thule Urban Glide 3 provides a unique ride compared to the Guava Roam and the Bob series of strollers as the fastest of the group. How it measures up in other areas is also worth talking about. 

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 Review (2024): A Big Improvement

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 Review
By Matthew Klein 

When updating the best-selling stability shoe on the market, one must be careful. The Adrenaline series sits alongside the GT, Structure and Inspire as long stand stability models that have continued on through multiple generations of runners. It is part of a group of shoes that if you mention, most runners will know you are talking about a stability shoe. While fairly consistent for the last several generations, the Adrenaline GTS 24 experiences a massive overall that takes stability and gives it a new-age look and feel while retaining the characteristics that make it an Adrenaline. While long time Adrenaline users should not worry, the shoe does change for the better. Improved transitions, fit and ride all add to the list of things that needed to happen and finally have (for the most part) here with the GTS 24. 

Which to Choose? Breaking Down ASICS 2024 Running Shoe Lineup | DOR Podcast #215

Which to Choose? Breaking Down ASICS 2024 Running Shoe Lineup
Doctors of Running Podcast, Episode 215

This episode is about all things ASICS! ASICS has come out with steady stream of stellar updates this year with the Metaspeed Paris series, Superblast 2, Novablast 4, and many more. Matt & David break down the ASICS lineup to help you choose your next ASICS daily trainer, performance trainer, and racing shoe. We want to hear from you! What's been your favorite ASICS shoe of 2024? Leave a comment on Spotify or email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com.

adidas adizero Adios Pro 4 Review (2024)

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Review
By Matthew Klein

The Adidas Adios Pro 3 was unique because it was one of the first super shoes I realized could be a viable option for the recreational runner. Most super shoes are incredibly aggressive, unstable, fast tools that made me doubt their usefulness for slower runners. Additional research showing minimal benefits to offset the potential risks further made me doubt that a super shoe could be used effectively at slower speeds until the Adios Pro 3 and eventually the New Balance SC Elite v3. It was the people's super shoe, meaning it wasn't the fastest shoe but was stable, comfortable and could handle a wide variety of paces. Adidas, with the release of the aggressive Pro Evo 1 that has inspired the Adios Pro 4, has now gone the other direction. While the Adios Pro 3 was not the fastest shoe, the Adios Pro 4 returns as an aggressive, competitive super shoe for faster running. Dropping a large amount of weight through a brand new upper, adding a new incredibly resilient Lightstrike Pro midsole and redesigning the geometry to be faster an more aggressive, the Adios Pro 4 steps back on the stage as a specific tool for those wanting to go fast.

Beginner's Guide to Running Shoes (Best Running Shoes for New Runners 2024)

The Best Running Shoes for Beginners: In-depth Guide to Choosing Your First Running Shoe
By the Doctors of Running Editorial Team

At Doctors of Running, we frequently get questions from new runners or those who are interested in starting running about footwear. There are so many companies and shoes that looking for a place to start can be overwhelming. Additionally, the amount of marketing jargon and advertising that is immediately thrown at any new runners can either lead to decision paralysis or choosing an inappropriate shoe that causes the person to end up in one of our offices.

The Best Stable Neutral Running Shoes (2024)

When we put together our Guide to Stability, we also helped define a segment of running shoes that we felt existed, but wasn't amplified. We ended up coining the term "stable neutral" to help put a name to the trend. Stable neutral shoes have steadily become a growing part of the industry in recent years. Especially as maximal cushioning as gone from a corner of running to the norm, companies have been working to balance these tall stack heights with a variety of design features to create stable platforms. In this feature, we further define stable neutral shoes and offer our current favorites in the market today.