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I feel like the running community would shun them, since it's technically an method of assistance. Besides, I bet for ultra-elite marathon runners, the bulk of
by snarkyturtle 12y ago
I feel like the running community would shun them, since it's technically an method of assistance.
Besides, I bet for ultra-elite marathon runners, the bulk of the shoe would outweigh the benefits it provides. You're talking about people who wear super-light minimalist shoes because it gives them an advantage.
- robotresearcher 12y agoThe claimed walking advantage is 7% even with the extra weight, which is a hell of a lot. They make no claim for running.
- Potando 12y agoThis is a paradox of runners and cyclists too. They use high-tech gear to make running easier - easier than a naked human can do it - but they refuse powered assistance. I don't understand why they make such a clear distinction between using gadgets to save power and using gadgets to provide more power. If it's about natural un-assisted ability, they shouldn't wear shoes either.
- Someone 12y agoDepends on a lot of factors, including whether the public would like it (would they applaud the higher speeds or find it cheating?) There already is a lot of assistance in athletics, not even limited to footwear. For example, running tracks have 9 lanes nowadays, even though only 8 people start in sprinting events. Reason? The innermost lane is softer, for middle and long distance runners; the other 8 are harder for the shorter distances. On the other hand, it always surprises me that, in athletics, competitors wear numbers tied to their shirts with safety pins. Especially in the 100m and 200m, the one on the back of the runner must cause significant drag.