ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effects of a top‐tier carbon plated shoe with highly responsive foam (CP‐shoe) on changes in running economy (RE) and running speed at lactate threshold (LT) before, during, and after prolonged running. Ten male distance runners (half‐marathon time: 75 ± 3 min) completed a series of tests. Initially, two graded treadmill tests were undertaken in a well‐rested state while wearing either a CP‐shoe or non‐carbon plated shoe (NCP‐shoe) to determine RE and LT‐speed (LT CP and LT NCP ). On separate days, participants then performed three 80‐min runs in randomized order: twice at 95% LT NCP (14.7 ± 0.5 km·h −1 , once with each shoe) and once at 95% LT CP (15.2 ± 0.4 km·h −1 , CP‐shoe only). RE, blood lactate concentration (La − b ), heart rate (HR), and perceived exertion (Borg scale) were recorded throughout. Each 80‐min run was followed by a graded exercise test with assessment of RE and LT‐speed. At matched external workload (95% LT NCP ), the CP‐shoe improved RE and lowered La − b , HR, and Borg compared with the NCP‐shoe. At matched internal workload (95% LT specific to each shoe), the CP‐shoe again demonstrated superior RE and lower HR. However, the time course of changes during the 80‐min runs did not differ between shoes (i.e., no shoe × time interactions). Across all 80‐min runs, LT‐speed and RE improved postexercise, with the CP‐shoe yielding higher LT speeds than the NCP‐shoe (+0.5–0.6 km·h −1 ). In conclusion, the CP‐shoe enhanced RE and reduced perceived exertion and La − b compared with the normal running shoe during prolonged running, although the magnitude of changes over time was not different between shoes.
Madsen et al. (Fri,) studied this question.