Olympians in superspike shoes can break records

Each season of the Olympic Games sees many competitors (and facilities) using new technology to potentially improve performance and provide more tailored support for the athletes. And since 2016, an increasing number of runners are donning shoes with the features ‘super peaks”–advanced combinations of special foam and plates on soles that make shoes lighter, more resilient and more comfortable.

Experts and athletes alike have been debating for more than eight years whether or not these superspikes could provide unfair advantages to their wearers – especially when competitors from some countries don’t even have access to the technology. However, according to new findings, the answer seems quite definitive: superspikes can have a major effect on running times.

[Related: Paris Olympics’ purple track is made with crushed mussel and clam shells.]

This is evident from a study published this month in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and PerformanceResearchers from St. Edward’s University and the University of Michigan crunched the numbers for superspike shoe technology, traditional track spiked shoes and flat-soled running gear. After hiring nine male runners, the team asked them to attend two trial visits to randomly test the shoes during seven separate one-minute runs at 16 km (nearly 10 mph), with five minutes of rest between runs. On average, researchers determined that super peaks resulted in about a two percent increase in running economy, or how efficiently a body uses oxygen. This can ultimately translate into 1-1.5 percent better run times.

While these numbers may seem small at first glance, they can actually make a huge difference. For example, during a 10,000-meter race (the longest track run) of more than 30 minutes, a 2 percent increase in running expenditure would shave about 25 seconds off a runner’s finishing time. The current world records for 10,000 meters running? 28:54 for women and 26:11 for men.

“A 1.5 to 2.0 percent increase in the economy for an elite runner could be the difference between competing for a medal and not even qualifying for the (Olympic) Games,” said Geoff Burns, deputy assistant professor of kinesiology and sports physiologist at UM. American Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said an accompanying statement.

However, it may not all come down to super spikes. After comparing them to new-generation running shoes, Burns’ team measured similar running economies, even with their heavier weights. In this sense, the best type of shoe may depend on what simply works best for each individual athlete.

[Related: The surprising strategy behind running the fastest marathon.]

“Some athletes benefit more from cushioning than others, while some athletes benefit more from lower weight than others,” Burns added. “… [I]When athletes have a choice… they should choose what feels most comfortable.”

“Choice” is the important word here, and many aspiring runners dreaming of Olympic gold medals may still not have the money for superspike shoes. In this sense, equality and economics are important factors that we must continue to take into account in these situations.

“For … high school athletes and NCAA runners, this is still a profound difference that could open doors to competitions and opportunities they might not otherwise have,” Burns said.

The Athletics events 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are scheduled to begin on Thursday, August 1 with the men’s and women’s 20k Race Walk finals at 1:30 a.m. EST.