Running form assessment - What is the right race day shoe for me?
Goat vs New comer - Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%2 vs Adidas Adizero Adios Pro2
I have always wondered which is the best running shoe based on my physiology, running style and foot landing pattern. So it was a great opportunity to be invited by @itsmyphysioadrian at @therunningroom to gain some data driven insights to assess our running in competing brand running shoes.
The Running Room has a pimped up research grade treadmill with built in forceplates and synchronised cameras, which feeds back images, data which gives insight into your running with precision accuracy and detail.
Such insight enables focus on fixing elements such as over striking that can have a profound impact on not only injury/rehab, as well also your performance and running economy.
The CFR team took this unique opportunity to compare two of the most talked about carbon plated race shoes, the winningest, podium featured marathon shoe Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%2 against newcomer the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro2, which recently topped both the male & female podium in the Boston Marathon. Thanks to SportsShoes.com for providing us with Adidas Adizero Adios Pro2 shoes.
We all learnt something new ,which was different to what we felt comparing the two different shoes:-
Jerry compared his preferred Adidas Takumi Sen 8 to the Nike ZoomX Steakfly:-
1. I have learnt that I have some strength workouts to do so I can even out power from my left and right legs.
2. Adidas Tekumi Sen 8 and Nike Streakfly have no difference on performance when it comes to treadmill running. I felt TS8 was the more aggressive shoe but statistics showed a completely different story. I guess it’s all about what feels right for you when you run.
Arran compared the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%2 vs Adidas Adios Pro 2:-
1. I learnt that my hip alignment is pretty good. Those squats seem to be helping, and I no longer have lazy glutes!
2. I went into the clinic expecting the Adios Pro to be better for my form and pronation, due to the geometry of the back of the midsole. However, if anything it made me pronate and heel strike more. Whereas with my usual race shoe, the Vaporfly Next% 2, I pronated less and had a mid foot strike.
Similar to Arran, I felt that the Adios Pro2 was the more responsive, so much so that was my shoe of choice in my upcoming half marathon. The data pointed to the Nike Vaporfly being the more aggressive shoe for me.
As you can see from the pictures, Adrian was able to compare the same phase of the running motion for each shoe:-
Arran’s toe off - was not as pronounced, but again the Vaporfly was the more aggressive shoe for him but not that different.
Hafi mid-stance, here you can see I generate almost 17 degrees more knee flexion with the Vaporfly, but apart from that quite a lot of similarity between the shoes.
Jerry was pretty surprised to learn that he did display a degree of pronation and learnt that he has quite an upright posture.
You also get an incredibly detailed report, which we will not attempt to summarise. Here is an extract, where the shaded one is Hafi’s results in the Vaporfly, the non-shaded the Adios Pro2:-
So in summary, having a running assessment is very insightful, so you can see where there may be weaknesses in your running form that can be addressed. In terms of comparing the shoes, we were pretty surprised how close the two shoes that each of us compared were. One would be more beneficial under one parameter and the other better in the another. So while there maybe no clear winner for each individual, having the added insight helps you decide what shoe is right for you and what areas you may need to address with strength & conditioning or may need a physio to help.
Photos @arran.mcaskill & @jerry_sun
