ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP16
INTRODUCTION: While trail running has seen the growing use of advanced footwear technologies (AFT), most scientific investigations have evaluated shoes in laboratory settings under non-fatigued conditions. This study compared the effect of two footwear foams on running economy and affective responses before and after a prolonged trail run, as well as their impact on performance. METHODS: Fourteen trained male trail runners completed two sessions with shoes allocated in a randomised and counterbalanced order. The two shoes tested differed in their foam proprieties with the AFT foam being softer, more compliant and resilient than the traditional foam. Each session involved a 90-minute trail run performed at a clamped rate of perceived exertion of 14/20. Running economy, affective valence and arousal were assessed pre- and post-prolonged run. Performance was assessed as the distance completed during the task. RESULTS: No differences in running economy or affective responses were observed between the two footwear conditions before and after the prolonged trail run. No difference independent of timing were identified for affective valence and running economy, although a tendency for higher pleasure was reported with the AFT foam (p=0.088). Similarly, no differences in distance covered were found between shoes conditions. However, exploratory analysis showed an interaction effect between speed and footwear across time, with better speed preservation from the first to the last loop with the AFT foam. Additionally, the prolonged trail run induced significant physiological (increased VO₂, HR, RER) and affective (lower valence, increased arousal) changes, reflecting fatigue-induced shifts in metabolic and affective states. CONCLUSION: Our finding suggests that affective state may be an important consideration when planning pacing or preparing for the psychological demands of long-distance events. Separately, although evidence for the physiological or performance benefits of AFT foam in trail running remains limited, the observed trend toward a more positive affective valence suggests that such footwear may enhance the subjective running experience. This highlights the potential value of considering affective responses when selecting footwear for prolonged trail run but also the importance of such metrics when developing trail running footwear.
Read CV Melissa MuzeauECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP16
INTRODUCTION: Advanced Footwear Technology (AFT) has gained strong scientific interest in recent years, reflecting its potential to enhance running economy and performance in long-distance running. Despite the substantial research output, relatively few studies have examined the effects of carbon-plated shoes in running trials longer than 10 minutes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Nike Alphafly 3 carbon-plated shoes on running economy during a 30-minute submaximal treadmill run. METHODS: Thirty elite long-distance runners (14 females and 16 males) performed two identical 30-minute submaximal runs in conventional running footwear and Nike Alphafly 3 carbon-plated shoes. The runs were separated by a two-week interval, with the carbon-plated shoe trial always performed first. Running physiology was measured continuously throughout the trial. Running kinematics were recorded every fifth minute for 5 minutes during the trial using the OptoJump Next system (Microgate, Italy) and the BTS G-WALK sensor (BTS Bioengineering, Italy). Blood lactate concentration was measured every 10 minutes, and subjective perceived exertion was assessed immediately following each lactate measurement using a modified Borg CR-10 scale. RESULTS: Running in carbon-plated shoes resulted in significantly lower blood lactate levels, with a tendency for further decline during the second half of the trial. Reduced heart rate values were also observed, with some participants demonstrating decreases greater than 10 beats/min compared with conventional running footwear. All participants reported lower perceived exertion ratings when wearing the Nike Alphafly 3; however, comfort ratings varied, particularly among rearfoot strikers or runners unfamiliar with the specific shoe model. Running kinematic analysis revealed increased step length, contact time and vertical oscillation values when running in carbon-plated shoe model. CONCLUSION: AFT demonstrates clear physiological advantages over conventional running footwear during a submaximal 30-minute run. Improvements tend to become more pronounced as running duration increases. The observed benefits are primarily associated with the shoe-induced changes in running kinematics (increased step length and prolonged contact time) and the runner's ability to effectively adapt to them. Rearfoot strikers and runners not familiar with particular shoe conditions seem to benefit less than well-adapted midfoot and forefoot strikers. The observed increase in vertical oscillation values highlights a critical and recently discussed aspect of the potential long-term effects of AFT on the musculoskeletal system and injury risk, particularly in runners with reduced lower-extremity muscle strength or excessive pronation.
Read CV Daido Dagne BrūvereECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP16
INTRODUCTION: Three key physiological determinants have been used to explain endurance performance: maximal oxygen uptake (V．O2max), running speed at lactate threshold, and running economy (RE). Recently, physiological resilience or durability has been suggested as an additional key physiological determinant of endurance performance [1]. Advanced footwear technology (AFT) improves running economy during fresh state (~5-6 minutes of running) compared to traditional racing flats [2], while the effect of AFT on physiological resilience or durability during prolonged running remains unclear. Previous studies demonstrated that running shoes with AFT do not affect the deterioration of RE during 80-90 minutes of running [3,4]. However, considering that evaluations of physiological resilience or durability are recommended during exercise lasting more than 90 minutes [5], it is valuable to examine the impact of AFT on physiological resilience or durability during running lasting more than 90 minutes. Therefore, the purpose of present study was to determine the effect of AFT shoes on deterioration of running economy during 2 hours of running. METHODS: Nine endurance athletes performed 2 hours of treadmill running at 75% of VO2max wearing AFT shoes (METASPEED SKY TOKYO, ASICS) or conventional running shoes (HYPER SPEED 2, ASICS) on different days. We measured continuously respiratory gas samples, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion during running. Moreover, we also evaluated blood samples to evaluate energy metabolism and exercise-induced muscle damage. RESULTS: Oxygen (O2) cost (as an indication of RE) are significantly improved throughout 2 hours of running in the AFT shoes than in the CON shoes (P < 0.001). Moreover, the relative change in O2 cost from the start of running significantly increased at 120 minutes in the CON shoes (4.5 ± 3.0 %), which tend to be higher compared to the AFT shoes (2.3 ± 2.0 %, P = 0.08). The respiratory exchange ratio was significantly lower in the AFT shoes than in the CON shoes during 2 hours of running (P = 0.005). Furthermore, the AFT shoes showed significantly lower exercise-induced blood lactate elevation compared to the CON shoes (P = 0.045). On the other hand, blood myoglobin levels following 2 hours of running were similar between two shoes. CONCLUSION: The AFT shoes potentially mitigated deterioration of RE during 2 hours of running compared to the traditional racing flats. [1] Jones AM. J Physiol. 602(17): 4113-4128, 2023. [2] Xiao Y et al. Int J Sports Med, 47(2): 81-94, 2026. [3] Schwalm LC et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 57(12): 2919-2928, 2025. [4] Madsen LL et al. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 35(10): e70139, 2025. [5] Grivas GV. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2025. in press
Read CV DAICHI SUMIECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP16