Author(s): SUMI, D., IMAI, A., NODA, T., SAKAGUCHI, M., Institution: ASICS CORPORATION, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 1209

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