The Role of Plates in Super Shoes, Matching Super Shoes to Mechanics? Shoes for Bunions | Mailbag!

[@DoctorsofRunning]

Remember to send your mailbag questions to [e-mail] Next podcast: Best of 2023! :O

[@runnin3216]

Puma Fast-R 2 is using aliphatic supercritical TPU. There was a video showing Molly Seidel testing shoes at their lab in Boston. She was more efficient in the corgi shoe (obscured in the video, but assumed to be Deviate Elite 3) than the Fast-R 2. Shows why she used the Deviate Elite at Chicago.

[@ptlewis2000]

Would love to get more thoughts on this anecdote regarding the benefits of the plate. Speed 1&2: Unstable, injury. Pro 1&2: No injury, 2 marathons at near peak performance, 5k Masters PB. Pro 3: Injury AFTER half masters PB. Alpha Fky, VaporFly, Carbon X2: no injury but beat-up/pre-injury next day. Although switching AlphaFly insole with Currex low profile Cleat Pro insole no more issues after tested up to 10 miles. So it’s safe to say my flat feet, weight, over pronation, etc. do not do well with neutral squishy shoes. However, take the early versions of the Speed and Pro, very similar shoes, the carbon plate was the difference between instability/injury and high performance. For half and Full though, the Zoom Fly 3/4 respectively and unofficially have my fastest races, seconds faster that Endorphin Pro’s. Conclusion: The carbon plate stabilizes the high performance cushion. For me specifically, I also perform better with more responsive cushion vs bouncy. Finally, with the change in the Endorphin Pro 3 (I have enough stock of 1&2 to last 3 years) I’m hoping there are more stiffer options (the downvoted Hyperion Elite?, Endorphin Elite?, Rocket X?) to race marathons in the future. RIP Zoom Fly.

[@glyndonwakeman7420]

Not sure if someone else added this. But back in the 80s when Nike Air was relatively new, Etonic used air pods as well. I remember their ads referencing 'unstable air can do a lot of damage' with a pic of a tornado. They claimed their air cushioning was more stable than Nike. Other than that I don't recall air cushioning in any other actual running shoes.

[@MedicineRunner]

Perhaps this was discussed before but Matt, why are you burning through outsoles so much on the heel? Have you tried to fix this? I’m not coming off as rude, genuinely want to know why 😂. Like are you just a powerful runner? Thanks guys, love the podcast.

[@Charles-kc2vt]

Matt secretly weighs 700 lbs. He's got titanium bones like Wolverine. Only possible explanation 👍

[@MedicineRunner]

@@Charles-kc2vt Wolverine had adamantium bones.

[@Charles-kc2vt]

🤦‍♂oops brain fart @@MedicineRunner

[@John-qv7in]

Well now we simply must know what that mystery stability shoe is.

[@DoctorsofRunning]

:evil laugh:

[@mattylevo]

Yes, you need to fit the shape of the forefoot if you have a bunion...but most importantly the support in the shoe/insole combo which address the mechanical flaws of the foot is paramount for long-term bunion care. Forefoot flex grooves in the midsole, matching the 1st MPJ and rockers do help, but pail in comparison vs proper medial stability. Narrow shoes will only promote further progression of Hallux Abducto Valgus.

[@cristian-adrianfrasineanu9855]

You were talking about the bunion on the first metatarsal bone joint. What about the ones that develop on the other side of the foot?

[@DoctorsofRunning]

A tailor’s bunion, or 5th MTP bunion, can develop for a variety of reasons. Avoid shoes that taper quickly on the lateral side of the toe box or shoes that drive you laterally over the 5th MTP. Plates or midsoles that are built up more on the medial side of the forefoot May drive your foot laterally (many of Puma’s shoes, like the Fast R 2 and Fast-FWD are examples of this) and should be avoided.

[@MedicineRunner]

⁠@@DoctorsofRunningalso called a Bunionette. Love how the study of medicine must have a minimum of 3 names for any given pathology 🫠. I got tested on this last semester in PA school and I was literally looking for Tailor’s Bunion in the answer options, based off the description, and they chose to use Bunionette. I missed it and it still agitates me today lol.