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Jan 2019
2:56pm, 8 Jan 2019
3,574 posts
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jdarun
I can see the point of fixed equipment if you are primarily interested in a personal benchmark, ie how do I measure up to how fit I was three years ago (or whatever). But in racing, the rules are there for a purpose. I've no qualms about getting the best shoes to give me a chance of 2:45, I wouldn't have a hope in 70s plimsolls that's for sure. I'm sure I will be able to live with the knowledge that I'd have been slower with slower kit. I'd have been quicker with better legs too 
(Also a sometime cyclist, though I was never good nor keen enough to bother going down the silly money route).
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Jan 2019
3:15pm, 8 Jan 2019
6,445 posts
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larkim
LOL @ plimsolls!
The question is how much of a benefit the 4%s bring, as I mentioned earlier. If they are the only shoe which can produce a result which has a step-change in performance (e.g. a genuine 1% improvement/reduction in time for example) then that is what I agonise about avoiding. Maybe it's just me - in the short time I've been running (close to 8 years now of course!) I've never sought out a shoe that is "faster", just one which is more comfortable, so it's just never factored into my buying before. I'm sure a pair of decent racing flats would make me faster than racing in my Ravennas.
It's that thing about racing - I simply don't "race", I time trial; and only against myself. I couldn't give two hoots where I finish in v45 or overall (other than just passing interest) - position is not my target in any way shape or form. So being 10s faster to me is only of consequence in terms of that time trialing.
Perhaps I'll get a different perspective on it throughout this winter as I'm running for a 2nd claim club in league races, and there the places *do* count. I know that when I race XC I do "race" a little more, and keep a track of my relative performance compared to others.
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Jan 2019
3:16pm, 8 Jan 2019
1,272 posts
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Brunski
Larks, I'm new to this thread but I reckon if you had limitless money you'd give the VF a try. I can see your position about not being able to justify shelling out north of £200 on a pair of trainers (I'm struggling to justify it as well), but you've also been quiet interested about how the other Nikes with similar foam compare which to me suggests its as much about spending money as it us about being principled.
I've probably spent £200 in the last few months looking for good racers and although I'll get more mileage out of the 3 pairs I've picked up I kinda regret not just pumping for the best shoe.
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Jan 2019
3:22pm, 8 Jan 2019
6,447 posts
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larkim
I think you're right - I'm no paragon of virtue!!
I think the "principle" argument is interesting in the context of what seems to be a game changing shoe so that intrigues me.
You also have to bear in mind that I've only run in a very small subset of shoes - Asics 11XXs, then GT-1000s, GT-2000s and now Brooks Ravennas. I'm not well experienced with choosing anything different, so even if the Zooms were in my normal price bracket I'd probably still be sticking with what I know as I trust them not to injure me. PErhaps the hype about shoe injury risk is over-played, but I'd rather not experiment on myself!
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Jan 2019
4:31pm, 8 Jan 2019
3,857 posts
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Windsor Wool
lark, will you challenge your 5k only on the same (downhill) course?
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Jan 2019
4:43pm, 8 Jan 2019
13,761 posts
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Chrisull
larks - beetroot juice is reckoned a 1% performance... and also 4% is an average, some people got a 7% improvement while others only got one.
And interestingly caffeine is also a 1% performance. And positive mental training also 1%. BUT if you do beetroot juice + caffeine + positive mental training it still combines to only equal 1% (source Alex Hutchinson: Endure, mind, body and the curiously elastic limits of human endurance)...
Note that the VF trials were not blind (they couldn't be), so the chance of a placebo effect still exists to some extent.
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Jan 2019
4:44pm, 8 Jan 2019
6,454 posts
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larkim
Oh yes, I'm consistent with that one When you've got the UK's fastest course just 2.5 miles from home, it would be churlish not to use it! (2018's fastest 5k was by Marc Scott on that course 13:45)
I did actually challenge the organiser to confirm that it was theoretically UKA record ineligible due to the downhill nature, but he is adamant that it's not a problem because it is not mentioned on the certificate anywhere. I'm sure there are plenty of mildly-dowhill courses around the country that aren't flagged too.
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Jan 2019
4:24pm, 9 Jan 2019
2,829 posts
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K5 Gus
If anyone's been thinking of splashing the cash on a pair of 4% but have been put off by the bright orange colour, then a more subtle royal blue colour will be available from 17th January according to sportsshoes on fb.
Those who have the full set of colours may well feel obliged to add another pair to maintain that status
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Jan 2019
5:02pm, 9 Jan 2019
65,894 posts
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Gobi
I've been very happy with the bright ones :¬)
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Jan 2019
5:12pm, 9 Jan 2019
3,582 posts
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jdarun
What's the point of spending all that money and then hiding it
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