#137 The Science of Running Footwear Biomechanics: Insights from Brooks' Biomechanists

#137 The Science of Running Footwear Biomechanics: Insights from Brooks' Biomechanists

On this episode of the Doctors of Running Podcast, Matt is joined by two phenomenal guests from Brooks, Jennifer Sumner and Evan Day, biomechanists on the Brooks' Run Research Team. They give us an inside look at how Brooks' unique approach to biomechanical testing and research in shoe development. They help us tackle big questions like "what does it mean to be a runner?" and "how do we tell the difference between 'good' and 'bad' running mechanics?" They even dive into the link between mental health and wellness and how we run, and how that might influence our shoe choices.

Chapters

  • 0:00 - Intro
  • 9:02 - What does it mean to be running footwear biomechanist?
  • 19:44 - How does Brooks define a "runner"?
  • 26:18 - What is Run Signature?
  • 36:34 - How to differentiate between good and problematic running mechanics
  • 44:16 - How does Brooks categorize runners & their mechanics?
  • 50:18 - The link between a runner's psychology, wellness, and biomechanics
  • 1:03:16 - Integrating this link between mental health and mechanics into footwear design
  • 1:09:55 - What are the next big questions Brooks is trying to address in running?
  • 1:17:05 - Wrap-up

This week’s episode of the Doctors of Running Podcast is sponsored by Running Warehouse. As runners, we love the outdoors and the positive impact it can have on our health and on the well-being of future generations. This Earth Day, celebrate the sustainable initiatives taken by brands to create high-quality eco-friendly gear. Head on over to Running Warehouse to check out all the sustainable styles.

Jennifer Sumner is the Director of the Run Research Team at Brooks. Her passion for injury prevention started with a two-year sports medicine program in high school. From here she went on to study Biomedical Engineering and human movement for topics ranging from ergonomics to tissue engineering and finally into running injury prevention throughout her academic career. She found her passion for applied research in the product space as a research technician for Biomechanigg Inc, evaluating the influence of everything from hockey skates to road bicycles on human movement and performance. She entered the industry as a Research Scientist with New Balance before moving to Brooks, where has been for the last six years. The Brooks passion to build for all who run using science-based insights is what will keep Jennifer with the brand for years to come.

Evan Day is a Manager on the Run Research Team at Brooks overlooking biomechanical testing and research related to Inline Product (<2 years to market) and advancement of Run Signature. He has been an avid runner since his first season of middle school cross country, and became interested in the interaction between the body and footwear after suffering a tibial stress fracture in high school. From there he studied Kinesiology at Iowa State University, where he also did his Master’s in Biomechanics, focused on running injuries. He then continued on to complete his PhD at the University of Oregon in the Bowerman Sports Science Clinic focusing on running performance. He entered the industry working on basketball footwear at adidas, before transitioning to Brooks. Living the opportunity to spend every day obsessing over the granular details of footwear and running biomechanics is a dream come true for him.


Episoder(275)

#246 Mailbag! Shoe Fit of the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, Minimalist Shoes in 2025, Our Favorite Running Apparel

#246 Mailbag! Shoe Fit of the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, Minimalist Shoes in 2025, Our Favorite Running Apparel

David & Nathan are here with a mailbag, where we answer your questions. They discuss the upcoming Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, the latest in minimalist/zero-drop shoes, running store shoe fitting, and more. They also share the shoes they've got in for testing and some clothing picks that have stood the test of time. Want your questions answered? Email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com!Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Chapters0:00 - Intro1:16 - In for Testing3:56 - Apparel we love12:18 - How you can work with us as coaches and PTs16:50 - How's the arch fit of the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo21:20 - What would be the ideal running shoe store fitting process?30:32 - Minimalist/zero-drop shoe recommendations35:14 - Lateral foot movement in different kinds of shoes38:04 - ASICS Glideride 3 replacements to help with Hallux Rigidus44:11 - Wrap-up

11 Jun 44min

#245 Between Two Feet: Brooks Hyperion Max 3 and Do Super Trainers Make Good Racing Shoes?

#245 Between Two Feet: Brooks Hyperion Max 3 and Do Super Trainers Make Good Racing Shoes?

Matt & Andrea are back with another installation of Between Two Feet, where they contrast their different experiences in a shoe. Last time it was the Nike Vaporfly 4, and this time it's the Brooks Hyperion Max 3. Brooks completely overhauled the Hyperion Max, one of Andrea's favorite shoes of the past few years, and turned it into a true max-stack supertrainer. With a Pebax plate & a dual-density DNA Flash/DNA Gold midsole, this one's meant for the long miles. Matt & Andrea discuss how their different mechanics affect how they experienced the foam, weight, and geometry of the shoe. They wrap up by offering some supertrainer options as alternatives to super racing shoes.Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Chapters0:00 - Intro4:47 - Upper9:15 - Midsole22:19 - Supertrainers as alternative racing shoes28:08 - Wrap up

4 Jun 31min

#244 Buy/Sell and This or That with Yowana! The Best Long Run Day? Soft or Firm Midsoles? Favorite Shoes to Review?

#244 Buy/Sell and This or That with Yowana! The Best Long Run Day? Soft or Firm Midsoles? Favorite Shoes to Review?

Matt & David are joined by Yowana for a special episode of hot takes only: Buy/Sell and This or That! We put ourselves on the hot seat here–no gray area, no middle ground. We pick between, and argue over EVA midsoles, $500 shoes, long run days, soft vs. firm midsoles, and much more.Yowana is the founder of Supwell Running, place where hobby joggers come to get better. They're about mileage, putting in the work daily and being consistent. They're also about shenanigans, looking out for each other and passing on the best running shoe deals. Be sure to check them out on Instagram and YouTube!Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/This episode is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. You can find all of our comfort picks from today’s episode at runningwarehouse.com.Chapters0:00 - Intro10:32 - Buy/sell: Companies should make fewer shoe models17:56 - No more EVA shoes26:26 - 500 shoes36:33 - Puma is a top 3 running shoe company right now43:48 - Reviewing shoes has made me a better runner50:06 - This or That: Saturday or Sunday long runs55:12 - Saucony Endorpin Trainer or Puma Deviate Nitro 31:00:05 - Midsoles: soft & bouncy or firm & responsive1:03:43 - Reviewing long distance shoes or short distance shoes1:07:54 - If you were going to build your ideal super shoe, how would you do it?1:18:42 - Wrap-up

28 Mai 1h 21min

#243 Between Two Feet: Nike Vaporfly 4 and the Impact of Geometry Changes to a Shoe

#243 Between Two Feet: Nike Vaporfly 4 and the Impact of Geometry Changes to a Shoe

If you've been following us for a while, you know that Matt & Andrea often experience shoes completely differently, so on this episode they get together to compare & contrast their experiences in Nike's major overhaul to the OG of supershoes: the Vaporfly 4. With a shorter stack height and narrowed down platform, this nimble racer offers a vastly different ride from its big sibling, the Alphafly 3. Andrea loved Vaporfly 3, so how will she feel about the updates? Matt's often found the Vaporflys too unstable, so will that continue? Tune in to see if you side more with Andrea or Matt! Have any shoes you want us to compare/contrast opinions on? Email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com.Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Chapters0:00 - Intro11:26 - Nike Vaporfly 4 overview13:30 - Upper19:26 - Midsole & Ride30:12 - The impact of small geometry changes on the running experience39:02 - Wrap-up

21 Mai 40min

#242 Plantar Fasciitis, Revisited

#242 Plantar Fasciitis, Revisited

Plantar fascia pain plagues many a runner, but finding its cause and treating it can be mystifying and frustrating. Nate is joined by returning guest Doug Adams to take a deep dive into plantar facia (and general foot) pain in order to help you get to the underlying cause. Doug lends his expertise on how biomechanics and walking/running gait an effect plantar injury risk. He offers practical tips to help you rehab and prevent plantar fasciopathy. They also take a look at orthotics, treatment modalities, shoes, and how they impact PF pain. Dr. Doug Adams is a Physical Therapist who has published and spoken at an international level on all things related to running. Doug has taught thousands of professionals his systematic approach to providing personalized plans for runners through the Certified Running Gait Analyst and Endurance Running Coaching courses. He also designed and created a portable 3D Motion Analysis system called Helix 3D for analyzing and categorizing running form that is used widely throughout the Department of Defense and commercial sectors. You can find him on Instagram at @RunDNASystem and @DougAdamsPT.Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Chapters0:00 - Intro6:17 - A primer on the plantar fascia and foot anatomy11:56 - The difference between plantar fasciitis and plantar fasciopathy17:12 - The most common PF symptoms18:50 - Diagnosing the root of PF pain22:50 - Common gait issues that contribute to PF pain39:54 - How do you address the root cause of PF pain?43:12 - Toe strength, footwear, and orthotics57:06 - Shoe choices with PF pain1:04:10 - Wrap-up

14 Mai 1h 5min

#241 Mailbag! Plated Trainers and Achilles Pain? Do I Need a Post-Run Routine!? How Do Orthotics Effect Shoes?

#241 Mailbag! Plated Trainers and Achilles Pain? Do I Need a Post-Run Routine!? How Do Orthotics Effect Shoes?

Time for a mailbag where we answer your questions! Matt and David team up to discuss returning to running after achilles tendinopathy, training in plated shoes, post-run routines, and more. Want your questions answered? DM us on Instagram or email us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com.Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Get 20% off your first order from Skratch with code: DOCTORSOFRUNNING!Chapters:0:00 - Intro4:27 - Returning to running after achilles tendinopathy16:31 - Run-related conferences for sports medicine professionals20:57 - The effect on orthotics on heel drop24:39 - Similar stability shoes to the Mizuno Wave Inspire30:17 - Plated trainers & achilles pain35:17 - Post-run routine recommendations42:29 - Wrap-up

7 Mai 44min

#240 We Rank Our Top 5 COMFORTABLE Running Shoes

#240 We Rank Our Top 5 COMFORTABLE Running Shoes

Sometimes it feels like the running world is always in search of the BEST or the FASTEST shoe, but what about comfort? David, Matt, and Nathan rank their five most comfortable shoes and tell you why, and some of the picks are sure to surprise! They also talk about why shoe comfort is so important and how to judge if/why a shoe will be comfortable for you. Let us know what your most comfy shoes are by leaving a comment or emailing us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com.Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/This episode is sponsored by our friends at Running Warehouse. You can find all of our comfort picks from today’s episode at runningwarehouse.com.Chapters0:00 - Intro1:24 - The Comfort Paradigm and the Run CAT10:06 - #5 shoe29:20 - #436:50 - #344:20 - #251:20 - #1 shoe1:01:30 - Wrap-up

30 Apr 1h 2min

#239 The Science of Short Distance Racing: Biological Impact, Training, and Shoe Recommendations

#239 The Science of Short Distance Racing: Biological Impact, Training, and Shoe Recommendations

These days the marathon seems to get all the hype, but let's not forget the shorter stuff! David and Andrea team up to talk all things shorter distance training & racing. Lately Andrea's been focusing on middle distance races & David's high school & collegiate career ranged from the 800 to the 5k. They dive into the physiology of speed and endurance, explore training methods, talk shoes, and much more. Get your DOR Merch: https://doctors-of-running.myspreadshop.com/Check out our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Skratch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and save 25% on your first order with code DOR24!Chapters0:00 - Intro7:16 - David's training & racing background20:20 - An overview of biological energy systems35:46 - Short-distance training principles48:22 - Shoes for mid-short distance racing59:14 - How to train for both short and long distances at the same time1:06:24 - Wrap-up

23 Apr 1h 8min

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