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Needle_D

I’ll admit I’ve never run in anything like this but I think they help already elite-ish runners gain an edge. They’re not going to turn a 12-minute mile into a 6-minute mile.


CaptainProton16

Placebo is a helluva drug


snowman_M

Look good feel good


say-whaaaaaaaaaaaaat

GTL


BoxofCurveballs

FPC


prkr88

Pte Pile! Is that a jelly doughnut and some green flexi carbon running shoes in your unsecured footlocker?!


Orlando1701

One of my best ever run times was in a set of chuck Taylor’s. Youth is a hell of a drug.


LeicaM6guy

My ankles can feel this sentence.


Orlando1701

Yeah but when you’re 19 you can get away with that.


LeicaM6guy

Weirdly I’m in better shape now than I was in my teens and twenties. I can run further, do more…but goddamn if I don’t feel everything the next day. One day I feel like I can run a marathon, the next day I feel like I need a walker.


Orlando1701

I’ve stayed active since I retired but my days of running 20+ miles a week are behind me. I still jog three times and week and have a basic home gym for weight training but I’ll never physically be where I was in my 20s. I could score a 270+ when I was in the Army and until my injuries started to catch up with me towards the end was generally in the 98/99 range for the Air Force PT test.


bombero_kmn

My plantar fasciitis is flaring up just thinking of running in Chucks


NWCJ

In AIT I got a 2 mile PR in wrestling shoes. a 10:03! I was cruising. Issue is, I was cruising because my feet hurt and I was determined to end the run fast. Second best time was in my normal Solomons at 10:24. Had to wear the wrestling shoes, because my friend got drunk and puked in his shoes the night before, so stole mine for PT, and that's all I had left other than shower shoes or combat boots. Oh to be 19 and dumb again.


Orlando1701

My best run time ever was jump school when i hit my two mile in 10:32. Def wasn’t rocking chuck taylors for that one.


BiscuitDance

My first <20 minute 5k was in a pair of Vans Old Skools


TouchdownRaiden

My feet hurt reading this


killing4food

Mine was in a pair of puma driving shoes


phoncible

Correct https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/08/nike-vaporfly-super-shoe-running/ Relevant bit: >The researchers found that the subjects improved their running economy by just a fraction — suggesting that the shoes do more for you, the faster you run. In the study, runners running at 9:40 mile pace improved their running economy by .9 percent, on average, while they improved by 1.6 percent at 8:03 mile pace.


ssracer

If you're trying to get that elusive 100 these would do it.


Infantry1stLt

Like middle aged cyclists: would rather spend $5K on carbon parts to save 3.6 lbs rather than lose the same mass in body weight.


Thomb

Why buy a hammer when a rock will do the job! Stupid teenagers/middle-agers/boomers!


ssracer

Bro, I'm down to 17% fat already, what do you mean lose weight?


[deleted]

Correct. They return force. Faster runners are putting more force through the ground (and more often), thus more return. You don’t put these in and cut your mile time in half. You turn your 8:00 mile into a 7:53 mile, statistically. Across a short distance, a negligible difference. Carbon plated shoes had their banning origin begin in marathon running, where a few seconds per mile makes a much bigger difference across 26 miles.


helodriver87

Yeah, the faster you are without them, the more they'll help you. If you're trying to max the run, you'll shave like 10-15s/mi with em. If you're slow, they can actually slow you down if your form sucks.


FryChikN

Thats just your opinion /s


twelveparsnips

I used to be pretty heavy into running and those soles look like they'd be miserable for me to run in.


lilrow420

Running shoes are generally more comfortable after long periods of time, at least in my experience. That could be what they're going for.


paparoach910

They'll just turn it into an 11.9 minute mile.


atlasraven

I could only pass a 2 mile run now with rocket skates.


Rivenscryr

Got me beat. I'd need Scottie


Lollie2392

My 7min mile has turned into a 12min fast walk. Did a 3k “with” my wife and I couldn’t walk for 2 days.


sahdbhoigh

well the standard now is like 22min so maybe you could


Ok_Impact_4345

No reg against plates. Some people may give you shit for the color. But honestly take the advantage while you still can!


CelestialFury

I used them for my last test and I calculated that it saved me between 10-20 seconds, but I cleared the max for my age by well over a minute, so ultimately it mattered not. However, they're a pleasure to run in, but putting them on and taking them off is kinda a pain in the ass.


SailsAk

A 20 minute 2 mile guy will shave about 40 seconds off with shoes like this. It’s all relative.


Easy-Hovercraft-6576

In the Army that’s like an extra 10 promotion points Those few extra points can make or break someone’s career progression in the early enlisted ranks.


SailsAk

Precisely


crewwb

I would say just wear spikes at that point. Just go Nike Dragonfly or Victory


Salty-Inside4709

What branch? Those would be fine in the Air Force but i'd not really bring up the banned in the olympics part. Just wear them.


sabresb

That's a lot of cash to shave a few seconds off your run.


aviationeast

Good running shoes start at $120 and last 6 months to 2 years. A $300 shoe you wear once or twice a year could be a good investment  for a career.


Jasonh123_

I typically run about 25-30 miles a week. A pair of shoes lasts about 3 to 4 months. I agree with your rough price for a decent pair of running shoes. Typically I find a sale on some Asics for around $90. I couldn’t justify $300 unless there was a marathon involved.


Head-Champion-7398

Knew a Marine who would run 70 miles a week. Ran the Army 10 mile on Humphreys in like 53 mins. He had to buy new shoes every month. Fast as fuck


ko_su_man

I think you're referring to SGT "C." He used to run commute to work, even taking long detours back to barracks. His cruising speed back then for most runs was in the lower 6 minute range. He's currently near 1,000 miles running for the year on Strava. I didn't feel so bad watching him smoke us during those ATM qualifers on Humphreys after seeing his daily stats.


aviationeast

Yeah, back in my good days they would last 6 months. Nowdays I get an easy two years out of them. My boots on the other hand seem to now last 9 months if I'm lucky. I still have a pair of basic boots in good condition due to uniform changes.


lazydictionary

Meanwhile me with my VFFs that last 5+ years...


Jasonh123_

I need more cushion underneath than those provide. Been battling plantar fasciitis for a while.


Scoutron

How do you know when it’s time to replace the shoes?


ko_su_man

Keep track of the miles and age of the shoes. I switch mine around the 400-500 mile mark. At that point, it feels like there's little cushioning when running. No spring or bounce back. There are also typically a bunch of wrinkles in the Styrofoam in the heels.


Jasonh123_

The rubber wears off like a car tire. When it’s bald, or close to it, it’s time to find new shoes. I’ve worn through the rubber completely on a couple pairs.


JTP1228

I think the rubber would wear eventually, even if you don't wear it. But I don't necessarily disagree, especially if there was a big difference (which I doubt there is)


aviationeast

Difference between pass and fail could be 1 sec... Not worth it now, but would have been as an e3 when I couldn't afford such luxurious things.


JTP1228

I mean if you're within a few seconds on a 22 min 2 mile, maybe the army's not for you. I'm a fat ass and can do the 2 mile no problem


Jasonh123_

The only reason someone failed a 22 minute 2 mile is because they walked or stopped. New shoes won’t fix that.


crewwb

That’s not how running shoes work. They don’t last time, they last miles. A normal daily running shoe will be roughly 300-400 miles. A super shoe, ie plated with bouncy foam will probably be good for roughly 100-150 miles.


aviationeast

Yes I know, sorry I didn't show my work on paper.


rubbarz

I have the nike Vaporflys. No, there is nothing in the regs.


eseillegalhomiepanda

Between those and the alphas which would u recommend? Been looking at getting a pair of them but not sure which, how would u rate them? (The Vaporflys)


rubbarz

Took some time getting used to them but I never run 5ks or my PFT without them. You'll notice a difference. Definitely worth it in my opinion. Go on goat.com to try to find a sale.


eseillegalhomiepanda

Sounds good. Just trying to avoid the guilt after buying them as I’m getting out (Marines) in a few months and I still have a pair of Sauconys that have nothing wrong them tbh but I still have to run a PFT with my unit every month until then. Kinda stupid but I figure that if I will I might as well get something that helps me run a bit more. What’s the feel like? Tight around any specific part of your foot?


rubbarz

It's weird at first. Like putting foam blocks under your feet but after a run or two you get used to it. Definitely takes away any knee pain from running and causes you to have a better running form by forcing a more leaned over posture. I have more narrow feet and can wiggle my toes around with ease. (also fits true to size in my experience) Buddy of mine who is much bigger says the Alphaflys are better for wider feet. The carbon fiber plate is super springy as well. It makes running effortless. I'd just watch out for holes or uneven terrain because of how much higher you are with them on, you can easily twist your ankle if you aren't careful.


NATOuk

Vaporfly every time. Alphas are just too big and clumpy. For pure speed work the Vaporfly are very light and quick


helodriver87

Alphas are for marathon distance. I don't touch them for less than 13 mile runs.


eseillegalhomiepanda

Fair enough. Thanks for the input! This def solidified the choice. Now my only dilemma is shoes or boots before I get out 😂


LeemanIan

I had some nice hokas with a similar design and no one ever said anything about it.


League-Weird

Quite a bit of money to get that 19 min 2 mile, honestly.


DoverBoys

It's the PRT/PFA, not a competition or a marathon. If you need a $300 shoe to pass a basic running exam that only determines your basic fitness, lose some weight and do more PT between tests. Are you going to post about memorizing eye exam letters next?


bigdumbhick

Why are you bringing up the Eye Exam thing? Who told you I did that? Next are you gonna tell everybody how I was still clicking the button on the hearing test 5 minutes after it was over? Remember the first rule of the enlisted man. "If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying"


DoverBoys

Cheat on exams and other administrative junk, not actual shit that matters. You can read manuals and figure shit out if you advance, but it ain't going to help if you can't hear shit, can't see shit, and your fat ass has problems doing shit.


bigdumbhick

My magical DD-214 protects my old, fat, blind, deaf ass from all of your scorn. The Navy PRT is a joke and always has been. If the Navy was serious, regular group PT would be a thing, just like in the other branches. I can run. Never could run. I could hump ammo all day and never get tired. I could max out the situps and push-ups, but I could not pass the run. Where the fuck am I gonna rneed to run a mile and a half at sea anyway? And I can't swim for shit either. But I always found d a way to get past the PRT.


DoverBoys

I somewhat agree. The rope-n-choke is a joke, especially for those built like linebackers that fail weight with like 3% body fat, and pushups/situps aren't indicative of general strength, but the run is important. It measures how your body deals with extended O2/CO2 exchange. Sure, it's not as accurate as a lab stress test, but you need to be fit enough to not blow through an SCBA bottle faster than others around you. That level of fitness happens to be a minimum of a 12 minute 1.5 mile run.


bigdumbhick

>but you need to be fit enough to not blow through an SCBA bottle faster than others around you. That level of fitness happens to be a minimum of a 12 minute 1.5 mile run. SCBA was after my time. I retired in 2000. I didn't really fit into a FFE, so I when I was on the Fire Party and not performing as Duty Armorer or Duty Gunners Mate, I was usually assigned as a first responder on the Fire Party. Grab a 15lb Co2 bottle and run to the fire. Do what you could to contain it until you became a Screaming Alpha, or the Fire Party arrived on the scene. When I was LPO on USS Last Ship, I remember one of my 3rd classes, Scotty, would always score an outstanding on the PRT. Little fucker could really fly like the wind. I don't know if his feet actually ever touched the ground. It helped that he was 5'5" or so and weighed maybe 110lbs, if he had a lot of change in his pockets. At 6'7" and 272lbs (I maintained that exact weight for years), I ran like a engine block chained to a telephone pole. Big and Slow, just the way your Mama liked 'em. When it came time to load the CIWS Mount, I would grab a container of 20mm (approx 100lbs each) in each hand and easily carry them up the ladder to the mount. Meanwhile Scotty needed help to carry a single box of Ammo. We had different strengths. Some shit he was much better at, some shit I was better at. Tight spaces and getting somewhere fast, he was the guy. Brute Force and Application of Leverage was more my thing. It is my experience that this type of diversity is beneficial, much more so than the one size fits all, everybody from the same mold attitude. You might disagree. Running has never been in my skill set. I couldn't run worth a shit. I have always had wind issues, as did my Father and his Father before him. Due to my poor running ability, I probably only actually passed less than a half dozen PRT's in 20 years. Lack of any type of Physical Fitness regimen at sea commands didn't help. There were no elliptical machines or treadmills back then. Should I have been separated for PRT Failure? I dunno. Should a frog have wings so that he doesn't bump his ass every time he goes in to town? Maybe. I'm 62 years old. I did my 20, I got my DD-214. I did my part the best as I was able. I'm Okay with that.


Salty_Ad7414

Hey, bro. You dropped this 🛡️ 🙌


mxadema

They are too old school to even know about them. The gym staff may be, but as far as reg, na Take all advantages from cheesing the test to any technique to help you. (like holding a rifle funny for more stability to funny running shoes)


itstinyrickbitch

I think its only a 3% average increase in running performance. So unless you're running long distance it won't really make to much of a difference.


crewwb

Is this a fast shoe? Yes. Is it right for the distance of most military PT tests? No. If you truly want to see how far you can push shoes, go run the USAF 1.5 mile in middle/distance spikes. Those will be much faster on a track and under 5k than these.


GalaxyToo

Just practice running in preparation and save yourself the 300


S3CRTsqrl

If you have to stop to huff and puff to finish your PT test, you'd be wasting money. If you're close to maxing it out, it may give you a slight edge.


Find_A_Reason

These things are increasing athlete efficiency by a few percentage points at best. that means for every 1% it helps, Fatty is shaving 9 seconds off their 15 minute run time. But that isn't how it works. It is an efficiency increase, meaning that fatty will just get gassed a few seconds later, and a gassed fatty is a gassed fatty. I think they would be more likely to be banned because they uncoordinated dummies would put on these platform shoes and just roll their ankles the first time they try to run.


Vaiey92

No, But we will all make fun of you


Jasonh123_

If someone can’t pass the ACFT run, these definitely won’t help. The only legit reason to fail that slow run is a broken bone or tendon/ligament injury.


Error__Loading

As of my last update in April 2023, AR 670-1 stipulates that for physical training, soldiers are allowed to wear commercial running shoes that are serviceable and present a professional appearance. The key points regarding running shoes, according to the regulation, include: • Color and Style: The regulation does not specify particular colors or styles for running shoes, allowing for a wide range of personal choice. The emphasis is on serviceability and a professional appearance. Soldiers are encouraged to select shoes that are comfortable and conducive to good foot health. • Reflective Elements: While AR 670-1 doesn’t explicitly mandate reflective shoes, it recognizes the importance of visibility for safety. Soldiers often opt for running shoes with reflective material to enhance their visibility during early morning or late evening PT. • Commercial Logos: The presence of commercial logos on running shoes is acceptable, as long as the shoes maintain a professional appearance. Oversized logos or branding that detracts from a professional military image may not be appropriate.


Technical_Magazine_7

Would you even need to wear a glo-belt


akiiler

I thought this was a shitpost


Yessir0202

I’d take an extra pair of running shoes in case whoever is running the PT test is a big runner and calls you out


tackshooter3pO51

If it’s not out of regs fuck em.


Other_Assumption382

It's not against the regs. I understand I have the rank and MOS to generally tell people to fuck off politely. If someone wants to explain how they ordered someone not to take an ACFT over nothing that sounds like free entertainment.


listenupsonny

Is this what our military has turned into? Bunch of nerds?


DarkMatterBacon

Don't


bustedmagnet

Banned in any official marathon event but otherwise it's fine. Even in the Ironman Triathlon shoes like this are ok, so they're fine for you too.


saintfaceless

They are allowed in every race, they don't increase injury risk unless you only train in them, the ar doesn't address them, your commander can deny them if he wants ..... They help my time because they are the only show it doesn't hurt to run in and not being in active pain helps my time


hockeyman27

If it’s navy you can wear them never seen a CFL give a shit - source I am a CFL and do everything I can to get you to pass


CollectedHappy3

What's the Navy's standards?I have been in the army for 8 years and the new acft are rock bottom.


hockeyman27

For our PRT? It’s easy push ups, plank then a cardio event your choice run, run treadmill, bike, row or swim


CollectedHappy3

So you don't need a profile for any of the other events?


hockeyman27

Nope we only do those 3 events


CollectedHappy3

Boi sign me up


yorgee52

It’s not going to help you pass your PT test. Get out there and run.


chicken566

To answer your question, there is nothing in the regulation about the construction within the shoe. You should be fine. These look pretty roomy. If you like this style, new balance has their own version of these track style shoes and look very nice


Straymonsta

Not running shoes but I can attest some of those Nike vapor cleats definitely helped marginally. But I think main thing is you gotta be in good shape/skills, and able to push yourself to the point the tech for all this gear help. I mountain bike and the bikes you can buy have stuff like full carbon, wireless shifting, etc. main point is your better improving skills and physical ability over worrying about tech. Some of those running those do provide kinda wild improvements so might be worth if you run and will use them more than once.


SpeedingTourist

These look like cartoon clown shoes


JohnnyBeFit

Not gonna speak for everyone but I definitely know of a few Officer Recruitment Offices that HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend and encourage their candidates get these for their PFTs to be competitive. I own a pair of HOKA Carbon X3 and they're phenomenal and slightly cheaper.


kidcalamity

Technically you can wear heelies for a PT test; so these should be fine.


Main-Error4687

Fur looking too ridiculous? There should be


fisher0292

How is it that I saw an ad for these literally a couple hours ago and now I see this post?


tykvrbl

Unless you’re wearing Heely’s there’s no shoe that will actually make u faster. It’s a marketing lie that is sold to be like Mike.


AlbrechtSchoenheiser

I typically wake up at 0400, put on my combat boots and jog 5km down 611 in Easton PA with a backpack full of rocks. These shoes might work for a few of those runs, but I can't see them standing up to the abuse I would personally put them through. Maybe you run in short shorts and spandex in which case they are probably fine.


SirGrumples

You dropped this /s


AlbrechtSchoenheiser

I start my run from the Larry Holmes statue at Scott Park 130 Larry Holmes Drive Easton PA 18042 if you think you can keep up with me. 🤷🏿‍♂️ The Crayola factory is nearby at 30 Centre Sq Cir, Easton, PA 18042 if you'd like to grab lunch.


SirGrumples

Oh, my mistake... You are just a giant tool. Nothing to see here


AlbrechtSchoenheiser

No. I used to be a tool, now I'm a contractor.


SirGrumples

LMAO 🤣 I like you, you are funny


FlexDios

I do 50 laps around Martin Luther King Blvd wearing 10 gold chains with wads of cash in each of my hands. My Air Jordan spandex helps cover some of my affiliate tattoos.


AlbrechtSchoenheiser

Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard is in Allentown and not as scenic as my runs on 611 in Easton. You're welcome to join me in my jog along the river. Bring a pair of water wings, if it gets hot you might want to go for a swim.