I train in heavy 14 oz Saucony Triumph shoes. I’ve previously raced in similar heavy shoes but am considering a 10 oz model (supposedly cushioned but what do you give up with a 4 oz lighter version?). Do 4 oz matter that much? For the record I run in orthodics so my 14 oz shoes really weigh more.
My inclination is to say that it may make a difference but another key factor is musculo-skeletal discomfort. At the end of Ironman (as I think you already know) if feels like you stepped off a three story parkig garage and landed face first on the pavement. It f*&%ing hurts. I think a slightly heavier, more cushioned and well fitted shoe that is broken in and relatively fresh (i.e. low mileage) is a good way to go. If you are light (you are) then one of the “lightweight trainers” might do the trick. For some people they want a big, cushioned shoe with whatever level of motion control is appropriate for them.
Tough call- A good way to decide is to do some workouts on dead legs and see how the different shoes feel.
As a runner turned triathlete I say go with the more comfortable shoe. I use racing flats for 10k and less anything over that go with a trainer, or what ever you use to train for that distance. The comfort more than makes up for the weight at the longer distance.
“A second per ounce per mile” is what I’ve always heard. Depends how much time matters and you are comfortable mentally and physically with the ligher shoe. Here’s a pretty decent article discussing the pros and cons: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,5033,s6-52-167-0-3825,00.html
thanks guys…exactly the info I was looking for…
Keep in mind also, with many shoes differences in weight come from upper support technologies or lack thereof. With lighter shoes, your foot may not get the support you like over longer distances. I’d say that your ultimate choice doesn’t matter as much as using tried and true shoes, whichever ones you choose. You really want all of your equipment to be “old faithful friends” on IM race day. You’re going to be spending a long time with all of it.
The solution is to go with a 10 ounce shoe and always train with them. I agree with the sec/oz/mile posted above. Quit using those boat anchors. Run after in training and racing for the same aerobic output !
Something else to consider:
During an IM your shoes can get VERY wet from sweat, water, sports drinks and other fluids!! A heavier shoe will soak up even more volume of wetness and thus be even more heavier. Thus, it’s not just the dry extra 4 ounces we are talking about here. I say go with the lighter shoe, IF if works for you and IF you are well adapted to that shoe.
I’ve been running in the NB 765 for a couple of years now, and I like it a lot, but find it kind of heavy(~13.5oz) I’ve tried other, lighter shoes, but they didn’t fit right. Enter the NB900, that just came out. Physically, it is very similar to the 765, with less stability support, but still a lot of cushioning. As far as weight goes, it feels like I’m not wearing any shoes at all.
I’m still breaking them in (and I’m tired all the time from IM training) so I can’t say specifically if/how much faster they make me, but they definitely feel lighter, and I find myself scuffing my feet less in them than in the 765’s.
As much as I look forward to racing in a new, lightweight shoe, if I find that the 765 is the more comfortable of the two when race day comes, that’s what I will wear.
1oz = xgrams
x = ???
How many grams is an ounce?
1 ounce = 28.3495231 grams
A cool trick for google, simply type “ounce to grams” in a search.
1 oz = ~ 28.5 grams, google say: 1 ounce = 28.3495231 gram, if you are that obsessive.
That means that when I’m going from my NB765 (339 g) to my Nike Mayfly (148 g):
1 mile = 6,737 sec.
3 k = 12,5 sec.
5 k = 20,95 sec.
10 k = 41,90 sec.
Half = 88,32 sec.
Marathon = 176,64 sec.
Around the world = 46,5 hours
Just for the freaks:D