Episode description

Do super shoes give runners who use them an unfair advantage? Do they make it impossible to compare modern finish times with earlier performances?

Sabrina Little is a trail and ultra runner, formerly a professional runner for HOKA. She has won 5 national titles and a World silver medal, she previously held American records in the 24-hour and 200K, and she was 2013 USATF Ultrarunner of the Year.

Sabrina earned her doctorate in Philosophy and teaches ethics at Christopher Newport University.

We talk about:

• The ethical concerns of super shoes
• Sabrina’s lack of satisfaction post-5k due to wearing super shoes
• The distortion between effort and outcome when wearing super shoes
• The nuance of fairness and privilege as they relate to super shoes
• The need for clear shoe technology definitions and regulations to maintain the “spirit of sport”
• Why runners and coaches need to advocate for the intrinsic value of running

Continue the super shoes conversation by sending this episode to a friend with your thoughts.

• Sabrina on X/Twitter
• Sabrina on Instagram
• Sabrina's book, The Examined Run: Why Good People Make Better Runners
• Find Sabrina Little on Strava
• Want to learn more about super shoes? Tune into episode 227 with biomechanics and sport science PhD Geoff Burns.
• Hear from top track, road, and ultra runners on how they stay healthy.

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Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!