Exploring the Cutting-Edge Innovations Powering Today’s Elite Athletes
At Stanley Park High School, we’re proud to be at the forefront of sports science, with our state-of-the-art Sports Biomechanics Lab leading the charge. This cutting-edge facility, tucked away in the heart of our campus, is where the magic happens – where our athletes, coaches, and researchers come together to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports performance.
Unraveling the Secrets of the Marathon Revolution
In recent years, the world of marathon running has undergone a remarkable transformation, with unprecedented speeds and record-breaking performances. The story of this revolution is intrinsically linked to the advancements in sports biomechanics and technology.
Just five years ago, Kenyan legend Eliud Kipchoge achieved the seemingly impossible, breaking the coveted two-hour barrier for the marathon. While his time of 1:59:40 didn’t officially count as a world record due to the unique race conditions, it was a monumental moment that showcased the remarkable potential of modern athletes and the tools at their disposal.
“The marathon has become astonishingly fast,” explains Tim Hutchings, a former GB runner and current athletics TV commentator. “The top 14 men’s and top five women’s marathon times have all come since 2016. Three men’s world records have dropped the time by 144 seconds, a bigger improvement than between 2003 and 2014.”
This rapid progression can be largely attributed to the advancements in sports biomechanics and the development of revolutionary running shoes, often referred to as “supershoes.” These cutting-edge innovations, born out of the collaboration between athletes, coaches, and researchers, have unlocked new levels of performance.
The Science Behind the Supershoes
At the heart of this sports technology revolution lies the work of biomechanics experts like Maxwell Muttai, who have delved deep into the intricacies of running mechanics. “You have four joints that are heavily used when you’re running,” Muttai explains. “That’s your hip, knee, ankle and the metatarsals — the MTP joint. It represents the heads of the toes.”
Researchers have discovered that the energy put into the metatarsophalangeal (MTPJ) joint is not efficiently returned during the push-off phase of running. This energy loss was a critical area to address, and the solution came in the form of the carbon plate, a key feature of the supershoes.
“The carbon plate was to try and increase the stiffness and keep the MTPJ from bending at all — make the shoe really, really stiff, make sure that there’s no bending and therefore no energy loss,” Muttai explains.
But the story doesn’t end there. As Benno Nigg, the founder of the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Calgary, notes, the initial research on straight carbon plates in the early 2000s showed promising but limited results. It was the curved design of the plate, introduced in Nike’s Vaporfly shoes, that truly unlocked the potential of these revolutionary running shoes.
“If you just use a flat plate, it makes it actually harder for the calves to push up. That’s where this curve came in,” says Wouter Hoogkamer, lead author of the influential 2018 University of Colorado study that helped inspire Nike’s Vaporfly.
But the secret sauce isn’t just in the plate. The midsole foam plays a crucial role, providing both cushioning and resilience. “They’re still predominantly losing energy, not generating energy. You lose less (in super shoes) because foams are better,” Hoogkamer explains. “So rather than every landing, losing a lot of energy and having to regenerate them with their muscles, now you can store some of that energy in a shoe and get that back.”
Embracing the Power of Personalization
While the supershoes have undoubtedly transformed the landscape of elite running, not every athlete experiences the same benefits. Soh Rui Yong, the Singaporean national record holder in the marathon, speaks of his friend Molly Huddle, a former U.S. distance running star, who struggled to find the same success in the new shoes.
“She identifies as a non-responder. She was the best female athlete in the US, for distance. She ran the (U.S. 10,000m) national record in Rio on the track (30:13, 2016 Olympics). She ran 2:28 at the New York City Marathon, in flats. The supershoes came out and she never felt that she responded well,” Soh explains.
This individual variability highlights the importance of personalization in sports performance. While the supershoes offer significant benefits for many athletes, the specific biomechanics and physiological responses can vary from one individual to another.
“There’s not going to be a fair (shoe), no one product that affects everyone the same,” says Soh. “Everyone’s biomechanics are different. Unfortunately, this is a part of the sport. If you really wanted to be fair, everyone should be running naked in bare feet. You don’t have any expensive clothes or shoes, but that’s obviously not where we’re at.”
Unlocking the Future of Sports Performance
As the world of sports science continues to evolve, the Stanley Park Sports Biomechanics Lab is at the forefront of this exciting journey. Our dedicated team of researchers, engineers, and sports scientists are constantly exploring new frontiers, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in athletic performance.
“Trying to predict exactly where marathon runners will be in five years is futile,” says Liam Tharme, one of The Athletic’s Football Tactics Writers. “A few things are almost certain: Kipchoge won’t be on the circuit, researchers will have more answers, and the times — from new heroes — will be faster. Who knows, though, what their shoes will look like?”
At Stanley Park High School, we’re committed to nurturing the next generation of sports performance innovators. Through our cutting-edge facilities, expert guidance, and hands-on learning opportunities, we’re empowering our students to become the driving force behind the future of athletic excellence.
Whether you’re an aspiring athlete, a budding scientist, or simply someone fascinated by the intersection of technology and human potential, we invite you to explore the wonders of the Stanley Park Sports Biomechanics Lab. Come and discover how the science of sports performance is redefining the limits of human achievement. Visit our website to learn more about our programs and how you can be a part of this exciting journey.
