Episode 35: Kinda Fast, Kinda Efficient: Super Shoes, Running Economy & Record-Breaking News

Welcome to Episode 35 of the Kinda Fast Podcast, the show where we talk running, real life, and everything in between.

This week, Claire and Travis break down one of the biggest trends in running right now: super shoes. What makes them different? How do carbon plates and high-performance foam work? And do they actually improve performance...or just come with a hefty price tag?

Then it’s a packed week of running news:

• Cole Hocker runs 3:45.94 to break the American indoor mile record
• Molly Seidel finishes 4th in her first-ever 100K and earns a Golden Ticket to the 2026 Western States 100
• A Super Bowl halftime performer goes viral after logging the performance on Strava
• The Barkley Marathons delivers another brutal year, with no finishers and one last runner standing

Finally, they take a deep dive into running economy...what it means, why some runners feel smoother and faster at the same effort, and how strength training, hills, long runs, form, and consistency can help you run more efficiently.

Because getting faster isn’t always about working harder. Sometimes it’s about using less energy for every mile.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What makes a shoe “super” and when to use carbon-plate shoes
• How super shoes can improve efficiency by 2-4%
• What elite 100K performance really looks like
• Why the mile is getting faster than ever
• What makes the Barkley Marathons one of the toughest races in the world
• How to improve your running economy and feel stronger at the same pace

This episode is for runners who want to train smarter, race stronger, and improve performance without burning out.

Join the Kinda Fast Community Run with purpose. Stay motivated. Find your people.

👉 https://www.upwardrunning.com/kindafast Use code KINDAFAST for two weeks free inside the RunClub App.

If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review, share it with a running friend, and let us know...are you team daily trainers or team super shoes?