Carbon-plated shoes: propulsion technology in running
RunRunning shoes fitted with a rigid carbon-fibre plate that stores and returns energy with each stride.
Carbon-plated shoes combine extremely soft foam (PEBA or high-restitution TPU) with a rigid carbon blade. The dual mechanism: foam absorbs and returns ~80% of kinetic energy (vs 65% for standard foam), while the plate reduces forefoot flexion, reducing calf and Achilles tendon fatigue. Running economy gains are estimated at 2-4%. In triathlon, they are allowed in the run segment of Ironman and WTC events.
In TriPaced:
TriPaced does not yet distinguish shoe type in plans (paces are calibrated to your profile). If you switch to carbon-plated shoes, expect a 2-3% pace gain at equal effort and recalibrate your running threshold (running FTHR) after 2-3 test sessions.
Source Joubert & Jones, 2022: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Modern Super Shoes on Running Performance, Sports Medicine