Long-distance triathlon glossary·Drop

Drop : heel-to-toe offset of a running shoe

Run

The height gap (mm) between the heel and forefoot of the shoe.

A 10 mm drop (classic) lifts the heel, easing the calf and Achilles but encouraging a heel strike. A 0-4 mm drop ("minimalist") spreads load better but heavily loads the calf : transition progressively over several weeks.

In TriPaced:

TriPaced doesn't prescribe a brand or specific drop. But if you switch drops between blocks, log it as a session note: an Achilles flare-up the following week is rarely a coincidence.

Related terms

  • Brick : the bike-run combo
  • Negative split : finishing faster than you started
  • Pace : Running pace (min/km)
  • Pacing : Race pace management
  • Drill : Isolated technique drill
  • Running economy : Energy cost per kilometre