The Shoe Tester
Workout - The Shoe Tester
- 10min @ 9'00''/km
- 4 lots of:
- 20s @ 3'30''/km
- 40s @ 9'00''/km
- 6 lots of:
- 4min @ 5'00''/km
- 1min 30s @ 9'00''/km
- 30s rest
- 10min @ 9'00''/km
to import the workout after you install it.
Intro
Here’s a breakdown of Carbon Fibre Plate (Carbon x) VS No Carbon Fibre Plate (Turbo 2) Running Workout Test, courtesy of The FOD Runner. The full video is definitely worth your time—here we’ll walk through the workout so you can test it yourself. Watch the complete video to dig into all the nuances.
Key Points
- This test pairs the non‑carbon Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 against the carbon‑plate Hoka Carbon X through an identical interval session.
- Each run featured 6 × 4‑minute hard intervals separated by 1 ½‑minute jog recovery, plus a quick 30‑second walk to return to the starting point.
- The carbon shoe showed ~2 seconds per interval faster on average, though the runner reported it felt tougher and didn’t offer a significant advantage.
- Holding everything else steady—route, weather, recovery format—is vital when testing shoes fairly.
Workout Example
6 × 4‑minute hard effort (target pace: whatever you normally use for a 4‑minute interval)
→ 1:30 jog recovery
→ 30‑second walk back to start (to reset breathing)
Repeat for 6 reps, same route each time.Tip: Note your pace for each interval and check the “gap pace” (ground-level equivalent) to spot any small performance shifts.
Closing Note
Try this straightforward interval session yourself—plug your training zones from the Pacing app into the workout and see what the shoe feels like. Carbon plate or not, what counts is sticking with what actually works for you over time. Run it and find out what serves you best.
Check the video for the full breakdown and the creator’s take on the results.
References
- Carbon Fibre Plate (Carbon x) VS No Carbon Fibre Plate (Turbo 2) Running Workout Test | FOD Runner - YouTube (YouTube Video)