Honors Theses and Capstones

Date of Award

Fall 2025

Project Type

Senior Honors Thesis

College or School

CHHS

Department

Kinesiology

Program or Major

Exercise Science

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

First Advisor

Summer Cook

Abstract

Carbon-fiber plated (CFP) shoes have been shown to enhance performance in elite runners, with less research on recreational runners. It is also unknown how CFP shoes affect pacing strategy during races. Additionally, it is known that male and female recreational runners pace differently throughout running races. Purpose: This study aimed to compare pacing strategies between male and female recreational runners running in non-CFP and CFP shoes during a 5km time trial. Methods: Twenty-one male and female recreational runners (22±4 years, 1.7±0.07m, 65.2±7.0kgs) completed two 5km time trials in non-CFP and CFP shoes in a randomized order. Participants were blinded to speed, time, and distance but could change their pace freely. Speed, time, and distance was recorded each time the participant changed their speed. Significance was set at p< 0.05. Results: Males ran significantly faster than females for the first through fourth kilometer (p< 0.01), but not during the fifth kilometer (p=0.68). There was a significant association between sex and direction of speed changes, with males decreasing their speed significantly more than females (χ2=12.14, p< 0.01). There was no significant difference in how each shoe affected pacing (p=0.69) Conclusions: Females slowed less and had a more stable pacing strategy than males, which should be considered when designing training and racing plans for runners. Running workouts designed to help reduce slowing may be beneficial for males and long-term training studies should be done to determine the effectiveness of such training plans.

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