Run Culture S24 Vol 7

With less than a month until the Paris Olympics kick off, you can feel the excitement building in the running world. Every major brand is dropping new colourways and race shoes, creating a frenzy that even the most dedicated runners struggle to keep up with. Sneaker culture is making its mark on running shoes, and while battling bots for your race day kicks can be frustrating, it’s a sign that we’re in the midst of a running boom. Let’s hope this momentum continues long term.

This week, we’re diving into the latest shoe releases and highlighting some top-notch content creators who can help you find the perfect all-around trainer or that hyper-specific race shoe to hit a new PB.

On a personal note, my Sydney Marathon prep is going strong. You can follow along with my journey here.

The Shop Front

On Cloudboom Strike

Can barely keep up with all the shoe releases lately! This past month, we've seen new colorways for the Alphafly 3 and New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4. Then came the much-anticipated Superblast 2, and a sneaky drop of the Endorphin Elite 2. Heard from some of you that this was just to clear sales for their pros to run.

Anyway, ON has seriously upped their game recently, doing amazing stuff supporting the community, pro teams, and event organization. They've been focusing on their training shoes (Surfer, Eclipse, Monster Range), but their marathon race range had some gaps.

They had the Cloudboom Echo 3, but honestly, I haven't heard of anyone using it for more than 10km races. That might change with the sneak peek of the Cloudboom Strike. As always, ON nails the aesthetics, but you'll notice the "Clouds" are almost non-existent and from what I am seeing it has a removable insole / mid sole which is a cool innovation. Can't wait for all the reviews to drop; this one looks like it might compete with the big players.

Soar Running

Soar Running isn’t cheap, but their brand vision is all about innovation and creating top-quality performance gear for runners, and they’re nailing it. Their ethos combines cutting-edge textile innovation and design technology with real-world knowledge from experienced runners.

Based in the UK and named after founder Tim Soar, it's a favourite among athletes not just in the UK but worldwide. I’ve heard great things about their marathon shorts for comfort, lightness, and storage options. Eyeing them for my upcoming marathon in September.

Finding shorts that are lightweight and can carry 6 gels plus extras is nearly impossible. Dare you to find another pair – as far as I know, this is the only one.

Le Bent

This week, in collaboration with Straight At It, we’re shining the spotlight on an Australian snow gear brand called Le Bent. Yeah, I know, Aussie snow gear sounds odd, but we do get snow, and we love traveling to it.

That aside, this is a running newsletter, and with things getting chilly down under, gloves and thicker socks are essential. Le Bent is diving into the running scene and even sponsoring trail running events like Coastal Ascent, an ultra trail in Newcastle (my hometown).

While many running brands make gloves, these guys specialise in them, so I’m betting on top quality. Their glove liners are perfect for a wintery morning run or late night in my case, and any socks with merino wool are a win in my book.

The Cafe

Shoetubers

With all these shoe releases just before the Paris Olympics and marathon season, choosing the best shoes for your rotation feels like an impossible task.

First place I go is YouTube, scouring through probably 10+ reviews of the shoes I'm considering. Not naming names, but it’s hard to know who to trust. Many content creators claim they’re not paid for reviews but get trips to events from big brands, which can compromise their integrity.

That said, there are some shoetubers who aren’t afraid to tell it like it is and even try non-mainstream shoes. Here are my go-tos:

Jog on Crago

Beware, Jog on Crago is about as Aussie as it gets, based out of Western Australia. The lingo might be a bit foreign to overseas readers, but I love that he factors in price and isn’t afraid to speak his mind.

He’s even tried some Chinese super shoes and put them to the test on race day. Highly recommend!

Yowana

Daily hour-long shoe reviews! You heard that right – an hour every day. Initially, this put me off, but with timestamps, it’s actually perfect treadmill viewing to keep up with the latest shoes. Yowana doesn’t hold back in his opinions.

The Gym

Race Day Nutrition w Precision Fuel

As someone with a weak stomach, figuring out my nutrition has been crucial. Running in the morning often wreaks havoc on my digestion, and most hobby jogger races, unfortunately, start early. This made it essential to dive into research on how to fuel correctly for my upcoming marathon and regular training sessions.

While the sources I’m sharing come from nutrition companies (so, yes, there's some bias), it’s widely accepted that proper race day nutrition is key to a strong performance, especially as the distance and time on feet increase.

Here’s the current consensus on race nutrition:

Pre-Race Nutrition:

• Carbohydrate Loading: Increase carbs to 8-12 grams per kilogram of body mass a few days before the race​.

• Morning of the Race: Eat a balanced meal 2-3 hours before start, focusing on easily digestible carbs, moderate protein, and low fat and fiber​.

During the Race:

• Hydration and Electrolytes: Use electrolyte drinks and adjust fluid intake based on sweat rate​.

• Carbohydrate Intake: Consume 30-90 grams of carbs per hour using gels, drinks, or solid foods like energy bars. Depending on intensity and length of run. Some elite athletes push over 100 grams per hour, but this requires serious gut training.

My Go-To Nutrition:

• Maurten Cocoa Solid 160 : This is my pre-race fuel of choice. It sits better on my stomach than standard foods like toast. I’d snack on these regularly if they weren’t so pricey.

• Precision Carb and Electrolyte Mix : Perfect for interval sessions and track workouts, allowing me to carb up without carrying a bottle. It’s less syrupy than Maurten and gentler on the stomach.

• Maurten Gel 160 : Ideal for long runs and race day. It’s easy to transport, mess-free, and gentle on the stomach. For those with weak stomachs, less flavor is definitely more.

That’s another week gone by, and with the Olympics around the corner, the running industry is buzzing with excitement. Every brand is trying to capitalise on the hype of Track and Field. If you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to this newsletter and follow us on Instagram to stay in the loop. See you next week!