Masterclasses for Footwear Industry Professionals

                                                  RUNNERS, RUNNING AND RUNNING SHOES

                                                              Two Days / 16 contact hours

This course provides an advanced, evidence-based examination of runners, running and their running shoes. The program is most appropriate for researchers, designers, engineers, product developers and others who have some prior technical background and experience in footwear-related biomechanics and seek to deepen their understanding.

Analysis of runner demographics and their running habits provides the basis for identifying functional needs and setting shoe design goals. An in-depth look at running biomechanics reveals that much of the conventional wisdom regarding “foot contact”, “impact”, “stability”, etc., is based on mythology and unsubstantiated. We debunk those myths and offer evidence-based alternatives. The second day centers on the application of biomechanical principles and data to the design and engineering of running shoes that meet functional and perceptual goals. In addition to class time, the course includes laboratory demonstrations and Q&A sessions. The accompanying course book provided to all attendees includes notes on all the topics covered, plus additional details, example data and design templates.

Topics:

I. Runners
  i. Demographics
  ii. Habits & Motivation
  iii. The runner spectrum

II. Running Biomechanics
  i. Principles of bouncing gaits;
  ii. Runner vs Gravity
  iii. Gait vs speed
  iv. The foot contact myth
  v. The impact force myth
  vi. Lower extremity motion
  vii. Running injury myths
  viii. “Natural” running and barefoot mythology

III. Running Energetics
  i. Energetics and VO2
  ii. Running Ecomomy
  iii. Endurance Performance

IV. Running Shoes
  i. The running shoe spectrum
  ii. Assessment of functional requirements
  iii. Cushioning and related myths;
  iv. Energy return and related myths
  v. Stability and the pronation myth
  vi. Weight, flexibility and sole geometry
  vii. Traction & outsole design
  viii. Engineering for perceptual attributes – “comfort”, “ride”, etc.

V. Test Methods
  i. Mechanical Methods
  ii. Biomechanical Methods
  iii. Psychophysical Methods

VI. Trends and Technologies


                                   All courses are limited to a maximum of ten participants