#86 Stability vs. Support: How Do We Know What Runners Need? (ft. Dr. Matt Trudeau from Brooks Running)

Nate, DJ, and Matt are joined today by a very special guest, Dr. Matt Trudeau of Brooks Running. Matt gives us insights into shoe research and development at Brooks. He also explains Brooks' unique take on stability, support, and how to find the right shoe for your unique running style. Dr. Matt Trudeau is originally from Montréal, QC, Canada. His background is in mechanical engineering: he completed his Bachelor’s degree at Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS, Canada), and his Master’s degree at University of Sherbrooke (Sherbrooke, QC, Canada) where he studied the role of fascia in poly-articular biomechanics. He then completed a doctoral degree in Ergonomics and Human Factors at Harvard University. He then went on to do a Postdoc with Benno Nigg at the University of Calgary. He now leads the Brooks Future Concepts Team at Brooks, where he’s been for the last 7 years. Matt is also the industry representative on the board of the Footwear Biomechanics Group. The Subjective: How long does it take you to know whether a shoe's going to work for you? Chapters 0:00 - Introduction 1:46 - The Subjective: How long does it take you to know whether a shoe's going to work for you? 2:56: - Matt Trudeau's background 13:01 - Brooks' research methods 21:13 - Examining your own biomechanics when choosing shoes 23:52 - Pronation vs deviation and the need for support 27:12 - Brooks GuideRails & support features 36:53 - The science behind drop ratio 46:51 - Using the comfort filter to find shoes for you 53:49 - Researching the link between shoes and injury reduction 58:25 - Support in trail shoes 1:08:27 - Research and innovation at Brooks 1:12:43 - Wrap up