brooks

Heel-to-toe drop: meaning and measurement

/ Ale Santuz / Leave a comment
In a shoe, the “heel-to-toe drop” (HTTD), also called “heel-drop” or simply “drop”, is nothing but the difference between the heel and the fore foot height. Some people measure these values without including the insole, but I like more the approach that includes it (there is always an insole, so why forget about it? Moreover, some insoles have differentiated thickness from heel to fore foot).

Figure 1 shows the location of the outsole (usually the only part in contact with the ground, provides grip), the midsole (usually located between outsole and insole, provides cushioning) and the insole (also called insert, provides a small amount of cushioning and sometimes supports the arch of the foot).

Figure 1 Outsole, midsole and insole in a running shoe.

Typical values of HTTD can be classified (here you can find a list of some shoes I measured) as follows:

  • 0 to 4 mm – usually found in racing flats, “zero-drop” or minimalist shoes, generally low cushioned
  • 4 to 8 mm – usually found in racing flats or “low-drop” shoes, generally low cushioned, sometimes mid cushioned
  • 8 to 12 mm – current standard for fast training/long distance racing shoes, generally mid cushioned, sometimes highly cushioned
  • 12 mm or more – a common value for normal jogging/running shoes, generally high cushioned.

Measuring the HTTD is quite a simple procedure and can be done in many different ways. Here I will show you my method, that I found being very accurate and reproducible. Only a caliper and a reference frame are needed to complete the measurement.
As showed in Figure 2, after building an L-shaped reference frame, the first operation is to set the caliper to zero.

Figure 2 Setting the caliper to zero.
The first measure to take is the heel pack height (outsole+midsole+insole), as shown in Figure 3. The measurement point is exactly in the lowest area where usually the heel is.
 
Figure 3 Measuring the heel pack height.
The second and last measure involves the fore foot zone. During this operation you want to be sure that the outsole is touching the reference plane (normally running shoes have a quite strong curvature in this zone). Normally the measurement point is under the metatarsal area, at the centre of the foot.

 

Figure 4 Measuring the fore foot pack height.
The difference between the first (heel pack) and the second (fore foot pack) measure is the HTTD. Typical results are listed here.


Here you can find a list of my running-related posts. Now shut down the notebook and have a run!
Science and Training:
Races:

Heel-to-toe drop values for different running shoes

/ Ale Santuz / 1 Comment
In Table 1 are shown some heel-to-toe drop (HTTD) values for different shoe models, with original insoles. The method used for the measurements is described here. Please note that the measured shoes are sometimes used, so different values can be expected for shoes of same model and size.

Shoes
Shoe size
Brand
Model
Sex
Weight [g]
Heel height [mm]
Forefoot height [mm]
HTTD [mm]
EU
US
UK
cm
Adidas
adiZero Ace
M
244
25.6
13.8
11.8
40.6
7.5
7.0
25.5
adiZero Ace
M
267
26.0
15.2
10.8
44.0
10.0
9.5
27.5
adiZero Adios
M
184
21.0
11.8
9.2
40.0
7.0
6.5
25.5
adiZero Adios
W
170
23.2
14.2
9.0
38.0
6.5
5.0
24.0
adiZero Adios 2
M
203
20.5
11.4
9.1
40.0
7.0
6.5
25.5
adiZero Adios Boost
M
245
25.6
15.0
10.6
45.3
11.0
10.5
28.8
adiZero Primeknit
M
172
19.5
15.5
4.0
44.0
10.0
9.5
27.5
adiZero Primeknit 2.0
M
255
24.3
15.5
8.8
44.6
10.5
10.0
28.0
adiZero Rocket
M
180
17.8
12.3
5.5
40.0
7.0
6.5
25.5
adiZero Tempo 5
M
257
26.0
17.0
9.0
44.0
10.0
9.5
27.5
adiZero Tempo 5
M
270
27.4
15.0
12.4
44.6
10.5
10.0
28.0
Attune ClimaCool
W
227
27.2
15.6
11.6
38.6
7.0
5.5
24.5
Boost 2009
M
329
31.6
17.5
14.1
44.0
10.0
9.5
27.5
Climacool
W
202
23.2
13.2
10.0
38.0
6.5
5.0
24.0
Coolmax
M
230
17.9
12.0
5.9
43.3
9.5
9.0
27.0
Energy Boost
M
291
30.0
19.5
10.5
45.3
11.0
10.5
28.8
Energy Boost
M
298
28.5
20.5
8.0
45.3
11.0
10.5
28.8
Glide Boost
M
382
31.0
20.6
10.4
48.0
13.0
12.5
29.5
Response Boost
W
256
28.2
18.6
9.6
38.0
6.5
5.0
24.0
Response Cushion 20
M
358
33.5
17.8
15.7
45.3
11.0
10.5
28.8
Supernova Glide 5
M
380
31.1
16.0
15.1
46.6
12.0
11.5
29.5
Supernova Glide 6 Boost
M
329
28.5
19.8
8.7
45.3
11.0
10.5
28.8
Supernova Sequence 5
W
302
28.7
16.2
12.5
40.0
8.0
6..5
25.5
Supernova Sequence 6
W
296
28.5
19.5
9.0
40.0
8.0
6.5
25.0
Alpha Woolf
Alpha 1.0
M
249
19.4
9.3
10.1
44.0
–
–
–
Asics
Gel-1170
M
346
26.8
18.2
8.6
46.0
11.5
10.5
29.0
Gel-Cumulus 13
W
350
34.8
21.5
13.3
42.0
10.0
8.0
26.5
Gel-Cumulus 14
M
318
32.1
21.0
11.1
43.5
9.5
8.0
27.5
Gel-Cumulus 14
M
346
30.0
19.0
11.0
44.5
10.5
9.5
28.5
Gel-Cumulus 15
W
294
33.3
20.7
12.6
40.0
8.5
6.5
24.7
Gel-DS Sky Speed 2
M
283
23.2
13.2
10.0
42.5
9.0
8.0
27.0
Gel-DS Sky Speed 2
M
303
21.7
11.3
10.4
44.0
10.0
9.0
28.0
Gel-DS Trainer 17
M
276
27.3
18.6
8.7
42.5
9.0
8.0
27.0
Gel-DS Trainer 17
M
277
25.5
18.7
6.8
42.5
9.0
8.0
27.0
Gel-DS Trainer 17
M
329
26.3
19.3
7.0
44.5
10.5
9.5
27.7
Gel-Excel33 2
W
249
26.6
15.2
11.4
40.0
8.5
6.5
25.5
Gel-Fortitude 5
M
359
30.0
18.8
11.2
44.0
10.0
9.0
28.0
Gel-Fortitude 5
M
408
34.0
27.0
7.0
47.0
12.5
11.5
30.0
Gel-Galaxy 4
W
265
20.2
9.8
10.4
38.0
7.0
5.0
24.0
Gel-Hyper Speed
M
221
22.7
14.1
8.7
46.0
11.5
10.5
29.0
Gel-Kayano 16
M
363
28.6
16.8
11.8
42.5
9.0
8.0
27.0
Gel-Kayano 19
W
300
29.8
15.5
14.3
42.0
10.0
8.0
26.5
Gel-Nimbus 14
M
344
27.0
18.7
8.3
46.0
11.5
10.5
29.0
Gel-Noosa Tri 18
M
355
22.6
14.7
7.9
48.0
13.0
12.0
30.5
Gel-Pulse 4
M
298
33.8
20.7
13.1
41.5
8.0
7.0
26.0
Gel-Volt33 2
W
255
30.0
23.0
7.0
41.5
9.5
7.5
26.0
GT-2000
W
273
27.0
15.0
12.0
40.0
8.5
6.5
25.5
GT-2000
M
381
27.4
17.8
9.6
46.5
12.0
11.0
29.5
GT-2160
W
293
27.9
17.6
10.3
39.5
8.0
6.0
25.0
Patriot
M
310
35.0
24.0
11.0
45.0
11.0
10.0
28.5
Brooks
Adrenaline GTS
M
398
27.8
13.7
14.1
44.5
10.5
9.5
28.5
Adrenaline GTS 12
M
426
32.7
17.3
15.4
48.5
14.0
13.0
32.0
Adrenaline GTS 12
W
290
30.1
18.2
11.9
40.0
8.5
6.5
25.5
Adrenaline GTS 6
W
326
30.0
17.3
12.7
42.0
10.0
8.0
27.0
Ghost 6
M
327
28.8
18.3
10.5
44.5
10.5
9.5
28.5
Glycerin 10
M
470
34.4
23.3
11.1
48.5
14.0
13.0
32.0
PureConnect
M
185
19.2
12.2
7.0
40.0
7.0
6.0
25.0
PureConnect
M
223
18.4
13.2
5.2
43.0
9.5
8.5
27.5
PureFlow
M
263
25.3
18.4
6.9
44.0
10.0
9.0
28.0
Racer ST5
M
248
28.4
14.4
14.0
43.0
9.5
8.5
27.5
RAVENNA 2
M
283
28.5
16.8
11.7
40.0
7.0
6.0
25.0
T7 RACER
M
165
22.8
12.4
10.4
40.5
7.5
6.5
25.5
La Sportiva
Q-Lite
M
297
24.1
19.3
4.8
43.0
9.0
8.5
27.0
Merrell
Barefoot train flux glove sport
M
184
5.8
5.1
0.7
43.0
9.0
8.5
27.0
Mizuno
Wave Aero 8
M
296
24.1
13.4
10.7
44.0
10.5
9.5
28.5
Wave Elixir 6
W
249
28.0
14.5
13.5
40.0
9.0
6.5
–
Wave Elixir 8
M
277
32.3
13.0
19.3
44.5
11.0
10.0
29.0
Wave Inspire 9
M
289
27.3
16.2
11.1
42.5
9.5
8.5
27.5
Wave Precision 13
M
303
32.3
17.1
15.2
44.0
10.5
9.5
28.5
Wave Ultima 5
W
286
31.4
18.2
13.2
41.0
10.0
7.5
26.5
New Balance
601
M
280
29.9
14.7
15.2
40.0
7.0
6.5
25.5
1080v2
M
296
26.2
17.7
8.5
42.5
9.0
8.5
27.0
461 All Terrain
M
326
27.1
14.7
12.4
44.0
10.0
9.5
28.0
780v2
M
290
28.7
16.4
12.3
42.5
9.0
8.5
27.0
890v3
M
294
23.7
15.0
8.7
46.5
12.0
11.5
30.0
890v3
W
252
28.1
18.7
9.4
41.0
9.5
7.5
26.5
Minimus 10v2
M
183
10.6
7.0
3.6
42.5
9.0
8.5
27.0
Minimus Zero
M
164
8.4
8.2
0.2
42.0
8.5
8.0
26.5
RC 1400
M
233
25.5
13.7
11.8
47.0
12.5
12.0
30.5
RC 1400
M
221
21.6
10.6
11.0
45.5
11.5
11.0
29.5
RC 1600
M
186
21.7
13.0
8.7
46.5
12.0
11.5
30.0
RC 1600
M
153
18.5
10.4
8.1
42.5
9.0
8.5
27.0
Nike
Air Max S2S
W
207
23.6
12.6
11.0
40.0
8.5
6.0
25.5
Flex Trail
M
385
24.6
19.4
5.2
45.5
11.5
10.5
29.5
Flyknit Lunar 2
M
279
30.8
18.0
12.8
45.0
11.0
10.0
29.0
Flyknit One
W
207
25.2
12.5
12.7
40.5
9.0
6.5
26.0
Flyknit Trainer+
M
280
27.8
17.7
10.1
46.0
12.0
11.0
30.0
Free 3.0
W
166
21.8
14.2
7.6
38.5
7.5
5.0
24.5
Free 3.0
M
226
17.6
12.1
5.5
44.5
10.5
9.5
28.5
Free 4.0 v3
W
174
22.8
14.3
8.5
37.5
6.5
4.0
23.5
Free 5.0
W
220
24.0
14.0
10.0
40.5
9.0
6.5
26.0
Free 5.0
W
226
24.4
18.5
5.9
40.0
7.0
6.0
25.0
Free Hyperfeel
M
182
15.5
9.7
5.8
43.0
9.5
8.5
27.5
FreeRun 3
W
209
20.6
14.4
6.2
39.0
6.5
6.0
24.5
Freerun 3 5.0
W
241
25.7
15.0
10.7
42.5
9.0
8.0
27.0
Initiate
M
332
27.2
16.0
11.2
44.0
10.0
9.0
28.0
LunarElite 2
M
345
28.2
18.4
9.8
47.5
13.0
12.0
31.0
LunarElite+
W
239
26.4
17.3
9.1
38.5
7.5
5.0
24.5
LunarGlide+ 4
M
298
27.8
17.5
10.3
43.0
9.5
8.5
27.5
LunarGlide+ 4
W
267
27.0
15.8
11.2
42.0
10.0
7.5
27.0
LunarGlide+ 4
M
263
27.6
17.9
9.7
42.0
8.5
7.5
26.5
LunarGlide+ 4
M
313
28.0
15.0
13.0
45.0
11.0
10.0
29.0
LunarGlide+ 5
W
245
28.7
18.7
10.0
40.5
7.5
6.5
25.5
LunarGlide+ 5
W
237
29.6
15.9
13.7
40.0
8.5
6.0
25.5
LunarGlide+ 5
W
233
28.8
17.1
11.7
40.0
8.5
6.0
25.5
LunarGlide+ 5
W
248
27.6
15.6
12.0
40.5
9.0
6.5
26.0
LunarSwift
M
350
28.2
17.9
10.3
45.5
11.5
10.5
29.5
Pegasus
M
378
28.9
18.5
10.4
45.5
11.5
10.5
29.5
Pegasus 29
M
311
34.3
20.3
14.0
45.0
11.0
10.0
29.0
Pegasus 30
M
378
36.8
20.1
16.7
48.5
14.0
13.0
32.0
Span 7
W
284
31.7
18.4
13.3
39.0
8.0
5.5
25.0
Structure 16
W
303
26.1
17.3
8.8
43.0
11.0
8.5
28.0
Structure Triax 11
M
356
28.9
17.0
11.9
44.0
10.0
9.0
28.0
Zoom Structure+ 13
W
298
31.4
17.9
13.5
41.0
9.5
7.0
26.5
Zoom Structure+ 17
W
258
28.7
18.5
10.2
39.0
8.0
5.5
25.0
Zoom Structure+ 17
W
333
30.0
20.0
10.0
46.0
12.0
11.0
30.0
Zoom Wildhorse
M
283
22.8
19.0
3.8
46.5
12.0
11.0
30.0
Pearl Izumi
EM TRI N 2
M
249
22.1
17.8
4.3
42.5
9.0
8.0
27.0
Puma
Faas 300
M
238
18.1
10.5
7.6
45.0
11.5
10.5
29.5
Faas 300
M
242
19.0
12.0
7.0
46.0
12.0
11.0
30.0
Reebok
RB512
M
352
35.5
19.8
15.7
42.0
9.0
8.0
27.0
Realflex Fusion TR
W
220
28.1
15.6
12.5
37.5
7.0
4.5
24.0
Zignano
M
318
32.8
16.8
16.0
41.0
8.5
7.5
26.5
Salomon
Speedcross 2
M
270
32.6
16.2
16.4
36.9
6.5
6.0
25.0
XA Pro 3D Ultra
M
340
24.0
16.0
8.0
40.0
7.0
6.5
25.5
Saucony
Fastwitch 5
W
212
18.9
12.0
6.9
40.0
8.5
6.5
25.0
ProGrid Ride 2
W
356
34.5
16.1
18.4
42.5
10.5
8.5
27.0
Triumph 7
M
399
32.3
19.8
12.5
45.0
11.0
10.0
26.0
Type A3
M
207
21.3
8.9
12.4
46.0
11.5
10.5
26.5
The North Face
Hyper-Track Guide
M
311
21.9
14.1
7.8
45.0
11.5
10.5
29.5
Vibram
FiveFingers Bikila
W
162
7.0
7.0
0.0
40.0
–
–
25.0
FiveFingers KSO
M
154
6.5
4.5
2.0
40.0
–
–
25.5
Zoot
Ultra Kane 2.0
M
375
29.9
18.5
11.4
46.0
11.5
10.5
29.5
Table 1 HTTD values for different running shoes.

Here you can find a list of my running-related posts. Now shut down the notebook and have a run!


Science and Training:
Races:

2013 Track & Field season

/ Ale Santuz / 2 Comments
Chronicle of a Steeplechase year

As said in last year’s end-of-season post, 2012 was my first season 10 years after quitting races. This year I kept on smashing my records (it’s so easy, when you start again from scratch), even if an Achilles tendinopathy tried to stop me. 

Taken from the athlete profile section, here’s a review of my improvements:

Outdoor progression of main events.

Some targets were achieved, some others just approached. I really wanted to run sub 10:10.00 in the steeplechase event, but maybe I forced too much in the first part of the season. I am very proud, though, of my improvements in longer distances.
Definitely the most important point is that I finally found a great team here in Berlin and I can say I picked up the right pace to start the winter season in a proper way. Carsten, Sebbi, Micha, Merlin…they were all very kind in relieving my forced stop. Not to mention, then, the great support I always had from mum, dad, Katrina and all the friends in Conegliano (Pie, Mattia and Gbo in a special way).

Over the water pit in one of the last races.
Last, but not least, the irreplaceable help from my technical partners has been again crucial. Brooks Running Italy and “himaxx” (Center for Altitude Training, Berlin) continue to follow my journey strongly. Thank you!
As usual, I tried to condense all the emotions, motivations and regrets in a single, short video. Nothing is better than direct experience to understand what lies under a whirling Track and Field year. But the images and the music itself are quite appropriate for trying to understand. 
So, again, welcome to my world. Enjoy and…keep on training!

A nice gift from Brooks Running Italy

/ Ale Santuz / 4 Comments
Brooks Running Italy recently wrote a beautiful article about me. In the next lines a translation from the original piece. Thanks Brooks!

March 12th, 2013 
THE GREAT BROOKS PASSION!
The large Brooks family is not only full of well-known athletes. A lot of young and passionate guys revitalise the “Run Happy” philosophy…
This is the case for Alessandro Santuz, born in Conegliano (TV – Italy), a great running enthusiast that have been training since he was 11.
After a short break to finish his studies in Aerospace Engineering at University of Padua, in 2011 he started again to run in the 3000 m steeplechase event. A discipline requiring a lot of willpower and hard workouts.
He currently lives in Germany and trains with a group of athletes led by the two-time Olympian in the 1500 m event Carsten Schlangen.
Alessandro grinds lots of kilometres, around 400 each month, and told us that Brooks shoes and apparel are his  ideal companions: “Now I have cumulated about 1300 km with different models of shoes and clothing, and I was surprised by the excellent quality of materials and exceptional attention to detail…that said, I won’t ever leave Brooks!”. Those were his exact words.
Alessandro writes a very interesting blog about his activities and sports experiences!
VISIT HIS BLOG AND…RUN HAPPY! 

 

Tough Guy: the safest most dangerous event in the world

/ Ale Santuz / 6 Comments

Some of you surely remember my post about the Red Bull 400 or the Sant’Antoni’s Night Trail, that both show my inclination to strange races. But what you are going to see in this video posted by Brooks Running Germany YouTube channel, is somewhat over the normal conception of “tough race”. The “Tough Guy” is claimed by its organisers to be “the safest most dangerous event in the world”. You won’t find it hard to believe after the first seconds of the following clip.

The course map says it all, with a section named “Killing Fields” and another called “Bracken Maze Tortures”! My favourite part would certainly be the “Brasher-Disley Steeplechase” (you can have an overview at the minute 1:52), even if I’m not so sure that all that mud is going to help the fun…

Many congratulations to Knut Höhler (Brooks Running Team) for the Hattrick!