How to make progress when innovation is a backwards step.

In 2021, I ran 1013 km in one month, across 22 back-to-back ultramarathons.?

A couple of runs into my adventure, I had to make significant changes to the equipment lineup. As much as I wanted to be a good ambassador, my sponsor's shoes just weren’t dialling in. I couldn’t continue and risk the challenge; I had to abandon their kit. I slipped back into a pair of run-in Saucony Endorphin Speed 2s, and with the exception of using Hoka Speedgoat 3s for the brutal Haltwhistle to Penrith stage in Cumbria, ran them all the way to the finish line across every terrain.?

As soon as I got home, I bought a replacement pair.?

Fast forward two years - and probably 1500 km - later and the shoes weren’t offering me any benefits at all. The midsole was completely compressed, the tread was worn right through and the upper was in tatters; they’d done the hard miles.?

I went online to buy their replacements to be greeted by the considerably more expensive Endorphin Speed 3. Fair enough, with Brexit, the economy more generally, and advances in technology trickling down from the top-of-the-range racing thoroughbreds, I expected a hike.?

What was more concerning were reviews from people who had used Speed 2s and ‘upgraded’ to 3s. Several complained that the midsole wasn’t as responsive, despite new-fangled plate technologies. To be clear, many new customers loved them. However, I didn’t want to - and couldn't afford - to compromise the brilliant performance of my go-to workhorse of the last three years and thousands of km. I scoured the internet to find a pair of discontinued Speed 2s instead.

What happens when a forward step isn’t delivering progress? How do you react to a less-than-positive reaction to a stalwart of your portfolio? I’m sure this is a question that must have been front of mind for the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team, with its Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance 2023 car, only marginally improved on the disastrous W13.?

Perhaps it would be better to take two steps backwards to take one forward? Roll back to the winning formula and make small incremental improvements from there, making different decisions that compromised your latest iteration? Or understand the DNA of your winning formula and run the path back towards it after deviating from the course.

It takes leadership to admit “we fucked up” and move forward on a better footing.?

For now, I’m stockpiling the Speed 2s, without doubt, the finest shoes I have ever run in day-to-day and race environments, on the road and on solid trails.?

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Addendum.?

Delays in production meant that the kit my sponsor provided didn’t arrive before I left home for six weeks to start running. In the spirit of good ambassadorship, I bought a pair of their road and trail shoes, without time to test them beforehand. I am sure if production and delivery hadn’t been an issue, we would have found the right kit for the job. I am very grateful to my shoe sponsor for RTC 2021.?

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I am seeking 2024 sponsors. We should start working together sooner rather than later.?

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If Saucony would like to provide Speed 3s for me to make my own judgement, I’m all in.?

In my newest blog post, I talk about very specific shoes. And how their example can teach us something about innovation and progress. Link in my bio.??

#fitness?#running?#innovation?#progress?#sport?#shoes?#sportshoes?#ambassador