Why Runners Who Started After 2020 Have Weaker Feet — and What ASICS & adidas Are Doing About It

If you started running in 2020 or later, your feet may be weaker than those of runners from the racing-flat era — and it's not your fault. It's the shoes. This video explains what changed, what the brands are doing next, and the three things you can start today so you're ready for it. I used to work in running-shoe R&D at a sports brand, and I'm based in Japan — the world's strongest thin-shoe market, where even the best sellers are now going bouncy. CHAPTERS 0:00 Started running after 2020? This is for you 0:23 Who I am 0:35 The conclusion first 1:01 Part 1: the 2020 boom and the shoes that all went one way 1:37 Bounce & roll: the shoe does your job 2:09 Why runners used to have stronger feet 2:49 Part 2: the ASICS METASLEEK proposal 3:32 adidas is even bolder (Adios 9 / Hyperboost Edge / Evo 3) 4:33 Why now: next-gen foam 5:19 Where the market in Japan stands 6:00 Part 3: 3 ways to prepare 6:40 Summary 7:07 Ending KEY NUMBERS IN THIS VIDEO ・Today's race shoes: about 40 mm stack, about 170 g / 6 oz ・adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3: 97 g / 3.4 oz (US men's 9, per adidas' April 2026 announcement) — no full-length plate or rods; a carbon-fiber-infused rim (ENERGYRIM) wraps the midsole perimeter, with pure foam directly underfoot ・Where this leads: around 25 mm and 85 g / 3 oz, with no full-length plate needed ・ASICS METASLEEK: $225 US MSRP, launched August 2026 — official concept: "Build the strength behind your speed" 3 WAYS TO PREPARE 1. Train foot strength daily — calf raises + towel scrunches, 5 minutes a day 2. Put one thin, flexible shoe in your rotation — once a week on an easy jog is enough 3. Feel your push-off — are you pushing with your big toe, or is the shoe pushing for you? SOURCES ・ASICS press release — METASLEEK (Aug 13, 2026) https://corp.asics.com/jp/press/artic... ・ASICS US product page — METASLEEK ($225) https://www.asics.com/us/en-us/metasl... ・Running Warehouse — ASICS METASLEEK https://www.runningwarehouse.com/ASIC... ・RoadTrailRun — adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 (April 2026) https://www.roadtrailrun.com/2026/04/... ・Running Warehouse — adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 (ENERGYRIM details) https://www.runningwarehouse.com/adid... ・Reference — Sagasu Running, "The Running Shoe Shift Nobody Sees Coming"    • The Running Shoe Shift Nobody Sees Coming   ABOUT THIS CHANNEL I buy running shoes, measure them, and run in them. I used to work in running-shoe research and development at a sports brand, and I make reviews built on real numbers rather than press releases. DISCLOSURE ・Weights and stack heights of shoes I have not measured myself are taken from the manufacturers' announcements. ・Adios Pro 5 details (ENERGYRODS + ENERGYRIM) are based on pre-release reports, not confirmed Adidas specs. ・No brand sponsored this video. #runningshoes #ASICS #adidas #METASLEEK #AdiosProEvo3 #supershoes #running #marathontraining #marathon