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> As an avid runner (10 miles every day, over 3k miles last year), shoes and tracks mean less than you think.

I’m also a fairly avid runner and I’m going to call BS on that.

There’s a ~14 second difference in world record times between track and road in the 5k. Track surface technology is a real thing, just as shoe technology is.

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A 14 second difference is less than 2% of the total time though, so it doesn't entirely disagree with them. Between dirt in casual running shoes to a track and top tech shoes, there would I guess be about a 15-20% difference, and most of that would be the surface. I would speculate more for a sprint as traction/acceleration is more critical.

Right, track surface is a big differentiator, let alone shorter indoor 200m tracks.

There’s a big difference in shoe technology between road and track too, primarily in terms of the amount of super foam allowed which in terms of the shoe is generally what seems to provide the most benefit.

For sprints in particular, the spikes make a decent difference on the track, more so for elite athletes as they need the extra traction more

Yep, but for longer distances the track has a better energy return than running on the road.

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