Shoe Review: Brooks Hyperion Tempo

Sponsored by Zappos. All opinions are my own.

With fall racing around the corner, most of us are gearing up for an intense summer of fast miles in the heat. As tough as it is to train during this time, we just need to find what motivates us to get up and get it done. I don’t know about you but a fast pair of running shoes really does the trick to get me excited to work hard. There are so many to choose from, though, so it can get a little overwhelming trying to find the perfect shoe rotation. There are several components to shoes that determine what they are best used for. You have to consider the weight, materials, responsiveness, and cushioning levels when picking what to wear for long runs, speed sessions, track workouts, and your every day easy runs.

I’ve been so happy with my recent addition of the Brooks Adrenaline that I got so intrigued by what else the brand has to offer. I’ve been in search for a shoe that works for longer distance speed work, since that’s my goal for the summer. Thankfully I got my hands on a pair of the Brooks Hyperion Tempo from Zappos. The Hyperion is a line that was created with input from some of the top elite runners, so you can probably guess they are made to go fast!

Zappos never lets me down. I can always count on finding any pair I’m looking for with their extremely large selection of running shoes and expert customer service that is always ready to answer all of my questions. As a VIP member you not only get these benefits, but also super fast and free shipping—even during the pandemic I got my shoes within a couple of days! Free returns for a year is also part of the VIP program, which you won’t find anywhere else. If you love to shop and want the best selections, I highly recommend being a VIP member, which is also free by the way!

Weight Matters

Most runners try to find the lightest pair of shoes for every run. In general, this is a good idea. No one wants to be pounding the pavement with a bulky pair. Normally the lightest shoes are made for short distance speed work like track sessions and for racing, and developed with materials that most likely are the least supportive and cushioned since this will add weight to the shoe. The tricky part about finding the right shoes for half and full marathon training is that you have to look hard for a shoe that has both components—lightweight AND supportive. The Brooks Hyperion Tempo falls into this category.

Faster Recovery

I first tested these out for a short, easy run to break them in a little, and then added a few strides at the end to see how they felt for faster paces. I was impressed to find that they really didn’t need to be broken in—they felt flexible and soft from the start. The DNA FLASH midsole is infused with nitrogen, which is what helps the shoe give off a superb energy return. This is important for fast running because you want that force you’re putting into the shoe to be used to push off and accelerate as fast as possible. Basically, the goal is zero waste of energy, so that you can recover faster. Shoes that don’t provide this make your feet and muscles work harder to gain the speed you are aiming for, therefore increasing fatigue and delaying recovery.

Unlike other distance running shoes, the Brooks Hyperion Tempo are far from rigid. The upper is made with stretchy material that hugs the foot, but are pretty roomy in the forefoot. This means when feet swell after long distances, which is normal, you don’t have to worry about the shoes feeling tight during the second half of those long sessions. After using these for the second time on a 12 mile run in 85-degree weather, I was happy to see that they truly felt breathable even given how much I sweat during these hot summer runs! Breathable shoes means less risk of painful blisters and chafing, which can be a major limitation to any amount of running. You are guaranteed to feel light on your feet, since this pair does not hold on to moisture.

If you are preparing for a half or full marathon this summer, the Brooks Hyperion Tempo is a great option for longer and faster runs. There are two sleek color combinations to choose from, so head over to Zappos to order yours today and sign up for that VIP membership so you can reap the rewards!

Awkward Tightness in the Legs? It May Be Compartment Syndrome

The most common area of the body in which runners complain of pain is the lower leg. Of course when you think about the mechanics of running, the lower leg receives the majority of the impact since it carries the most weight throughout the running cycle. This is why conditions such as knee pain, and more commonly plantar fasciitis are frequent. One of the more misdiagnosed conditions seen in recreational runners and elite athletes is chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS). During exercise blood flow increases and muscles expand. The pain from CECS is felt when the lower leg areas become swollen during exercise, if the fascia, which is basically a sheath that wraps around the muscles, does not expand with the muscles.

Symptoms

The type of pain usually felt with CECS is aching or burning in a specific area of the lower leg that begins at a certain time after beginning activity. Most commonly, the pain occurs in both legs and either in the posterior compartment (calves) or anterior compartment (shins). Along with pain, numbness or tingling, as well as tightness can be felt that worsens as you continue the exercise. These symptoms usually subside within 10 to 20 minutes after stopping the activity.

Differential Diagnosis

The reason this condition is misdiagnosed is because it resembles other more common conditions such as shin splints and tibial stress fractures. Shin splints are caused by overuse of the muscles connected to the shin bone, causing small tears which result in the muscle being “pulled” off the bone. The pain from shin splints is felt along most of the shin bone, whereas a tibial stress fracture is felt at a localized point in the bone. Both of these conditions, along with CECS, result in pain in similar areas and are usually caused by either improper biomechanics or overuse from adding mileage or intensity too soon during training.

If you are experiencing pain during exertion, especially if it begins within the first 10 to 20 minutes of a run and relieves within 10 to 20 minutes after stopping, get evaluated by a professional. If along with the pain is a sensation of significant tightness in the lower legs, CECS is most likely expected. An MRI will help rule out specific muscular issues. There are newer, more advanced MRI exams that can assess how much fluid accumulation there is in the compartments of the lower leg during activity, which has been found to be accurate in diagnosing CECS. It may limit the need to use the more invasive approach of diagnosing which is compartment pressure testing where needles are inserted into the muscles to evaluate the amount of pressure present.

Treatment

The goal of treating CECS is to relieve the pressure in the affected compartment during exertion. Unfortunately, the first step in treatment is avoiding aggravating activities, such as running. Doctors may prescribe NSAIDs and an icing regimen to help decrease the inflammation. During this rest time from activity, it is effective to include techniques to keep the muscles and fascia flexible such as massage and stretching. Once the symptoms are more controlled, it is important to ease back into running VERY gradually to be able to monitor returning symptoms. As you do this, strengthening all lower leg muscles, including the feet, should be incorporated.

Calf stretching should include performing with the knee straight, to stretch the outer muscles, and bent to stretch the deep soleus muscle.

The simplest way to keep the anterior dorsiflexors (along the shin) loose, is to use the foam roller or other deep tissue massager.

The first exercise most athletes include for the lower leg are basic heel raises. As mentioned above, the calves also include a deeper muscle called the Soleus, that often lacks sufficient strength. You can target these muscles by performing the heel raise exercise with a bent knee, or sitting adding weight to your lap.

Weakness in the ankle and foot may also contribute to lower leg issues. To target these ankle and foot stabilizers, using a resistance band is effective. Other exercises include single leg standing on a stable and unstable surface such as a foam mat or balance disc.

Unfortunately, in the majority of the more severe cases, a surgical procedure, called a fasciotomy, is required. Basically the fascia itself is cut open to relieve the tension in order to allow normal blood flow and muscle expansion to cause less pressure during activity. The recovery time after this procedure is quite short and allows athletes to return to their sport within 6 to 12 weeks. Post-surgical rehabilitation requires the same treatment as the conservative approach mentioned above.

Prevention & Maintenance

Biomechanics, or running form, is commonly blamed for lower leg dysfunction, such as CECS. Research has been done on evaluating foot strike patterns in runners and how these patterns may cause mechanical issues in joints from the lower leg to the hip and spine. When one uses the heel strike for landing during running, the anterior compartment muscles, the dorsiflexors, must act eccentrically to control the foot from slapping onto the ground with every step. This causes overuse and inflammation in the area. Many studies have evaluated the outcome of changing this foot strike pattern to a mid-foot or forefoot landing, and have concluded that this may help control and even resolve CECS. This is a change that should be done gradually, such as beginning with 5 minutes of forefoot strike in a single run and adding 5 minutes every few runs.

Another prevention option is running with shoes and/or orthotics that limit pronation of the foot. Overpronating requires even more work for the dorsiflexor muscles and causes increased tightness to the entire lower leg compartment muscles.

The exercises mentioned above should be incorporated to help prevent CECS and other lower leg dysfunction, as many times weakness and inflexibility are the cause. If you have been diagnosed with CECS or are experiencing symptoms, make sure to back off of the aggravating activities and always ease back into it during recovery. Seek medical advice if symptoms do not resolve or become severe. Remember, the quicker you take care of your pain, the quicker you will be back to doing what you love.

Sources

Tucker, Alicia K, Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Leg, Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, April 2, 2020.

Gallo, Robert A., Michael Plakke, and Matthew L. Silvis, Common Leg Injuries of Long-Distance Runners: Anatomical and Biomechanical Approach, Sports Health, April 2, 2020.

Gibson, Alexander, Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome and Forefoot Striking: A Case Study, International Journal of Athletic Therapy & Training, April 2, 2020.