Speed runs tend to exploit a lot about a game.

(Or look at this run that's 8 seconds faster.)

In this case... Episode 2.  This speed run exploits Sonic & Tails team attack the Rolling Combo in the Beta 8 version which:

• Provides a lot of speed - pretty much max speed
• Is completely invincible
• Stops time
• Creates a lot of forward momentum
• Doesn't uncurl
• Scales walls
• Involves no directional input

So when you see something like this in the level...

You just go...

All I can say is...