Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe achieved a historic sub-two-hour marathon, clocking in at one hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds at the London Marathon. This monumental feat was significantly influenced by the advanced design of Adidas' lightest racing shoe, the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.
Patrick Nava, Adidas' general manager of running, detailed the shoe's innovations, including a 97-gram design that is 30% lighter than its predecessor. Key enhancements involved a new outsole with targeted traction, a thin rubber piece developed with Continental, and a 50% lighter foam. The shoe's upper utilizes a kite-surfing inspired material, chosen for its extreme lightness and durability. Even the laces were re-engineered and shortened for further weight reduction.
These design choices result in a 1.6% improvement in running economy compared to previous models, a critical margin in elite marathon running. While the Evo 3 is a limited, high-performance product akin to a Formula One car, a more commercially accessible version with similar technology is slated for release later in the year.
Sports researcher Geoff Burns noted that beyond time savings, these advanced shoes allow athletes to undertake more intensive training at race pace, potentially increasing weekly mileage. Adidas is already looking ahead, with Sawe expressing confidence in his ability to run even faster, reflecting the company's continuous pursuit of innovation.