Lighter than a bar of soap – the shoes worn to shatter marathon record

Lighter than a bar of soap – In a dramatic display of athletic prowess, Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha emerged from the London Marathon on Sunday as the latest pioneers to redefine the limits of human endurance. Their performances, which saw both runners complete the 26.2-mile course in under two hours, marked a historic milestone in the world of long-distance running. While the achievement itself was groundbreaking, the focus quickly shifted to the technology that enabled it—Adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, a shoe engineered to push the boundaries of speed and efficiency.

A New Era of Speed

Sawe, a 31-year-old Kenyan, claimed the world record with a time of 1:59:30, eclipsing the previous mark set by Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago. His victory was not just a personal triumph but a validation of the relentless pursuit of marginal gains in marathon running. Kejelcha, an Ethiopian competitor, finished just 10 seconds behind Sawe, securing his place as the second man to cross the finish line in under two hours. In the women’s race, Tigst Assefa, also from Ethiopia, improved her own world record by nine seconds, clocking 2:15:41—a testament to the same technological advancements fueling her male counterparts.

These records were not achieved by chance. The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, launched just two days before the London event on April 25, represented the culmination of years of research and development. Adidas worked closely with Sawe, Kejelcha, and Assefa over the past three years to refine the shoe’s design, focusing on reducing weight and enhancing performance. The result? A trainer that tips the scales at 99 grams—lighter than a medium-sized apple, a banana, or a bar of soap. Such a feat has sparked intense debate within the running community, with many questioning whether the shoes themselves are the true architects of these record-breaking runs.

“At that level, every detail really matters—measuring down to the nearest nanogram,” said Patrick Nava, Adidas’ VP of running. “It was a long process, but it’s led to something we believe genuinely changes what a race-day shoe can feel like.”

The Pro Evo 3’s innovation lies in its use of carbon technology integrated into the midsole rather than a rigid carbon plate. This design choice allows for a more natural running motion while maintaining the structural support needed for elite performance. The shoe’s ultra-lightweight construction is a game-changer for marathoners, offering a balance between speed and stability that previous models could not match. Sawe credited the shoes as the key to his breakthrough, calling them “very light” and “stable,” which he said gave him the confidence to push harder during the race.

The Cost of Innovation

For the casual runner, the technology behind these shoes comes at a price. A limited release of the Pro Evo 3 saw the shoes priced at £450, a sum that could be daunting for everyday athletes. However, as the demand for cutting-edge gear grows, so does the likelihood of more affordable versions hitting the market. The shoe’s success has already drawn attention from rival brands, with Asics, Saucony, Hoka, Brooks, and New Balance all represented among Sunday’s competitors.

The competition between sportswear giants has intensified in recent years, driven by the sport’s rising popularity. Nike, once the undisputed leader, faced challenges when Kiptum set the previous world record in Chicago using the Alphafly 3s. Yet, the London result has rekindled Adidas’ position as a frontrunner in the quest for faster times. Nava emphasized that the goal is not to outdo competitors but to empower athletes to reach their full potential: “Ultimately, we want the athletes to be their best. We want them to win.”

Regulatory Challenges and the Future of the Sport

As the boundaries of marathon performance continue to blur, governing bodies like World Athletics are under pressure to adapt. In January 2022, the organization updated its regulations to address concerns about footwear technology. The new rules stipulate that shoes must be available to “any athletes participating in applicable competitions,” with a maximum stack height of 40mm and no more than one carbon plate. While these constraints aim to ensure fairness, they have also sparked questions about the role of innovation in the sport’s evolution.

The London event demonstrated how these rules can be pushed to their limits. The Pro Evo 3, with its carbon-wrapped midsole and minimal weight, navigated the guidelines while delivering a performance that many had deemed impossible. As the sport moves forward, the interplay between technology and tradition will remain central. Whether through lighter shoes, smarter materials, or new training methodologies, the pursuit of excellence is unrelenting. For Sawe, Kejelcha, and Assefa, Sunday’s runs were not just about breaking records but about reimagining what marathon running can achieve.

The legacy of these achievements will likely shape the future of the sport. As the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 becomes more widely available, its impact on marathon times may extend beyond the elite. The shoe’s success has already set a new standard, proving that even the smallest improvements in design can yield transformative results. For now, the focus remains on the runners who turned these innovations into reality, their names etched into history alongside the pioneers of the past.

While the race-day shoes may be the subject of much discussion, the ultimate question remains: does technology elevate the sport or diminish its purity? For the athletes who crossed the finish line in record time, the answer is clear. Their performances are a celebration of human potential, powered by the latest advancements in footwear. As the competition between brands intensifies, the next chapter in marathon history is sure to be written with even lighter steps and faster times. The future of the sport, like the shoes themselves, is as light as it is ambitious.