Record-Breaking Runner Tigist Assefa Shatters Women’s Marathon World Record in Berlin
Runners worldwide were left stunned after witnessing Tigist Assefa break the women’s marathon world record in Berlin over the weekend. Assefa, an Ethiopian athlete, completed the 26.2-mile race in an incredible time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds. This surpassed the previous record by a jaw-dropping 131 seconds.
So, what contributed to Assefa’s phenomenal success? It was her choice of footwear – Adidas’ revolutionary ‘super shoe’ – the ADIZERO Adios Pro Evo 1. This racing shoe is known for its lightness, making it one of the most weightless racing shoes ever made. Assefa expressed her admiration for the shoes, stating, “This is the lightest racing shoe I have ever worn, and the feeling of running in them is an incredible experience – like nothing I’ve felt before.”
ADIZERO Adios Pro Evo 1: Key Features
- Regular fit
- Lace closure
- Textile upper
- Adizero sling launch heel lockdown
- ENERGYRODS limit energy loss
- Lightstrike Pro cushioning
- Weight: 138 g (size UK 8.5)
- Midsole drop: 6 mm (heel: 39 mm / forefoot: 33 mm)
- Continental Rubber outsole
Impressively, Adidas’ new racing shoe weighs a mere 138g. To put this into perspective, the average high-top Converse shoe weighs 340g – more than twice as heavy as the ADIZERO Adios Pro Evo 1. Moreover, it is 40% lighter than any other racing shoe by Adidas. This significant reduction in weight not only enhances running economy but also provides runners with superior energy return, as confirmed by the brand.
Patrick Nava, VP Product, Running & Credibility Sports at adidas, explained their design process, stating, “We explored every element of a racing shoe, balancing what we could remove or change to reduce the weight. Created with and for the fastest road racing athletes, this shoe is designed to help ambitious runners go even faster on race day.”
The standout feature of the ADIZERO Adios Pro Evo 1 is a unique 60% length forefoot rocker. This rocker triggers forward momentum, resulting in record-breaking speed and improved running economy, as described by Adidas.
Adidas managed to reduce weight in various ways for this racing shoe. They eliminated the conventional sockliner and used a new version of their Lightstrike Pro foam for the midsole. This new foam is crafted through a non-compression molding process, which not only significantly reduces weight but also enhances energy return for runners. Furthermore, the largest weight saving of 70g comes from a cutting-edge outsole – the thinnest and lightest ever created by Adidas. Despite its flat design, it provides exceptional grip, even in rainy conditions.
The top of the shoe features a lightweight mesh that is translucent, symbolizing the shoe’s remarkable lightness. Assefa praised the shoes, saying, “They enable me to put my full focus on the race, which is exactly what you want as an athlete.”
As impressive as these shoes are, they come with a hefty price tag of £400 in the UK and $500 in the US. Additionally, their single-use nature means runners won’t get much mileage out of them. Adidas includes a disclaimer in the box stating that the shoe is designed for one race, plus adequate time for familiarization.
Assefa isn’t the only elite athlete using these groundbreaking shoes. Other top runners who have put the ADIZERO Adios Pro Evo 1 to the test include Peres Jepchirchir, the reigning Olympic champion and two-time Major Marathon winner; Benson Kipruto, also a two-time Major Marathon winner; and Amanal Petros, the German national champion.
The success of these shoes, despite being 1mm below the 40mm thickness limit set by World Athletics for road races, is likely to reignite the controversy surrounding “technological doping” in the running community. This debate originally surfaced in 2016 with the launch of Nike’s Vaporfly shoes, which improved running economy by 4% and performance by 3%. The impact of these shoes varied greatly among athletes, with some experiencing differences of over 10%.
In an unrelated study, researchers from Ulster University discovered a surprising benefit of smiling during athletic performance. Smiling can reduce an athlete’s perceived effort, making the sport feel easier and decreasing energy expenditure. In fact, many top athletes, including Olympic marathon gold medallist Eliud Kipchoge, intentionally smile to enhance their performance.
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