Adidas has launched its innovative running shoes, enabling South African athlete Sibusiso Kubheka to break the 100km world record, completing the distance in a remarkable time of 5:59:20 on August 26, 2023. The historic achievement occurred at the Nardò Ring in southern Italy, where Kubheka outperformed the previous record by over six minutes.
The shoes, dubbed the Adizero Evo Prime X, were crafted with cutting-edge technology designed to optimize performance. Over a six-month period, Adidas’ innovation team meticulously developed this footwear, focusing on maximizing every aspect of the runners’ experience. The shoes were tailored to each athlete, ensuring they met individual biomechanics and performance needs.
In addition to Kubheka, three other athletes participated in the record attempt. Aleksandr Sorokin, the former record holder from Lithuania, finished with a time of 6:03:47, while American Charlie Lawrence and Sorokin himself both achieved times under the previous record, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new footwear.
Revolutionary Design and Performance
The Adizero Evo Prime X shoes are notable for their advanced composition and design. According to Clemens Dyckmans, the director of Athlete Solutions at Adidas, the prototypes were stored in a pressurized canister to maintain their unique attributes until the moment of use. The shoes feature a new grade of Lightstrike Pro EVO foam, which is lighter and more responsive than existing options in the market.
Athletes benefited from a customized fit tailored to their specific running styles. The shoes included significant design elements, such as varying stack heights and foam densities, to provide optimal performance. This bespoke approach resulted in shoes that felt not just light but also provided an unprecedented level of spring.
Japanese athlete Jo Fukada, who tested the shoes, praised their effectiveness. “After I wore these shoes, I recognized that I could get through 100km,” Fukada remarked. “I felt full of energy the next day, with no fatigue at all.” This sentiment was echoed by Sorokin, who noted that the shoes made running feel more economical, stating, “It feels like they do 50 percent of the work.”
The Ultracharge Process and Future Innovations
One of the standout features of the Adizero Evo Prime X is the Ultracharge process, which alters the mechanical properties of the foam through pressurization. Dyckmans described this as a transformative technique, stating, “You put a pair of shoes in, you wait a few days, and a different pair comes out.” This innovation allows the shoes to be “supercharged” before they hit the track, enhancing their performance.
Adidas plans a limited release of the shoes in November 2023, though the consumer version will not feature the same level of customization as those used by the elite athletes. Instead, the retail version will incorporate some of the key innovations from the prototypes, such as the lighter foam and traction insights.
In addition to footwear, the record attempt incorporated advanced apparel technology. The athletes utilized CLIMACOOL pre-cooling and per-cooling systems, which included cooling vests and necks designed to regulate body temperature during the race. The Clima 3D singlet and TechFit tights were also introduced, aimed at improving airflow and reducing fatigue.
The success of this initiative highlights Adidas’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of sports performance through innovation. With the continued advancement of technologies like Ultracharge, the future of athletic footwear appears promising. As athletes and consumers alike await the commercial release, the groundbreaking achievements at Nardò Ring will likely influence running shoe development for years to come.
