Sabastian Sawe’s sub 2-hour marathon pushes Adidas ahead in feet feats
Sabastyan Sawe He wasn’t the only winner to break the world record at the London Marathon on Sunday by becoming the first person to run a marathon in under two hours in a legal race.
The Kenyan was wearing a revolutionary pair of ultralight shoes that put Adidas ahead of Nike in another race – the race to equip feet for record achievements.
Crossing the finish line in 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds, Sawe raised one of his weapons. Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 He kicked it and someone wrote “WR” and “sub2” on it before lifting it into the air in victory.
“Breaking the world record is something I’ve dreamed of for a long time and to achieve it means a lot to me and the sport of running,” Sawe told reporters. “This reflects the hard work behind the scenes, the support of my team and the role of innovation in helping me push boundaries. I am honored to be part of a new chapter in the sport.”
Additionally, men wearing Adidas shoes ranked second. Yomif KejelchaBreaking the two-hour barrier in 1:59:41 and winning the women’s race Tigist AssefaShe became the fastest female marathon runner ever, finishing in 2:15:41, breaking the world record by nine seconds.
“The Adidas family is incredibly proud of Sabastian and Tigist’s historic achievements,” said Adidas running general manager Patrick Nava. “This is a testament to the years of hard work and dedication from our innovation team who have produced a groundbreaking super shoe in the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.”
Athletic shoe giants Adidas and Nike have been engaged in a decade-long rivalry to develop a shoe that would move a runner at 26.2 mph in under two hours. Nike developed carbon fiber running shoes as part of the Breaking 2 project in 2016; this was an innovation that allowed for faster marathon times.
The shoes feature thick soles made of tough, curved carbon plates and lightweight foam, and Nike claims they improve running economy by up to 4%. The plates are spring-loaded, which provides a propulsive effect while increasing foot stability.
Unfortunately, these Nike ZoomX Vaporfly The shoes have yet to enable a runner to break the 2-hour barrier in a legal marathon. Eliud Kipchoge He wore the shoes in 2019, when he ran 1:59:40 at a record-breaking event in Vienna, Austria.
The previously recognized world record of 2:00:35 was broken at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023. Kelvin Kiptumwho wore it Nike Alphafly 3 prototype.
Sawe, 29, has won the London Marathon numerous times and won all four major marathons in which he has competed. He got faster as the race progressed. Assefa, 29, also finished strongly for his fourth major marathon victory. The Ethiopian also won the London Marathon last year and has won twice in Berlin.
Both runners were elite before wearing Adidas shoes. But the truth is that they are not Nike, they see themselves as users and spokespeople of this brand. The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3s are an upgrade from the models worn in the six major marathon wins in 2025.
This improvement was achieved primarily by redesigning the carbon fiber and foam, reducing the weight of the shoe by 30%, down to 3.4 ounces for a size 9 men’s shoe. The upper sole is made of an almost translucent fabric inspired by the material Used in kites.
Even a 2% improvement in running economy (a runner’s metabolic, cardiorespiratory, and biomechanical efficiency) can shave minutes off a 26.2-mile marathon.
“Great shoes for racing, very light,” Assefa said. “Before the race, my coach said you could win and break the world record. That was his confidence.” [that made the difference].”
Adidas and Nike aren’t alone in redefining the word “foot racing.” Asics, Hoka, Saucony and Swiss brand On are also in the game. However, the first person to exceed the 2-hour limit was only able to wear one.
Despite weighing less than half the weight of a typical running shoe, the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3s have definitely become big shoes to fill.
