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Kelvin Kiptum's marathon record sparks debate over 'super shoes' – game-changer or unfair advantage? The marathon world watches in awe.
The world of marathon running has been turned upside down in recent years, with records shattering and athletes achieving the seemingly impossible.
The secret behind this transformation? "Super shoes" - a revolutionary technology that has taken the running world by storm. Kelvin Kiptum's recent world record-breaking performance in the Chicago Marathon has reignited the debate around the impact of these shoes on the sport.
Kiptum's incredible achievement, completing the marathon in an astonishing 2:00:35, has left both enthusiasts and skeptics wondering: did his choice of footwear give him an advantage?
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11:30 - 09.10.2023
ATHLETICS The mysterious shoe that propelled Kelvin Kiptum to setting a new world record in Chicago
Mystery surrounds the actual details of the super shoe and there are claims that it is the best answer to Adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, that Tigst Assefa wore in Berlin.
To answer this question, one needs to dive into the world of super shoes and understand their role in the recent surge of record-breaking performances.
The term "super shoes" refers to a new breed of running footwear that emerged in 2016, with the Nike Vaporfly 4% leading the way. These shoes have two essential components: thick soles made from superlight, energy-returning foam and rigid plates, often crafted from carbon fiber, which create a spring-like effect for runners. The combination of these elements has been proven to enhance performance significantly.
Eliud Kipchoge's remarkable feat of breaking the men's marathon world record by over a minute in 2018 with a time of 2:01:39 in Berlin was a watershed moment. Kipchoge, using Nike's Vaporfly, showcased the incredible potential of super shoes. His historic sub-2-hour marathon, dubbed INEOS 1:59, in Vienna in 2019, although not officially recognised, further solidified the shoes' reputation.
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11:06 - 26.09.2023
ATHLETICS: A look at Sh72, 000 shoe that Tigist Assefa rode on to break the marathon World Record
Competing in just but her third marathon, Tigist Assefa shattered the world record, and her running shoes are said to have played a huge role in that.
Kiptum's success in Chicago is not an isolated incident; it's part of a broader trend. All major athletic brands, including Adidas, Brooks, Saucony, New Balance, Hoka, and Asics, have entered the super shoe market. Today, more than half of all sub-3-hour marathons are completed by runners wearing some variant of these shoes.
The influence of super shoes extends to the women's category as well. Tigist Assesfa from Ethiopia shattered the women's world marathon record by over two minutes at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, clocking an astonishing 2:11:53, while wearing Adidas' Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1. These shoes, designed for professional runners and costing $500 (Ksh74,000) a pair, have become the choice of the elite.
But it is not just anecdotal evidence; data supports the claims of super shoes' efficacy. A 2017 Nike study found that running economy, measured by the amount of oxygen needed to run a specified distance, increased by 4% for runners using super shoes. In 2019, a New York Times study discovered that runners wearing Nike's super shoes ran 4% to 5% faster than those in average running shoes and 2% to 3% faster than runners wearing the next fastest popular shoe.
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12:30 - 14.10.2023
ATHLETICS Marathon legend explains why Eliud Kipchoge and Kelvin Kiptum could be a problem for Kenya at Paris Olympics
Kenyan marathon legend Ibrahim Hussein feels the country could lose out big if Eliud Kipchoge and Kelvin Kiptum stick to their guns at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Moreover, the top 10 all-time marathon records, as recognised by World Athletics, have all occurred between 2018 and 2023, coinciding with the rise of super shoes. These shoes, once seen as groundbreaking technology for the 1% of elite runners, are now accessible to anyone willing to invest $200 (Ksh29,000)or more.
However, the debate surrounding super shoes is not limited to their impact on performance but also their legality. In December 2021, World Athletics, the governing body for track and field, introduced "Athletic Shoe Regulations." These regulations set guidelines for approving shoes but also grandfathered in Nike's line of super shoes. The rules stipulate that shoes must have no sole thicker than 40mm, no more than one rigid structure (e.g carbon fiber plates), and must be available for purchase by consumers for at least one month.
Critics argue that these shoes give an unfair advantage to those who can afford them. They claim that the technological advancements have disrupted the level playing field of marathon running. However, as of now, none of the shoes used to break records have been deemed illegal under World Athletics' Shoe Regulations.
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10:45 - 14.10.2023
ATHLETICS Peres Jepchirchir shares why it will take time to break the women's world record again
Peres Jepchirchir has shared her insights on why it will take longer for the women's marathon world record to be broken.
It's essential to recognise that advancements in sports technology are not new. Throughout history, training methods and recovery techniques have continually evolved, leading to enhanced performance across all sports. From baseball's Mickey Mantle to Mike Trout, from basketball's Larry Bird to LeBron James, and from swimming's Mark Spitz to Michael Phelps, each era has seen progress that redefines the limits of human achievement.
Super shoes are the latest example of this trend. They started as a cutting-edge technology reserved for the world's best runners but have now become mainstream, available from various manufacturers. This technological progress pushes the boundaries of what is possible in sports.
The question remains: Will Kelvin Kiptum, at just 23, be the one to accomplish the once-thought impossible sub-2-hour marathon? With super shoes pushing the pace of innovation and athletes pushing their limits, it seems increasingly likely. The debate surrounding these remarkable shoes will undoubtedly continue, but one thing is clear: they have ushered in a new era of marathon running, where records are made to be broken, and the sky's the limit.
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