Adidas launches new adizero adios Pro colourway ahead of half-marathon world record attempt

In June, Adidas launched the company’s fastest shoe yet, the adizero adios Pro, a racing shoe designed for marathon runners looking to run a personal best. Today, the company launches its new colourways ahead of Saturday’s RunCzech Prague Marathon where the top women will aim to break the women’s-only half-marathon world record. 

In 2005 the company created the first adizero shoe, which Haile Gebrselassie wore to run the marathon world record at the time. From there, the shoe took on several new forms, setting another four world records on the roads along the way. A decade later, competition from Nike forced Adidas to rethink its game, and after 50 versions of the adizero, the company’s response is adizero adios Pro, Adidas’s best road racing flat to date. 

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The key innovations

There are three key innovations that make the adizero Pro special: the energy rods and Lightstrike Pro. The energy rods are made of carbon and are designed to mimic the movements and structure of the metatarsal bones in the foot, which in turn optimizes running economy. They’re housed inside the Lightstrike foam midsole to produced the best ride possible for runners. 

Finally, the outsole is made of a very minimal application of rubber on the forefoot and heel (and nowhere else). This fits with the brand’s guiding motto to keep the shoe simple and only add exactly what runners need.

Who is it designed for?

This shoe is designed for anyone looking to run a fast marathon, but it will be optimal for those looking to complete the course in under three hours. It’s compliant with the new World Athletics shoe rules (which limit stack height to 40 mm) and Harry Miles, the company’s Concept Excellence Manager, explains that he and his team were able to comply as a result of the many prototypes they were testing. “We had tested over 50 different versions of the shoe, so we never veered from that path that we had mapped out, and the shoe that you will see is full approved for competition.”

“Our focus is on making athletes better, regardless of their calibre,” says Miles. 

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When and where can you buy it?

This shoe is available globally on September 14, and in Canada as of October 14 through adidas.ca, the adidas app, and select retailers.

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