The history of athletics is written by sporting feats, such as those achieved by Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei on the weekend of October 12 and 13, which will be one to remember. Here, NikeRunning shoes have a lot to say that these two Kenyan runners have achieved stratospheric marks in the mythical distance of the marathon. Kipchoge ran with an evolution of the famous Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%, a prototype named Nike Alphafly.
Eliud Kipchoge's great feat is to be the first athlete to run a marathon under two hours, stopping the clock at an incredible 1.59:40. The image of him entering the finish line in Vienna's Prater Park, pointing at the crowd and beating his chest, will go down in athletics history, even though his record has not yet been officially recognized. But neither is the feat achieved by her compatriot, the young Brigid Kosgei, who has become the new female marathon record holder with a time of 2.14:04 in the 2019 Chicago Marathon, breaking the previous record of the charismatic British athlete Paula Radcliffe of 2.15:25, which dated back to 2003.
Nike AlphaFly, Kipchoge's flying shoe to go under 2 hours in marathon.
Recovering that snapshot of Kipchoge overtaking the finish line, and almost unable to slow down and barely showing any apparent muscle fatigue, already throws clues as to what this innovative and revolutionary Nike AlphaFly is capable of offering to the athlete's performance. This new Nike competition model is at the center of controversy when it comes to establishing whether technology applied to Running shoes should be restricted in order to help athletes achieve their sporting goals. The debate is wide open and interesting, but will be the subject of another post.
However, the hard data is that these Nike Alpha Fly shoes contributed, to a large extent, to Eliud Kipchoge being able to maintain a constant pace of 2:50min/km during these historic 42 kilometers in Vienna. In other words, the current world record holder in the men's marathon was able to run over 22 kilometers per hour.
With this Nike AlphaFly, the goal has not changed, and it is focused on making the athlete faster and more efficient with every stride. Hence, the technological innovations included are very significant, although they also maintain elements already seen in previous models, such as the reactive ZoomX foam, although in greater proportion. Despite being a prototype, the main innovations of the AlphaFly are concentrated in the implementation of air chambers, a triple layer of carbon and a new upper mesh, known as AtomKnit, to offer a more personalized and adaptive fit to the natural movement of the foot.
It is also particularly striking that, despite the fact that these Nike AlphaFly's are taller, thicker, and even somewhat heavier, they are designed to perform transitions with a higher degree of flexibility and reactivity so that every runner enjoys a more even and stable stride. Even being able to reduce muscle fatigue.
The Nike Vaporfly Next%, the Running shoes of the records
Beyond the controversies generated around the sports equipment used by Kipchoge and Kosgei, what is clear is that these two historic athletic milestones have raised the NikeRunning shoes, which both Eliud Kipoche has used in his particular INEOS 1:59 Challenge and Brigid Kosgei has used to win the Chicago Marathon and become the fastest marathon runner today.
We are talking about the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%, the best competition model that the Oregon brand has built to date, and while waiting for the official launch of the Nike AlphaFly, to improve the athlete's performance on the asphalt, the model worn by Kipchoge in Vienna represents what is to come from Nike Running, being the fourth generation of the Vaporfly flying shoes. A whole compendium of innovation to make these Kenyan athletes run faster, and improve their performance in each stride. More data to take into account is that the 41 pacemarkers of Kipchoge in the historic sporting achievement of the Austrian capital also wore the Vaporfly Next% model.
That "hunger" to improve marks, achieve success and overcome limits and barriers is what drives a figure like Eliud Kipchoge not to throw in the towel at any time, and adding training after training of that goal, has also served to drive the development and technological evolution of Nike Running shoes. In recent years, good old Kipchoge has been an active part and has participated, in a significant way, in the progress and advancement of the most emblematic models, such as the Nike Pegasus 36, the Nike Vomero 14, the Nike Epic React Flyknit, the Nike Zoom Fly, and of course in those Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next%. The result is none other thanNike Running has managed to redefine its marathon Running shoes.
Why are the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% the fastest marathon running shoes?
In Runnea we are clear that our task is not to judge whether or not Running shoes are legal, although to provide a fact, yes, the IAAF rules, in its article 143, is somewhat diffuse in this regard, because it says that the competition shoes should not be constructed so as to give an unfair advantage to athletes".
However, and referring to the facts, and the trademarks for these ZoomX Vaporfly Next% are able to bring a very noticeable improvement to the athlete's performance. But it should also be clear that the one who runs is the athlete, and what drives him to move forward are his legs, although the Running shoes have the ability to help in that purpose.
Therefore, in the very construction of these Nike Vaporfly Next% we find the key to reveal why they have become the fastest marathon running shoes in history to date. Let's say that their differential and competitive valor is that these Vaporfly Next% are lighter (about 190 grams in weight), more stable and better cushioned with a higher energy return than in previous versions, but they are also capable of reducing muscle fatigue, which favors performance over long distances.
The 5 layers of the Nike Vaporfly Next%.
From top to bottom, these Nike Vaporfly Next% are a clear example of technological innovation, and how it can be effective in aiding in the constant improvement of the runner's athletic performance.
- VaporWeave upper
Features the innovative VaporWeave material, which sits on an engineered mesh, made from Woven fabric, and contributes to a lighter and more breathable model, but also ensures a more secure and comfortable fit.
- ZoomX foam in the midsole
It is presented in a double layer to provide greater comfort, and the properties of this foam are focused on improving energy return, increasing the feeling of reactivity in each step.
- Carbon fiber plate in the midsole
It comes sandwiched between these two layers of ZoomX foams, completing the construction of the midsole. On the one hand, its mission is focused on preventing energy loss in the forefoot area of the shoe. But it also adds a greater degree of stiffness in the flexion of the foot. In this way, transitions are more dynamic, faster and smoother.
As indicated from Nike, this carbon plate injected in this third generation of the Vaporfly Next% comes to provide an improved metabolic efficiency of 5, and according to research conducted in this regard by the American firm.
- Outsole
With the idea of increasing traction on different types of surfaces to adapt to changing weather conditions, the outsole of these Vaporfly Next% features a flexible groove pattern.
Thus, these Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% have been present in Eliud Kipchoge's recent successes with the marathon world record (2.01:39) in Berlin 2018, and also in the women's marathon record of 2.14:04 at the 2019 Chicago Marathon, held by Brigid Kosgei.
So, the reflection left by this latest generation of the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% is that the war between the top brands in the running segment, to manufacture the best running shoe for running marathons, is open. And at the moment, Nike seems to have taken the lead over its main competitors. It won't be long before we see the fourth generation of this Vaporfly saga on the market, the Nike AlphaFly, the model that helped Eliud Kipchoge become the first athlete in the world to break 2 hours in a marathon.
Photos: INEOS 1:59 Challenge Marathon
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