A running shoe that’s so good it might be banned

Nike’s Vaporfly running shoes give athletes a 4.2% advantage compared to the rival Adidas Adizero Adios 3 shoes.

Geoff Burns, a kinesiology researcher and pro-runner said “If 2 athletes of equal ability race, the one wearing Vaporflys will win.”

The women’s marathon world record holders Brigid Kosgei broke the record by 81 seconds wearing Vaporflys. While men’s Eliud Kipchoge wore a prototype called the AlphaFly when he ran the first ever sub-2-hour marathon.

Some people have called it ‘technology doping’ and pressure has been put on World Athletics to ban the shoes. They put together a committee of leading scientists and athletes to review the Vaporflys and decide if they are giving athletes an unfair advantage.

Meanwhile Nike have launched the latest prototype the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%.

How do Nike Vaporflys work?

The shoes use a new type of foam called Pebax and a curved carbon fibre mid sole. The foam gives a spring-like effect, propelling the runner forward.

Fancy a pair? Well they can be yours for a mere $250.

https://www.businessinsider.com/why-nike-vaporfly-shoes-make-runners-faster-2019-11?r=US&IR=T

https://www.t3.com/news/nike-announces-next-gen-nike-air-zoom-alphafly-next