"We think we have the power to change lives ..." At the heart of the immense and ultramodern Adidas Campus, which employs 5,600 people very close to Nuremberg (Germany), the bosses of the brand with three bands have deployed great resources for the presentation of their last two models: the Adizero pro and its carbon fiber plate (which folds up to an angle of 30 degrees), and the SL 20 for the general public, with its lightstrike sole (with notably Continental rubber), "light and reactive". The two pairs have in common a woven textile rod.
The marketing plan is perfectly oiled: now, we no longer emphasize comfort but "performance for all" for the accomplished runner, but also for the simple practitioner. "Faster than people expect, faster than you think ..." The new Adidas campaign is big, running shoes are revolutionizing. "With a question of philosophy which arises: will, from now on, the performance be due to the human or to the human plus the technique", wonders Doctor Pierre Sallet, who carries out numerous tests. “Running is universal. You have to wonder why a shoe is made, he continues. To provide support and comfort or to give a technological advantage? "
The excitement for these ultra-light pairs is certain. "The records seem unbeatable, but everyone wants to push their limits, says Geoffroy Berthelot, researcher at Insep. As in Formula 1, in cycling, athletics becomes dependent on technology and everyone is there, the spectator who wants to vibrate, the sportsman and the equipment supplier. "
Carbon shoes on the starting line for the Olympic marathon?
In terms of brands, the “breaking2” project (breaking the barrier of 2 hours in the marathon), largely marketed by Nike, which would have invested 22 million euros, has created an incredible buzz with the Vaporfly range, the third version of which - the Air zoom alphafly Next% - will go on sale in France on April 16. A shoe, the prototype of which was worn by Eliud Kipchoge during his historic time of 1h59'40 '', still with a carbon plate, but even more flexible and more accessible to the general public.
Nike was the first to launch, but all the equipment manufacturers succumbed to the supersonic shoes and to this rebounding and propellant carbon technology which would save energy and therefore bring down the lap times, including for everyone . "It's a bit like running on springs," says Pierre Sallet. The energy you create when you hit the ground will distort the carbon plate, which will then return to its original shape. "
Each brand currently favors only one objective: to position itself with its carbon shoes on the starting line of the Olympic marathon in early August. As required by the new regulations of the International Athletics Federation, and in order to preserve fairness between runners, the shoes will have to be put on the market four months before "the" race, ie no later than 4 April. Hence the current frenzy and a surge of new pairs. "We are all in a time trial to be eligible for the Olympics," admits Cédric Thomas, France manager of Saucony, who has been working on his new products for many months.
Democratizing “the carbon philosophy”
In a few days, Asics will present its Metaracer model. Certain data - like the weight of the shoe, the size of the sole and the price - are kept secret, but we know that the carbon shoe takes the shape of the curved sole of the Metaride, which already favored the rocker. “Historically, Asics worked on different technologies, products with gels, foams. We are in a segmented approach, in order to meet the needs of each runner, explains Arnaud Leroux, Marketing Director Europe at Asics. Adequate technology is required, depending in particular on the morphology and level of practice. Elite runners are looking for a return of energy, carbon technology responds. "
The carbon fiber plate, wrapped in a liner with a particular geometry, would therefore be primarily reserved for experienced runners. But the brands play on the declination, by simultaneously launching several models, intended for all types of runners. Pairs for D-Day, where the athlete will try to beat his personal best, or for training. Brooks and his Hyperions (pro and tempo versions) thus promise to "bring training runners to triumph". Saucony goes even further, with its three endorphin models: the pro with carbon plate for successful runners; speed day, for the general public with a nylon plate (softer than carbon) and shift, reserved for training.
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As with Adidas and its SL 20, we are democratizing access to technology, with the common thread "carbon philosophy" (even if not all models contain it!) And rocking it forward. "We give the opportunity to an average runner to wear this type of high-performance shoes," says Cédric Thomas, manager of Saucony France. The new models would thus allow “to go faster while absorbing shocks”. "Less muscle destruction, less micro-lesions", the possibility therefore to recover more easily from a marathon and therefore to represent quickly on a new starting line.
The arms race far from having reached its peak
At Saucony, it is estimated that these almost miraculous shoes, reduce your heart rate and therefore save money, while making fewer strides. Nike announces 4% oxygen savings (hence the name of its first pair launched two years ago, the Vaporfly 4%), which would lead to an improvement in times of 3%.
Too dizzy to believe it? "To date, no scientific research has quantified exactly the advantage that this shoe provides or not," warns Dr. Pierre Sallet. We are watching, we have the feeling that these innovations allow us to break records. But, to be certain, it would be necessary to carry out a clinical study, with a real protocol, in particular asking people to try to reproduce a maximum performance with different pairs. "
What does the real effect matter? The "spring" shoes - those which, according to Geoffroy Berthelot of Insep, recall the carbon prostheses of Oscar Pistorius which had been talked about when the South African runner tickled the valid on the lap - may well be a hit. And this, despite their price (between 120 and 250 euros) and a rather short lifespan (300 km for certain carbon pairs, equipment manufacturers announcing however 600 km of resistance). The brands are working on the running shoe of tomorrow, a 100% biodegradable shoe or ultra-connected with sensors that could give training advice.
The arms race for carbon and powered shoes, however, seems far from having reached its peak. Pushing your limits or breaking your record now seems to be within everyone's reach.
After the road, carbon shoes for the track
It was only a matter of time. After the running shoes that freaked out the times on the road, especially at the marathon, here are the carbon shoes for the track. And it is still Nike, after several tests during the World Athletics Championships in Doha at the end of September 2019, which draws first with two pairs, one for the sprint (the Air zoom viperfly), the other (the Air zoom victory) for events ranging from 800 to 10,000 m.
All have the famous carbon fiber plate, the special sprint pair seems even more advanced with a system that allows flexibility. "We will have quite a few surprises at the Tokyo Games", already foresees Doctor Pierre Sallet. The lap times may well panic. And always this same question: what is now the part of humans in performance? "If a sprinter breaks the 100m record, one will wonder if he is really better than Usain Bolt, or if his performance is linked to the technology of his shoe," concludes the doctor.