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Sales of Adidas sneakers are surging just one day after both winners of the London Marathon wore the footwear brand in the race.
Men’s winner Sabastian Sawe set a new record of 1:59:30, becoming the first person to break the fabled two-hour barrier. Women’s winner Tigist Assefa also set a new record for women at 2:15:41. Both runners were wearing the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3.
Sunday’s astonishing feat — which also saw second-place men’s finisher Yomif Kejelcha break the two-hour mark — comes almost exactly a decade after Nike first declared its intention to help long-distance runners break the two-hour marathon barrier, under its so-called Breaking 2 project. While Nike was beaten to the finish line — both literally and figuratively — by Adidas, the company was gracious in the (momentary) defeat, congratulating its rival with a social media post that read, “The clock has been reset. There is no finish line.”
Nike also congratulated Sawe in the comments of the post, adding a “Well done” to the Team Adidas Kenyan star.
As for Adidas, the company launched its record-breaking marathon sneakers online Monday for wide release — and sales are moving swiftly.
NEW RELEASE
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
The Adios Pro Evo 3 sneaker features a new LIGHTSTRIKE Pro Evo foam compound that offers superior energy-return, plus an improved rubber outsole that provides better traction with every step by placing more attention to the forefoot. A new carbon-fiber infused “stiffening element” sits between the foam and outsole to provide stability. Adidas says this is its lightest running shoe yet, weighing less than 100 grams (a men’s size 9 shoe, for example, weighs less than 97 grams).
The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 sneakers launched on the Adidas app Monday and quickly sold out within the hour, with no word yet on whether they’ll be restocked. For now, the shoes are still available online, going for almost $2,000 on resale sites like StockX (they originally retailed for $500).
If you don’t have two grand to drop on a pair of sneakers, you can still pick up the previous models of Adidas’ new super shoe.
EDITOR’S PICK
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
The Adidas website has just under a dozen styles of the Adizero Adios Pro 4 sneaker available right now with a full sizing run in stock. First released last January, the shoes are super popular with both amateur marathoners and intermediate long-distance runners alike, thanks to the lightweight cushioning and thick, shock-absorbing sole, plus a “Lightlock” upper that provides a snug fit for ankle and foot support. There are multiple colorways available, but we’re partial to this minimalist “non-dyed” design above.
ALSO CONSIDER
Adidas Adizero EVO SL EXO
The Adidas Adizero EVO SL EXO sneakers launched earlier this year and they’re one of the best running shoes from Adidas in terms of performance features and price point. Designed with a breathable textile upper, textile sockliner and a grippy sculpted outsole, these sneakers are suitable for road racing and casual runs alike. They also feature the lightweight LIGHTSTRIKE Pro cushioning seen on the more expensive models above. Design-wise, these shoes feature the Adidas three-stripe detail prominently, with bold stripes and contrast-color piping.
TOP-REVIEWED
Adidas Adizero Evo SL
One Adidas’ bestselling running shoes is the Adizero Evo SL, released last year. This shoe combines the brand’s patented running technology with a streetwear-inspired aesthetic, letting you take these to a concert as easily as you would take them on the track. They’re great as everyday walking shoes or gym sneakers too. Choose from more than a dozen colorways and multiple sizes online. The Adizero Evo SL shoes are the top-reviewed pair of runners on the Adidas website, with a 4.7-star rating (out of five) from hundreds of verified shoppers online.
Four of the five top male finishers in the London Marathon wore Adidas sneakers. Only third-place finisher Jacob Kiplimo wore Nike sneakers, with the Ugandan long distance runner seen in what’s likely a prototype version of a forthcoming pair of Nike Alphafly 4 shoes.
ALSO AVAILABLE
Nike Nike Vaporfly 4 Road Racing Shoes
Of course, Nike makes an entire line of running shoes, with these Vaporfly 4 sneakers recently launching online. The Vaporfly 4 is engineered for lightness and comfort, with a mesh upper, a slight midsole reduction in the Nike ZoomX lightweight foam and a thinner rubber on the outsole compared to the Vaporfly 3. You can see more Nike running shoes online here.
The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 debuted for the first time in London. Prior to Sawe’s win, the previous marathon record was held by Kelvin Kiptum, who ran a 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon in 2023 while wearing Nike sneakers. The Kenyan star, who died in a car accident in February 2024 still holds two of the six fastest times in marathon history.