Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 Is it worth it to buy a $500 marathon running shoe you can race in only once? A few years ago, Nike made a shoe that they claimed helped a runner on a specialized course complete a sub-2-hour marathon. Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya broke the two-hour marathon barrier with a time of 1:59:40 in a park in Vienna. The Zoom Vaporfly 4% or ZoomX Vaporfly Next% and they are about $250 per pair. These shoes could be worn multiple times. Most recently, Addidas released their Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, a new ultra-light marathon race shoe with an eye-popping $500 price tag that will last for a single race. Athletes often will pay sums of money for a boost in performance and this shoe is no exception. It is being marketed toward runners who are able to perform at times of a 3;30 or faster pace. It reminds me of the $300 dollar racing bathing suits my wife’s business partners suits would use that could be used only a few times which reduce drag in the water and claim to offer an advantage in speed. Should someone buy a a shoe made of materials that will only last for a marathon and how well can it sell at a price of $500? Check out the article on this shoe from the NY Times. Is a $500 Marathon Shoe You Can Race In Only Once Worth It? A new Adidas model carried a runner to a world record. Athletes say they can feel a difference, but it comes with a high price tag and wears out quickly. By Santul Nerkar Published Nov. 2, 2023 When Ashley Mateo went through a recent track workout, something felt different. She hit her intervals faster than usual, her heart rate was lower, and her feet felt lighter. When she ran her next marathon, she achieved a personal record. Ms. Mateo, a journalist and 15-time marathoner who reviews running shoes, believes she may have improved her performance thanks to the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 by Adidas, a new marathon race shoe with an eye-popping $500 price tag. There’s another catch: The Evo 1 lasts long enough for just one marathon, plus an unspecified “familiarization period.” Despite her positive experience, Ms. Mateo isn’t sure the shoes are worth the cost, which she didn’t have to pay as a reviewer. “I don’t think the shoe is going to work for everyone,” she said. Read more