Bloomberg Businessweek - USA (2019-11-18)

stmonth, elite marathoner Eliud

ipchoge ran 26.2 miles in less than

wohours, breaking a barrier some

hought impossible. The following

day, fellow Kenyan Brigid Kosgei

hattered the women’s marathon

ecord. The common thread for both

rformances: the shoes on their feet.

hoge was running in a prototype

ngNike Inc.’s latest Vaporfly tech-

osgei was wearing an earlier version

oe,which retails for $250.

reignited a debate that’s simmered

veiled this class of shoes in 2017. The

a carbon fiber plate, lightweight foam,

refoot that rocks you forward. Nike

proven to decrease effort by at least

ourun faster on the road and recover

ward. “Out of the box, you are 4% bet-

ttNurse, vice president of the Nike

mSport Research Lab. “No question.

t across ranges of speed and ability.”

hersneaker companies race to pro-

d shoes with similar benefits, critics

kehas tipped distance running’s com-

ceon the eve of the Summer Olympics

sport’s governing body is exploring

inin athletic goods companies or let

d,a decision that could usher in an PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIC HELGAS FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK. PROP STYLIST: CHELSEA MARUSKIN. DATA: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATHLET

ICS

FEDERATIONS, BLOOMBERG REPORTING

November 18, 2019

How Nike

Started a

eaker Arms

Race

h-tech running shoe,

o break two marathon

rds, raises concerns

echnology may have

trumped ability

16

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