What Happened: A Record That Defied Belief

Sawe, 28, crossed the line in the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, a shoe unveiled just three days before the race. His time of 1:59:30 made him the first person to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a sanctioned event, a feat previously achieved only in controlled exhibition races like Eliud Kipchoge’s 2019 INEOS 1:59 Challenge. The performance wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was a seismic shift for the sport, one that saw Adidas leapfrog Nike in the race to outfit the fastest feet on Earth.

“To break the world record is something I have dreamed about for a long time, and to achieve it means so much to me and to the sport of running,” Sawe told reporters after the race. “It reflects the hard work behind the scenes, the support of my team, and the role of innovation in helping me push beyond limits. I’m honored to be part of a new chapter for the sport.”

Sawe wasn’t alone in his historic run. Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, also wearing the Adidas Pro Evo 3, broke her own women’s world record by nine seconds, finishing in 2:15:41. Meanwhile, Yomif Kejelcha, another Adidas athlete, became the second man to dip under two hours in the same race, clocking 1:59:41. The London Marathon podium was a clean sweep for the three-stripe brand, a stark contrast to the years of dominance by Nike’s Vaporfly and Alphafly shoes.

The Shoe That Changed Everything

The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 isn’t just another racing flat—it’s a marvel of engineering. Weighing an average of 97 grams (3.42 ounces), the shoe is designed to be the lightest and fastest marathon shoe Adidas has ever created. For context, that’s roughly the weight of a standard iPhone charger. The Pro Evo 3’s predecessor, the Pro Evo 1, made headlines in 2023 for its $500 price tag and limited release of just 521 pairs. Assefa wore that model when she set her previous world record at the 2023 Berlin Marathon (2:11:53).

“We went through more than a dozen iterations, working closely with our athletes and testing everywhere from our labs in Herzogenaurach to high-altitude camps in Kenya and Ethiopia,” said Patrick Nava, General Manager of Running at Adidas, in a press release. “At that level, every detail really matters—we were measuring things down to the nearest nanogram. It was a long process, but it’s led to something we believe genuinely changes what a race-day shoe can feel like.”

Sawe’s praise for the shoe was effusive. “It’s so comfortable,” he said after the race, echoing sentiments shared by Assefa and Kejelcha. The Pro Evo 3’s design prioritizes energy return and minimalism, a departure from the thicker, carbon-plated shoes that have dominated the marathon scene in recent years. Adidas claims the shoe’s construction allows for a more natural running motion, though critics argue that such lightweight designs may increase injury risk for amateur runners.

How Two Runners Broke Two Hours in One Race

The London Marathon’s perfect conditions played a role in the historic performances. Cool temperatures (around 50°F/10°C), low wind, and a flat course created an ideal environment for record-breaking. But the real story lies in the pacing strategy. Sawe and Kejelcha ran the first half in 59:45, a pace that would have shattered the previous world record even if they’d slowed dramatically in the second half. Instead, they maintained their speed, with Sawe pulling away in the final miles to finish 11 seconds ahead of Kejelcha.

For context, the previous men’s world record—Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 from 2023—was set in Chicago, a course known for its fast times. Sawe’s 1:59:30 is 65 seconds faster, a margin that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The women’s race was equally historic, with Assefa’s 2:15:41 marking the first time a woman has run under 2:16 in a marathon.

The Adidas vs. Nike Battle Heats Up

Sunday’s results represent a major victory for Adidas in its ongoing rivalry with Nike, which has long dominated the high-performance running shoe market. Nike’s Vaporfly and Alphafly shoes have been worn by nearly every major marathon winner since their introduction in 2017, including Kipchoge’s 2019 sub-two-hour exhibition run. But Adidas’s latest innovation appears to have given the brand an edge, at least for now.

“The Adidas family is incredibly proud of Sabastian and Tigist’s historic achievements,” Nava said. “This is a testament to the power of collaboration between athletes and engineers, and we’re excited to witness what’s next for the sport.”

The Pro Evo 3’s limited release—just 521 pairs of the original Pro Evo 1 were sold—has already sparked a frenzy among elite and amateur runners alike. The shoe went on sale on Monday, April 27, at 10 a.m. Local time, with Adidas reporting that the initial stock sold out within hours. For those unable to secure a pair, the Adizero Adios Pro 4 remains a popular alternative, though it lacks the same ultralight construction.

What’s Next: Can the Record Secure Even Faster?

Sawe’s sub-two-hour marathon raises an inevitable question: How much faster can humans run? The physiological limits of endurance are still being explored, but experts suggest that times could continue to drop as shoe technology advances and training methods improve. Some analysts predict that a sub-1:55 marathon could be within reach in the next decade, though others caution that such predictions are speculative.

For now, Sawe’s record stands as a monumental achievement, one that will likely inspire a new generation of runners to push the boundaries of what’s possible. The next major marathon on the calendar is the Berlin Marathon in September, where Assefa will attempt to defend her title and Sawe will look to build on his historic performance.

As for Adidas, the brand’s victory in London is just the beginning. With the Pro Evo 3 now in the hands of elite athletes, the stage is set for another round of innovation—and another chapter in the ongoing battle for marathon supremacy.