A Shoe is becoming a Problem

In the long-distance running has dawned a new era. Ostensibly the responsibility of the Kenyans Eliud is Kipchoge. He pressed in the autumn, the marathon world record to 2:01:39 hours. Kipchoge was 78 seconds faster than its predecessor. The last time had an Athlete 51 years ago of this prestige record more seconds undercut.

in the Meantime, we know with high probability: Kipchoges Coup is less due to its higher Form than his Shoe choice. Because he was the primary, thanks to a new model of his sponsor Nike. This is improved even in the case of exception-rounders like Kipchoge, the running economy. He thus consumes less energy than the same pace with other shoes. Ergo Kipchoge can run fast longer.

"Vaporfly 4%" announced Nike his Shoe, in allusion to the 4 percent improvement in running economy. An analysis of the "New York Times" with a huge data set is not revealed in the past year: Who wears the Vaporfly in the Competition, only improve his running economy, but runs on average, significantly faster than with other shoes. Who wears it, improved with a probability of 63 percent, his best time on the Marathon, which he achieved with a different Shoe model.

300 CHF in Switzerland and the revised strategy

Nike had advertised his Shoe at the launch in 2017, this is the ultimate fast makers on the market. Because the testimony was based on a study, Nike had initiated, to the often full – bodied sporting goods giant once more as a speaker to the "New York Times" delivered, and two more independent studies supported these results. From this time, Nike needed only to produce sufficient Vaporflys, because each time demanded affine runner after the super Shoe.

the first Version Was barely available on the black market for several Hundred dollars expensive, changed Nike the strategy with the second Generation, and was sufficient to restore many couples. Paragraph you find, even though the Shoe is in Switzerland cost around 300 Swiss francs (US $ 250). In Switzerland, a running Shoe beyond the 180 Swiss francs for a Premium - and thus the niche area. In the US the average price for a running Shoe is around $ 100.

Nike started the Vaporfly so super-high-priced – and has been able to create thanks to the proven fast do services the dream of every manufacturer: a Renner. Soon, the latest Version comes on the market. At 275 dollars, it will still be more expensive than the already costly predecessor.

the number 2 is from Nike

a Total of Nike and other Shoe manufacturers, under pressure to act. Especially since the Americans can deliver in accordance with the "New York Times"data, it is also the second fastest Shoe. This is a clear advantage under the world-class runners for red heads. Finally, athletes now feel at a disadvantage, can't wear Nike because they are sponsored by another manufacturer.

Eliud Kipchoge, 34: The fastest marathon runner in the world also benefits from the fastest ever built Shoe. (Photo: Redux/Laif)

One of the most bizarre scenes in this regard was in January at the Dubai Marathon, The Ethiopian Herpassa Negasa watch:? Adidas sponsored ? bought a Vaporfly, painted him more bad than good and ran well, thanks to him, on place 2 and to clear the best time. He angered his main sponsor, with this action, a maximum of, Negasa in his despair. Understandably, with 68 percent of all Top 3 athletes at the six world's largest Marathons wore last year, a Vaporfly.

Maximum challenge to Tokyo 2020

And on Sunday at the London Marathon present world record holder, Kipchoge and European record holder Mo Farah with the latest model. "Vaporfly Next % a", because Nike deliberately leaves open how much faster it goes with him. With this Shoe, the Nike have run athletes in the heads of their opponents. Who knows that he will be in spite of the same good shape because of the material, probably no chance, is already beaten before the Start. Until next year and the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the other Shoe manufacturers have, therefore, to solve a maximum challenge.

After all, they had since 2017, and the launch is now time to disassemble the Vaporfly down to the smallest Detail and to learn its secrets. Only: What makes the Shoe exactly as fast, has not been found out. It is clear that It depends on the super-thick midsole, which gives a very high part of the energy spent on a runner. The carbon plate, which is located under the foam, in turn favors the transmission of power.

Other manufacturers have tried, but to foam so-called Rebound-effect, and carbon deposits. A Vaporfly but could not create them. And Nike is, of course, interested not a bit of it, the mystery, if the manufacturer knows at all exactly why the Shoe works, how he does it.

Viktor Röthlins pulse values were in the Vaporfly much deeper

The result is definitely amazing. The "NZZ on Sunday was" the former Swiss marathon record holder Viktor Röthlin only with the Vaporfly and ten days later, with a Asics DS Trainer a 10-km-distance running – at the same pace of 3:30 minutes per Kilometer. With the Vaporfly his Average heart rate was 162 beats per Minute. With the Asics at 171. His Maximum heart rate was 18 beats higher.

Other Vaporfly runners report similar experiences. You all are singular examples. In total, however, their data are consistent with those which the "New York Times" published and Vaporfly-runner in such a way gives. The sport of running, however, the Shoe does well. Finally, the influence of the material had been marginal so far. Who won a Competition, had the better physical condition and/or have more luck in the gene pool.

for this reason, comparisons with sports like the formula 1, in which material developments were always able to co-decide already were about victories or low, poorly chosen. In the Run, this aspect was irrelevant. Also, it is hoped that the competitors of Nike are back such and can quickly add.

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 28.04.2019, 09:34 PM