Adidas Adizero Evo Prime X: The 60mm Super Shoe Set to Break Ultramarathon Records
Adidas is preparing to shake up the running world once again with the launch of its most radical racing shoe to date, the Adizero Evo Prime X. With a jaw-dropping 60mm stack height and cutting-edge foam technology, the shoe is set to make its debut on August 26 at the Chasing 100 ultrarunning event at the brand’s global headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
The Evo Prime X was revealed earlier this week by Formula 1 driver and endurance athlete Valtteri Bottas on social media, sparking immediate conversation across the running community. Its towering midsole pushes well past the World Athletics legal limit of 40mm, making it ineligible for sanctioned competitions. Instead, Adidas has positioned it as a pure record-breaking tool designed for speed trials, not official podium finishes.
Built for One Purpose: To Break Records
The headline athletes for Chasing 100 will be Aleksandr Sorokin, current 100K world record holder, and Japanese ultrarunner Jo Fukuda. Sorokin’s existing record stands at 6:05:35, a staggering pace of 3:39 per kilometre for 100 kilometres. But Adidas has its sights set higher or lower, in this case backing an audacious attempt to crack the six-hour barrier. To succeed, the athletes will need to average a blistering 3:35 per kilometre pace across the distance.
Supporting that goal is the new Lightstrike Pro Evo foam, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPEE) blend that Adidas claims is five percent more responsive than anything it has developed before. This compound builds on the same technology that powered the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, the shoe worn by Tigist Assefa when she smashed the women’s marathon world record in Berlin last year.
With its skyscraper midsole and carbon-infused structure, the Evo Prime X represents Adidas’s most extreme interpretation of the modern “super shoe.” The shoe doesn’t just add bounce, it literally adds inches, with a heel stack that brings runners nearly three inches taller when laced up.
@iamathletico Presenting Adidas Adizero Evo Prime X They called it ambitious, we called in the experts. From ice vests to high stacks: 100km ambition requires the coldest innovation. #Chasing100 Save the date 📅 26/08 source credit: @adidas #adidasadizero #adizeroevoprimex ♬ original sound - Athletico | Running Community
The Event: “Chasing 100”
The Chasing 100 event is more than just a shoe showcase. It’s a high-stakes experiment in the fusion of sports science, athlete performance, and brand innovation. Sorokin and Fukuda will be joined by three other Adidas ultrarunners in a head-to-head time trial, each supported by new Adidas gear including a cooling vest, performance socks, and racing singlet, all teased by the brand in the lead-up.
For Adidas, the symbolism is clear. Just as the sub-two-hour marathon project redefined what was possible on the roads, the brand now wants to establish itself at the frontier of ultramarathon performance.
What Comes Next?
Adidas has yet to confirm a retail launch date for the Evo Prime X, but given the spectacle surrounding its unveiling, industry insiders expect a release later this year. Its eventual price tag is also unknown, though it is likely to mirror the sky-high ambition of the shoe itself.
Whether or not Sorokin and his teammates succeed in running 100K in under six hours, the Evo Prime X has already sparked debate about the future of footwear innovation. Is this the next leap forward in performance science or simply another escalation in the arms race of supershoe design?
On August 26, the running world will have its first answer.
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