On October 12, when Kipchoge broke the "limit" of the 2-hour marathon, he said, "Humanity has no limits." As if to echo his famous words, Kosgei broke the women's marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon on the 13th. But controversy also came.

The "magic shoes" that became famous in the first battle

On the tree-lined track in Vienna Park, Kipchoge ran a distance of 42 kilometers and 195 meters in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds. , a battle to become a god, and also put the running shoes under his feet in the spotlight of the world. Is it thanks to this pair of shoes that I ran into the 2-hour mark for the first time in human history?

The IAAF has stated its attitude before the Kipchoge Challenge. This challenge was conducted in a laboratory-like environment, with careful selection from weather conditions to road conditions, and super The strong "Rabbit" team took turns to assist, and the electric car cleared the way to indicate the speed. Therefore, the IAAF could not recognize the time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds as the new men's marathon world record.

However, the IAAF did not notice the "special edition" shoes worn by Kipchoge, nor did it emphasize the running shoes as a disqualifying factor.

The next day, Kenyan runner Kosgei wore the same series of running shoes and improved the women's marathon world record by 81 seconds at the Chicago Marathon, which had been dusty for 16 years. Careful media counted and found that the top 10 men's runners in this competition were all wearing this series of running shoes.

The IAAF has launched an investigation

Although the ingredients are questionable, the efficacy has been significant. According to the Times, about 20 athletes, including Italian marathon champion Gianni Demadonna, wrote to the International Association of Athletics Federations a few months ago to complain about Nike's marathon shoes. technology. Track and field researchers are also discussing whether the carbon fiber plates used in running shoes produce a spring effect.

After receiving the complaint, the IAAF has organized an expert group to investigate the matter. The IAAF said it would report on the situation after a two-month investigation. So far, the IAAF has not questioned the compliance of this series of running shoes. Kipchoge was also wearing this series of running shoes when he set the world record of 2 hours, 1 minute and 39 seconds last year.

Regarding the shoes used by athletes for competition, the IAAF stipulates in the rule book that the purpose of wearing shoes during competition is to protect the feet, make them stable, and firmly grip the ground. "Athletes must not be given any unfair help or advantage."

Will it be the "shark skin" on the track and field?

The current controversy over super running shoes is reminiscent of the "shark skin" swimsuits of the past. At that time, this fast swimsuit was designed to simulate shark skin and use tight high-tech materials covering the whole body to make the world record fragile.

Obviously, fast swimsuits have brought about advancements in swimming technology and a new understanding. The same is true for running shoes. Nike executives said that carbon fiber soles have long been used in the production of running shoes. They determined that they were providing assistance to athletes within the rules set by the Athletics Federation and did not use any illegal springs or anything similar.

Running shoe manufacturers including Saucony and Adidas have also become chasers. Both companies announced that they have launched their own new running shoes, hoping to continue to push the limits of human marathon running.

Wearing magic shoes does not necessarily mean you will become a god

The demonstration effect of breaking 2 has been shown in domestic marathons, with more and more runners wearing the same style of running shoes. However, experts also warn that running shoes suitable for professional marathon runners may not be suitable for ordinary runners.

Matt Powell, vice president and industry analyst at market research company NPD Group, pointed out that it is difficult to know exactly whether the shoes had an impact on Kipchoge's running speed. He believes that more results of other players wearing this shoe in competitions need to be collected to see if there are any similar findings.

Kris Hartner, owner of Naperville Running Company, also believes that anyone wearing a pair of running shoes that can effectively rebound will run faster. "But unless there is an engine inside, this pair of shoes will not make ordinary runners become 'greats' who can break 2 points."

In fact, although this running shoe has become popular around the world in the past year, many runners have received mixed reviews after using it. Some runners praise it, claiming that it makes running easier and faster, which is well-deserved; some runners also report that the carbon plate makes their forefoot feel very hard, affects the toe tapping movement, and is obviously uncomfortable to wear.

There are also research papers that analyze the ground force, step frequency, and ground contact time data of runners wearing this kind of running shoes. It is concluded that sometimes, the runner's step frequency will slightly decrease and the ground contact time will be reduced. The time will also be slightly longer. This may indicate that the "magic shoes" may be suitable for runners with a higher level, such as runners with a marathon time of less than 4 hours. A slower runner may wear magic shoes but still not become a "great runner".