Is the following proof positive that adidas super shoe (adizero adios Pro) is now better than Nike's Alphafly/Vaporfly?
Brett Larner wrote:
In terms of shoe usage, there's been a major shift away from Nike toward Adidas. Comparing the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. At the 2023 Izumo Ekiden 3 of the 6 stage winners wore Nike and 2 Adidas, but this year Adidas took 5 of the 6 individual stages and Nike none. At the National University Ekiden it was 3/8 Nike and only 1 Adidas in 2023, but reversed in 2024 with 3 Adidas and 1 Nike. Hakone was dominated by Nike last year, with 7 of the 10 stages going to Nike and 1 to Adidas. This year Nike scored only 2 Hakone stages, with Adidas picking up 6. ASICS was shut out of Hakone this year, with On taking its first-ever Hakone stage win via Sato's Seventh Stage CR and Puma picking up the Ninth Stage title.
Correct me if I'm wrong but can't the Japanese runners wear any shoe they want? It's not like the NCAA where the whole school wears a certain brand, is it?
