Camilla Richardsson plans to test both Adidas and Nike running shoes and choose the ones she prefers for the marathon.
Many of Finland’s athletics elite have just gone on vacation and are just starting training, but endurance runners With Camilla Richardsson30, has an important competition ahead in a month and a half.
Richardsson plans to start the Valencia marathon on December 3. An interesting aspect of Richardsson’s journey is which slippers the woman wears for a good 42 kilometers.
Richardsson told Iltalehte that he has a valid clothing contract but not a shoe contract. It can be considered exceptional that a runner of this level is not fixed by any sneaker manufacturer.
– It’s a good question, what will I run in Valencia. I’ll have to take a look. Since I don’t have a shoe contract, I can wear whatever shoes I want. You have to try the latest Adidas and Nike shoes and see which one feels better on your feet, Richardsson told Iltalehte at the gala of the Finnish Sports Association in Helsinki on Friday.
– This is good because I can use the shoe that is the best.
Camilla Richardsson ran 10,000 meters at the World Championships in Budapest in Nike slippers with a time of 32:15.74. PASI LEISMA
“Helps when you’re tired”
What is clear, however, is that Richardsson wears so-called bounce shoes during the marathon.
– Just like everyone else, Richardsson said.
Of course, Richardsson has noted the discussion around bounce shoes, but points out that somewhat similar shoes have existed for years.
– The technology is not new, but you should wear those shoes because everyone else does. Surely you will get some use out of them.
Richardsson describes that when running with bounce shoes, the slipper “pushes the runner forward”.
– It helps when you’re tired. You can trust that the shoe will carry the run forward. Then it’s easier to stay in a good running position. In addition, after a really long workout, the legs are not as tired as they were without.
Richardsson’s tactic is to use the new shoes for the first time in an important race, so that the benefit is the best possible. The woman admits that the benefit of fire-bladed shoes in the games is not only physical but also mental.
– Especially since the newest Adidas shoe says that it lasts only 42 kilometers. You shouldn’t train too much with them, you should save them for the race day.
Adidas’ new running shoes have received a mixed reception. They are fast but expensive and anything but durable. Adidas
20 pairs per year
Yes, Adidas has really said that its new Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 sneakers, which cost 550 euros, are intended to run only one marathon plus a familiarization period. The matter is explained on the card that is in every shoebox.
Ethiopian Tigist Assefa won the women’s marathon with those shoes in September in Berlin to a new ME of 2.11.53.
– Well, I’m studying environmental engineering, so you can probably guess what I think about it… Richardsson said.
Environmental engineering students focus on, among other things, sustainability research and life cycle thinking. Super expensive disposable slippers are no match for that, but:
– Of course, the shoe can be used as a training shoe after the race. The bounce is no longer optimal after that, but you can train with them. I buy new ones right before the race, I run the race and after that they are used as training shoes until they are really worn out.
Richardsson may also use bounce shoes in some individual training sessions, such as marathon training.
According to the runner, he wears more than twenty pairs of sneakers a year. He calls the amount “far too large” from nature’s point of view. He records the kilometers in his training book and changes his shoes when he has run 500 kilometers in them.
– I run a lot and a lot on sand. The shoes wear out a lot and I don’t want to get injured because I haven’t changed shoes. That’s why I’d rather change too often than too rarely.
If Richardsson had to buy all his shoes himself during the year, it would mean a cut of thousands of euros in his wallet.
Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum recently ran a marathon ME in Nike’s Dev 163 shoes in 2:00.35. Getty Images
Olympic limit?
Richardsson is a 3,000 meter steeplechase runner from his previous “training”, but nowadays he runs longer distances.
In May, he set a new Finnish record of 31.12.78 in the 10,000 meters in London. Annemari Sandellin former SE 31.40,42 improved significantly.
Richardsson hints that a hard time can be known even in a marathon.
– The Olympic limit is tough, but it’s not impossible now if everything goes well. I’m going to Valencia to run hard. I’m not going there for nothing, Richardsson announced.
The Olympic limit for Paris is 2:26.50. Richardsson’s record is just from Valencia in 2021, when he ran 2:30.45.