adidas Running announces an all-star line-up of athletes, new race distances and speed-focused course updates for the fourth iteration of its annual Adizero: Road to Records event, held at the brand’s headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany on April 27, 2024.
Adizero: Road to Records is renowned for attracting top-tier athletes from across the globe, this year’s line-up brings 120 world class adidas athletes from 26 countries to compete in the newly-established 800m and 1 mile races, as well as the 5K and 10K. The races will take place on a specially designed course around the adidas World of Sports campus, with the aim of pushing the limits of speed.
Among the confirmed participants is the current 10KM world record holder Agnes Ngetich of Kenya, former 5KM world record holder Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia, Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia, Jacob Krop of Kenya and 1-mile WR holder Hobbs Kessler of United States.
For the first time, the elite race course has been updated to be entirely run on tarmac and asphalt – removing the artificial grass sections from previous years – to make it even faster for the athletes. With each lap spanning just over 1.3km in distance around iconic adidas campus buildings, including Arena, Laces and Halftime, the course is set to be a visual spectacle for both athletes and spectators alike. Viewers from around the world will be able to watch the action unfold via the live stream on the adidas YouTube channel – last year’s event live stream generated over 75,000 views to date.
On race day, there will be a number of special guest appearances, including adidas legend Haile Gebrselassie, adidas athlete Joan Chelimo, football legend Alessandro Del Piero and the German Paralympic Athletics team. Following the conclusion of the elite races, there will be an Adizero: Road to Records 5k Run available for public participation, welcoming adidas employees, partners, adidas Runners and members of the public.
“For athletes, runners, running fans, employees, media, influencers, sport and business partners, Adizero: Road to Records means so much more than just a day of racing; it’s a celebration of athletes and sport at its best. It honours the top performances in the elite races, and the unyielding competitive spirit at the heart of our brand, while celebrating all types of runners in the 5km run, from PBs-seekers to beginners,” said Alberto Uncini Manganelli, General Manager Running & Credibility Sports at adidas. “This event shows our relentless commitment to drive sport and performance to new, unseen and unexpected levels, to make the best products for all runners – it unites us, our teams, athletes and partners to the same mission. I’m very honoured to be a part of it.”
This year, for the first time, adidas has created a limited-edition Adizero: Road to Records race pack which all athletes will be wearing on race day in honor of Agnes Tirop of Kenya. The race kit includes 8-pieces of Adizero apparel and footwear – special editions of the Adizero Takumi Sen 10 and Adizero Adios Pro 3, as well as crop-tops, shorts and singlets. The leopard print designs and bright colourways are inspired by the race kit Agnes wore at Adizero: Road to Records in 2021, when she broke the women-only 10K world record.
The race pack was designed with the ambition to raise awareness for the issue of gender-based violence against women and to keep Agnes’ legacy alive, with a portion of the proceeds going to Tirop’s Angels – an organization set up by family members, fellow athletes and friends of Agnes following her tragic death in 2021.
Runners looking to get their hands on the Adizero: Road to Records race pack can buy select pieces via the app, online and in specialist stores from March 27, 2024. To find out more please visit: https://www.adidas.co.uk/running
Follow the conversation on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter using #RoadToRecords and @adidasrunning. Watch the event teaser video here.
