Today, Sibusiso Kubheka became the first person to complete a 100km run in under six hours, in a unique running event powered by adidas, exploring what’s possible when the fastest athletes on the planet are combined with the latest speed-focused innovations.
Taking place at the iconic Nardò Ring in Southern Italy and with the competing athletes wearing precision-engineered adidas footwear and state-of-the-art apparel designed to enable more speed, Kubheka shaved an astonishing 6 minutes and 15 seconds off the previous fastest time of 06:05:35 – etching his name in the history books.
Alasdhair Willis, Chief Creative Officer at adidas, said: “Chasing 100 is the story of our deep-rooted drive to go faster. An opportunity to see what’s possible when we work at speed, break new boundaries in design, and test new possibilities in footwear and apparel. Kubheka’s history-defining performance – achieving something no one has ever come close to – is an immense achievement that we are incredibly proud of. This is true testament to the power of combining adidas Innovation with the very best of athletic prowess to push the limits of human capability forwards.”
Built for and alongside each of the five athletes taking part – previous 100km world record holder Aleksandr Sorokin (Lithuania), Jo Fukuda (Japan), Charlie Lawrence (USA), Ketema Negasa (Ethiopia), and Sibusiso Kubheka (South Africa) – adidas developed bespoke head-to-toe footwear and apparel with the latest in speed and cooling innovation, including:
Adizero Evo Prime X – Tailored individually to each runner, the Adizero Evo Prime X has been precision-engineered for one purpose: speed. Every element – from the ultra-responsive midsole to the precision-fit upper – is designed to help maximise running economy and unlock personal bests. Born from relentless testing, feedback and refinement between athletes and product experts, each pair was tailored to its runner. The stack height is calibrated to the forces each athlete generates, providing optimal responsive cushioning, while the stiffening structure is composed of materials tuned to individual biomechanics.
Ultracharge – An innovation many years in the making, the athletes’ race day shoes benefitted from adidas’ brand new Ultracharge technology. Entering the high-pressure vessel five days prior to the race, air bubbles are pumped into the empty gaps of the shoes’ midsole foam. As the pressure increases there is an improvement in the energy return of the shoes.
CLIMACOOL Pre-Cooling & Per-Cooling System – Before the race, athletes used a combination of cooling and insulating technology to enhance thermal regulation. Combining a cooling vest and a CLIMACOOL insulating fan jacket – as worn by the AMG Formula 1 team – this minimized athletes’ core temperature and heart rate in the first hour of performance, supporting overall endurance. During the race, each athlete had their own set of cooling necks, swapped out and refreshed. Created by adidas specifically for this attempt, the cooling neck is ergonomically moulded to the main arteries and veins for maximum cooling.
Clima 3D singlet – The Clima 3D singlet features a newly developed CLIMACOOL 3D embossed material technology, body-mapped to areas with the highest skin contact and sweat production for improved airflow, accelerated sweat evaporation and enhanced cooling. The new CLIMACOOL 3D technology will be available in 2026.
TechFit short tight – Complementing the Clima 3D singlet, the TechFit short tights feature stiffening bands strategically placed for each athlete’s body composition which stabilizes the hips to support running economy and endurance performance under fatigue. The new TechFit technology will be available in 2026.
Speaking of the history-making performance, new 100km record breaker Sibusiso Kubheka said: “I’m so proud of my performance out there today. Breaking this record and becoming the first person to run 100km in under 6 hours was not easy – but thanks to adidas’ partnership, belief and bespoke technologies, we made it happen. When we combine the best athletes, the right preparation and sports Innovation, anything is possible.”
Meanwhile, Charlie Lawrence and Aleksandr Sorokin both beat the current fastest time (held by Sorokin himself). The results were:
Sibusiso Kubheka, 5:59:20
Charlie Lawrence, 6:03:47
Aleksandr Sorokin, 6:04:10
This remarkable set of athlete performances are part of Chasing, a new adidas intention to push the limits of human performance through bold challenges, breakthrough technology and athlete-led innovation.
