TIME Magazine has recently released its list of “The Best Inventions of 2023,” some of which may make you run a little bit faster. In this article, we’ll highlight the tech and gear that made the list and how it can help you be a better runner.
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1
The Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 made headlines this year when Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa wore them as she set a new world record in the women’s marathon, running 2:11:53 at the Berlin Marathon.
Assefa shattered the previous record of 2:14:04 set at the 2019 Chicago Marathon by Kenyan runner Brigid Kosgei.
The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 was inspired by the significant impact of weight savings in shoes on running performance. A 2016 study showed that for every 100g removed from a shoe, runners were 1 percent faster.
Adidas succeeded in making their shoe as lightweight as possible. Coming in at a mere 138g, they are 25 percent lighter than any other racing shoe on the market, including their major competitor, the Nike Vapourfly.
Adidas not only made the shoe the most lightweight out there, but they also jam-packed it with proprietary technological advancements.
A reinvented manufacturing process for their cutting-edge “Lightstrike Foam” is one of the most notable. The shoe also features a state-of-the-art rubber outsole that cuts significant weight without sacrificing traction.
The major drawback of these shoes is that with a steep price tag of $500, they are only able to be used for one race.
Despite this drawback, these shoes are undoubtedly one of the fastest out there, and with their unprecedented and cutting-edge technology, it’s easy to see why they make the TIME list of “The Best Inventions of 2023.”
COROS Heart Rate Monitor
For runners, heart rate is an extremely useful tool for measuring effort during exercise. However, the wrist-based optical sensors typically found in most running watches can be unreliable.
Simple things such as placement, skin color, weather, and body hair can all affect how accurate the reading is.
The other option for runners is a chest strap heart rate monitor. These are generally considered the gold standard in heart rate tracking; however, many individuals find them uncomfortable.
COROS found a solution in a new armband design. Their new heart rate monitor uses an optical heart rate sensor, the same technology found in running watches, but is secured on a band around the user’s bicep.
Why this is so revolutionary is that it eliminates the discomfort caused by chest heart rate monitors and also avoids the accuracy issues with wrist heart rate monitors.
Optical heart rate sensors function most optimally when there is deep tissue and strong blood flow. The bicep has significantly more deep tissue than the wrist and is also less susceptible to changes in blood flow from different factors such as weather.
Lewis Wu, co-founder and CEO at COROS, says that the accuracy of the device has been tested thousands of times and has always been “measured within three beats per minute [compared to] a chest strap.”
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch has never been the first to come to mind when talking about running watches, but the Apple Watch Ultra 2 might change that.
The new Apple Watch Ultra 2 says it is the “ultimate training partner” as it has an array of new features that cater to athletes.
When it comes to heart rate monitoring, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will automatically calculate and update your heart rate zones using your exercise and health data. It also allows you the option to create them yourself manually.
The new device also now supports fitness apps, such as TrainingPeaks, and allows you to upload completed workouts and download custom workouts for your watch to display during training.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also introducing advanced running metrics, including stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation, to name a few.
Finally, the new Apple Watch also has track detection. Many running watches are less accurate when running on outdoor tracks.
However, using GPS and Apple Maps data, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 can identify and adjust measurements when you are on a track. This allows for the most accurate pace, distance, and route map.
What is your favorite new running tech or gear on the list? Or was there something you think was missing from the TIME list of “The Best Inventions of 2023”?
