Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

The release of Nike’s Alphafly 3, famously worn by the late Kelvin Kiptum during his historic Chicago Marathon performance, caused a frenzy among running enthusiasts.

Scheduled for 8 am on Thursday, March 7th, the UK release saw most sizes of the carbon-plated shoe selling out within minutes, despite its price tag of Ksh 52879 ( £284.99.)

Kelvin Kiptum association

The Independent Sports soon after, the sold-out shoes appeared on resale platforms like eBay, commanding inflated prices, sometimes exceeding Ksh 92957 (£500).

Kiptum’s association with the Alphafly 3 added to its allure, as he made history by being the first man to run under 2 hours and 1 minute in an official race while wearing a prototype version of the shoe at the Chicago Marathon in October.

This recent release marked the second batch, following the initial launch in January, which also sold out rapidly.

Weighing in at 218 grams, with a heel-to-toe drop of 8mm and a stack height of 40mm at the heel, the Alphafly 3 is Nike’s lightest model to date.

However, many eager buyers were left disappointed as the shoes disappeared from the shelves almost instantly, with numerous pairs surfacing on resale websites shortly afterwards.

Nike isn’t the only brand experiencing such high demand for running shoes. Adidas faced a similar situation with their Adizero Adios Pro 1s after Tigist Assefa’s remarkable performance in the Berlin Marathon, despite controversies surrounding their durability and high cost.

Marathon shoes

Marathon shoes, particularly those featuring carbon plate technology like the Alphafly 3, have become essential for runners competing in longer distances.

However, their increasing influence on record-breaking performances has stirred debates about fairness and regulation in competitive running, despite strict limits on shoe stack height for both track and road running.