Joshua Gordon
Ironman has announced a new "Prohibited Running Shoes List" effective February 2025. While seemingly aimed at aligning with World Athletics' shoe regulations, the implementation raises serious questions. Some of the fastest shoes remain legal, while others, even those not dominating the competitive scene, are banned. Let's break down the confusion.
Ironman list here: https://www.ironman.com/resources/rules-and-policies/prohibited-running-shoes
The Rule:
Ironman's rule mirrors World Athletics' guidelines for road racing shoes (Rule 6.02(e) regarding Prohibited Equipment). Shoes are banned if they:
- Have a stack height over 40mm (as defined by World Athletics regulations 10.3-10.5)
- Contain more than one rigid plate structure
- Are unapproved prototypes or development shoes
Flagged shoes may lead to a "Result Under Review" until verification.
The Ban List:
Here are some banned shoes according to Ironman's list:
- Adidas: Adizero Prime X / Adizero Prime X Strung / Adizero Prime X 2 Strung
- Asics: SUPERBLAST / Novablast 4 / Novablast 5
- New Balance: FuelCell SuperComp Trainer
- Saucony: Kinvara Pro
- Hoka: Skyward X
- Puma: Magnify Nitro
Many top-performing and frequently-winning shoes remain legal, including:
- Nike Alphafly 3
- Adidas Adios Pro 3
- Asics Metaspeed Sky+
- Saucony Endorphin Elite
Yes, shoes that have demonstrably won major marathons and Ironman races are still permitted. In general, top athletes wear a variety of shoes. At the Ironman World Championship 2024 Kona, the most popular shoe was the Nike Alphafly 3, followed by the Hoka Rocket X 2. Other popular shoes included the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro EVO 1, On Cloudboom Strike, and Asics Metaspeed Edge/Sky.
Checking Your Shoes:
World Athletics' CertCheck tool is the official resource for verifying shoe legality: CertCheck: World Athletics Shoe List. While a shoe might be approved by World Athletics, it could still be on Ironman's additional banned list, potentially leading to disqualification.
Why This Rule is Problematic:
- Selective Enforcement: Ironman bans shoes that World Athletics allows, creating inconsistency.
- No Level Playing Field: The fastest shoes remain legal, so performance advantages persist.
- Confusion and Enforcement: Pre-race and post-race checks create uncertainty for athletes.
- Other Factors Matter More: Aerodynamics, bike position, and fueling have a far greater impact on race results than marginal differences in shoe technology.
What You Should Do:
- Use CertCheck to verify your shoes.
- Ensure your race shoes are under 40mm stack height and don't contain multiple plates.
- Be prepared for random shoe checks, especially at Ironman World Championship events.
This rule, while potentially having minimal real-world impact on race outcomes, could still cause significant headaches for athletes unaware of Ironman's specific banned list.