ASK YOURSELF WHY
C o l u m n
• Erke
The Erke Infinite racing shoes have very lightweight constructions . The upper shoe in the pic is the model due out in March this year , and it has a lighter outer-sole , is slightly narrower in the heel and forefoot , and the location of peak midsole curvature feels slightly further forward ( which will suit runners with greater stride to contact ).
Images : Norrie Willamson
The Li-Ning range may remind you of another globally well-known brand
that they sponsor or support . However , we do have a parallel that informally operates in South Africa , where the likes of Nedbank , Boxer , Maxed Elite ( Mr Price ) and previously Murray and Roberts , would look for the race exposure and visibility through its sponsored athletes , while the event may be sponsored by another conflicting sponsor such as ABSA , FNB , SPAR , Pick n Pay , Totalsports or Sportsmans Warehouse . The significant difference in China is that with all the elite athletes of an event under a specific brand ’ s banner , there are only the two brands gaining visibility .
Engaging the World ’ s Best
While we are now seeing more elite Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes wearing Chinese brands and winning races in China , the fact is that we are still watching the World ’ s best athletes compete , win and set records internationally in the recognised major brands , such as Nike , adidas and Asics . However , this starting to change , as Chinese brands Erke , Anta and X-tep have begun moving into the leading African and Middle East markets .
Probably the highest profile example of this is Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele , the former multiple Olympic Champion , World Champion ( track and cross country ) and World Record-holder , and owner of a marathon PB of 2:01:41 . He is considered by many to be the greatest distance runner of all time , and though now in the twilight of his career , he left Nike to race the Valencia Marathon in Spain in Anta shoes from China , and recorded a mind-boggling 2:04 , despite being 41 years of age !
Although some people may think that imported Chinese products tend to be of low quality , I have found this to be a myth . The Chinese make high-quality goods , including running shoes . And in contrast to the South African approach , where the best food and wines are exported , and poorer quality goods are kept on the local market , the Chinese have met the international desire for product at a good price , while keeping the top quality for their own population . In terms of technology , it ’ s also worth keeping in mind that these companies are producing some of the most renowned brands in international markets , so even without their own innovations , they are exposed to the cutting edge elsewhere .
A Sample of China
With the ‘ coming of the Chinese ,’ it ’ s worth looking at some of the models from the major Chinese manufacturers . These are mostly plated shoes and all extremely light , and they all have stack heights close to the World Athletics limit of 40mm , as well as minimal heel-to-toe drops around the 4mm mark .
The similarities , both between the brands and with international models , is no longer simple coincidence , but rather a reflection of the current best of the best in global running shoe tech and trends . It ’ s also worth noting that the Chinese shoes tend to feel wider ( more space ) in the forefoot than brands such as Nike and adidas , which I feel will make them more attractive to the African market . Certainly , I find them much more comfortable to wear for extended periods . So , let ’ s take a look at some of these brands , many of which I have been privileged to wear-test .
• X-Tep
I was first exposed to Chinese shoes in 2020 , immediately prior to the Xiamen Marathon , which is when X-Tep launched the red pair . These 160-X utilised quite flexible thin carbon plates , which could break if too much bend was applied . To be honest , these remain one of my favourite pairs of shoes , as they are lower to the ground and just have a great feel , as opposed to the ‘ clumpier ’ feel of most of plated shoes with much higher stack heights . The new version 5 ( centre pair ) and 5 pro ( orange and red ) are the latest versions for 2023 . As with most of the elite or pro shoes , the difference tends to be in the angle and stiffness of the plate , compared to the training or more recreational level shoes .
• Li-Ning
This range of Li-Ning shoes moves bottom to top from a well-cushioned , high stack , nonplated training shoe ( blue / purple ) to a much lighter more flexible racer trainer ( yellow / turq ), to the extremely lightweight top of the range plated racer ( orange ). The Li-Ning slogan , “ Anything is Possible ,” may have a familiar ring to it , as does the top-end racer named Feidian Ultra3 , whose semi-transparent upper is not dissimilar to some Nike material . The ‘ Rebound by Jiang Technology ’ utilises cut-outs from the midsole to increase the cushioning in the racer , and the flexibility in the racer trainer .
• Anta
Anta is a big player in bringing African athletes to the top races in China , and has these C202 5 GT Pro racers , which have a 31mm heel stack and 4mm drop . It can be seen that the roll-off is less pronounced , which Anta says assists in encouraging a longer stride length . This is even stated on the side of the shoe . The other current racer is the C10 Pro , which has slightly more flex and a 6mm drop .
The comparison between all these brands ’ models again highlights how the plated shoes need to be designed to suit the runner , and that not all shoes suit all runners . High-cadence runners and longer striding runners may find different shoe designs more suitable . Of key importance in selection of a shoe is matching your stride / landing point at race pace with the peak curve region on the shoe , as this can assist with maintaining momentum .
Erke shoes are noticeably lightweight
The Anta C202 5 GT Pro racers encourage a longer stride length
Anta C10 Pro has slightly more flex and drop than its stablemate
About the Author
Norrie represented Scotland and Great Britain in numerous ultra-distance events , then represented South Africa in triathlon . He is a World Athleticsaccredited coach and course measurer , and travels all over the world to work on events , including the Olympics . He has been appointed by World Athletics as Technical Delegate to a number of the world ’ s leading Label events in Africa , Asia and the Middle East . He has authored two books ( Everyman ’ s Guide to Distance Running and Every Beginner ’ s Guide to Walking & Running ), and counts 20 Comrades medals amongst his more than 150 ultra-marathon medals , as well as multiple wins at distances from 100km to 1000km . You can read more from him at www . coachnorrie . co . za .
The author says the X-Tep 160-X remains a firm favourite 71