Nike super running shoes sell out in two minutes after marathon record

The runners went on sale the morning of Jan. 4 at $362 a pair.

But after just two minutes, the legendary sports shoemaker’s website announced the Alphafly 3 was completely out of stock.

Shortly after, the shoes were being listed on eBay for around $750 a pair, reported Britain’s The Telegraph.

Alphafly 3 is the latest and lightest version of the Nike Alphafly line, according to the globally dominant multinational footwear corporation.

Advertised as “super shoes,” Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum wore a pair while winning the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 8 last year, three months before the general sale.

Kiptum finished first in 2 hours and 35 seconds, breaking the previous record set by the legendary Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge by 34 seconds. Kiptum also became the first-ever runner to finish a full marathon (42 km) in under 2 hours and 1 minute at an official tournament.

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum breaks the world record wearing Nike’s Alphafly 3 at the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 8. 2023. Photo by AFP

The shoes made their first appearance as a prototype, worn by Dutch runner Sifan Hassan at the 2023 London Marathon. She finished first at 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 33 seconds.

In September last year, another “super shoes,” the $500 Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, sold out within hours of general release after Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa wore them while breaking the women’s marathon record in Berlin.

Adidas said the shoes are only designed to be used for one marathon. The pair is currently listed on resale sites for over $2,000.

The Alphafly 3 and the Adizero Adios Pro 1 are both made of ultra-light materials, reinforced by carbon inside a special foam that is designed to retain energy.