METARACER

The METARACER is a shoe that looks beyond our expectation of a shoe.

Its design team have taken a lone path in creating a race shoe that rewards as well as supports the fast runner. It celebrates the feeling of flying that only a supreme runner can feel, it is a shoe that clearly longs to win.

It expects the runner to show up with consistency of midfoot land with no let up of fatigue. The runner must land with definite intention to move forward of body mass quickly. It relies on high leg speed, on high strength leg extension. In return, it gives the runner a momentum forward they may not experience in another shoe.

How does it do this? Strip back the rear end, advance the fore end.

The rear sole is inherently undressed of all the parts that aren’t necessary. There is no need for rearfoot landing outsole material because there shouldn’t be landing at the rearfoot. There is no GEL in the heel because there shouldn’t be impact or contact in the heel region. There is no robust heel counter because this runner turns up with solid intrinsic foot strength and limited foot eversion.

The outsole is slim, only a few mm in depth, exceptionally smooth looking in comparison to training shoes. It has a wet grip grain design that works comfortably when running in light rain or damp roads, lesser though in heavy rain.

The midsole is a FLYTEFOAM nano, sustainable material that is light, durable, and responsive. The stack height is less than other competitor brands in this category and has a more realistic feel, being 24-15 mm.

Hidden from view is a carbon wish-bone shaped plate that has a minimising effect on the energy cost of running. It acts as a stiffening agent to redirect wayward transverse movement of the midtarsal joint during transition to propulsion.

The upper is roomy in width and depth, which is a pleasant surprise compared to most race shoes. The tongue is ventilated, the toe is capped with ventilation hole and the upper is almost transparent. Your feet won’t overheat in this shoe. As lean as the upper looks, it holds the foot like a glove with its snug midfoot mesh support and one-piece wrap. It looks cool, almost OT retro in design. Full circle.

It’s an amazing experience, one which ASICS have cleverly led us toward, with the inception of EVORIDE and GLIDERIDE.

Who can wear it? Quite simply, anyone who prioritises winning and is driven to their best, every time. That person may or may not be an elite runner. But they will have mental desire to strive, push harder and be stronger for longer. The shoe demands nothing less.