Nike Alphafly Racing Shoes: A Middle-Aged Runner's Honest Take

Running · Published 11/20/2023 ·

Still… a cold winter. Winter’s only just getting started, so who knows when I’ll actually get to wear them — but I went and bought another pair of racing shoes anyway.

The Alphafly has a single carbon plate inside, and up front they’ve stuck in some air units and then cut a gap through the middle.

The design is really one of a kind.

Wearing these obviously isn’t going to turn me into Kipchoge, but at my age you can get hurt working out because of your gear… so when it comes to athletic equipment, I think it’s right to go for the best your wallet allows. That’s just me.

True to a running shoe, the front curves way up. It grips well when you push off the ground, and being a high-end running shoe, there’s not a single issue with it.

Here’s the view from the other side. The photo came out a little dull (iPhone 15 Pro…), but in person it’s a good-looking shoe.

The Air Zoom units I can’t quite figure out the point of… and only half-length ones at that… they do a lot for the “looks fancy” factor, though.

The heel rises up like the prow of a sailboat too. They say the elite runners who really fly run on their forefoot or midfoot, so their heels barely wear down.

Mine, naturally, wear right down.

The Air Zoom on the inside of the shoe…

The overall sole looks like that. The grip is concentrated on the forefoot and midfoot, while the rear just provides cushioning — a textbook shoe built for elite runners. People say a shoe like this does nothing for you at any pace slower than 4:30.

But honestly, running in the Alphafly 1 versus running in regular Pegasus, there is a difference. And that difference isn’t about chasing a time — if my feet are comfortable, that’s enough. Nike surely knew what they were doing, and someday I’d like to run on my midfoot too ^^

That FLYPLATE part is the carbon. Carbon — the stuff used so much in aerospace, car manufacturing, and bike building — has now made its way into shoes. Pretty fascinating.

The upper is mesh. When you run in them, the air rushes right through and your feet stay cool.

There’s a loop on the back to help you get them on, too. The Alphafly is a really tough shoe to put on. But once they’re on, a few little hops and they settle right into place, ready to run.

The sole is incredibly thick. Makes you wonder if it’s even okay to be that thick ^^

The insole material looks like it has two or more layers. I’m sure it’s meant to help wick away sweat… but after a run, the bottom does end up soaked with sweat.

This is the loop on the tongue. You have to grab front and back and really yank to get them on. The laces are made of a material that doesn’t come undone easily, but for a half marathon you’re running over two hours, so you’d better tie them well.

I’ve been getting ready to take on the half marathon starting with the spring races in 2024. It’s exactly the kind of gear that’s sold out once the season rolls around.

I’m no marathon expert — just a regular middle-aged guy from around the neighborhood. After trying on this and that and going for a run, I can say the good stuff really is good. If you’re someone doing 10k or more on the road every day, this is gear worth taking a look at.

Even if it’s just the gear doing the work, having it means fewer injuries. I hurt my ankle last spring and couldn’t really run for over seven months. If the function’s the same, sure, value for money makes sense — but splurging on high-end is always the right call hahahaha.

Thanks for reading.

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