Andreas Almgren is using Nike's newest shoes in the final stretch of his preparation for the New York Marathon, and he says the early signs have been encouraging.
The Swedish runner has taken Nike Apex out on his tougher long runs in recent weeks, and he says the shoes have already given him a strong sense of confidence. Almgren described the feeling as coming after the sessions themselves, when he could see how the shoes responded over the kind of work that matters most before a marathon.
That fits into a bigger story in distance running. For the past decade, supershoes have reshaped road racing, and Almgren pointed back to 2016 as a clear turning point. In his view, there is a before-and-after line in marathon running, especially on the roads, where the right shoes can make a meaningful difference over a long effort.
He also acknowledged that the effect is not as simple as a pair of shoes producing dramatic time drops for everyone. Even so, he said he has now used Apex on all of his tougher long sessions and has gained confidence from those workouts. The broader point, though, remains the same: in marathon preparation, gear still matters when the margins are tight.
Official debut in Chicago
Nike Apex made its official premiere at the Chicago marathon a few weeks ago, placing the model squarely in the middle of the latest supershoe evolution. Toni Arndt said the biggest difference is the weight, describing how little the shoes weigh and noting that research on them is still in the early stages.
Malin Ewerlöf also reacted strongly to that detail, reflecting the interest these new models continue to generate around elite running. For Almgren, the focus is more immediate. He is preparing for Sunday's marathon in Flagstaff now, with hopes that the shoes will help when he gets to New York.
