Kenyan marathoner Barnabas Kiplimo captured the spotlight at the 2025 Khon Kaen Marathon in Thailand, not just for his impressive victory in the men’s race but for his choice of unconventional footwear.
Crossing the finish line with a time of 2:18:55, Kiplimo outpaced Ethiopian runners Ebisa Kure Takele (2:21:43) and Fekadu Tesfaye Degefa (2:21:45), who claimed second and third places, respectively.
In the women’s race, Ethiopian Tsega Desta Mehari triumphed with a winning time of 2:52:11, narrowly edging out Kenya’s Jemutai, who finished in 2:53:13, and fellow Kenyan Elizabeth Chepkanan Rumokol, who clocked 2:55:40.
What set this marathon apart from others was Kiplimo’s groundbreaking choice of footwear: the world’s first carbon-plated running sandals, dubbed Nirun, created by Thai running brand VING.
The sandals' unique design features a full-length carbon plate embedded in a foam midsole, promising enhanced cadence and responsiveness.
Unlike traditional running shoes, the Nirun combines a flip-flop thong-style upper with a foam heel strap for added stability. This innovative approach to performance footwear aims to simplify running gear while maintaining high levels of efficiency and speed.
VING, the Thai brand behind the sandals, has been testing their product extensively with elite athletes in Kenya.
The Nirun prototypes have proven durable and effective under the warm training conditions of Iten, Kenya, one of the world's top destinations for distance runners.
Kiplimo's triumph at Khon Kaen wasn’t just a win for the athlete, it was also a testament to the potential of the Nirun. Notably, Kiplimo shaved eight minutes off his previous marathon personal best, fueling the buzz around this minimalist yet high-performance footwear.
Currently, the Nirun sandals remain in the testing and development phase, with limited prototypes available.
However, VING has plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign in February to fund the next iteration of the sandals.
They’re also gearing up to showcase the product at the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon in March.
With endorsements like Kiplimo’s victory, the brand is poised to disrupt the running footwear industry.
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