I got invited by adidas to attend their fifth annual "Road to Records" event at their HQ in Herzogenaurach, Germany with a handful of other coaches and creators. Over the course of three days, we were lucky enough to get an inside look at adidas as a brand - understanding what their vision is for their running line, how they work with their athletes, and a handful of opportunities for everyone there to connect with one another.

The campus itself was unreal - super modern but full of history and legacy. As a long-time fan of the brand, it was really cool to see how all of the pieces get put together to make the global powerhouse brand that we all know. One of the highlights was getting a behind-the-scenes look at the shoe design process, specifically the new Evo 2 distance racing shoe. The team walked us through every step of the testing process, emphasizing their approach of designing for the elite first - those chasing world records and marginal gains - because their success ultimately drives progress for the entire running community.

The actual Road to Records event was insane. We watched the adidas elites run PRs, set national records, and even break a world record. Being up close and personal with those athletes was inspiring. At the end of the day, they opened up the course for a public 5K which I ran. I went in with no expectations - April had been a bit rough with injuries and travel - but managed to run a 16:04 and place 14th out of a few thousand - a good gut check and overall a really cool experience.

Massive shoutout to the adidas crew and all the athletes and creators I got to hang with. Definitely a weekend I won’t forget.

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