Adidas Adizero Dropset Pro Targets Hybrid Racing

Toronto-based hybrid racing coach Romain Cabriel says the adidas Adizero Dropset Pro is designed to handle both the running and strength stations of events like Hyrox. Cabriel, a FitSquad Coach, tested the shoe ahead of his upcoming competitions in Mexico City.

Cabriel explains that hybrid training requires a specific mindset. It is not just about practicing the exercises found at each station. The goal is to build overall strength for durability, preparing the body to perform at maximum effort for over an hour using both aerobic and anaerobic systems.

Blending Speed and Stability

Cabriel faced a common problem for strength athletes. His weightlifting shoes had hard soles and elevated heels, which were good for sled pulls but poor for running. The Adizero Dropset Pro incorporates the same Lightstrike foam used in the Adizero Adios Pro 4 racing shoe. Cabriel tried the Adios Pro 4 for several runs.

“These are super light, with great cushioning,” Cabriel says of the Adios Pro 4. He notes they provide a snappy, efficient stride for confident top speed. For hybrid events, however, he prefers a stable shoe with a firm sole. The Dropset Pro met that need instantly. He was surprised by its grip on turf during simulated race station work.

Built on a Strength-Training Foundation

With eight different stations and 8 km of running in a Hyrox event, a shoe must balance speed and stability. The Adizero Dropset Pro draws heavily from the stability-focused design of the adidas Dropset strength-training shoe family. Cabriel tested the Dropset 4 during workouts.

“When strength training, it’s important to have a stable shoe, with consistent energy return and great ventilation, and this shoe combines all of those,” he noted. The new Pro model aims to give hybrid athletes confidence at the strength stations. It uses a Continental rubber outsole and a TPU heel for stability across varied surfaces encountered in competition.

Training Strategy for Race Day

Cabriel believes training while tired is a key, counterintuitive secret to performing well. His current regimen splits focus between strength sessions a few times a week and running at least twice. One weekly session is dedicated to hybrid racing simulation. It starts with a threshold run, followed by a hard strength workout, and finishes with another run on fatigued legs.

Hybrid racing also demands strategic thinking. Athletes must decide how hard to push on the runs versus the stations, managing effort to avoid exhaustion while maintaining intensity. Cabriel is always setting new personal goals, like completing 100 wall balls without a miss or pause.

The Goal of Personal Achievement

To make the experience more enjoyable, Cabriel recommends racing with a friend, either as a team or simply participating together. He says the events can be extremely difficult, leading to moments of doubt. Having a companion makes the challenge more fun and less isolating.

He recalls the feeling of crossing his first Hyrox finish line. It produced an almost euphoric high and a sense of personal accomplishment. Cabriel is not aiming for the top one percent. For him, hybrid racing is a race against oneself, with the primary goal being continuous improvement each time.