Nike Mayfly Road Racing Shoe

Introduced in 2003, the Nike Mayfly is one of the lightest running shoes available. The shoe is named after the insect that lives, breeds, and dies all in one day, the mayfly. Creators Sean MacDowell, Jerry Crowley, Kevin Paulk, and Tony Bignell wanted to produce a shoe which lasted runners just long enough to warm-up for, and finish a marathon. The final product was a racing shoe which is manufactured to last 100 kilometers (62 miles).

Made out of a lightweight, one-piece upper called Tyvek™, the Nike Mayfly weighs only 4.7 ounces per shoe. The injection-molded sole is a single piece and contributes to the light weight of the shoe. Each pair is shipped with a return sticker for recycling. Nike has done this to reduce waste when the shoe is worn out.

When running with the Nike Mayfly, the comfortable upper and lightweight sole feels as though you are running with the perfect shoe on your foot. The shoe is light enough for faster runners to keep a quick pace, while also comfortable enough to wear for an entire marathon (26.2 miles).

I have done speed workouts with these shoes, and have found that they are great for longer intervals such as kilometer or mile repeats. The shoes do not hold your foot in place well enough to be used for shorter sprint workouts such as 100 or 200 meter sprints. Designed as a distance shoe, the Nike Mayfly proves to be great for any race longer than a mile.

The Nike Mayfly currently comes in a yellow color with black accents. The accents on the shoe are made to mimic the appearance of a mayfly's wing. The only company which currently sells the mayfly in the U.S. is Road Runner Sports. They sell the Nike Mayfly for $49.99, or if you are a VIP member the shoe only costs $44.99. The Nike Mayfly does run a little bit larger so you are encouraged to buy the shoe a ½ size smaller than your normal size. This will ensure that you get the perfect fit for race day.

Whether you are an elite runner looking to shave a few seconds off of your next marathon or 10k, or are just looking to run a personal best time in the local 5k, the Nike Mayfly is the shoe for you. Designed with comfort and speed in mind, Nike has created a shoe that is sure to keep distance runners happy for years to come.