ena athletics, the first premium athletic brand born from the heart of Greece, has unveiled its inaugural high-performance running shoe, the ena athletics Proto Runner 1.
The launch from the nascent running brand marks a statement of intent, as it fuses cutting-edge technology with sophisticated design inspired by its Greek heritage.
Influenced by the nation’s legacy as the birthplace of athletics, ena athletics blends modern technology with the perennial Greek values of resilience, endurance and beauty. The brand is committed to creating gear that supports athletes in achieving their personal best while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability, and the new Proto Runner 1 sets this ambition in motion.
The Proto Runner 1 is engineered to revolutionise road running with a design that supports both pronation and supination, offering unparalleled balance and comfort. Designed for daily runs to those pushing their limits, the shoe is crafted to enhance performance across a multitude of terrains.
At the heart of the Proto Runner 1 is AXICORE, an energy management system inspired by the form of the human body. This innovative technology distributes impact and returns energy across multiple axes, thanks to a flexible, tendon-like core, allowing runners to push further and faster. The hollow centre design enables natural movement between heel and forefoot, creating exceptional stability and responsiveness with every stride.
Key Features
- AXICORE Technology: Delivers energy return and enhanced stability for natural running.
- Upper crafted from 3D knitted fabric, combining recycled TPU and TPE and enhanced with nylon for breathability, flexibility, and comfort.
- Midsole features a Silphion double-density foam, composed of 35% bio-based materials, delivering excellent shock absorption and rebound
- Weight: Men 245gr – Women 210gr
- Size Range (US): Men 6.15-12, Women 4-9
- Size Range (EU): Men 39-46, Women 36-42
- Size Range (UK): Men 6-11, Women 2-7
- 8mm Heel-to-Toe Drop: Ensures optimal comfort and performance.
- EUR RSP: €230 / £210.
As part of a comprehensive testing regime which included hundreds of miles of road testing in Oregon, Geneva and Athens, ena athletics partnered with the Sports Clinic at the Hôpital de la Tour in Geneva for a testing suite against equivalent carbon plated competitor shoes, using professional runner test subjects.
Additionally, testing at the Heeluxe labs in California, where the Proto Runner was subjected to numerous tests, it was found to have an ideally balanced, higher than average level of energy return and cushioning against their comprehensive database of high-performance running shoes.
Some of the feedback was as below:
“ena seems to protect some key areas such as the heel as the forces under this area are markedly diminished.” This is confirmed by the RUN-CAT questionnaire offered to the subject which gives a better overall comfort rating for ena, also mentioning “excellent stability and comfort” compared to the others.”
“ena does not seem to change the runner’s habits but simply increases the flight time and therefore stride length, while optimising the quality of the ground support. These advantages are marked at typical distance running speeds.”
The founding team is a powerhouse of diverse expertise, featuring Alex Latsis, a seasoned venture capitalist; Thomas Thomaidis, a former Ocado executive; Manuele Bianchi, an award-winning trainer designer; Peter Ruppe, a former senior executive at Nike and Under Armour; and Maria Polyzou and Kostas Houvardas, Greek record-holding marathon athletes. Together, they form a rare and powerful confluence of commercial and sporting experience, creating a unique synergy that drives their vision for ena athletics.
“ena athletics represents a marriage of Greece’s athletic heritage and cutting-edge innovation,” says Thomas Thomaidis, Chief Operating Officer at ena athletics. “We’re incredibly excited to introduce the Proto Runner 1, a shoe that embodies our mission to empower athletes through performance and elegance.”
“Our products are designed for those who push boundaries, with each item crafted to embody the enduring strength of the Greek spirit. From sustainable materials to performance-driven technology, ena athletics is set to make waves in the sportswear industry.”
The ena athletics Proto Runner 1 officially launched on the 14th November, and is now available online in the UK and Greece.
