Adidas Debuts Interactive Experience At San Francisco Marathon

Runners can now get up close and personal with Adidas’ Boost technology. This weekend, the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based athletic brand will unveil its new interactive mobile space at the San Francisco Marathon. The Boost Experience, which will be at Pier 39 on Saturday and Sunday, will allow athletes to explore the company’s latest products and innovations.

After this weekend, the mobile space will hit the road, visiting 12 other running events throughout the year.

Measuring 30 feet by 40 feet, the Boost Experience setup features several touchpoints for consumers, including a Kinetic Wall with Boost capsules that move in response to foot traffic. There’s also an area to try on new Adidas footwear styles, such as the Ultra Boost, Energy Boost, Pure Boost, Sequence, Glide and Adios.

Once runners have the sneakers on, they can put the shoes to the test at the Momentum Wall, where a person’s movements are recorded and analyzed via a motion-capture camera. The system assesses the athlete’s energy output and then displays their image (made out of Boost capsules) on a full-size LED screen. Sound confusing? Click through the slideshow to see what it all looks like.

Adidas introduced the Boost technology in 2013 in its running collection and has since expanded the use of its TPU midsole to other categories, such as basketball, baseball, tennis, snowboarding and training.

Adidas says the cushioning system is superior to traditional EVA midsoles because it is less affected by outdoor elements, has a slower breakdown rate and provides a springy ride for significant energy return.