The Adidas Takumi Sen 11 is a 5K and 10K race shoe designed for short-distance speed, priced at $180. It competes with other shoes in this category like the Nike Streakfly 2 ($180) and the New Balance SC Pacer v2 ($200). The Takumi Sen 8 earned a strong following among hobby joggers thanks to its snappy toe-off, classic Lightstrike Pro foam, and excellent speed assistance. Despite a problematic upper, it became a go-to for speed workouts and short-distance races—even up to the half marathon. Version 9 brought only an upper update, but version 10 was a big step back. It was heavier, wider, and lacked the ride experience that made v8 a standout. Unfortunately, version 11 doesn’t seem to be a return to form. It’s still heavier than many current marathon racers like the Puma Fast-R 3 or ASICS Metaspeed Sky/Edge series, and it lacks the bounce and responsiveness you'd expect in a shoe built for fast 5Ks and 10Ks. The one area of improvement is the upper, which now uses the same material seen on the Adios Pro 4. However, the fit still isn’t dialed in—it runs at least a half size too long and lacks the secure lockdown needed for racing. Underfoot, Adidas uses the newer, softer variant of Lightstrike Pro and glass fiber rods (instead of the carbon rods found in the Adios Pro 4), but the shoe feels muted and lacks the sharp, responsive toe-off you want in a short-distance racer. The Takumi Sen 11 may appeal to runners who prefer a lower stack, grounded feel, or those racing on unstable or uneven terrain where high-stack race shoes might feel unstable. But for most runners looking for a true 5K or 10K racer, there are stronger options. The Nike Streakfly 2 stands out as a much better-executed racing flat—it’s nimble, fast, and delivers the kind of ride you expect in a short-distance racing shoe. We’d also recommend one of the more aggressive marathon racers like the Puma Fast-R 3 or the ASICS Metaspeed Sky or Edge Paris/Tokyo.
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