What the TTT and the Summer 25K have in common
Before talking shoes, it is worth confirming the terrain. The two races are on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul and share a characteristic that defines everything: they take place on coastal ground, with beach and sand stretches, not on flat city asphalt. That matters because surface is the criterion that most influences footwear choice, even more than distance.
We confirmed each data point below against the race websites and sports press. Where information varies between editions, we say so.
What the TTT (Travessia Torres-Tramandaí) is
The TTT is the Travessia Torres-Tramandaí, one of the biggest beach races in Brazil. The start is in Torres and the finish is in Imbé, on the border with Tramandaí, on the gaúcho northern coast. The course is run entirely on beach sand.
- Distances: 84 km (solo and relay), 42 km, 21 km and 8.3 km, according to the official website.
- Format: besides the individual race, the challenge can be done in relay, with teams of two, four or eight athletes.
- Scale: the 2025 edition was announced as the race's 20th and set a participant record, with spots sold out in advance. Sources vary between four and five thousand athletes depending on the outlet.
What the Summer 25K is
The Summer 25K is the 25 km event of the Summer 48K event, also on the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul. The 25 km race starts on the beach of Arroio do Sal and ends in Capão da Canoa. The announced edition has a December date. The two distances, 48 km and 25 km, can be done solo or in relay (pairs and quintets).
A point that calls for honesty: sources describe the course in mixed terms, sometimes as a beach run, sometimes following the seafront and the so-called Estrada do Mar. Before choosing the shoe, confirm in the rules of the edition you will run whether your stretch is packed sand, soft sand or boardwalk. That difference changes the decision a lot.
Similar road and beach races in Brazil
The Brazilian calendar mixes three big families, and each asks for different reasoning:
- Road races on asphalt: the 10 km and the half marathon (21 km) are the most common, like the International Half Marathon of São Paulo. Hard, flat, predictable surface.
- Beach races: the TTT and the Summer 48K/25K are examples. Unstable surface, with soft or packed sand depending on the stretch and the tide.
- Trail races with similar distance: there are 25 km trail races, like the Rio do Rastro Marathon 25K, in Lauro Müller (SC), with technical terrain and hard climbs. Here the subject is trail shoes, with aggressive outsoles, and it falls outside the scope of this text.
Carbon plate: for fast road races
Carbon plate shoes, like the Nike Vaporfly and the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro, were designed to maximize energy return on hard surfaces at high paces. They combine a rigid carbon fiber plate (or carbon rods, in the Adios Pro's case) with ultralight, responsive foams, producing a firm, propulsive stride.
They make sense in a fast road race, when you are chasing a time in the 10 km or the half. They do not make sense on soft sand: the plate depends on a firm surface to return energy, and the thin outsole offers little stability on unstable terrain. It is also worth remembering that these models have a shorter lifespan, in the range of a few hundred kilometers, and are not designed for daily use.
Easy-mileage shoes: for those seeking comfort
The easy-mileage shoe, or daily trainer, prioritizes cushioning, stability and durability. It usually covers most of the weekly volume of frequent runners. It is the natural choice for those who want to finish the race comfortably, without chasing an aggressive time, and for those who prefer footwear that endures many kilometers.
For long races at a controlled pace, including the 25 km, the comfort and joint protection of the easy-mileage shoe tend to weigh more than the extreme propulsion of a plate.
Extra care with sand and beach
Sand changes the game. The terrain's instability increases the risk of twists and sprains, and soft sand demands more muscular effort, overloading ankles, calves and the Achilles tendon. Packed sand, closer to the water, is firmer and returns the foot faster, which reduces the effort.
How to summarize the choice by race type
- 10 km or road half, chasing a time: carbon plate can help.
- 10 km or road half, chasing comfort: easy-mileage shoe.
- 25 km on asphalt or firm seafront: easy mileage for comfort, or a lighter race model if the goal is pace, weighing durability.
- TTT, Summer 25K and sand races: prioritize stability and a firm outsole, not the plate.
What stays
The right question before the TTT or the Summer 25K is not 'how many kilometers', it is 'what surface will I step on': soft sand dissipates energy, it does not return it, and that is exactly where the carbon super shoe, built to return energy on hard, flat asphalt, loses its reason to exist. The same 25 km that calls for a Vaporfly in a city half calls for stability and a firm outsole on a gaúcho beach strip. Before deciding on the pair, decide on the terrain, and confirm in the edition's rules whether your stretch is packed or soft sand. Terrain commands more than distance, and the body is grateful when someone asks that first. Test in training before trusting it in the race.
