IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NIKE
As the sneaker game enters its post-peak Y2K era, attention is turning to the sleek silhouettes and technical running shoes of the late 2000s and early 2010s. Right on cue, Nike is tapping its archives to bring back a cult runner: the Zoom Skylon 11.
Originally designed as a lightweight marathon trainer, the Skylon 11 was built for runners who wanted to move fast and travel light. With responsive Zoom Air cushioning, breathable mesh and a streamlined, low-profile silhouette, it became a favourite among elite runners for its versatility and comfort over long distances. Now the Skylon 11’s unmistakably late-2000s design is finding a new audience and making the leap from distance running into everyday style.
Nike is marking the comeback by taking things to the streets of London. This Saturday (October 24), Nike Street Racing will bring together four crews for a city-wide competition powered by the communities, personalities and cultural energy shaping London today. The four crews are outdoor collective Athene, urban explorers City Daze and music and culture crew TravsPresents via Footasylum, as well as a team recruited by Footlocker. They’ll be racing across London, taking on a series of challenges in Peckham, Brixton, Kennington and Bethnal Green along the way. There’s the Run The Track music challenge with Play Piem; a pad-work boxing challenge with Hot Girl Boxing; Make Your Move speed chess challenge with One Square Better; and Trick Shot, a trick memory challenge with Collective Bikes.
Each challenge offers a chance to earn Skylon Coins, but it’s the highest coin balance when the crews cash out at the finish that determines the winner. And fans can help tip the balance. Anyone can pick a crew to back and follow the action through Complex UK’s social channels on race day. We’ll have reporters, including DJ Henrie Kwushue, Geoff Owusu and Baggys TV, embedded with the teams, bringing live updates, interviews and behind-the-scenes moments from across London as the competition unfolds.
Fans can also follow their chosen crew’s movements across London using the live race link, while those in the city can get more directly involved. Check in at race locations, including Jumbi in Peckham, where the race starts and finishes; Express Cafe in Brixton; Kennington Park; and WIP LDN in Bethnal Green, to boost your chosen crew’s coin balance.
MEET THE CREWS
Founded in 2021 by photographers Zaineb Abelque and Liv Jank, Athene grew out of a shared love of adventure and a recognition that there weren’t enough safe, inclusive spaces for women to connect through the outdoors in London. What began as a way to bring women together has developed into a community built around movement, creativity and connection, with hikes, meditation, running and workshops all part of the mix.
In 2023, the collective expanded with the launch of Athene Run Club, founded and led by Arwa A, whose work focuses on women’s sport and access to the outdoors. Also in the crew are East London creative Michelle Mentu, digital designer Victoria Griffiths and “fun, crazy and competitive” brand manager Indigo Clarkson.
You don’t need to leave London to get back to nature. That’s the thinking behind City Daze, founded in January 2025 by Zoe Mallett and Rose Eskafi as a response to the lack of connection they were seeing in the city. Their idea was to bring people together through the green spaces already on their doorstep, from London’s woodlands and heaths to its canals and parks, without the emphasis on performance often associated with outdoor activities.
What began as a few walks has since expanded into a community spanning London, Bristol, Berlin and Amsterdam, with each city’s chapter run by locals and shaped by its own culture. In London, City Daze organises Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon walks that take people beyond their usual boroughs, mixing moments of quiet reflection with conversation prompts designed to get past the small talk. The Street Racing crew includes founders Zoe and Rose, alongside choreographer Michael Boateng and South London writer and creative director Kieran, whose work connects football, music and storytelling.
Since 2023, TravsPresents has been helping drive a new wave of UK grime, giving emerging artists a platform to develop their skills and bringing MCs, DJs and fans together through live events, radio sets and online content. Born out of founder Travs’ desire to recapture the energy of classic grime sessions, the London collective has worked with the likes of NTS, Rinse FM and TRENCH, while its events have featured names including Jme, P Money and D Double E.
Central to its approach is keeping grime’s grassroots spirit alive, with performers and audiences sharing the same space rather than being separated by a stage. Representing the collective at Street Racing are grime MC Renz, music journalist and presenter Holly, musician and storyteller Jafro, and Kibo, the self-described “Rap shaman and high chairman of da kwengletarian council.”
Nike Street Racing takes place on Saturday 24th October. Pick your crew, follow the action on Snapchat and stay tuned to Complex UK for live coverage and the final result.
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