Inspired Looks of NYC Marathon Winners
You too can dress like the NYC Marathon’s fastest.
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On a crisp autumn day—the kind runners pray for weeks leading up to a race—Lelisa Desisa and Mary Keitany won first place in their respective fields at the TCS NYC Marathon. In a neck-to-neck finish, Desisa claimed the third fastest time ever on the course, finishing just two seconds before second place finisher Shura Kitata. Geoffrey Kamworor followed almost half a minute later to take the bronze. The women’s division was also hot to watch; Keitany earned her fourth NYC Marathon win, while Vivian Cheruiyot and Shalane Flanagan trailed her, placing second and third.
Training, coaching, nutrition, and grit led these elites to the podium—but looking awesome also helps with race morale and getting into that winner mindset. Professional runners’ kits are customized especially for them, but you can still channel that elite mentality at your next race with the gear inspired by the fastest runners below.
Women’s Champion: Mary Keitany (2:22:48)
Adidas Adizero Adios 3
Price: $140
Buy Men’s Buy Women’s
Besides her lightning-speed finish, the second most talked about subject concerning Keitany’s performance is that she surpassed VaporFly 4% wearers to clench the gold. The racer Keitany wore—the Takumi Sen 3—is available in Malaysia, but an alternate shoe stateside is the lightweight Adizero Adios 3.
Adidas Women’s Ultra Primeknit Parley Tank Top
Price: $70
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If you’re moving at a 5:27 minutes/mile pace like Keitany, you’ll probably feel the heat no matter how ideal the weather is on race day. Like Keitany’s elite edition mesh singlet, Adidas’s Parley Tank Top is made of seamless breathable knit with mesh ventilation on the sides.
Adidas Women’s Saturday Graphic Shorts
Price: $50
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Keitany’s cool graphic shorts are unfortunately for Adidas pros only, but you’ll still get that freedom and flexibility wearing these bottoms.
Men’s Champion: Lelisa Desisa (2:05:59)
Nike Zoom Fly Flyknit
Price: $160
Buy Men’s Buy Women’s Full Review
The VaporFly 4% Flyknit still has its allure—flashes of orange were spotted throughout the race—and reputation. With Keitany as the only exception, five of the athletes who podiumed in both the men’s and women’s fields—including Desisa, Kitata, Kamworor, Cheruiyot, and Flanagan—wore the shoe Nike can’t keep on its shelves.
The Zoom Fly is your more affordable understudy, with the Flyknit upper and carbon-fiber plate in the midsole. It may not have the ZoomX foam or a 4-percent-faster promise, but it’s the next best thing Nike has to offer.
3rd Place Men: Geoffrey Kamworor (2:06:26)
Nike Running Beanie
Price: $50
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Sunday morning began with temperatures in the 40s. Desisa and Kamworor wore running beanies so their noggins would stay warm the first leg of the race.
Nike Men’s Miler Singlet II
Price: $38
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Desisa, Kitata, and Kamworor’s singlets are elite-issued, but we suspect they’re similar to Nike’s Miler Singlet, a sweat-wicking running tank with back and side mesh panels.
3rd Place Women: Shalane Flanagan (2:26:22)
Nike Printed Headband
Price: $15
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To keep flyaway strands at bay, Flanagan—first place NYC finisher last year—wore a Nike headband that matches her race kit. This six-pack contains a variety of colors so you can match like an elite too.
Nike Dri-Fit 360 Arm Sleeves
Price: $30
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The weather was ideal at NYC, but cold spots and flying over the Verrazano and Queensboro Bridge warrant arm sleeves. These sleeves are not “F— yeah!” Flanagan-red, but they’ll still protect your arms and make you look sharp.
6th Place Men: Jared Ward (2:12:24)
Saucony Type A8
Price: $140
Buy Men’s Buy Women’s
A favorite racing flat of Ward’s is the lightweight Type A8. These trainers—which have a FlexFilm upper for a flexible, breathable ride, and a 4-millimeter heel-to-toe drop—will help you shave seconds off your time.
4th Place Women: Molly Huddle (2:26:44)
KT Tape Pro
Price: $20
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It isn’t all about the clothes—or shoes. Huddle sticks on KT Tape on areas prone to stress over long mileage and constant pounding.
6th Place Women: Desiree Linden (2:27:51)
Oakley Flak Jacket
Price: $163
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Linden wore the Flak Jacket to avoid the sun’s glare. These lightweight shades are impact resistant and have a padded nose piece so they won’t slip.
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
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