All eyes were on the Boston Marathon yesterday as Eliud Kipchoge set out to claim his fifth major marathon win. But the world record holder ended up dropping back around the 20-mile mark, with defending champion Evans Chebet storming to victory in a time of 2:05:54, making him the first man since 2008 to retain the Boston Marathon elite men’s title.
Tanzanian runner Gabriel Geay came in second (2:06:04), while Benson Kipruto of Kenya finished third (2:06:06).
In the women’s race, Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri took home the win in 2:21:38 – only her second ever marathon. Amane Beriso finished in second (2:21:50) and Lornah Salpeter in third (2:21:57).
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Of course, just about every athlete was wearing a pair of carbon fibre running shoes – a technological advancement born out of the Nike Breaking 2 project. However, we had a very close eye on the shoes the elites – and medal winners – were wearing. Here's the shoes that made the top spots this year...
Men's - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
On the men’s podium, there wasn’t a Nike Alphafly in sight, with Chebet, Geay and Kipruto all opting for the Adidas Adios Pro 3 – a super shoe that’s no stranger to victory. Last year, it was worn by Kenyan runner Amos Kipruto when he won the London Marathon 2022; by Chebet again when he won the New York Marathon 2022; and by Kipruto, who won the Chicago Marathon 2022.
There's no denying the winning credentials of this shoe at elite level. But, having tested the shoe ourselves, we can cement that the Adios Pro 3 boasts impressive energy return, sleek looks and the latest go-faster technology for elites and non-elites alike. If you prefer a shoe that feels positively firm and responsive (rather than squishy and bouncy), then the Adios Pro 3 is a shoe to rival the best out there.
Women's - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
In the women’s field, Hellen Obiri competed in the On CloudTri. The shoe is yet to be made available to the public, and very little is known about this new addition to On's racing shoe line-up, however it is included on the World Athletics' list of approved shoes.
However, the RW team did spot Obiri changing into a pair of the Cloudmonsters as her recovery shoe of choice.
Amane Beriso, who ran the third-fastest marathon in history (2:14:58) at Valencia in 2022, also wore the Adios Pro 3 in what looked like a unique colourway.
For team Nike, Lonah Salpeter was the only athlete to get a podium spot. It looks like she opted for the new Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 in a pink and yellow colourway.
Released this year, the third iteration of the Vaporfly feels just as lively and fast as the previous two. Nike has overhauled the Vaporfly from the rubber up, looking to make it the lightest yet. One attempt to shave weight came in the midsole shaping, with foam now removed from places where it’s not needed. Gone, too, is the slab of rubber under the forefoot, replaced with a web of diamond-shaped lugs.
