During race weekend in New York City, ahead of the NYC Marathon, folks from the product development team at a major shoe company asked me what I hear runners asking most often about the newest race day shoes. My response: Rather than wanting to know what’s the fastest shoe, they’re asking, 'What’s the fastest shoe for me?'
No longer are we stuck with just one, or maybe two, options if we want to perform our best. And that’s best illustrated by looking at what’s happening at the front of major marathons.
I was on the sidelines in Central Park on Sunday morning to watch the marathon’s winners dash past over the final few miles. While others cheered on the competitors, my eyes were glued to their footwear.
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Here are the top 10 shoes from each race.
Men’s top 10
1st — Abdi Nageeye, 2:07:39
Nike Alphafly 3
It’s not too much of a surprise to see the Alphafly 3 somewhere near the top of the podium— the shoe was worn for both the men’s and women’s current world records. We tested the shoe to learn how it performs.
2nd — Evans Chebet, 2:07:45
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
I thought we’d see more of the £450 Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1. Then again, the all-new Adios Pro 4 releases this Friday, November 8, so the streets of the Big Apple are a good place to showcase how it performs. We got our hands on a pair recently and initial impressions are that it feels lighter and has more pop than the Adios Pro 3.
3rd — Albert Korir, 2:08:00
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
4th — Tamirat Tola, 2:08:12
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1
The Adios Pro Evo 1 made an appearance once among the men’s top 10, on the feet of the defending champ. In last year’s race, Tola wore the same model when he set a course record.
5th — Geoffrey Kamworor, 2:08:50
Nike Alphafly 3
The former world record holder in the half-marathon laced up the hot pink and white color of the AF3.
6th — Conner Mantz, 2:09:00
Nike Alphafly 3 Electric
Like at the Paris Olympics in August, Mantz rode the Electric colorway of the Alphafly to a top-10 finish. It appears his days of wearing the Alphafly 2 are behind him.
7th — Clayton Young, 2:09:21
Asics Metaspeed Sky (possible prototype)
Young, like his training partner Mantz, went back to his Olympic shoes for this fall marathon. You can tell it’s the Sky (not the Edge) by the height of the black paint under the forefoot, which signifies a flatter carbon-fibre plate shape that sits closer to the forefoot and helps 'stride' runners leverage the midsole’s bounce. The shape of the midsole and pattern of the upper suggest that Young was wearing one of the prototype shoes that have been given clearance for competition by World Athletics.
8th — Abel Kipchumba, 2:10:39
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
The Adios Pro 4 made a third appearance among the top 10 men, the most of any super shoe model.
9th — Bashir Abdi, 2:10:39
Asics Metaspeed Edge (possible prototype)
Abdi wore the other shoe in the Metaspeed collection, which is designed to help runners who increase the number of steps they take when they speed up. His version, as we believe is the case with Clayton Young, looks to be a prototype model that’s allowed by World Athletics.
10th — CJ Albertson, 2:10:57
Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 PB
CJ had a busy 2024, running four very fast marathons. For this race, he laced up what looks to be your standard fare Hyperion Elite 4. But Brooks has a dev shoe, the 'Hyperion Elite 4 RD.010,' on the list of shoes approved by World Athletics, which uses a 100 percent PEBA midsole Brooks calls DNA Gold, its lightest, softest, and highest energy return foam ever. This 'PB' version will be available for purchase February 1, 2025.
Women’s top 10
1st — Sheila Chepkirui, 2:24:35
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
The women’s race turned into a two-runner contest over the final miles. In the end Chepkirui got her pair of Adios Pro 4 ahead of defending champ Hellen Obiri.
2nd — Hellen Obiri, 2:24:49
On Cloudboom Strike LS
This shoe got some of the most buzz during marathon weekend because On set up its robot and was actually spraying the uppers onto pairs in just three minutes. The shoe is not yet available (though we got our hands on a pair), but it’ll set you back £330 when it’s released. In the meantime, you can get ahold of the non-LightSpray pair (though the midsole is a bit different, it feels quite similar underfoot).
3rd — Vivian Cheruiyot, 2:25:21
Puma Deviate Elite 3
4th — Eunice Chumba, 2:25:58
Nike Vaporfly 3 Electric
Chumba was the only runner among the top 10 to wear the Vaporfly, once the most dominant model among the world’s fastest marathoners.
5th — Fabienne Schlumpf, 2:26:31
Nike Alphafly 3
6th — Sara Vaughn, 2:26:56
Puma Deviate Elite 3
7th — Senbere Teferi, 2:27:14
Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1
The Adios Pro Evo 1 first delivered the clean white and black aesthetic. It looked good on Teferi, as she notched a top-10 finish.
8th — Jess McClain, 2:27:19
Brooks Hyperion Elite 5 prototype
The Olympic marathon alternate for the US got a chance to race finally. For NYC, she opted for a prototype. We’re not entirely sure of the differences for the Hyperion Elite 5 models that are being tested, but Brooks has three 'development' shoes approved by World Athletics for use in racing. We do know that it uses DNA Gold, a new 100 percent PEBA foam for improved cushioning and responsiveness. The production model available to us amateurs won’t be out until summer 2025. Until then, you can purchase the Hyperion Elite 4.
9th — Sharon Lokedi, 2:27:45
Under Armour Velociti Elite Dev
Lokedi won the 2022 marathon, her debut, wearing a prototype of the Velociti Elite 2. Her 2024 race didn’t turn out as magical, but again she had on a prototype, this time of the Velociti Elite 3. We don’t have many details we can share with you currently, but the midsole sculpting appears to make the shoe sit taller. The current model you can buy is the Velociti Elite 2.
10th — Kellyn Taylor, 2:27:59
Hoka Rocket X 2
Taylor first raced in super shoes at last year’s NYC Marathon. She wore the same Rocket X 2 again this year.
