Nearly 60,000 runners took part in the New York City Marathon on Sunday, with Kenyan athlete Sheila Chepkirui claiming her second women’s title. She completed the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 36 seconds while wearing Adidas’ Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, a racing shoe priced at $500.
The victory adds to the momentum behind Adidas’ latest high-performance model. According to Footwear News, athletes wearing the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 won eight of the 14 major marathons held in 2026, including races in London, Berlin and Chicago. The shoe was also worn by Sabastian Sawe during his record-setting London Marathon performance, in which he became the first athlete to complete an officially sanctioned marathon in under two hours.
Adidas introduced the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 in April and describes it as one of the lightest marathon racing shoes available. It weighs 97 grams, and the company says it is 30% lighter than its predecessor. The design combines updated foam construction with carbon integration intended to support propulsion and energy return. The model received a wider release on Oct. 29, shortly before the New York race, and is sold through Adidas and selected running retailers.
The men’s race in New York also delivered a notable footwear debut. Swedish runner Andreas Almgren won in 2 hours, 6 minutes and 1 second while wearing Nike’s forthcoming Apex shoe. The model’s first major marathon victory came before its planned public release in January 2027. Nike says the shoe uses two stacked Air Zoom units in the forefoot and offers a 40% improvement in energy return compared with the Alphafly 3.
The results reflect the intense competition among performance-running brands, including Nike, Adidas and On, as they develop lighter and more technologically advanced shoes. Reuters reported that Adidas’ running revenue rose 19% in the company’s third quarter, helped by its growing presence at major marathon events.
Although the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 is designed for competitive runners, high-performance footwear has also become increasingly visible among celebrities. Jennifer Connelly, Antoni Porowski and Dylan Efron took part in this year’s New York race, while Harry Styles was absent. Styles ran the Tokyo and Berlin marathons in 2025 and wore Nike Alphafly 3 shoes during those events.
Sources: Variety.