The Running Event Was All About the Everyday Runner
The continued growth of the sport means brands are innovating for all runners—not just the fastest.
I think I’m still processing the sheer amount of information my brain had to absorb during 34 official meetings, countless drop-ins, 16 group runs/outside events, and 72 hours at The Running Event. The Running Event is a trade show/conference where running companies, run specialty retailers, running media, and more get together to go over their latest and greatest products. (The event has been held in Austin since 2006, but will move to San Antonio in 2025.)
Social media has definitely elevated the average awareness around the event, but it’s not really open to the public (although group runs and social events outside the trade show floor are). I’ve been going since 2017; it’s a great way to connect with countless brands and see and hear about what companies are working on so I can think about what gear and trend stories will be most important over the next year. To that end, here’s what I noticed on a more macro level.
The Everyday Runner Is Front and Center
One of the most compelling new products IMO was the On Cloudboom Max. At first glance, it’s just another max cushioned super trainer. But it’s designed to be a racing shoe—it’s just optimized for the biomechanics of a marathoner running over four hours. Runners at or above that pace generally tend to land more on their heels and spend more time on the ground, so a shoe designed for them will prioritize more support, stability, and durability than one created for elite athletes. The positioning here is similar to that of last year’s S/Lab Spectur from Salomon; it’ll be interesting to see if On can use its recent growth in the market to convince more runners in that pace group to adopt a shoe better suited for their biomechanics.
On wasn’t the only brand to focus on the everyday runner. The Brooks Ghost 17 and Glycerin 22 got a more modern style treatment (the popularity of the Glycerin Max definitely inspired that update); the Nike Vomero 18 and Pegasus Plus bring race day foams and new tech into daily trainers that can go the distance; Saucony’s new Endophin Trainer puts their new race day foam, IncrediRun, into a more durable package; Mizuno’s Mystery Shoe 001 uses the same geometry as last year’s Neo Vista, so runners get the same smoothness with no plate; Italian brand Diadora is looking to make inroads in the US with the Nucleo 2, meant to rival Hoka’s popular Clifton model; and speaking of the Clifton, the tenth iteration looks much sleeker, as does the Bondi 9.
This is especially relevant following this week’s release of Running USA’s 2024 National Shoe Brand Trends report, which used AI technology to analyze the bib numbers and shoes of 101,414 race participants in race photos from MarathonFoto over the past year. Nike was the most popular racing shoe in the last year, with 21.3% of marathon, half marathon, and 5K/10K/15K finishers wearing the brand. Brooks was next, with 16.5% of finishers, followed by Saucony with 12.6% and ASICS with 12.5%, and Hoka rounded out the top five with 12.1%. (In Running USA’s Global Runner Survey, which surveyed more than 7,000 runners worldwide and included all runners (not just racers), Brooks was the most frequent shoe choice for training and racing, ASICS was the second most popular training shoe, and Nike and Saucony rounded out the top four.
People often forget that the sexiest, most high-tech shoes aren’t meant for most runners. The average marathon finish time is 4:32:49 (which works out to an average 10:24 per mile), according to a study conducted by Run Repeat that included 19,614,975 marathon results from more than 32,335 races across the globe between 2008 to 2018—and it’s probably even slower now, given how many people have started running and racing since 2019. Most of those runners don’t need the tech in elite racing shoes; they just need a comfortable, versatile, and durable daily trainer. I’m happy to see brands doubling down on designs meant for that consumer.
There’s a Lot Happening In the $140 to $160 Range
Accessibility extends to the cost of the shoe, too. In looking at 450 current running shoes, RunRepeat found an average “Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price” of $121.10. That’s obviously cheaper than the starting price of most running shoes, but the $140 to $160 is growing, and includes plenty of really solid shoes that will serve the majority of runners.
A few to call out this year: At $140, you’ve got the Brooks Ghost 17, the Saucony Guide 18, the Saucony Ride 18, the ASICS Novablast 5, and Salomon’s Aeroblaze. The Hoka Clifton 10 will retail for $150, as will the new Adidas Adizero Evo SL (a daily trainer inspired by the $500 Adizero Adios Pro Evo). At $160, there’s the Brooks Glycerin 22, the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27, the Puma Forever Run Nitro 2, Salomon’s Aeroglide 3, and the On Cloudsurfer 2.
Of course, brands were still highlighting premium (read: more expensive) training and racing models like the Brooks’ new the Hyperion Elite 4 PB, which will introduce a new foam called DNA Gold, and the Hyperion Elite 5; the $275 Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 and the $180 Saucony Endorphin Trainer; the Tracksmith Eliot Racer, which will retail for $280; the $275 Hoka Cielo X1 2.0; the Satisfy trail running shoe, which will cost you $280; and the $299 Speedland road shoe. But these shoes target a small (and spendy) portion of the running community, and if you can’t afford them, you’re not necessarily missing out.
Stack Heights Are Still Getting Higher
The era of max cushioning isn’t ending any time soon. Similar to last year, brands across the board continued to add more foam to their shoes. Remember: A shoe’s stack height is the amount of material between your foot and the ground, and these shoes tend to be highly protective and absorb more impact.
All of these shoes are getting a two-millimeter bump in stack height: the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 (January 2025, $165), the Hoka Clifton 10 (spring/summer 2025, $150), the PUMA Forever Run Nitro 2 (February 2025, $160), The North Face Infinite 3, and The North Face Enduris 4.
A few brands went even further: The Brooks Hyperion Max gets an eight-millimeter increase in stack height while the Brooks Glycerin 22 will see a 10-millimeter increase; Nike increased the stack height of the Vomero 18 from 39.5 to 46 millimeters (the most in the franchise’s history); the Salomon Ultraglide 3 will grow from from 32 to 41 millimeters; the Pegasus Premium may be a new shoe, but it boasts a 45-millimeter stack height; and Under Armour Infinite Mega, a collaboration with Speedland, has 43 millimeters under the heel.
This isn’t just to cater to consumers craving max stack shoes. Advancements in foam technology are trickling down from race day shoes to daily trainers, and using those softer, lighter foams, which compress more easily, mean you’ll bottom out if you don’t have enough stack height. And because they’re lighter, companies are able to add more foam without adding any or much weight to the shoe.
the rundown
Hoka Ora Primo
Before heading into TRE week, I hadn’t run a step since the NYC Marathon. But I did do a lot of walking (and standing) at the trade show in Hoka’s recovery slip-on, the Ora Primo. With it’s insulated puff upper and elastic “lace” system, it’s so ugly it’s cute, which seems to be very on trend right now, and I had people ask me about it at almost every meeting. I can’t figure out what kind of foam they’re using underfoot, but it felt like walking around on a mattress all day. The slip-on design made it easy to take them on and off for trying other shoes on, and the soft knit collar a) didn’t rub and b) kept the shoe on even when I had to run to a booth across the trade show floor.
COROS Pace Pro
COROS recently released the latest addition to the Pace line, and it’s not a Pace 4 but a Pace Pro. This model nearly doubles the price, and includes a new display, new processor, new heart rate sensor, new GPS chipset, and a whole lot more (if you want an in-depth review, check out DC Rainmaker). Two things stood out to me: First, the AMOLED screen is a really nice upgrade. I wore the watch basically straight out of the box into the NYC Marathon and had no issues reading my data in bright sunlight. Second, I am so impressed with COROS battery life. I thought I forgot the charging cord—this device uses a new keyring charging adapter that works with any USB-C cable—so I went into the marathon with 65 percent battery life (I turned it off for two days beforehand to conserve battery); I finished the race with 55 percent and still had 38 percent left 10 days later. It’s a little larger and heavier than the Pace 3 and I need to test other features, but TBH the AMOLED screen alone would be enough for me to switch from the Pace.
Surprise: Study Confirms Heat Slows Marathon Times
It’s my favorite q: How hot is too hot for marathon performance? Marathon time worsens by 0.56 (0.39 for men and 0.71 for women) minutes per degree Celsuis when it rises beyond 15 °C (or 59°F), according to a 2024 study published in the journal Nature. The researchers found the rise in ambient temperature—which is measured by a thermometer—tends to extend the finishing times of marathoners. This happens because the air expands, increasing vapor pressure and reducing oxygen partial density. Reduction in ambient air pressure and rise in relative humidity are also likely to extend marathon finish times, although surprisingly the effects of humidity are much smaller than those of ambient temperature and pressure.
Four women runners brutally killed in Kenya: ‘It’s no longer safe for any athlete’
This New York Times article on femicide and domestic violence against Kenyan runners is heartbreaking. It’s told through the stories of four female athletes, each of whom was killed after a financial dispute involving their partner. Jacob Whitehead interviewed multiple coaches, athletes, and family members who discuss how men prey on vulnerable female athletes looking for a route out of poverty; in their subsequent role as coach or partner, they view these women as an investment, but Wesley Korir, winner of the 2012 Boston Marathon, likens those relationships to slavery. It’s a long read, but a worthwhile one that uses excellent reporting to shed light on a terrible subject—as well as what people are doing to put an end to it.
Insert Oprah meme "You get more stack height, you get more stack height..."
Excellent Show Report! I swear you did not walk past my booth. I would have remembered those shoes! I only saw the smallest slice, but the X-Bionic shoe was very interesting. I'm really happy to see more "all natural" gels and supplements. One group I'm really getting behind is anything to help promote Safety. The Female Runner's Safety Summit is a great way to bring awareness higher. I love the "Running Mate" concept. Another idea I had was that it should be possible to incorporate existing technology to provide something like a localized "Amber Alert" based on phone and watch disturbance metrics that would broadcast say a mile radius alerting other runners/walkers that someone is in trouble. I submitted this idea to the tech team at Garmin and let's just hope that I am one of many making this suggestion. Cheers!