These Are the Major-Marathon-Winning Running Shoes of 2026

The 2026 marathon season kicked off in Tokyo back in March, and all the brands are out in full force – decking their athletes in the latest and greatest supershoes. Last year, adidas took the top spot with most marathons won, closely followed by ASICS and Nike respectively. Will this year bring the same result? Well, adidas dominated the podium places for the first race of the season which could foreshadow how the rest of 2026 unfolds – you'll have to stay tuned to find out.

Take a look below at all of the running shoes that made it onto the podium at major marathons in 2026. We'll keep this article updated after every race, with the latest races added towards the bottom – return here for Sydney on August 30!

Tokyo Marathon

The 2026 Tokyo Marathon provided a belter of a race! A massive 38,775 runners hit The Big Mikan this March, but only three could step onto the podium in their respective categories.

After securing his first major victory at last year's Tokyo Marathon, Ethiopia's Tadese Takele once again took the top spot in the men's race. He didn't manage to beat his time from 2025, but on foot he was still donning adidas' Adios Pro Evo 1 V2. The ASICS Metaspeed Tokyo took second podium position on the feet of Geoffrey Toroitich, who delivered an impressive 2:03:37 time – only just missing out on first place! Taking third was Alexander Mutiso Munyao, running to bronze in the adidas Pro Evo 2.

The Women's Tokyo Marathon was no contest for Brigid Kosgei, who not only snatched the gold but set a new course record of 2:14:29! The Kenyan almost beat her PB of 2:14:04, doing it all in the sleek Nike Vaporfly 4. Bertukan Welde took second place wearing the adidas Pro Evo 2, followed by Hawi Feysa in the Pro Evo 1 V2.

Men’s

1. Tadese Takele – 2:03:37 – adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 V2
2. Geoffrey Toroitich – 2:03:37 – ASICS Metaspeed Tokyo
3. Alexander Mutiso Munyao – 2:03:38 – adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2

Women’s

1. Brigid Kosgei – 2:14:29 – Nike Vaporfly 4
2. Bertukan Welde – 2:16:36 – adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2
3. Hawi Feysa – 2:17:39 – adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1 V2

Boston Marathon

Just over 30,000 people pounded at the 2026 Boston Marathon on April 20, representing almost 130 countries and all 50 US states. Wildly, we had the same winners and second places in the men’s and women’s races as we did last year!

John Korir smashed the course record this year by more than a minute, rocking an unreleased prototype of the ASICS Metaspeed Sky. Last year Korir won the Boston marathon while wearing a prototype of the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo. Taking second place in the men’s race was Alphonce Felix Simbu in the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, followed by Benson Kipruto rocking the reliable Pro Evo 2.

Sharon Lokedi took the top position in the women’s race, wearing her signature Under Armour Velociti Elite 3 – whose prototype she rocked in last year’s race. Boasting a full-length carbon plate and Hovr Plus foam, the Velociti Elite 3 is the jewel in the UA running crown. The next runner up in the women’s race was Loice Chemnung donning the ASICS Metaspeed Ray and Mary Cooper in the highly anticipated Nike Alphafly 4 Prototype.

Men’s

1. John Korir – 2:01:52 – ASICS Metaspeed Sky Prototype
2. Alphonce Felix Simbu – 2:02:47 – ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
3. Benson Kipruto – 2:02:50 – adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 2

Women’s

1. Sharon Lokedi – 2:18:51 – Under Armour Velociti Elite 3
2. Loice Chemnung – 2:19:35 – ASICS Metaspeed Ray
3. Mary Cooper – 2:20:07 – Nike Alphafly 4 Prototype

London Marathon

The 2026 London Marathon delivered a display of superhuman abilities by all six of the podium place-holders across the men’s and women’s races! Not only did Sabastian Sawe shatter the world record, but he ran a sub-two-hour race – becoming the first person to do so in a competitive session. Adding to the hullabaloo was Ethiopian talent Yomif Kejelcha, who also clocked in at under two hours – just over 10 seconds behind Sawe. Furthering the hype was Tigst Assefa, who smashed the women’s world record… her own record, in fact (talk about a PB!).

Sabastian Sawe’s breaking of the the two-hour marathon barrier is historic, with a speedy pace of 2:49/km – a wild achievement. While the legendary Eluid Kipchoge did accomplish the feat in 2019, it wasn’t recorded officially, as the run was conducted under controlled conditions. Sawe set his 1:59:30 record while rocking the brand new adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, Team Trefoil’s premier supershoe. Sporting the same was Yomif Kejelcha, who as mentioned also ran sub-two-hours and set a time of 1:59:41. Coming in third was Jacob Kiplimo, who ran an impressive 2:00:28 while donning a brand new Nike prototype.

The women’s race was equally exciting, with Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa breaking her very own world record – she came in with a time of 2:15:41. Like Sawe and Kejelcha, Assefa was kitted in the adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, making this an ideal perfect debut weekend for the German giant’s brand-new race-day speedster. Hellen Obiri took second place with 2:15:53 – a mega achievement for the On-sponsored athlete and LightSpray ambassador. Earning the final podium place was Joyciline Jepkosgei, hitting 2:15:55 and donning a brand new ASICS Prototype.

Men’s

1. Sabastian Sawe – 1:59:30 (WR) – adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
2. Yomif Kejelcha – 1:59:41 – adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
3. Jacob Kiplimo – 2:00:28 – Nike Prototype

Women’s

1. Tigst Assefa – 2:15:41 (WR) – adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
2. Hellen Obiri – 2:15:53 – On Prototype
3. Joyciline Jepkosgei – 2:15:55 – ASICS Prototype

Compare these results to the 2025 marathon-winning running shoe calendar right here!