Asics super shoes dominated, an Alphafly 4 proto was on the majority of Nike athletes, and Sharon Lokedi repeats in the Under Armour Velociti Elite 3—our shoe expert breaks it all down.
(Photo: Kevin Morris/Brooks/World Athletics)
Published April 20, 2026 05:26PM
In absolutely perfect racing conditions, the 2026 Boston Marathon was one to remember. Both Sharon Lokedi and John Korir defended their titles, with Korir running 2:01:52, smashing Geoffrey Mutai’s 2011 course record. American Jess McClain ran a blistering 2:20:49 to break Shalane Flanagan’s 2014 American record, while Zouhair Talbi set an American record with a 2:03:45 posting.
While everyone was watching the athletes, I was zeroed in on what they had on their feet. Asics dominated the field with seven of the top 10 men and women wearing their super shoes, including the men’s champion. Behind Asics was Nike, with four athletes wearing the swoosh. Sharon Lokedi wore a custom hot pink Under Armour Velociti Elite 3—the same shoe that propelled her to last year’s victory. Here’s a breakdown of the top men’s and women’s shoes with a few thoughts on each.
John Korir Sets Course Record in an Asics MetaSpeed Sky Prototype (2:01:52)
This is the second year Korir has worn a prototype version of the Asics Metaspeed Sky. Last year, he wore a prototype Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, which is now available for purchase. It features Asics highest-performing foam FFLeap, made of A-TPU. A-TPU has become the go-to foam for the fastest shoes on the market with light weight and superior rebound and resilience.
While I don’t have any information about the prototype Korir wore, it looks suspiciously similar to the Asics – MS5 TYPE-P listed on the World Athletics list of approved shoes.
Sharon Lokedi Repeats Her Title In The Same Under Armour Model She Wore in 2025
Lokedi stuck with what worked for her last year, and it clearly came through again in 2026. She wore the Under Armour Velociti Elite 3, which was released in late 2025. It features a supercritical PEBA midsole with a full-length carbon fiber plate. We’ve only tested the Velociti Elite 2, which had an exceptional fit and firm response. However, now with a supercritical PEBA, I have to imagine her version runs a lot softer and bouncier.
Seven of the Top 10 Men and Women Wore Asics, Only Two Chose Prototypes
It’s hard to deny Asics as one of the leaders in the super shoe wars. Seven of 20 top runners wore Asics shoes. Of those seven, two chose the Metaspeed Sky, two the Edge, and one the Ray. The two others were Metaspeed Sky and Ray prototypes. Of them, I’m most interested in the Metaspeed Ray prototype.
When the Metaspeed Ray first came out, it was the lightest carbon-fiber super shoe on the market, and Asics’ first A-TPU midsole, which was hyper-bouncy but one of the softest and most unstable rides I’ve tested. Only runners with strong ankles and a featherlight stride could handle it for a full marathon.
I don’t know who had access to which prototypes, but assuming all Asics’ runners had access to the Ray prototype, it’s telling that only one opted for it in Boston. That leads me to believe it’s still on the too-soft-for-most side. Given Boston’s hilly, winding course, a soft shoe like the Ray could be hard to control.
Many of the Lead Runners Wore Nike Alphafly 4 Prototypes
Behind Asics, Nike had the second-most shoes in the top 10, with four athletes. It’s no surprise that most wore the next-generation Alphafly 4. When Nike released the Vaporfly 4, it drastically reduced the amount of cushioning, positioning it more as a shorter race shoe, leaving the Alphafly as the clear marathon choice.
I’ve gotten a chance to see and feel the Alphafly 4; it looks like not a ton has changed, except it’s expected to be much lighter than the 3. Those who like the Alphafly 3 should be on the lookout for the fourth version. Unfortunately, I don’t have a release date just yet.
My Thoughts About Boston’s Fastest Shoes
Other than some intriguing prototypes, it wasn’t a revealing moment for what’s to come in the super shoes. The rest of the top wore a diverse mix of production super shoes from Hoka, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, and XTep.
Jess McClain (fifth overall, first American) wore the yet-to-be-released Brooks Hyperion Elite 6, which, if the Cascadia Elite trail shoe is any indication of what’s to come on the road side, should be far better than anything they have made to date.
