Benson Kipruto - men's winner
Benson Kipruto, 32, is one of the biggest names endorsing adidas, having won the 2021 Boston Marathon and the 2022 Chicago Marathon.
At Tokyo, Kipruto was wearing adidas's top running shoes, the ADIZERO Adios Pro Evo 1, featuring Lightstrike Pro foam technology combined with EnergyRods carbon plate that help maximize bounce.
The model, which adidas not recommendeded for runners who run above 3 hours and 30 minutes and can only be used for a single marathon, continued to prove its status as the brand's most formidable running shoes, as Kipruto broke the Tokyo Marathon record on Sunday by finishing in 2 hours, 2 minutes and 16 seconds.
Timothy Kiplagat - men's runner-up
Finishing second, 39 seconds behind Kipruto, was his compatriot Kiplagat, who endorses Nike, the world's leading sports brand. He wore the latest super running shoes, the Alphafly 3, which was used by the late legend Kelvin Kiptum when he broke the world record at the Chicago Marathon last year.
Alphafly 3 is currently considered the perfect super running shoe with ZoomX foam technology combined with two ultra-responsive Zoom Air pods and a carbon flyplate. The technology is revolutionary for running shoes, marking the beginning of an era of shoes with super-bouncy foam cushions and carbon plates since the mid-2010s.
Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich - men's third place
The final spot on the podium went to another Kenyan, Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, who finished in 2 hours, 4 minutes and 18 seconds. He was the only one among either men or women to wear Japan’s Asics brand.
His choice was the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, a new model that was launched at the beginning of this year.
Designed specifically for runners who increase their speed by lengthening their stride, the shoe features FF Turbo Plus cushioning technology made from PEBA foam, with a carbon energy-return plate. It is also the second lightest running shoe on the market, weighing 183 grams for a U.S. size 9. Only the adidas Adios Pro Evo 1, which weighs 138 gm, is lighter.
Sutume Asefa Kebede - women's 1st place
The 29-year-old Ethiopian runner, who finished third in the 2020 Tokyo Marathon, achieved an impressive victory in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 55 seconds upon her return to the event this year. She is sponsored by Nike. However, Kebede did not wear the latest super running shoes like the Nike Alphafly 3 or Vaporfly 3 but chose the second generation of the ZoomX Vaporfly Next% line.
Utilizing ZoomX foam technology based on soft PEBA cushion and the carbon flyplate, the Vaporfly is not a flagship line of running shoes like the Alphafly but is still a favortie among many Nike wearers due to its comfort and light weight (196 grams for a U.S. men's size 9).
Rosemary Wanjiru - women's runner-up
Wanjiru, returning to the Tokyo Marathon as the defending champion, finished in 2 hours, 16 minutes and 14 seconds. She wore the adidas Adios Pro 3, the standard super running shoes from the German sports brand.
As the foundation for developing the Adios Pro Evo 1, the Adios Pro 3 has similar Lightstrike Pro foam technology combined with the EnergyRods carbon plate and has a lifespan like many other super running shoes rather than a single marathon. The ADIZERO Adios Pro line from adidas, alongside Nike's Alphafly and Vaporfly and Asics's Metaspeed Sky/Edge, are very popular choices among runners.
Amane Beriso Shankule - women's 3rd place
Shankule came to the Tokyo Marathon as last year's world champion. She also wore the adidas ADIZERO Adios Pro Evo 1 like men's champion Benson Kipruto, and finished third in a time of 2 hours, 16 minutes and 58 seconds.
