The Shoes the Fastest New York City Marathoners Wore, Decade by Decade
This is more than just gear nerdery. The shoes behind New York’s fastest times reveal decades of innovation, drama, and the occasional wardrobe malfunction.
Stories Our Readers Love
Stories Our Readers Love
Latest
"Go Down Fast, but Not Too Crazy." New York Marathon Champs Share How to Run the Bridges and Other Secrets For Race Day Success
Germán Silva and Abdi Nageeye know how to navigate chilly temps, the five bridges, and a notoriously tough finish.
“I Still Train Like I’m Going to PR:” 48-Year-Old Roberta Groner Eyes Third Olympic Trials Qualifier
The nurse-turned-elite marathoner quit running for a decade before coming back faster and stronger than ever.
Inspired by the New York City Marathon? Don't Miss Out in 2027.
Snagging a bib for the this coveted race might be harder than the course itself. Here's how you can line up for the 2027 race.
Did Nike Improve or Ruin the Alphafly? After Running In the Alphafly 4, Here’s My Verdict.
Nike rebuilt its flagship marathon shoe from the outsole up with the Alphafly 4. I put it to the test to see if the changes are an improvement on its stellar predecessor, the Alphafly 3.
Jessica Lefford Lost Her Mother and Twin Sister to Suicide. She Found Purpose in Training for the NYC Marathon.
“Running was really grounding in a sense, just forcing you to do something hard,” Jessica Lefford says as she prepares to run the New York City Marathon to support Still I Run.
Are You Faster Than These Celebrities Who Ran the New York City Marathon?
Beloved by celebs and sporting icons, the New York City Marathon attracts stars like Cynthia Erivo, Bryan Cranston, and Chelsea Clinton. Here's who running in 2026.
These 6 Races Were Such a Nightmare, Runners Are Still Haunted by Them
Forget ghosts, goblins, or even shin splints; these runners experienced the spookiest races, complete with storms, extra mileage, and water shortages at aid stations.
Kathrine Switzer and 10 Other Inspiring Women Who Have Ruled the NYC Marathon
How these female legends transformed the New York City Marathon by breaking records and barriers.
Training Plan Central
Training Plans
Expert-curated run training plans for brand-new runners getting started and experienced veterans looking to PR. Run scheduling from top run coach to train for every race distance: 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, and more.
Editors’ Picks
- Go From Couch to Half Marathon in Just 20 Weeks with this Training Plan
- The 16-Week Low-Mileage Marathon Plan (That Works)
- Run a Half Marathon in 4 Weeks with This Plan
- Go From Couch to Marathon with this 24-Week Training Plan
- The Perfect Marathon Training Plan
- Run a Sub-2-Hour Half Marathon With This Training Plan
- Break 3 Hours in the Marathon with this 19-Week Plan
Gear
A Lighter, Bouncier Saucony Endorphin Speed 6 Drops October 15, the New Nike Alphafly Arrives, and Asics Drops Its Most Cushioned Shoe Ever
Our shoe expert reveals the exciting October road-running shoe releases just in time for perfect fall running.
Editors’ Picks
- These 5 Best Cross Country Spikes Will Power You to the Podium in 2026
- What’s the Deal With These Holey Running Shirts?
- A Snappy Ride With a High Drop: the Nike Pegasus Plus 2 Is a Fun Up-Tempo Trainer That Coddles the Achilles
- Foot-Shaped Fit, Natural Toe Engagement, and a 4-Millimeter Drop: Altra’s Vanish Carbon 3 Is a Super Shoe for Everyone
- At 39, I Ditched the Shorts and Raced in Briefs. Here's How It Went.
- Are Expensive Running Shoes Worth the Extra Cash? Here's What Our Lab Testing Reveals.
- Bedazzled Kits Are Having a Moment. Track Stars Are Running Faster for It
Running 101
Welcome to Running: What New Runners Need to Know
Here are nine tips for new runners to make running more enjoyable, more effective, and more sustainable.
Editors’ Picks
- How to Bulletproof Your Legs Against the Most Common Running Overuse Injuries
- 8-Week Intermediate Half Marathon Training Plan
- 5 Key Workouts to Nail the Marathon and Half Marathon
- How to Fuel for a Half Marathon, Even if You Feel Like You Don’t Have to
- Running Gear for Beginners: Must-Haves vs. Nice-to-Haves
- Things to Know Before Your First 5k
- Go From Couch to Half Marathon in Just 20 Weeks with this Training Plan
Running With Dogs
Want to Start Running With Your Dog? Follow These 12 Tips
Running with your dog can be a great way for you both to get fitter and faster. Here’s how to get started.
Culture
10 Best Running Cities in America
Great weather and race scenes matter, but we ranked cities on what counts most: access to places to run.
Editors’ Picks
- Commenters Hated on This Bachelorette Half Marathon. They’re the Problem.
- I Will Never Run the Boston Marathon. Here's How I'm Coping.
- 10 Best Running Cities in America
- Running Laps as Punishment is Making Our Kids Hate Running
- File This Under Info You Didn't Ask For: Your Track Event, Based on Your Zodiac Sign
- Gross Stuff Only Runners Talk About (and Why We Can’t Shut Up About It)
- Don’t Donate Your Marathon Poncho! Upcycle it Instead.
Running Wild
America's Wine Regions Are Becoming Unexpected Running Destinations
These seven running destinations boast beautiful landscapes, tasty meals, and wine tastings for a true post-run treat.
Editors’ Picks
Afghan Women Runners Are Holding "Underground Runs" in Solidarity With Women Back Home
Runners Hosted "Underground Runs" Around the World for Afghan Women Banned From Public Life
Five years into Taliban rule, Afghan women runners abroad are organizing clandestine group runs to protest the ban on women's freedom in Afghanistan.
When Nadira Talayee first started running at the age of 14, it wasn’t on the track at school or in the local park. It was in a secure outside area under the cover of night—the only way a young woman in Kabul, Afghanistan, could safely exercise.
“I had to wake up at 4 a.m., and we couldn’t turn on the lights or play music in the car [on the way to the run] so as not to attract attention,” Talayee tells Outside Run. “But those mornings gave me a chance to see another part of my city and spend time with other girls in similar situations. As Afghan women, we’re strangers in our own cities and our own country.”
A recent graduate of Smith College in Massachusetts, where she was co-president of the running club, Talayee moved to the United States in 2019 to study. Since then, the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan has deteriorated dramatically.