Top Brands Unveil Limited-Edition Running Shoe Designs

In anticipation of prestigious fall races like the NYC Marathon and Ironman, many footwear brands create specially designed models inspired by the race locales.

Every year, shoe brands design limited-edition models of some of the most popular shoes for the Ironman World Championships, Chicago Marathon, and New York City Marathon. They’re almost always identical to the original in-line model, except with a new graphic design and color palette — and a $10-15 price bump.

Here’s a look at nine special-edition models released this fall. Designs reflect race locations like Chicago, NYC, Berlin, and Hawaii.

Altra Escalante Racer

The Altra Escalante Racer is a lightweight race shoe with a zero-drop platform, wide toe box, energetic vibe, and bold New York, Berlin, or Aloha styles.

$140
6.8 oz. men’s / 5.7 oz. women’s
Zero drop

HOKA ONE ONE Carbon X

This maximally cushioned long-distance racer has a carbon-fiber plate embedded in its midsole for optimal efficiency and energy return for the Ironman run course in Kona.

$180
8.7 oz. unisex
5mm drop

HOKA IRONMAN Kona Mach 2

A neutral-oriented trainer/racer with an energetic foam midsole and a touch of island flora, the Mach 2 delivers an extremely light and resilient ride.

$160
8.0 oz. men’s / 6.6 oz. women’s
5mm drop

New Balance NYC Marathon Fresh Foam 860v10

The 860 has a dual-density medial post and responsive cushioning for long-haul support and comfort for runners who will significantly overpronate from Staten Island to Manhattan.

$145
11.8 oz. men’s / 10.0 oz. women’s
10mm drop

Newton Limited Editions

This lightweight, low-to-the-ground racer includes Newton’s forefoot energy-returning lugs and a dual-density medial post for optimal late-race stability — along with its new designs. Limited editions feature design schemes of Chicago or New York skylines, or the Big Island beaches.

$110
6.4 oz. men’s / 5.2 oz. women’s
6mm drop

Nike Zoom Fly 3 Chicago

This lightweight, thickly cushioned, Chicago-inspired shoe enhanced with a carbon-fiber plate is a moderate takedown of Nike’s more pricey Vaporfly 4% and Vaporfly Next% shoes.

$160
8.9 oz. men’s / 7.2 oz. women’s
8mm drop

Saucony NYC Kinvara 10

This lightweight, low-profile trainer/racer has inspiring hints of taxi cabs and the Statue of Liberty.

$110
7.8 oz. men’s / 6.7 oz. women’s
4mm drop

Skechers GoRun Razor 3 Hyper

Skechers designed the green-and-yellow color motif of this energizing flyweight trainer/racer to match elite triathlete Lionel Sanders’ race-day kit in Kona.

$135
6.4 oz. unisex
4mm drop

Zoot Ultra TT

Zoot Sports is (temporarily) back in the shoe game with this lightweight, triathlon-specific collaboration with Active 88, the new brand started by Newton Running co-founder Danny Abshire.