Marathons are one of the few events where amateurs can compete alongside the professionals and often even lace up the same sneakers as the elites. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re running similar paces, especially compared to the athletes featured on this list who each set a world record while covering the 26.2-mile (42.2 kilometers) distance.
On the heels of Sabastian Sawe becoming the first runner to officially break the sub-two-hour barrier and setting a new world record at the 2026 London Marathon this past weekend, we’re looking back at the top 10 current world record marathon times and the sneakers each athlete wore when they achieved the feat. Here are the sneakers worn for the Top 10 Fastest Marathon World Records.
Paul Tergat: Nike Air Zoom Katana 2 x Air Ghost Racer (Prototype)
Year: 2003
Race: Berlin Marathon
Time: 2:04:55
Paul Tergat became the first person to break the 2:05 barrier at the 2003 Berlin Marathon. He did it wearing an unreleased Nike Air Zoom Katana 2 x Air Ghost Racer hybrid.
Haile Gebrselassie: Adidas Adizero CS
Year: 2007
Race: Berlin Marathon
Time: 2:04:26
Ideal racing conditions helped propel Haile Gebrselassie to run a record-breaking 2:04:26 marathon at the 2007 Berlin Marathon. He achieved the feat in the Adidas Adizero CS.
Haile Gebrselassie: Adidas Adizero Adios
Year: 2008
Race: Berlin Marathon
Time: 2:03:59
Just a year removed from setting a world record, Haile Gebrselassie returned to Berlin in 2008 to run a record-breaking 2:03:59 time in an Adidas Adizero Adios prototype.
Patrick Makau Musyoki: Adidas Adizero Adios 2
Year: 2011
Race: Berlin Marathon
Time: 2:03:38
Berlin continued to be the fastest marathon in the world, and in 2011, Patrick Makau was able to shave off 21 seconds from the previous world record wearing the Adidas Adizero Adios 2.
Wilson Kipsang: Adidas Adizero Adios 2
Year: 2013
Race: Berlin Marathon
Time: 2:03:23
The Adidas Adizero Adios 2 was once again the sneaker of choice for the 2013 Berlin Marathon winner Wilson Kipsang, who ran a world record time of 2:03:23.
Dennis Kimetto: Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 2
Year: 2014
Race: Berlin Marathon
Time: 2:02:57
Dennis Kimetto became the first person to break the two-hour and three-minute marathon barrier at the 2014 Berlin Marathon by a mere three seconds. On his feet was the new Adidas Adizero Adios Boost 2.
Eliud Kipchoge: Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2
Year: 2018
Race: Berlin Marathon
Time: 2:01:39
After falling short of his first attempt at running a sub-two-hour marathon as part of Nike’s Breaking2 event in 2017, Eliud Kipchoge set a new world record at the 2018 Berlin Marathon wearing the Nike Zoom Vaporfly Next% 2. This second version of the Vaporfly sneaker combined a lightweight design with high energy-returning ZoomX foam and a carbon fiber plate in the midsole for improved running economy.
Eliud Kipchoge: Nike Air Zoom Alphafly 2
Year: 2022
Race: Berlin Marathon
Time: 2:01:09
Four years later, Eliud Kipchoge returned to the Berlin Marathon in 2022 to shave off 30 seconds off his previous world record while wearing the new Nike Air Zoom Alphafly 2. The standout design element of the Alphafly is the trimmed-down midsole that exposes the dual Air Zoom pods at the forefoot, paired with a carbon fiber plate and rocker design for better energy return.
Kelvin Kiptum: Nike Air Zoom Alphafly 3
Year: 2023
Race: Chicago Marathon
Time: 2:00:35
Kelvin Kiptum became the first person to break the sub-2:01 barrier in a sanctioned race at the 2023 Chicago Marathon by running a 2:00:35. He cut 34 seconds from the previous record in the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly 3. This third version of the Alphafly model was lighter and provided better running efficiency, and the record proved it.
Sabastian Sawe: Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
Year: 2026
Race: London Marathon
Time: 1:59:30
Sabastian Sawe became the first person ever to break the sub-two-hour barrier in an official race at the 2026 London Marathon while wearing the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3. This version broke the traditional marathon racing shoe setup, featuring a new Energyrim frame tucked within the Lightstrike Pro Evo midsole, resulting in a shoe weighing less than 100 grams.
