What Hellen Obiri Packs to Run the NYC Marathon 2025

Welcome to Starter Pack, a gear-obsessed sequence that provides WIRED readers a peek into how notable personalities dwell, store, and tinker.

Marathon runner Hellen Obiri begins her day like many people: by checking her telephone. First, she appears on the climate, then her schedule, and eventually her group chats. After that, “I say a phrase of because of God,” the 35-year-old Kenyan athlete tells WIRED on the telephone. “To guard me as a result of I’m going to have a protracted day. From there, I put together myself for my run.”

This Sunday, November 2, 2025, marks Obiri’s fourth New York Metropolis Marathon—which, as of final yr, was the biggest marathon in the world. It runs by way of all 5 boroughs, crossing iconic bridges and ending in Central Park. The 2022 race was her debut; she positioned sixth. “It was wonderful,” she says, recalling the roar of the gang. “While you do one thing like this for the primary time and also you just like the place, you’re going to say, ‘That is my finest place to be.’ New York is my finest place to be.”

If she’s lacing up for a 6:30 a.m. run (which she typically does), she retains breakfast mild: a banana. If she’s operating later—say 9:30—or on marathon day, she has a extra conventional breakfast: cereal, two slices of toast, scrambled eggs, and a banana, washed down with black tea. In 2023, Obiri received the marathon, and in 2024, she completed second—simply 14 seconds behind Sheila Chepkirui. After I ask what she’s aiming for this Sunday, she doesn’t miss a beat: “I’m searching for a win.”

Beneath, Obiri shares her marathon day starter pack.

Operating Footwear

Obiri believes that everybody ought to personal a pair of running shoes. For her, that shoe is the Cloudboom Strike LS. She has worn these footwear whereas successful the Boston Marathon and competing within the Paris Olympics, and the NYC Marathon. The ultralight mesh higher, crafted with On’s LightSpray technology, feels almost elastic, wrapping across the foot like a second pores and skin. The hyper-foam max cushioning gives the plushest journey supplied by On, delivering springy propulsion when velocity is most important. The laceless design eliminates any distractions throughout runs, and the marginally elevated heel (4 mm increased than the forefoot) shifts the load ahead, making it ideally suited for midfoot and forefoot strikers like Obiri.

The Greatest Operating Socks

Courtesy of On

For marathons, Obiri steers clear of recent socks which may trigger discomfort. Her trusted companion is the Elite Run Sock Excessive, which is nearly sure to accompany her in the course of the race. Crafted from light-weight polyamide cloth, these socks guarantee her toes stay cool and dry, even over the longest distances. The compression zones, air flow panels, and built-in arch help work collectively to attenuate fatigue, permitting Obiri to keep up peak efficiency. Plus, additional cushioning across the Achilles tendon protects in opposition to blisters, so she will lock in on the race forward.

Open-Ear Headphones

Courtesy of Shokz

When Obiri runs, she listens to gospel music. Her self-made playlist options Christian gospel tracks from Kenyan artists, together with Msanii Music Group. Her present favourite pair of workout headphones is the OpenRun Pro 2, an upgraded model of the traditional bone-conduction headphones. The brand new twin air conduction models improve energy, depth, and bass, whereas minimizing the bone conduction “tickle.” These headphones are rated IP55 for sweat and rain resistance, and the bodily buttons make it straightforward to pause or regulate the quantity with out breaking her stride.

Operating Gas

Courtesy of Maurten

Maurten

Gel 100 (12 Servings)

For Obiri, Maurten gels are important. Every packet incorporates 25 grams of carbohydrates in a hydrogel kind, which is much less syrupy and far simpler to digest than most endurance gels. Made with simply six components—water, glucose, fructose, and three gelling brokers (sodium alginate, gluconic acid, and calcium carbonate)—these gels are each clear and environment friendly. Obiri additionally carries the Maurten Race Bottle, which has a capability of 400 ml.

A Mild, Versatile Pack

Courtesy of On

“I want to journey with my purse,” Obiri says. “I don’t like to hold fancy luggage, so I exploit the Monitor Pack for all the pieces.” Constructed from ripstop cloth with a sturdy nylon base, this versatile pack is designed with a wide range of considerate particulars. It contains each exterior and inner zipper pockets for organized storage, compression straps for adjusting its measurement, and generously sized bottle holders to maintain you hydrated. It is good for athletes and anybody with an lively way of life.

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