Welcome to Starter Pack, a gear-obsessed series that gives WIRED readers a peek into how notable personalities live, shop, and tinker.
Marathon runner Hellen Obiri starts her day like many of us: by checking her phone. First, she looks at the weather, then her schedule, and finally her group chats. After that, “I say a word of thanks to God,” the 35-year-old Kenyan athlete tells WIRED on the phone. “To protect me because I’m going to have a long day. From there, I prepare myself for my run.”
This Sunday, November 2, 2025, marks Obiri’s fourth New York City Marathon—which, as of last year, was the biggest marathon in the world. It runs through all five boroughs, crossing iconic bridges and ending in Central Park. The 2022 race was her debut; she placed sixth. “It was amazing,” she says, recalling the roar of the crowd. “When you do something like this for the first time and you like the place, you’re going to say, ‘This is my best place to be.’ New York is my best place to be.”
If she’s lacing up for a 6:30 a.m. run (which she often does), she keeps breakfast light: a banana. If she’s running later—say 9:30—or on marathon day, she has a more traditional breakfast: cereal, two slices of toast, scrambled eggs, and a banana, washed down with black tea. In 2023, Obiri won the marathon, and in 2024, she finished second—just 14 seconds behind Sheila Chepkirui. When I ask what she’s aiming for this Sunday, she doesn’t miss a beat: “I’m looking for a win.”
Below, Obiri shares her marathon day starter pack.
Running Shoes
Photograph: On Running On Running Cloudboom Strike LS $330 On Running
Obiri believes that everyone should own a pair of running shoes. For her, that shoe is the Cloudboom Strike LS. She has worn these shoes while winning the Boston Marathon and competing in the Paris Olympics, and the NYC Marathon. The ultralight mesh upper, crafted with On’s LightSpray technology, feels nearly elastic, wrapping around the foot like a second skin. The hyper-foam max cushioning provides the plushest ride offered by On, delivering springy propulsion when speed is most essential. The laceless design eliminates any distractions during runs, and the slightly elevated heel (4 mm higher than the forefoot) shifts the load forward, making it ideal for midfoot and forefoot strikers like Obiri.
The Best Running Socks
Courtesy of On On Elite Run Sock High $30 On
... continue reading