What Hellen Obiri Packs to Run the NYC Marathon 2025

Welcome to Starter Pack, a gear-obsessed series that gives WIRED readers a glimpse into how notable people live, shop, and DIY.

Marathon runner Hellen Obiri starts her day like many of us: by checking her phone. She first 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 over the phone. “To protect myself because I’m going to have a long day. From then on, I’m getting ready for my race.”

This Sunday, November 2, 2025, marks the fourth Obiri New York Marathon, which last year was the largest marathon in the world. It runs through all five boroughs, crossing iconic bridges and ending in Central Park. The 2022 race was his debut; she placed sixth. “It was incredible,” she said, remembering the roar of the crowd. “When you do something like this for the first time and you love 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 going to run at 6:30 a.m. (which she often does), she keeps her breakfast light: a banana. If she runs later, say at 9:30 a.m., 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 her what her goal is this Sunday, she doesn’t miss a beat: “I’m looking for victory.”

Below, Obiri shares his marathon day starter pack.

Running shoes

Photography: Running

Running

Cloudboom Strike LS

Obiri thinks everyone should own a pair of running shoes. For her, that shoe is the Cloudboom Strike LS. She wore these shoes while winning the Boston Marathon and competing in the Paris Olympics and the New York Marathon. The ultralight mesh upper, designed with On’s LightSpray technology, is almost elastic and wraps around the foot like a second skin. Hyper-Foam Max cushioning provides the plushest ride offered by On, providing springy propulsion when speed is most essential. The laceless design eliminates any distractions while running and the slightly elevated heel (4mm higher than the forefoot) shifts the load forward, making it ideal for mid- and forefoot strikers like Obiri.

The best running socks

Courtesy of On

For marathons, Obiri avoids new socks that might cause discomfort. His trusted companion is the Elite Run Sock High, which will almost certainly accompany him during the race. Made from lightweight polyamide fabric, these socks ensure his feet stay cool and dry, even over the longest distances. Compression zones, ventilation panels and integrated arch support work together to minimize fatigue, allowing Obiri to maintain peak performance. Plus, extra padding around the Achilles tendon protects against blisters, so she can focus on the race ahead.

Open headphones

Courtesy of Shokz

When Obiri runs, she listens to gospel music. Her self-composed playlist features Christian gospel tracks from Kenyan artists including Msanii Music Group. His current favorite workout headset is the OpenRun Pro 2, an upgraded version of the classic bone conduction headset. New dual air conduction units improve power, depth and bass, while minimizing bone conduction “tickle.” These headphones are IP55 rated for resistance to sweat and rain, and the physical buttons make it easy to pause or adjust the volume without breaking your stride.

Fuel running

Courtesy of Maurten

Maurten

Gel 100 (12 servings)

For Obiri, Maurten gels are essential. Each sachet contains 25 grams of carbohydrates in hydrogel form, which is less syrupy and much easier to digest than most endurance gels. Made with just six ingredients: water, glucose, fructose and three gelling agents (sodium alginate, gluconic acid and calcium carbonate), these gels are both clean and effective. Obiri also offers the Maurten Race bottle, with a capacity of 400 ml.

A lightweight and versatile pack

Courtesy of On

“I need “I don’t like carrying around fancy bags, so I use the Track Pack for everything.” Made from ripstop fabric with a durable nylon base, this versatile bag is designed with a variety of thoughtful details. It features external and internal zippered pockets for organized storage, compression straps to adjust its size, and generously sized bottle holders to keep you hydrated. It’s perfect for athletes and anyone with an active lifestyle.

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