Fall ’26: Endurance News
Shoulder season is here, bringing cool temperatures and hot news from our endurance brands. From new collections to new collaborations, we’ve got the rundown for all the runners and would-be runners out there.
Lems launches road running collection
Boulder-based Lems Shoes is dipping a wide toe box into the road running market with its new collection. The upcoming ZenSpeed+ and ZenSpeed Lite launch mark the brand’s official running footwear debut. As founder and long-time runner Andrew Rademacher put it, “The running category today is filled with highly engineered, often overbuilt shoes with thick, cushioned stack heights and designs that can feel disconnected from natural movement. We believe there’s a place for a return to basics with a shoe that draws from our traditional philosophy of a simple, uncomplicated design that lets your foot move the way it was intended.”
The collection features Lems’ first-to-market TrueFit™ last, which keeps the big toe properly aligned and allows all five toes to splay on impact, supporting better stability and power transfer, along with a Natural Running Platform that encourages a natural midfoot strike. Both models include Lems’ lightweight, proprietary injected rubber outsole and ZENCELL™ midsole foam, engineered to deliver an energetic push-off. The ZenSpeed collection drops in early October.
HydraPak supports Chicago Marathon refill initiative
HydraPak is taking its commitment to sustainable racing to the next level by supporting a new initiative at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. As an official vendor partner for the marathon, HydraPak will support on-course refill stations, where runners can top off their own approved hydration gear. This year’s race, taking place on October 11, marks the first U.S. marathon and first Abbott World Marathon Major to formally enable personal hydration refills on course, allowing users to fill up with Culligan-filtered water at four strategically placed stations.
HydraPak’s SoftFlasks, SpeedCups, and Tempo and Tempo Pro bottles are included among the approved hydration gear for the race. By carrying their own hydration gear and refilling on course, marathon runners can dramatically cut down on race-day waste without sacrificing convenience. This partnership between the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Culligan International, and HydraPak demonstrates the power of thoughtful product design and race operations working together to reduce race-day waste at scale.
LOWA Paceterra Pro coming Spring ‘27
LOWA is dropping early hints about a new model coming for Spring 2027. The heritage brand, which has been crafting premium outdoor boots and shoes for more than 100 years, will expand its trail running line with a new option for elite athletes: the Paceterra Pro. Designed for competitive trail runners seeking every possible race day advantage, the Paceterra Pro will be lighter than any trail racing shoe currently on the market. The new shoe will feature a supercritical TPEE midsole to deliver high energy return and durability without sacrificing control, a Strobel-free design to cut down on weight, plus a Vibram® Megagrip Litebase outsole with traction lugs for incredible grip and a Matryx® woven upper for ultra-lightweight performance and abrasion resistance.
Dying to check it out for yourself before next spring? LOWA will be showing off the Paceterra line at The Running Event in San Antonio this December.
Skratch announces Fall ‘26 seasonal flavors
The weather and the leaves are changing, so isn’t it a good time to switch up your hydration as well? Skratch Labs just released two limited-edition seasonal flavors for its Hydration Sport Drink Mix: Blood Orange and Apple Cider. Available in a 20-serving resealable bag, these seasonal flavors are perfect for preloading, during a run or workout, or just anytime you’re thirsty.
The all-new Blood Orange flavor tastes just like real blood oranges…because that’s exactly what it’s made with. It’s a balanced mix of sweet and just a little tart that’s refreshing and light. Returning seasonal Apple Cider is a fan favorite for a reason. This one uses juicy apples and a hint of warming cinnamon for an optimized electrolyte ratio that tastes great hot or cold.
North Carolina’s largest race celebrates growth and new initiatives
Part race, run, community event, and celebration, Around the Crown 10K Together with Truist (ATC10K), is North Carolina’s largest race and one of the country’s most sustainable races. ATC10K returned for its eighth year on Sunday, September 6, and saw no signs of slowing down with 30% growth in participation over 2025. With just under 10,000 runners lining up, the race shut down the inner lanes and one outer lane of I-277, Charlotte’s major inner beltway, for a loop around the heart of the Queen City. In fact, the race’s start line was moved to accommodate for this year’s growth and to work towards eventually introducing an in-demand walking category.
One of ATC10K’s biggest pillars outside of sustainability is inclusivity, exemplified by their stroller and para division, an open deferral policy for pregnancy, and Pay What You Can Program. This year they expanded this by partnering with the Start Without a Shot organization. This partnership allowed the race to remove loud triggers such as a gun shot or airhorn at the start line, which is trauma-inducing for about 20% of race entrants.
Race director and co-founder Brian Mister shared, “We were excited to welcome 50 run clubs from across the nation to the race this year, including clubs from Chicago, Memphis, Atlanta, and more. This meeting of the clubs is more proof that our efforts at inclusivity and putting on a weekend of fun and celebration around running is taking off.”