What Hellen Obiri Packs to Run the NYC Marathon 2025

Welcome to the starter Pack, a gear-obsessed series that gives WIRED readers a peek into the lives, shops, and tinkering of notable personalities.

Marathon runner Helen Obiri starts her day like many of us: checking her phone. First, he looks at the weather, then his schedule and finally his group chats Afterward, “I thank God,” the 35-year-old Kenyan athlete told Wired by phone. “To protect me because I 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 — as of last year. The world’s largest marathon. It runs through the five boroughs, crosses the iconic bridge and ends in Central Park. The 2022 race was his debut; He is in sixth place. “It was amazing,” he said, 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 the best place I’ve ever been.’ New York is the best place I’ve ever been.”

If he runs at 6:30 a.m. (which he often does), he keeps breakfast light: a banana. If he’s running later — say 9:30 — or on marathon dayHe 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 he’s aiming for this Sunday, he doesn’t miss a beat: “I’m looking for a win.”

Below, Obiri shares her Marathon Day Starter Pack.

running shoes

Obiri believes that everyone should be an owner A pair of running shoes. For him, that is the shoes Cloudboom Strike LS. He wore these shoes when he won the Boston Marathon and competed in the Paris Olympics and the NYC Marathon. Crafted with ultralight mesh upper Its lightspray technologyFeels almost elastic, wrapping around the foot like a second skin. Hyper-Foam Max cushioning provides the best ride on offer, providing springy propulsion when speed is most needed. The laceless design eliminates any distractions during the run, and the slightly higher heel (4mm higher than the forefoot) shifts the load forward, making it ideal for midfoot and clubfoot strikers like Obiri.

Best running socks

For marathons, Obiri steers clear of new socks that can cause discomfort. His trusty companion is the Elite Run Sock High, which is almost guaranteed to be his companion 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 built-in arch support work together to reduce fatigue, allowing Obiri to maintain peak performance. Plus, extra cushioning around the Achilles tendon prevents blisters, so he can lock in on the forward run.

Open-ear headphones

When Obiri runs, he listens to gospel music. His self-produced playlist includes Christian gospel tracks by Kenyan artists Shilpi Sangeet Group. His current favorite pair Workout headphones is OpenRun Pro 2An upgraded version of the classic bone-conduction headphones. New dual air circulation units improve power, depth and bass, while reducing bone circulation “tickle”. These headphones are rated IP55 for sweat and rain resistance, and the physical buttons make it easy to pause or adjust the volume without breaking your stride.

running fuel

For Obiri, Maurten gels are essential. Each packet contains 25 grams of carbohydrates in hydrogel form, which is less syrupy and much easier to digest than most tolerable gels. Made of just six ingredients—water, glucose, fructose, and three gelling agents (sodium alginate, gluconic acid, and calcium carbonate)—these gels are clear and effective. Obiri also carries Morten race bottleIts capacity is 400 ml.

A lightweight, versatile pack

“I am need to travel with my handbag,” says Obiri. “I don’t like to carry fancy bags, so I use the Trek Pack for everything.” Made from ripstop fabric with a durable nylon base, this versatile pack is designed with a variety of thoughtful details. It includes both external and internal zippered pockets for organized storage, compression straps to adjust its size, and a generously sized bottle holder to keep you hydrated. It is perfect for athletes and anyone with an active lifestyle.

---

Power up with unlimited access wired. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe today.