Latest news with #Marathons
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Xtep-- Market Leader in Global Running Shoe Sales and China's Marathon Event in 2024
XIAMEN, China, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the increasing popularity of healthy lifestyles and the widespread promotion of fitness, the global athletic footwear and apparel market continues to expand, driven by rising consumer demand for high-performance running products. In 2024, the global running shoe market reached $51.3 billion. The growth of this sector is primarily fueled by the following factors -- rising health awareness and mass adoption of Marathons races. As there is a growing emphasis on health and fitness, it has encouraged more consumers to engage in running, driving demand for professional running shoes, functional sportswear, and related accessories. Furthermore, the increasing participation in marathons and road running events has significantly expanded the market for performance running shoes and running gear, with athletes showing a growing preference for high-performance footwear and smart wearable devices. Among all sportswear brands, Chinese sportswear brands have gained increasing recognition in global markets, transitioning from regional players to internationally competitive brands. With the global rise of Chinese trend culture, overseas consumers have shown growing awareness and demand toward the fashion-forward designs, high value-for-money, and deep cultural elements embedded in Chinese brands. Chinese sports brands have strengthened their global presence through strategic initiatives such as collaborating with international ambassadors, sponsoring major sporting events, and expanding global sales channels. These efforts have significantly enhanced brand influence on the international stage. Meanwhile, leading Chinese sports brands such as Li-Ning, ANTA, and Xtep have ramped up investments in product research and development, technological innovation, and sustainable materials, enabling them to deliver internationally competitive products with superior performance, comfort, and quality. As consumer preferences evolve, a growing number of international buyers are choosing Chinese brands, further solidifying their global market share and accelerating their transition towards premiumization and internationalization. Chinese sports brands have also increased their presence in national marathon events, with domestic running shoes demonstrating growing stability in professional races and significantly higher adoption rates among athletes. Meanwhile, marathon participation has surged across China, with both event numbers and scale expanding in parallel. In 2024, China hosted 749 road races of various levels, attracting over 7.04 million participants, reflecting the growing mass adoption and regional expansion of marathon events in the country. As marathon participation rises, demand for professional running gear continues to escalate, with performance running shoes, moisture-wicking apparel, and GPS smartwatches becoming essential for runners. This trend has not only driven the expansion of the performance running gear market but also fueled continuous advancements in running shoe design and technology. Runners and marathon participants now form a key consumer segment, with their increasing demand serving as a crucial driver of market growth. Sports brands play a pivotal role in marathon sponsorship, with running shoes being highly aligned with marathon event content, making them a natural fit for sports marketing initiatives. The broad exposure and high engagement levels in marathon events provide sports brands with greater visibility and stronger marketing effectiveness. As a result, marathon events have become a critical marketing battleground for sports brands, further strengthening brand recognition and competitiveness in the performance sportswear market. Xtep – The Market Leader in Professional Running Shoes As a well-known domestic sports brand, Xtep has solidified its position in the running shoe sector by making running footwear its core product focus while leveraging extensive exposure through marathon sponsorships. Since initiating its strategic expansion into the running shoes' category in 2007, Xtep has continuously deepened its presence in the running track. After more than a decade of accumulation and refinement, it has established a solid foundation in technology R&D and product innovation, successfully transforming from a mass sportswear brand into a professional running brand. This strategic approach has successfully positioned Xtep as a top choice among consumers in the running shoe market. Designed specifically for running, running shoes play a critical role in ensuring safety and enhancing athletic performance. Through deep insights into runners' needs and continuous optimization of product performance, Xtep has built a solid foundation in running shoe technology and launched professional racing shoes. With lightweight design, advanced carbon plate technology, and exceptional cushioning performance, the shoes have been widely recognized by professional runners and core user groups, becoming their preferred choice for training and competition. Xtep's flagship product, the 160X product series, has consistently garnered global recognition and prestigious running shoe awards for its exceptional performance and advanced technology. Leveraging its product advantages, Xtep achieved outstanding sales performance across all distribution channels in 2024, marking a significant leap in market share and reinforcing its leadership in the industry. In addition, Xtep continues to expand its influence in the running industry through deep engagement in marathon events and the establishment of a comprehensive runner ecosystem. Through years of continuous in-depth communication and interaction with runners, Xtep has gradually built a one-stop professional service system covering product experience, foot shape and gait analysis, scientific training guidance, and post-race recovery. This comprehensive approach not only enhances the end-to-end sports experience for runners but also enables the brand to gain more accurate insights into the real needs of different runner groups, providing ongoing feedback and support for product development and service optimization. Xtep's full-spectrum running shoe portfolio caters to a wide range of running needs—from daily training and competitive racing for professional marathon runners to everyday running for recreational athletes. This comprehensive product lineup meets the diverse usage scenarios of runners at all levels, achieving full market coverage from elite racing to mass participation. Xtep continues to support China's road running events and sponsored a total of 44 marathon races nationwide in 2024. With its expanding market share in recent years, Xtep has emerged as a leading brand in the domestic and international running shoe industry. As a result, Xtep has become one of the most prominent sponsors of marathon events, steadily increasing its market share in the running shoe segment. With its continuous innovation and market expansion, Xtep has firmly established itself as a leading brand in the global running shoe industry. Based on extensive market research, Frost & Sullivan has officially recognized Xtep International Holdings Limited for its outstanding market leadership. Xtep has been awarded the "Global Leading Brand in terms of Sales Volume of Running shoes in 2024" and "Top-Ranked Running Shoe Brand by Wearing Rate in China's Marathons in 2024", affirming its dominant position in both global sales and nationwide marathon participation. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Xtep Sign in to access your portfolio
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Unlikely royal can boast they've ran London Marathon - and they even set world record
Both the London and the Manchester Marathons take place this morning - and when it comes to the London event, only one royal has ever entered the gruelling challenge and completed it Runners will be pounding the streets of both London and Manchester today trying to complete all 26 miles of the gruelling marathon. The Royal Family boasts several members with sporty credentials, however only one has actually completed the tough race - and not only did she finish the route, she also set a record. T That royal is Princess Beatrice, who ran the race in 2010 for her mother Sarah Ferguson's charity Children in Crisis. Beatrice was one of 34 runners who joined together to form a human caterpillar and were tied to each other while running the route. Among the others taking were part were her then-boyfriend Dave Clarke and friends Sam and Holly Branson. Beatrice donned a fluorescent tutu and sweatbands for the race and was pictured cheering with her medal after crossing the finishing line. And impressively, the group broke the record for being the most people to finish a marathon while tied together. Although they've never personally run the marathon, both the Prince and Princess of Wales did make a special appearance at the event in 2017. The couple cheered on participants from a water station as they helped to drum up support for the 'Heads Together' mental health charity. They dished out high-fives and selfies to the crowds, having earlier started the event by pressing a large red button. However, they got a little more than they bargained for as they handed out water to parched athletes - as runners squirted them with their bottles. Some of the 39,000 stopped for handshakes and others for selfies but when a few decided to spray water they did not look amused as some landed on their jackets. Kate - who is now in remission cancer - previously admitted that she would love to have a go at the annual 26.2 miles race. But she's not allowed. Journalist Bryony Gordon, who has met Kate and completed the marathon, revealed that she once asked the royal if she would consider doing it. Bryony told Runner's World: "I can't remember exactly what happened, but I was like, 'Are you going to run the marathon?' And she was like, 'Oh I can't because security is a bit difficult.' But I was like, 'Sure, yeah, yeah, good excuse! If I can do it, anyone can.'" Meanwhile, the Duchess of Edinburgh, completed part of the marathon in 2020 when people ran it socially distanced. She ran 1.5 miles in the pouring rain alongside one of the 45,000 runners taking on the challenge. She joined Tomas, who was running to raise cash for Mencap, which she is patron of. The charity supports the 1.5 million people with a learning disability across the UK by providing social care support to adults and campaigning for better healthcare, employment and financial support. The London Marathon will weave through the streets of the capital from Greenwich to Westminster today, with thousands of spectators expected to line the route. Over 50,000 people are expected to take on the mammoth two-foot tour of London landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge. Get Royal Family updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the royals get back to their normal duties after a difficult year, the Mirror has launched its very own Royal WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news on the UK's most famous family. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Paramedics issue race warning as 56,000 runners set to take part in London Marathon
With marathon season underway, St John Ambulance has warned against the 'hero's finish' - which it says could lead to further injury or serious health complications With thousands heading to the start lines of the London and Manchester Marathons to complete 26.2 miles this weekend, paramedics have issued a warning to runners, urging them not to take part in a 'hero's finish'. A 'hero's finish' is what you see on television or in compilation videos of the 'greatest race finishes of all time' - the clip of Alistair Brownlee helping his brother Jonny over the line in the Triathlon World Series in Mexico back in 2016 may spring to mind. St John Ambulance describes a hero's finish as 'when someone is clearly in distress, they're clearly struggling, and then other racers are dragging them across the finish line so they get that finish'. While you may think you are helping that runner to achieve their goal of making it across the finish line, it is actually a 'really, really bad idea' the first aid charity explained. 'If someone is in that level of physical distress, that means they're already too hot, something else has gone wrong.' Paula Radcliffe's daughter runs marathon 5 years after ovarian cancer diagnosis A paramedic said that on one occasion, someone being dragged towards the end of the race by other runners was already in cardiac arrest. 'It's an incredibly bad idea if your body wants to collapse, that's your body's way of protecting you, you should let people collapse safely to the floor, get help, and then we'll bring them across the line in a safe way and give them the help they need,' they said. A spokesperson from St John Ambulance told the Mirror: 'With running and challenge event season upon us, to ensure any race remains fun and safe we want people to be aware of the dangers of the 'Hero's Finish'.' They added: 'It is very dangerous, and we advise against it. If the runner is near collapse, they are in trouble and can't continue and they run the risk of serious harm. Someone clearly unable to finish a race should stop. If near collapse, they should be helped to the floor and assistance summoned.' The London Marathon is one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and will be held on Sunday April 27th, the same day as the Manchester Marathon. More than 56,000 runners are expected to complete the race in the capital, which would beat the current record of 55,646 finishers at the New York Marathon in November. The race, which takes runners past landmarks like Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace, is notoriously hard to get into and this year more than 840,000 people applied for the ballot - breaking the world record of 578,304 for the 2024 race. The Manchester Marathon will see 36,000 runners take part - and it sold out more than five months before the event.
Metro
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
7 freebies 2025 London Marathon runners can claim this weekend
On your marks, set, go. On Sunday, April 27, more than 56,000 runners are expected to cross the finish line of the world-famous London Marathon. But before you lace up your trainers for the big day, there'll no doubt be hours' worth of planning dedicated to when you'll be fuelling yourself, where you'll be meeting friends and family, and what you'll be eating afterwards. And while you'll likely be buoyed by your sense of achievement once you've crossed the finish line, it's also worth seeking out a freebie or two. Come on, you've earned it. Luckily, countless brands will be coming through for London Marathon runners this weekend – and there's everything from bath bombs to pasta and even free transport on offer. Carb loading is always essential the night before a race, and runners of the London Marathon are being offered free pasta at one iconic spot in Soho to help them prepare for those 26.2 miles. On Saturday, April 26, Puresport will be giving 50 Marathon runners at Pastaio Soho a carby meal completely free of charge. That's right: it won't cost you a penne. You'll just need to turn up between 3.35pm and 5.45pm for an early dinner – but be sure to sign up via Puresport's Instagram page first to secure your place. Pizza chain Franco Manca has got all bases covered for those running the London, Leeds and Exeter Marathons (the latter two are taking place on May 11). Simply show your 2025 finisher medal and you'll be gifted with a gorgeous sourdough pizza, completely free. You needn't claim it on the day either, as it's also valid on Monday, April 27. There's no comfort quite like carbs, right? It's not just free food on the cards. Lush is fully embracing World Bath Bomb Day (which falls on the same day as the London Marathon), as it'll be giving runners two products to get lathered up with after those 26.2 miles. The Cold Water Soother Epsom salt cube and the After magnesium solid massage oil bar will be on offer for medal-holders across Lush's stores in Covent Garden, Paddington, Waterloo, and Victoria. Christian Allen is the product expert at Runners Need. He previously told Metro that while race day can be 'emotional', runners still need to stay focused – and many of them raise money for charity during training, which can be a great motivator. He said: 'If there comes a point in the race when you're struggling to continue, my number one tip is to try to remember why you signed up to take part in the first place. 'Are you raising money for charity? Or perhaps you wanted to improve your fitness levels and see what your body is capable of?' The London marathon course is lined with people cheering, singing and performing – soaking it all in will keep you going. Christian said: 'Big race events can sometimes feel like a mini festival or event. Often there are musicians and drummers around the course, not to mention swarms of supporters.' Christian said: 'Nothing gives you a motivational boost like hearing strangers in the crowd cheering you on during the race.' You can use cheap iron-on transfers or use a good old black felt-tip pen to make sure people know who you are. You'll have a few days to claim your soapy goods too, as the offer will be in place between Sunday, April 27 and Wednesday, April 30. To get around London for free on the bus, underground, overground or DLR on race day, show your bib, medal, or officials pass to a member of TfL staff. After all, you won't want to do any more steps once you've crossed that finish line. The service will run until 6.30pm on Sunday throughout the capital. Did you know that a low-alcoholic beer is actually a very good way to replenish your salts after a long run? This Marathon weekend, Bill's is partnering with Coke, Peroni, Lucky Saint and Aperol Spritz to gift both a free burger and a drink to those who've crossed the finish line. Simply show your medal (or your volunteer pass) at Bill's in London Bridge, Covent Garden, Greenwich, Kingston, Richmond, Wimbledon, Baker Street, Victoria, or Soho. After pushing your body that hard, a gentle three-day yoga course is exactly what you need. Live Yoga Teacher will be offering three livestream recovery yoga classes. Yoga Teacher for Runners, Yanar Alkayat, has run six marathons herself – and will be hosting sessions on April 28, April 29, and April 30. To claim your spot, fill in the form on the website and provide a snap of you either at the finish line or your Jersey number. The last thing you might want to do after completing 26.2 miles is to think about moving your body even more – but a swim can do absolute bits for your recovery, particularly muscle soreness. More Trending With this ethos in mind, Fusion Lifestyle is offering London Marathon runners a free swim at either Brockwell Lido (in Brixton) or Park Road Leisure (in Crouch End). All you'll need to do is show your race confirmation information – and if you fancy it, you can claim a pre-marathon swim instead, as the offer is running from now until Sunday, May 4. If you're lucky enough to be a South Londoner, you'll also be granted access to the brand-new outdoor saunas, too. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ View More » MORE: Notting Hill Carnival 'at risk of a Hillsborough-scale tragedy' MORE: Passengers caught in 'ridiculous' Elizabeth line delays after works finish late MORE: Dad died suddenly a day after daughter was killed in crash
