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From entertainment to business to fashion, the ING New York City Marathon is about much more than a 26.2 mile run. More than 2 million spectators will watch as 42,000+ runners hit the pavement in the latest running fashions. Thousands of sneakers will be on display, providing a platform for footwear companies to showcase their latest offerings. Among the special edition kicks created for the race are these styles from ASICS, Nike, adidas and Sketchers:

In conjunction with the race, ASICS, an official sponsor of the ING New York City Marathon, will debut the first part of its 2012 ad campaign. Featuring the brand’s new mantra “Stop at Never,” the campaign will “evoke the passionate pursuit of athletic achievement that lives at the core of the ASICS brand, its products and its athletes.” ASICS’ athlete and Olympic Marathoner, Ryan Hall, will be the face of “Stop at Never” through videos of his training for the 2012 Olympics.

In addition to the new campaign debut, ASICS has also launched the Gel-Kayano 18 2011 New York City Marathon Edition. A black/blue/yellow colorway is offered for guys while a gray/pink/white colorway was created for women. The limited edition sneakers also include a map of the race route on the shoe’s insole, making them a unique collector’s item. You can pick up a pair here.

The Nike LunarGlide +3 is the latest shoe from the brand to be featured in a “City Pack.” This time around, the sneakers celebrate international metropolises that have their own marathon. NYC is one of five cities that inspired the collection, with Beijing, Berlin, Chicago and San Francisco among the additional offerings. Each shoe pays homage to the city it represents, featuring a one-of-a-kind mural by a local artist.

New York’s shoe was designed by Mike Perry, an artist who began his career as a designer for a major fashion retailer before focusing all of his attention on colors and mechanical pencils. Perry worked with Nike to create the limited edition shoes, which feature a black base with vibrant yellow and blue hues. The shoe’s tongue also features an “NYC” logo. The Nike LunarGlide+ 3 City Pack is available at select Nike retail stores.

Check them out:

Not to be outdone, adidas has developed a marathon pack of their own. The collection was inspired by nine-time marathon champ, Grete Waitz, who passed away from Cancer this past Spring. The pack includes three models – the adiZero Adios 2, the adiZero Boston 3 and the Supernova Glide 4, and each pair features a red/white/navy colorway. To further honor Waitz, 100% of proceeds from the sneakers will go to AKITV Against Cancer Foundation. The shoes will be available at the adidas Sport Performance store in NYC and at the brand’s marathon booth.

Check them out:

This past Summer, Sketchers signed a deal with former NYC marathon champion and 2004 Olympic silver medalist, Meb Keflezighi. When he races on Sunday, he will wear the Skechers GOrun customized racing shoes. It’s an innovative new minimalistic lightweight running line featuring revolutionary mid-foot strike technology and GOimpulse sensors for enhanced sensory feedback. The shoes are available in a wide range of colors and you can grab a pair here.

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