5 Emerging Running Trends for 2026
Here is a quick look at five key running trends that will emerge in 2026 based on what we saw at The Running Event trade show.
The world’s leading manufacturer of compression socks has taken bold strides in the launch of the Pro Run Omnispeed.
We’re at a fascinating time in the world of running in that everything is growing and expanding. More runners, bigger races, more apparel brands, and, lately, more running shoe brands.
In the past few years, Norda, Speedland, Atreyu, Mount to Coast, Hylo, NNormal, Kuru, Ulu, Kailas, Diadora, Craft, X-Bionic, and Satisfy have all burst on the scene with new shoes.
This spring, CEP, the world’s leading manufacturer of running compression socks, made a bold move by launching its first shoe. The German company said it used its background in medical technology to create the innovative BowTech propulsion technology of its new Pro Run Omnispeed supertrainer.
It’s an entirely new concept car of a shoe innovative with technology, geometry and design aesthetics that has never been seen before in running shoes. Honestly, it looks like a work of art you’d see in a museum or a laboratory, but after running about 75 miles in it, it’s still hard to classify what it’s all about as a running shoe. It’s fast, firm, and propulsive, but it’s not light or bouncy. The biggest thing I wondered about the Pro Run Omnispeed was, if CEP can create something like this with its debut shoe, what will it do for an encore model next year?
What’s New: The patented dual-layered BowTech kinetic plate system and CEP’s N-Plus Foam were designed to work in harmony with a runner’s foot biomechanics to increase energy return, essentially maximizing the foot’s windlass mechanism, storing energy during the front end of every stride and unleashing it during the end phase for a powerful burst of acceleration. The midsole’s separate heel and forefoot sections are linked by the BowTech plates and a thin, engineered mesh upper.
Fit/Feel/Ride: As with many debut shoe models, the sizing of the Pro Run Omnispeed runs a bit short. I normally wear a 10.5 in everything, but the 11.0 wear-test sample I was sent fit more like a snug 10.0, which left very little room for my toes to wiggle. (The brand suggests going up a half size, but I would suggest trying on both a half size larger and a full size larger.) Despite that, I actually appreciated the snug fit of gusseted tongue, soft footbed, sleek, breathable upper, and padded, reinforced heel collar, if only because it enhanced the speedy vibe of the shoe.
The moment I started running in the Pro Run Omnispeed, I found the foam midsole and the dual-layered plate created a high-off-the-ground and extremely firm sensation under foot. Running slowly was a bit awkward, but even at a moderate pace I felt a snappy spark of propulsion at the end of every stride. (The review team at Believe in the Run suggested it created a counterproducitve “reverse rocker” sensation at slower paces.) But running slowly isn’t what this shoe is all about, so I don’t even want to judge it for slower paces. Running at faster paces—at about 6-minute mile pace and much quicker—it felt sharp and lively, producing an explosive blast in the toe-off phase of every stride.
Price: $225
Approximate Weights: 9.1 oz (women’s 8); 10.2 oz. (men’s 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 7mm; 37mm (heel), 30mm (forefoot)
Why It’s Great: The Pro Run Omnispeed is great because the innovative BowTech propulsion technology really works. The first time I ran in them, I planned to run a 5-mile easy run but that morphed into what I can only describe as a spontaneous track workout. I was 2 miles into the easy run when I came across a high school track, so I naturally found a way inside the fence to try to find out how fast they were. I wound up running 3 x 400 in 65-68 seconds and 3 x 200 in 28-32 seconds—efforts I was not at all trained up to run.
To me that showed that his shoe’s technology definitely does a good job at returning energy in every stride. It didn’t quite feel like it was doing the work for me, but it certainly felt like it was returning a lot of the energy I was putting into it in every stride.
Why You’ll Love It: Well, it’s hard to say if you’ll love this shoe or not, but if you’re a taller or bigger runner who can really apply the necessary force required to flex this shoe, you might really like how much energetic pop this shoe can provide in tempo runs and speed workouts.
Why You Might Not Like It: For a shoe that’s able to run so fast, the Pro Run Omnispeed is still a bit heavy, too firm, and a bit too high off the ground. It definitely has a different sensation than any other shoe on the market and is 2 to 3 ounces heavier than most shoes in its class.
Pro: The upper of the Pro Run Omnispeed is a keeper. It includes a very breathable micromesh shell over the forefoot and two thin wing straps that wrap around the base of the heel and come together at the top of the lacing system to create locked down feeling in the heel and midfoot.
Con: CEP made the claim that the BowTech technology can combat fatigue and potentially prevent injury by reducing the load on joints and muscles, but biomechanists who have studied running injuries and running shoes have long ago suggested it’s impossible to validate those kinds of claims.
About the Author
Contributing editor Brian Metzler has wear-tested more than 2,000 running shoes and is the author of “Kicksology: The Hype, Science, Culture and Cool of Running Shoes” (2019) and “Trail Running Illustrated” (2021). He has raced just about every distance from 100 meters to 100 miles, but he’s most eager to share stories about his experiences pack burro racing in Colorado.
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