PUMA PROJECT3 athletes smash PBs and bank over $54k at Chicago Marathon

PROJECT3 closed out the 2026 season in style at the Chicago Marathon and the numbers are wild.

71 PROJECT3 runners finished the race. 26 of them set brand-new personal bests in PUMA’s Sunny Lime kits, powered by the Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 or Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4. Fifteen of those athletes improved by more than three minutes and will each walk away with a $3,000 performance bonus. Collectively, the group took a staggering 1 hour 32 minutes and 53 seconds off their previous marathon bests.

Top of the leaderboard

  • Fastest man: Alejandro Martinez Ambrosio (USA) – 2:17:32 (new PB)
  • Fastest woman: Amanda Mosborg (USA) – 2:29:30 (new PB, 2:27 faster)

Both take home $3,000 as PROJECT3’s first-place finishers.

The biggest jump of the day belonged to Hannah Bashan (USA). She dropped an insane 11 minutes and 53 seconds to finish in 2:51:51, earning her $6,000 total ($3,000 for the 3+ minute improvement + $3,000 for the largest overall time drop).

Lucas Maher, Lead Marketing of Running Athletes at PUMA, said:
“We’re incredibly proud of every athlete who stepped up to race today. This cohort has delivered through every high and low all season, truly embodying what PROJECT3 stands for. We’re thrilled to recognise their relentless dedication and hard work today, and we’ll continue to help sub-elite runners chase their dreams. We can’t wait to kick off next season and reach even greater heights together.”

The bigger picture
PROJECT3’s second year wraps with $405,000 in prize money distributed in 2026 (on top of $160,000 in its debut year). Next stop: Mumbai 2027, where 100 athletes will line up ready to chase the next set of PBs.

The Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 and Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 are available now at PUMA.com, PUMA stores, Totalsports and Sportsmans Warehouse.

Follow @pumarunning for the latest.

Media contacts
Brett Bellinger, Marketing Director – [email protected]
Lungile Gunundu, Splash PR – [email protected]

 

About PUMA
PUMA is one of the world’s leading sports brands, designing, developing and selling footwear, apparel and accessories. Founded in 1948, PUMA helps the world’s best athletes and teams perform at their best with its innovative products. The company distributes its products in over 120 countries, employs more than 20,000 people and is headquartered in

PUMA X SAYSKY Get Back To Business With A Collection For Runners Who Never Clock Out

PUMA and Copenhagen-based running brand SAYSKY unveil Back to Business, the final chapter of their collaboration, rooted in the mindset of runners who carry their passion for the sport into every part of their day.

For runners, the next mile is never far from mind. Whether it’s before sunrise, between commitments or after hours, running is always part of the plan. It’s woven into the decisions they make, the routes they map out and the goals they chase. Because for runners, running is their business.

Conor Cashin, Lead Product Line Manager, PUMA said: “Running has evolved beyond sport – it has become a culture, a community and a way people express who they are. With Back to Business, we wanted to capture the mindset of runners who organize their lives around the miles that matter most. Together with SAYSKY, we created a collection that bridges performance and everyday office style, reflecting the way runners move through the world today.”

Inspired by classic business attire, the PUMA x SAYSKY Back to Business collection reimagines everyday tailoring through a performance lens. Combining SAYSKY’s signature Scandinavian design language with PUMA’s advanced running technology, the collection features clean silhouettes, refined colour palettes, statement pinstripe detailing and elevated finishes, creating a modern uniform designed to transition effortlessly from everyday life to the start line.

Leading the collection are exclusive editions of two of PUMA’s standout running silhouettes: the PUMA x SAYSKY Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 and the PUMA x SAYSKY MagMax NITRO™ 2.

Built for race day, the PUMA x SAYSKY Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 is engineered for speed with NITROFOAM™ ELITE cushioning, delivering exceptional responsiveness and energy return, paired with a full-length PWRPLATE carbon-fibre plate for maximum propulsion and efficiency.

Designed for everyday training, the PUMA x SAYSKY MagMax NITRO™ 2 delivers maximum cushioning through a high-stack NITROFOAM™ midsole, a breathable engineered knit upper and a durable PUMAGRIP outsole, providing comfort and bounce across every mile.

Completing the collection is a premium apparel and accessories range that transforms business inspired design cues into technical running essentials. Lightweight performance materials, elevated construction and refined details create versatile pieces built for runners moving between work, training and everyday life.

As the final chapter of the PUMA x SAYSKY collaboration, Back to Business reflects the belief that running extends far beyond the miles logged. It influences how runners think, move and approach each day.

To mark the launch, PUMA and SAYSKY are hosting the Out of Office Relay in Copenhagen on 20 August, turning the Back to Business concept into a real-world running experience. Inspired by the collection, the course transforms an office building into an unexpected running environment, taking participants through elevators, stairwells and parking garages before culminating in an evening of food, drinks and celebration.

The PUMA x SAYSKY Back to Business collection launches on 20 August 2026, and is available to purchase on PUMA.com, PUMA Retail stores and Shelflife. Note the  SAYSKY Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 will not be available in South Africa.

PUMA Steal The Show With Launch Of High-energy Showtime Collection

Herzogenaurach, April, 2026 – PUMA is gearing up to steal the show, starting this Spring with the launch of an iconic SHOWTIME race day running collection.

Set to dominate the streets of Boston and London, SHOWTIME is running at its rawest; high-energy, vibrant and unapologetically loud.

Inspired by the boldest moments in PUMA’s rich history and made for the biggest stages of sport, the mismatched neon pink, blue and yellow are an expressive collision of colour that is impossible to ignore.

Available in PUMA’s most innovative race day silhouettes – Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 and Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 – these cutting-edge hues grace the same trailblazing technology that is designed to shave minutes off your race time, allowing runners to carry energy onto the road and steal the streets in emphatic fashion.

Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3

The most talked about race day shoe of the past year, Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 is PUMA’s race day icon, engineered to aid your pursuit of a new personal best.

Combining state-of-the-art technology with cutting-edge design, Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 provides runners a rate of efficiency that could shave minutes off your race day records – evidenced in a research study conducted by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

  • Price: €300 
  • Weight: 170g (UK8)
  • Stack Height: 40mm/32mm
  • Drop: 8mm

Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 

PUMA goes beyond fast with the launch of the Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4. This lightweight supershoe deliver an explosive, energetic ride that improves on its award-winning predecessor. The definitive option for high-cadence runners, upgrades include a dual-layer NITROFOAM™ ELITE cushioning system and redesigned carbon-fiber PWRPLATE.

  • Price: €250
  • Weight: 170g (UK8) 
  • Stack Height: 40mm/32mm
  • Drop: 8mm 

Puma Unveils New Levels Of Fast With Deviate Nitro™ 4 & Deviate Nitro™ Elite 4

PUMA has unveiled the latest evolution of its hero running franchise with the launch of the Deviate NITRO™ 4 and Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4.

The two new models build on PUMA’s position as pioneers of speed and innovation, underpinned by the brand’s best-in-class NITROFOAM™ technology.

Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4

Specially crafted for race-day, Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 improves on its much-loved predecessor by returning even lighter and more efficient, thanks to enhanced NITROFOAM™ ELITE cushioning. The fit and feel build on the award-winning Deviate Elite NITRO™ 3, but the ride is now smoother, more responsive, and more stable across race-day distances.

The redesigned carbon fibre PWRPLATE is now stiffer and has been engineered to reduce stress in the metatarsal area. Its geometry has been optimized for efficient energy transfer, delivering a smoother, faster stride. It features gradual rib structuring to enhance stability by evenly distributing stress from lateral to medial motion, creating an efficient ride from start line to finish.

Adding to PUMA’s elite race-day range, the Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 is a definitive option for high-cadence runners looking for a lightweight, responsive shoe that will help them unleash a new level of speed and feel beyond fast on race day.

Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 launches globally on 12 February 2026, available to purchase on PUMA.com and PUMA retail stores.

Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 Specifications:

  • Price: R5799
  • Weight: UK8: 170g/UK4.5: 140g
  • Stack Height: 32MM/40MM
  • Drop: 8mm

Deviate NITRO™ 4

Built for the everyday runner who is serious about getting faster, the Deviate NITRO™ 4 introduces an evolved NITROFOAM™ midsole featuring a new dual-layer, nitrogen-infused foam that delivers elevated rebound for a more energetic stride, giving runners the speed they crave, without compromising on the comfort they know and love.

The mesh upper offers lightweight breathability, while a plush collar and padded tongue provide all-round protection. Soft where it matters, supportive where it counts, the Deviate NITRO™ 4 locks the foot in place, letting runners focus on the run. Unwavering durability and comfort remain at the heart of the Deviate experience, providing consistency for everyday runs.

A reengineered PWRPLATE has been contoured to improve flexibility, while PUMA’s trusted PUMAGRIP outsole ensures traction across any surface, with coverage that can accommodate any footstrike pattern. This evolution delivers a more consistent, supportive ride while maintaining the natural feel needed for up-tempo training runs and everyday miles.

Deviate NITRO™ 4 Specifications:

  • Price: R3999
  • Weight: UK8: 250g/UK4.5: 205g
  • Stack Height: 30MM/38MM
  • Drop: 8mm

Deviate NITRO™ 4 launches in limited supply on 23 January, followed by a global release on 26 February 2026, and will be available to purchase on PUMA.com, PUMA retail stores, Totalsports, Sportsmans Warehouse and Takealot.

“We’re excited to bring our latest instalment of speed to the market with Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 and Deviate NITRO™ 4. The Deviate franchise has been at the centre of our performance running business since our re-launch in 2021, winning multiple awards and helping athletes earn podiums,” said Erin Longin, Vice President, BU Run/Train, PUMA.

For more information, please visit: www.puma.com