A peek into the “Wheels” of our Running Group – Running Ninjas

Being a part of a large running group has its own privileges.

Perhaps the biggest one is that you’ll find every type of runner imaginable… and then some. Speedsters chasing podiums, first-timers chasing their first finish line, marathon addicts, ultra runners, weekend joggers, barefoot enthusiasts, and everyone in between. That’s what makes a large running community so fascinating.

Every once in a while, it’s good to do a quick sense check of the choices runners of different profiles make. One of the biggest choices every runner makes is deciding what shoes to wear. I like calling them a runner’s “wheels.”

A recently concluded 10K race saw one of the largest contingents from our running group. That immediately gave me an idea.

I started a quick dip-stick survey asking everyone to post three things:

• Their finish time
• The distance they ran
• The shoes they wore

Within no time, I had responses from 50+ runners, covering 19 different shoe models from 6 major brands (plus one brave barefoot runner!). It wasn’t a scientific study by any stretch, but it was certainly a rich enough dataset to uncover some interesting patterns.

And honestly, a few of the findings surprised even me.

Here are six observations that stood out.

1. Puma has quietly become the most popular brand

A few years ago, Puma was barely part of any serious running shoe conversation. Then the Nitro series happened. The rest, as they say, is history.

One in every three runners in our running group laced up a Puma.

Four different Puma models made an appearance:

• Deviate Nitro Elite 3
• Deviate Nitro Elite 4
• Velocity Nitro 3
• Liberate Nitro

It’s remarkable how Puma has reinvented itself over the last few years and earned the trust of runners across all ability levels.

2. ASICS wins when it comes to variety

While Puma topped the popularity charts, ASICS won the diversity contest.

Our runners collectively showed up wearing six different ASICS models, more than any other brand.

The lineup included:

• Metaspeed
• Novablast 5
• Noosa Tri 16
• Kayano 32
• Megablast
• Sonicblast

If Puma has built depth in one family of shoes (Nitro series), ASICS seems to have built breadth across its entire portfolio. Whether you’re looking for a race-day weapon, a tempo shoe, a daily trainer or a stability shoe, ASICS seems to have built a lineup that caters to almost every type of runner.

3. The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite has become the people’s super shoe

One shoe family stood out more than any other—the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite.

What surprised me wasn’t just its popularity. It was who was wearing it.

The same shoe appeared under runners finishing close to 42 minutes as well as runners taking well over 70 minutes.

That tells me one thing.

Super shoes are no longer reserved for elite runners. They’ve become aspirational, accessible and trusted by runners across the entire performance spectrum.

4. Fast runners continue to trust performance shoes

Some trends are expected. This was one of them.

Among the quickest finishers, performance-oriented shoes dominated.

Names like the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, Puma Deviate Nitro Elite, ASICS Metaspeed, Nike Alphafly, Nike Vaporfly and Adidas Evo SL appeared repeatedly.

Different brands. Similar technologies.

Lightweight, responsive shoes designed to squeeze out every possible second.

5. Carbon-plated shoes have truly gone mainstream

Perhaps the biggest surprise wasn’t identifying the fastest shoe. It was realizing how commonplace premium racing shoes have become.

Carbon-plated models from Puma, Nike, Saucony and ASICS appeared throughout the field—not just among the front-runners but also among runners targeting 50, 60 and even 70-minute finishes.

Five years ago, this would have been unusual. Today, it’s almost the new normal.

Aggressive discounts offered by leading e-commerce platforms have also played a part in bringing these premium shoes within reach of recreational runners. Super shoes are no longer a luxury reserved for elites—they’ve become attainable for many.

6. There is no “perfect” running shoe

This was my favourite takeaway.

Our runners completed the race wearing 19 different shoe models!

If one shoe were truly perfect, we’d all be wearing it. But that’s the beauty of running. There’s no universal best shoe—only the best shoe for you.

Instead, every runner eventually discovers their own “wheels”—the pair that best matches their biomechanics, training volume, race goals and personal preferences.

The data reveals trends. But, tt doesn’t dictate choices. And that’s perhaps the most reassuring conclusion of all.

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By the Numbers

• 50+ runners participated in the survey
• 19+ unique shoe models
• 6 major running brands represented
• Most popular brand: Puma
• Brand with the widest lineup: ASICS (6+ models)
• Most commonly spotted super shoe: Puma Deviate Nitro Elite
• Barefoot runners: 1 (there’s always atleast one!)

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I thoroughly enjoyed putting together this little community experiment. It reminded me that running isn’t just about collecting kilometres or chasing personal bests. Sometimes it’s equally rewarding to pause, observe, and learn from the collective wisdom of fellow runners.

So, what are your “wheels” of choice? Drop your favourite running shoe in the comments.

Until then, let’s keep running… and may our wheels take us far, fast and injury-free.

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