Dominate All Your 2026 Marathons in Nike's AlphaFly 3 Racing Shoe

NIKE, Inc. co-founder Bill Bowerman famously had a three-part philosophy for any running shoe: "it must be light, comfortable and it’s got to go the distance."

Since 1964, the legendary track and field coach's words have been central to the company's pursuit of the best performance footwear products. Early on, designs like the Nike Cortez and Moon Shoe were born from Bowerman's dogma. In the modern era, no shoe captures the co-founder's spirit quite like the AlphaFly 3 marathon racer.

Tested throughout the 2023 marathon season and debuted to the public in January 2024, the AlphaFly 3 currently holds the world record for fastest marathon thanks to Kelvin Kiptum. The Kenyan runner completed the 2023 Chicago Marathon in just 2 hours and 35 seconds. Kiptum's achievement gave credence to Nike's ongoing mission in assisting elite-level athletes run sanctioned marathons in under 2 hours. Eliud Kipchoge, the North Star for the original AlphaFly NEXT% concept, proved 26.219 miles (42.195 kilometers) could be run faster than ever before with the Breaking2 event in October 2019. His triumph, however, took place outside of a world record-qualifying race.

Nevertheless, the world saw Nike had something going with the AlphaFly.

The first AlphaFly marathon racer launched in 2020. Six years later, its "super shoe" setup—tall stack of critical foam accompanied by a carbon fiber plate and Air Zoom units at the forefoot—remains at the front of the pack. Handfuls of brands have launched similar lightweight racing shoes, but countless athletes continue to vouch for the unrivaled underfoot sensation delivered by the Nike AlphaFly franchise.

After debuting in the fan-favorite "Prototype" colorway, the AlphaFly 3 has amassed a healthy roster of styles to keep you stylish without compromising on performance. The marathon racer has released in coordinated collections with other road running shoes by Nike Running, granting wearers to train and compete in similar aesthetics.

As the world awaits the arrival of the AlphaFly 4 or its equivalent, the Swoosh has put together another fast-looking edition of the world record holding AlphaFly 3.

The new pair arrives dipped in a "White/Volt/Barely Volt/Black" color scheme. The ultra-breathable Atomknit 3.0 upper favors a tame finish, although sections near the laces and around the heel see neon green flair. The lateral Swoosh logo doubles-down on "Volt," as do the innovative Air Zoom units underfoot. Responsive, legs-saving ZoomX foam sees parts of its midsole setup colored in "Black," allowing other seasonal tones to revel in the spotlight.

The "White/Volt" AlphaFly 3 releases to Nike channels and select shops on Thursday, April 16. Priced at $295, the spring-friendly colorway is likely one of the silhouette's last hurrahs before the Oregon-based sportswear juggernaut ushers in the AlphaFly 4.

Continue ahead to check out every AlphaFly 3 marathon racer currently available on Nike.com. Pairs for Men and Women are typically priced at $295, although special-editions retail for $305.

If you're looking for a new training companion, consider the new Pegasus 42—Nike's "workhorse with wings."