- Shokz Athletes Shine on the Gold Coast
- Shakeout Run: Sunrise Miles Before Race Day
- Connecting with Runners at the 2026 ASICS Sport & Leisure Expo
- Shokz Team: Celebrating Every Finish Line
Every July, the Gold Coast comes alive as runners from across Australia and beyond gather for one of the country's most iconic running weekends. This year, the 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon brought together more than 40,000 runners, making the event one of the biggest celebrations of running in the race's history.
From elite athletes chasing breakthrough performances to first-time marathoners taking on 42.2 kilometres for the very first time, every start line held a different goal—but the same determination to reach the finish. As the Official Headphones Partner of the 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Shokz was there every step of the way. Watch the recap video.
Shokz Athletes Shine on the Gold Coast
Shokz athletes once again delivered memorable performances at this year's China Airlines Half Marathon. Australian women's half marathon record holder Izzi Batt-Doyle led the way, storming to victory in 1:07:29 after leading from start to finish. Her winning time was the second-fastest women's performance in event history and the fastest-ever half marathon by an Australian woman on home soil.
Making his long-awaited return to racing, Andy Buchanan completed his first competitive race in nearly a year after injury, crossing the line in 1:03:16 to mark an encouraging comeback as he builds towards the second half of the season.
Genevieve Gregson also enjoyed a solid outing, finishing 18th in the women's race.
From breakthrough victories to inspiring comebacks, their performances made this marathon weekend one to remember.
Shakeout Run: Sunrise Miles Before Race Day
As the sun rose over Burleigh Heads Beach on 2 July, Shokz teamed up with local running community The Salt Social to host this year's marathon Shakeout Run. Runners gathered for an easy pre-race run before trying the latest Shokz open-ear headphones in real running conditions, experiencing the comfort, safety and awareness that open-ear listening brings.
The morning also featured a special appearance from Shokz athlete Andy Buchanan, who claimed back-to-back victories on the Gold Coast in 2024 and 2025 and represented Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Andy shared insights into his race preparation before joining runners for a relaxed Q&A session. Coffee, light bites and plenty of conversations followed, creating the perfect opportunity for the community to connect and soak up the excitement ahead of race weekend. Check out the highlights here.
Connecting with Runners at the 2026 ASICS Sport & Leisure Expo
The Shokz booth was a popular stop throughout the 2026 ASICS Sport & Leisure Expo, welcoming runners eager to experience open-ear listening before race day.
OpenRun Pro 2 emerged as the weekend's best-selling bone conduction headphone model, impressing runners with its premium sound, secure fit and all-day comfort. OpenFit Pro also proved a crowd favourite, offering a lightweight, true wireless open-ear experience that quickly sold out before the Expo came to a close.
Shokz Team: Celebrating Every Finish Line
Every milestone tells a story. This year, the Shokz Team brought together runners from all walks of life—including many first-time marathoners—to take on the 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon. Wearing their Shokz open-ear headphones and running with open-ear listening, they embraced every challenge, every cheer and every finish line. Here's what some of them had to say about the experience:
@kel.walker_athletics_coach: I love that they are so lite that you sometimes forget they are even on your ears. Then the sound quality is amazing but at the same time you can hear your surroundings and stay safe whilst out running.
@rach_arnold_: I’m so so happy with my shokz! I forget that they are in my ears they are that comfortable. I can still hear what is going on. Also they DONT move!!! They are honestly the best!!!
@lm_nutrition: For the past 5 years I have raced with no headphones because the atmosphere is so important to me. Running with Shokz was the best of both worlds, I got to keep the cadence and rhythm with the music but still hear every cheer along the sidelines. I also chatted to a few runners on the course and didn’t need to pause the music. I genuinely loved it and look forward to using them in races again!
The 2026 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon was a celebration of everything that makes the running community so special. As the Official Headphone Partner of the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon, Shokz was proud to be part of every step of the journey—supporting elite athletes, connecting with runners and celebrating every milestone along the way. Here's to every runner, every milestone, and every finish line still to come.
