In a stunning display of athletic prowess, participants in PUMA's Project3 running program shattered multiple records at the London Marathon, earning a collective $171,000 in prize money. The event saw 176 runners from 16 countries racing through the capital city wearing PUMA's Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3 or Deviate NITRO™ Elite 4 shoes.
Record-Breaking Performances
Of the total group, 84 runners achieved new personal bests, with 54 of them improving their previous records by over three minutes. Each of these 54 athletes secured a $3,000 performance-based prize from PUMA, an amount that exceeds the prize awarded to the top three elite runners.
Chris Perry finished as the first male runner with a time of 2:13:41, improving his personal best by more than a minute. The fastest female runner was Katrina Ballantyne-Chalmers, who clocked in at 2:35:32, also beating her previous personal best. The most significant time improvement came from Carina Li, who knocked an astonishing 19 minutes and 48 seconds off her personal best.
Athlete Reactions
Speaking at The NITRO™ Lab after the race, Katrina Ballantyne-Chalmers expressed her amazement: "Being part of Project3 has been amazing. There's been such a great sense of community – engaging with the other athletes, as well as getting support and mentorship from PUMA. I wasn't expecting to be the first female finisher so it feels a bit surreal right now. The encouragement from the crowd today really helped to push me on – what a day!"
Program Milestones
Collectively, Project3 runners improved their previous records by a total of 6 hours, 21 minutes, and 55 seconds, marking the biggest time improvement ever recorded for the program. This record-breaking performance means PUMA has now paid out almost a quarter of a million dollars to Project3 runners in 2026. Since its launch, the program has hosted over 600 runners and paid out nearly $400,000 in prize money.
Following a hugely successful launch last year and a record-breaking payout of $63,000 at the Boston Marathon, Project3 continues to deliver exceptional results for sub-elite runners.
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 innovative products. Known for its iconic cat logo and the Formstrip, the company offers performance products in categories such as Football, Running, and Training. Its Sportstyle collections are rooted in sports and inspire consumers by celebrating sports culture. With a long history and strong heritage, PUMA is proud of having one of the strongest archives in the industry, with many iconic products such as the Suede and the Speedcat. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf, and stichd. The company distributes its products in over 120 countries, employs more than 20,000 people, and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany.
For more information, visit www.puma.com. Media contact: Stefan.Popovic@puma.com or Sarah.Fuller@puma.com.
