What Jim Walmsley will likely wear at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials

This weekend at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, Hoka One One-sponsored Jim Walmsley will likely debut the Hoka Rocket X, the company’s latest entry in the carbon-plated shoe race.

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The Rocket X is Hoka’s third carbon-plated shoe after the Carbon X and the Carbon Rocket. This is Hoka’s attempt to compete with Nike’s similarly-carbon-plated Vaporfly and Alphafly. The Vaporfly has been worn in multiple record-breaking runs, including Brigid Kosgei‘s marathon world record (which was just ratified this week) and Eliud Kipchoge‘s sub-two-hour marathon.

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This week, reports were confirmed by Nike officials that any athletes competing at the trials in Atlanta can pick up a free pair of Nike Alphaflys, whether they plan to race in them or not.

Just got off a plane in Atlanta. A Nike spokesperson confirmed to me that shoes will be available to all qualifiers after they check in for the race. https://t.co/uD03HkgTuG

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) February 27, 2020

Walmsley is Hoka’s biggest name in the race, and he will be making his marathon debut in Atlanta. Walmsley is an ultra runner, and he qualified for the trials at the Houston Half-Marathon in January, where he ran a 1:04:00.

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His resume also includes Western States 100 wins in 2018 and 2019, three wins at the JFK 50 Mile race and a fifth-place finish at the 2017 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. Now he is looking to shock the rest of the field to claim one of the three spots on the U.S. Olympic marathon team.

Set the bar to impossible. You never know how high you’ll get when you reach for it. 4:50:08. 5:48/mile. Your new 50-mile World Record Holder, @walmsleyruns #timetofly pic.twitter.com/pLKq5rriuw

— HOKA (@hoka) May 4, 2019

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Walmsley wore the Carbon X last May when he set the 50-mile world record in a time of 4:50:08, and it is likely that he will be wearing Hoka’s latest take on the carbon-plated shoe, the Rocket X, tomorrow at the trials.