Canadian Running writer soars to Boston best in Adizero Adios Pro 4

Canadian Running‘s Marley Dickinson left Boston on Tuesday having accomplished his weekend goal–to make lifelong memories at his Boston Marathon debut. But the 29-year-old also achieved the remarkable milestone of finishing in under three hours–and he acknowledges his shoes, the adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4, as an essential factor in his performance.

@canadianrunningmag Sub-3️⃣ hours in his Boston Marathon debut🔥 Marley Dickinson left it all on the course, clocking 2:59:28—now it’s time to rock that shiny medal and crush a cold beer🥇🍻 #adidasxcanadianrunning #adidasCA #adizero #bostonmarathon ♬ delulu – NESYA

Dickinson powered through a cramp just 5K into the race, passed the halfway mark after one hour 22 minutes of running and crossed the finish line in 2:59:28. “To go sub-three here, I’m super proud of myself,” Dickinson told Canadian Running after the race, getting emotional. “Training for a marathon isn’t easy, but today, I persevered. I’m proud of myself.”

He even stopped to give his girlfriend, Sarah Hill, a mid-race kiss after spotting her cheering at the 32-km mark. “The Boston Marathon is a celebration race, and it’s all about enjoying the moment and taking it all in,” Dickinson said, showing no regrets for the brief slowdown. “The support out there was unbelievable. I heard people screaming my name left, right and centre. It motivates you to tackle the hills, keep going forward and not stop.”

Over the course of a 42.2-km race, marathon runners are almost guaranteed some moments of doubt. For Dickinson, questions of whether he could complete the race began as soon as his cramp showed up. “I knew it was going to be a tough day,” he said. “I just stuck to my plan and focused on running my own race, trying not to fixate on maintaining specific paces. It worked out later on–I was able to stay strong and finish hard.”

The secret? The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4

He expressed his gratitude for his elite footwear. “The adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 felt amazing,” he said, gesturing to his shoes. “The cushioning is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. They’re super responsive, soft and made me run efficiently.” On race day, even the smallest boost of confidence–like knowing your shoes won’t let you down–can make all the difference.

The Adizero Adios Pro 4 combines cutting-edge features like Lightstrike Pro foam, ENERGYRODS 2.0 and a Lightlock upper–all engineered to optimize running economy and deliver unparalleled speed. With its state-of-the-art design and structure, the shoe empowers athletes to chase their fastest times.

An emotional finish

Dickinson felt a surge of emotions as he turned onto the final stretch. “When I turned onto Hereford St., took a left onto Boylston and saw the finish line–you just get adrenaline. It was unbelievable, and so much fun.” Though he’d covered Boston for Canadian Running for the past three years, this was his first time experiencing it from a racer’s perspective.

He admits he’ll need a break after racing this course, and plans to return to the media side in 2026. “This course is very humbling,” he said. “It’s not easy–there are a lot of challenging parts of it, and you really have to test your training and experience. I’d love to come back here one day and run it again, but I think next year, I’ll stick to the sidelines.”