Orange Ponchos, Negative Split, AI Powered Legs for Endless Adventures and More...

Welcome to the November 2025 edition of Strides ‘n’ Miles, the monthly newsletter from Traxamo. With the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon past weekend on Nov 2nd, it’s a wrap for World Marathon Majors. In tech corner, we dive into world's first outdoor powered exoskeleton - Hypershell AI powered legs. In our Training Corner, we break down adopting Negative Split and its pros n cons for your next race. Welcome Holiday season! Keep running and chasing your goals 🏃‍♂️ Enjoy this month’s newsletter.

MEME CORNER 😆

World Marathon Majors Corner

2025 TCS New York City Marathon

The 54th edition of the TCS New York City Marathon, held last weekend on November 2, 2025, shattered records as the world's largest marathon, drawing a global field of elite athletes and amateur runners through the five boroughs under ideal conditions: cool, cloudy skies with mid-50s temperatures. Organized by nonprofit New York Road Runners (NYRR), the event featured dramatic finishes, a course record, and unprecedented participation, while reinforcing its role as a major economic driver for NYC. Over 200,000 applied for entry (only 2-3% accepted via lottery), highlighting its prestige.

For Runners: Participation and Experience

• Record-Breaking Scale: 59,226 finishers (up from 55,646 in 2024), including 59,135 verified crossings—making it the largest marathon ever at the time (later surpassed by London's 2025 edition with 56,950). Runners hailed from nearly 150 countries, with 40% international participants boosting tourism.

• Demographic Shifts: Participation skewed younger and older, reflecting a "polarization" trend. The 25-29 age group dominated with ~11,000 runners (largest bracket), comprising 24% of finishers (up from 17% in 2022). Under-30s surged 86-91% since 2015. Older runners grew dramatically: 60+ finishers up 88% (6.1% of total), with women in their 60s (+159%) and 70s (+250%) leading the charge.

• Entry and Logistics: Waves started at 8:00 a.m. (elite women at 8:35 a.m., men at 9:05 a.m.), with the last wave at 11:30 a.m. Finishers received recyclable aluminum bottles (via new Culligan partnership, offsetting 200,000 single-use plastics). Notable stories included 91-year-old Koichi Kitabatake (one of seven nonagenarians ever) and Paralympian Ali Truwit (4:14:34 in support of her charity).

• Community Vibe: Two million spectators created a "block party" atmosphere, with celebs like Broadway's Jordan Litz (3:40:53 for Broadway Cares) adding flair. Social media buzzed with personal triumphs, like a 3:46:39 finish for one repeat World Marathon Major completer.

The race delivered tactical drama and historic times on the challenging 26.2-mile course (bridges, Bronx hills, Central Park climbs). Kenyans dominated elites, but U.S. women shone.

• Other Highlights: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN, 2x Olympic champ) debuted in 17th. Four of top nine women were American. Amateur highlights: Oldest finisher (91); fastest celeb (Litz). Elevation: ~800 ft gain, favoring tactics over raw speed.

In 2025, NYRR's collaborations amplified inclusivity, sustainability, and global reach:

• Title Sponsor: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS, $30B+ revenue firm) since 2012; powers tech like tracking apps and "Team TCS Teachers" (100+ educators running worldwide).

• Sustainability: New multi-year deal with Culligan International for eco-hydration (recyclable bottles, plastic reduction). NYRR Team for Climate expanded: forestry projects, waste/emission cuts; tied to entry for eco-focused runners.

• Charity Ecosystem: 600+ partners (e.g., American Red Cross, City Parks Foundation—raised $640K since '22 for kids' sports). Total fundraising: $79M across NYRR events (including $12M for youth programs).

• Community Ties: NYC Dept. of Transportation for free "Start Line Series" in under-resourced areas; Abbott World Marathon Majors for elite fields (~200 U.S. Trials qualifiers).

The marathon fueled NYC's "experience economy," rivaling Broadway or MLB home games. NYRR's FY25 study (34 events, April '24–March '25) quantified broader effects, with the marathon as the crown jewel.

Overall, the event's $700M+ ripple (per NYRR CEO Rob Simmelkjaer) underscores running's role in NYC's vitality—tourism, jobs, and morale—while NYRR reinvests fees into 668K+ annual participants (7% YoY growth). A triumph of endurance and unity.

TECH CORNER

Revolutionizing the Trail: The Hypershell X Series – Your AI-Powered Legs for Endless Adventures

Imagine conquering that brutal uphill switchback without your quads screaming in protest, or powering through a grueling century ride with a heart rate that barely spikes. This isn't sci-fi—it's the Hypershell X Series, the world's first outdoor powered exoskeleton that's blending robotics, AI, and ergonomics to supercharge human endurance. Launched globally in January 2025 after a buzzworthy CES debut, this lightweight wonder is earning raves from hikers, cyclists, and ultra-runners who want to push limits without the burnout.

At its core, the Hypershell X Series is a sleek, wearable PowerSuit designed for real-world grit. Weighing just 2.4 kg (about 5.3 lbs) including the battery, it straps on in under a minute via an intuitive one-button system or the Hypershell+ app (iOS/Android). Powered by the M-One Exoskeleton Motor System, it unleashes up to 800W of assistive torque—enough to boost lower limb strength by 40% and slash physical exertion by 30%. That's not hype; it's backed by the first-ever SGS Premium Performance Mark for outdoor exoskeletons, awarded in November 2025 after rigorous testing.

The magic happens through the AI MotionEngine Ultra, a brainy system packed with over a dozen sensors (IMUs, gyroscopes, barometers) that track your every move in 3D space. It anticipates your strides, delivering seamless boosts for leg lifts and forward propulsion. No clunky jolts—just fluid, natural support that feels like an extension of your body. In uphill climbing trials, it cut oxygen consumption by 20.47% and heart rate by 21.6%. On bikes? Even better: 39.2% less O2 use and a 42.7% heart rate drop, letting you sustain efforts longer and recover faster. Overall muscle load plummets, reducing injury risk on technical terrain.

The series isn't one-size-fits-all; it spans models like the entry-level X (for casual explorers), the versatile X Ultra (extreme expeditions), and the Pro X (with anti-cold batteries for winter warriors). All boast 300° torsional freedom for unrestricted motion, IP54 weather resistance, and a 17.5 km range per charge—extendable with swappable packs. Durability shines too: it thrives from -20°C to 60°C, from Death Valley scorches to alpine chills. The AeroFlex Softsuit distributes weight evenly, banishing hot spots on multi-hour hauls.

Priced starting at €899 ($950 USD), Hypershell democratizes exoskeleton tech that once cost tens of thousands for industrial use. Backed by $1.3 million in crowdfunding from 2,900+ supporters, it's already partnering with the American Hiking Society and search-and-rescue teams. Early testers, like Fast Company reviewers shoveling snow, note its ease—USB-C charging, Bluetooth updates fixing quirks like stair detection. One CES attendee gushed: "It's like a boost with every step."

Of course, it's not perfect. The device's weight adds a learning curve on flats, and stairs can feel awkward without full propulsion. But for endurance athletes? Game-changing. Ultrarunners could tack on miles; cyclists, crush climbs; hikers, summit sooner. Hypershell isn't just gear—it's liberation, turning "I can't" into "Watch me." As CEO Kelvin Sun says, it's about deepening our bond with the wild, not distancing from it.

Ready to level up? Strap in—the future of movement is here, and it's powered by you (plus a little AI). Who's tackling the next peak?

#HypershellX #ExoskeletonRevolution #EnduranceTech

TRAINING & NUTRITION CORNER

What Is Negative Split in running and How to Execute?

In a negative split, your pace quickens progressively. For a marathon, you might hit miles 1–13 at 7:00/min pace, then drop to 6:50/min for 14–20, and surge to 6:40/min in the final 10K. Data from elite races backs this: At the 2023 Berlin Marathon, winner Tigist Assefa negative-split by nearly 2 minutes, clocking 1:06:20 for the first half and 1:05:00 for the second. Training mirrors this—use workouts like 3x (4 miles easy + 2 miles tempo + 1 mile fast) or long runs starting 20–30 seconds slower than goal pace, building to 10–15 seconds faster.

Pros

1. Energy Conservation and Efficiency: Starting slower preserves glycogen stores and keeps heart rate in aerobic zones longer. A 2021 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found negative-split runners used 5–8% less energy in the early stages versus even-pacers, delaying the "wall" in marathons.

2. Reduced Injury Risk: Conservative pacing minimizes early muscle damage from lactic acid buildup. Runners who positive-split (slowing down) show 2–3x higher eccentric loading on quads and calves, per biomechanics research from Loughborough University.

3. Mental Edge: Passing competitors late boosts confidence. Psychologically, it creates a "hunter" mindset—I've seen athletes shave 2–5 minutes off PRs simply by reframing races this way.

4. Proven Performance Gains: World records often feature negative splits (e.g., Eliud Kipchoge's 1:59:40 barrier run was a near-perfect negative). It teaches pacing discipline, transferable to ultras or track events.

Cons

1. Requires Ironclad Discipline: Novices often start too fast due to adrenaline, blowing the split. Without GPS watches or pacers, it's easy to misjudge—I've coached runners who aimed for negative but ended up 3 minutes positive, costing them dearly.

2. Slower Early Perception: Crowds and competitors surging ahead can demoralize. In big-city marathons, you're weaving through slower packs later, burning extra energy on tangents.

3. Training Demands: Building the aerobic base for late-race speed takes months of high-volume, progressive long runs. Overdo it without recovery, and you risk burnout or overtraining syndrome.

4. Not Universal: In short races (5K–10K) or hilly courses, even or positive splits may outperform due to anaerobic demands or terrain. A 2019 Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise analysis showed negative splits shine in flat marathons but falter in mountainous ultras.

In summary, negative splitting is a gold-standard strategy for sustainable speed and PRs, emphasizing patience and strength. Pros dominate with efficiency and psychology; cons stem from execution hurdles. Master it through paced workouts, race simulations, and data tracking—your finish-line kick will thank you

WHAT’S NEW AT TRAXAMO

We have 2 new mini series coming up on What Runs a Run podcast - Nutrition n coaching and sustainability. So if you know folks in the industry as a good fit on the pod, drop an introduction with [email protected]. Cheers!

We had a couple of incredible conversations published on What Runs a Run pod. If you have not yet, catch up some of the conversations on Tech in 26.2 and Boston 26.2 mini series:

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