For national team members Arlan Arbois Jr., Richard Salaño, and media personality Migs Bustos, having the right pair of shoes makes a big difference in their performance as marathoners.

After all, taking care of their health and body, particularly their feet, are critical.

“It’s important to go with the right kind of shoes,” said Bustos in Filipino, a television sports anchor and commentator. “If you don’t find the right shoes for you, you’ll have a hard time with your performance and your feet will suffer.”

Bustos, along with Arbois and Salaño, have been partners with ASICS for the years including at the recent 2025 Tokyo Marathon where they wore the latest shoes in the Kumadori Collection Limited Series. Among the shoe models they have tried were the Metaspeed Sky Paris, the Metaspeed Edge Paris, and the Magic Speed 4.

Shoe models vary in weight, style and material, and also cater to different kinds of runners. 

The Metaspeed Sky Paris and Metaspeed Edge Paris shoes, for instance, have midsole foams, propulsive carbon plates and FF TURBO PLUS cushioning that help elite runners like Arbois and Salaño improve foot compression and help conserve energy with each step. 

The Magic Speed 4, meanwhile, is suited for rookie marathoners like Bustos, as its sculpted carbon plate and softer cushioning help create better stability throughout the stride.

For Arbois, it was easy to partner with ASICS as he has never tried any brands in the past.

“Even before they supported me, I have been wearing ASICS for a long time because their shoes really suited me. I never had a problem with their shoes,” said Arbois in Filipino, a silver medalist at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

Partnering with a brand like ASICS also played a key role for Arbois and Salaño, who are full-time athletes.

“I’m very thankful with ASICS because at least we don’t have to buy shoes and apparel when we train and compete. It can be quite expensive if we buy them with our own money,” said Salaño in Filipino.

Whether it’s providing their needs or plainly giving a hand in their journey as runners, Arbois, Salaño and Bustos are thankful for the support they get.