PUMA PROJECT3.

Sub-3:00 marathoners now have a shot at $3,000 — plus the full elite package. PUMA's PROJECT3 is a program unlike any before it: sub-elite runners get real pro support — and can win real prize money.

WHAT IS PUMA PROJECT3?

The concept is straightforward and uncompromising: runners who finish just below pro times often train just as hard as elites — yet receive no shoe sponsorship, no coaching, and no prize money. PROJECT3 closes exactly that gap.

© PUMA SE 2026 · mediahub.puma.com

Selected participants receive a complete 12-week package ahead of race day:

• Coaching and training planning by PUMA's elite running team
• Access to sports psychology and nutrition consulting
• Complete PUMA race-day kit including the Fast-R NITRO Elite 3
• $3,000 prize money for breaking your personal best by 3 minutes or more
• Bonus for the fastest man and fastest woman at each event

FROM ZERO TO $400,000 IN 18 MONTHS

PROJECT3 launched in early 2025 with the goal of supporting 300 sub-elite runners at the spring classics Boston and London. The debut was impressive: 269 athletes from 13+ countries, nearly 100 new personal bests, 48 runners broke their PB by more than 3 minutes. PUMA paid out over $160,000 in prize money — more than any other sub-elite program worldwide.

In fall 2025, the New York City Marathon became the third stop. In 2026, the program returned to Boston and London — and by that year alone, PUMA had already paid out nearly $250,000, more than in all of 2025.

© PUMA SE 2026 · mediahub.puma.com

NOW: BERLIN & CHICAGO 2026

After the spring marathons, PROJECT3 is heading to the fastest fall majors in the world for the first time. For runners with sub-3:00 PBs, conditions don't get better — flat course, cool weather, and now prize money too. PUMA is selecting 200 runners for Berlin and 100 runners for Chicago.

Requirements: Men with a marathon PB under 3:00, women under 3:15 — each with an existing entry for Berlin or Chicago 2026. Required documents: proof of marathon PB, race confirmation, and proof of qualifying performance — each as a link to the official results page.

Applications close June 26, 2026, 11:59 PM EST — announcement on July 6.

Apply at puma-project3.com.

WE'RE IN

Our coaches are applying for PROJECT3 Berlin. We're hoping to see them on the start list — and look forward to experiencing it firsthand and bringing those insights back to our coaching. Are you part of runningsociety, have a Berlin entry, and meet the criteria? Reach out to us — and apply this week.

CONCLUSION

PROJECT3 is the most consequential sub-elite program any running brand has ever launched. If you meet the time qualifier and have a race entry, you should apply — the upside is $3,000 plus a full pro setup, the downside is zero.

Want to hit the qualifying time? We'll coach you.