Footwear Plus

As New York City prepared to host runners from all over the world last weekend, Asics hosted a pre-marathon run through Central Park on Friday, led by Olympian marathoner and U.S. record-holder Deena Kastor and her coach Terrence Mahon.

After a light three-mile loop around the park, runners were treated to a breakfast pep talk with Mahon and Kastor, along with fellow Olympian Ryan Hall, who opted to stay off his feet that morning to rest up for Sunday’s 26.2 miles. . .

Rockport professes its dress and dress-casual shoes are made to stand up to the daily marathon, and to prove the point, the Canton, MA-based company sent a team of eight runners—led by Dr. Andy Baldwin of “The Bachelor” fame, a naval officer and Ironman competitor—to power through the ING New York City Marathon wearing its new men’s DresSports 2s.

Buoyed by lightweight Adidas performance technology, all eight men crossed the finish line with times ranging from 3:16:56 to 4:33:26. . .

Asics unveiled its first U.S. retail location today at 51 West 42nd Street in New York.

Company chairman Kiyomi Wada was on hand to cut the ribbon along with other executives, including Rich Bourne, president and CFO of Irvine, Calif.-based Asics America, and Gary Muhrcke, owner of nine Super Runners Shop stores, who will run the Asics flagship. . .