Performance brand 2XU has renewed its title sponsorship of the 2026 Long Beach Marathon as part of an exclusive compression technology partnership across 11 Motiv North America events.
The partnership, now in its second year, involves a series of international endurance events including Bay to Breakers and the Vancouver Sun Run. According to the apparel company, the agreement allows more than 150,000 runners annually to access its compression gear.
To mark the start of the 2026 training season, 2XU is hosting a community event on June 3, at Sports Basement in Long Beach, CA. The event coincides with Global Running Day and will feature the launch of the 2XU Kinesis Tight.
The new product utilizes Muscle Containment Stamping (MCS) technology. According to the company, this is engineered to target key muscle groups, reduce vibration and fatigue, and accelerate recovery.
The 42nd edition of the 2XU Long Beach Marathon is scheduled for October 9–11, 2026, in Long Beach, CA. The event is organized by Motiv Sports and features a flat, oceanfront course passing landmarks such as the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific.
The organisers expect nearly 28,000 runners for the 2026 race weekend, following a sold-out event in 2025 that hosted more than 25,000 participants.
For the 2026 season, 2XU is also introducing a limited-edition Long Beach Marathon capsule collection. The performance line is built to the same technical standards as the brand’s core range and will be available exclusively during race registration.
Harry Markl, Chairman of 2XU, said “Returning as title sponsor was a clear strategic decision. The Long Beach Marathon is one of North America’s premier running events – a performance-focused community at exactly the scale we want to be operating in.”
Markl added “And with 11 events across the Motiv portfolio, we’re not just present at the start line in Long Beach; we’re showing up for runners across the continent, all year. That is precisely where 2XU needs to be as we accelerate our North American growth; alongside athletes at all levels who train hard and demand more from their gear.”
As the Long Beach Marathon title sponsor, 2XU will be integrated into the Health & Wellness Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center, on-course activations, and the Finish Line Festival on Marina Green. The brand will offer compression fitting consultations and recovery education based on its ‘Prepare. Perform. Recover.’ framework.
Phyllis Blanchard, Vice President of Commercial Partnerships for Motiv Sports, said “2XU’s impact was immediate in year one, and their commitment to showing up for runners through product innovation, education, and authentic community engagement is exactly what this partnership is built on.”
The race weekend begins on Friday, October 9, 2026, with the two-day Health & Wellness Expo. Saturday features the Aquarium of the Pacific 5K, followed by the marathon and half marathon on Sunday.
Founded in Melbourne in 2005, 2XU is an international performance compression and activewear brand. It currently operates in more than 70 countries, providing technical apparel for elite athletes and recreational runners. Motiv Sports is a North American event organizer specializing in mass participation endurance races. It manages a portfolio of 11 events designed to engage participants across various fitness levels.
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