If You’re Ambitious About Running, Get a Shoe to Match

You don’t have to be a “serious” runner to take running seriously. You just have to be passionate about reaching your potential. The brand-new HOKA Clifton PRO was built for runners who push themselves to do better and need a shoe that can help them do it.

The Clifton PRO is a high-performance trainer for runners who strive to get the most out of themselves, day in and day out. It’s for those who look forward to track workouts, grind out their long runs, and love the feeling of hard-earned fatigue.

If you prioritize comfort, responsiveness, and control, you need to meet the Clifton PRO:

• It’s the first shoe built with HOKA’s new PROGLIDE™+ technology (a combination of a premium foam midsole with a dynamic rockered shape) for a smooth-rolling, high-rebound performance.
• A precision-tuned profile makes for quick transitions and a fast feel.
• The outsole’s podular design adds flexibility and saves weight.

The HOKA Clifton PRO builds on the success of the Clifton franchise. For more than a decade, the Clifton has been loved by runners looking for a super-responsive, maximum-cushioned shoe for daily runs. The Clifton PRO adds a level of responsiveness that helps runners amp up their training and reach their top level…and stay there.

Taylor Kriha took a 10-year break from competition after running track in college. But she knew it would always be there. Running is always there.

The 32-year-old graduated from the University of Memphis in 2015 and didn’t think she’d ever run so much as a 5K again. Collegiate sports are high pressure and high miles. Expectations.

But in 2025, Taylor reached for her running shoes again. She laced up and fell back into the rhythm of the run. This time, it was on her own terms.

Living in Chicago, Taylor entered the world’s largest 8K race, the Shamrock Shuffle. The starting line, finish line, and energy of thousands around her may have pulled her back into the competitive mindset a little bit. But the training—the early morning miles, the pain of the track workouts—that’s what made her want more. Pushing to complete another 800 when her legs already felt like noodles. The satisfaction of knowing she was getting the most out of herself. That’s what she was drawn to.

Her new stage of running might not have had a college coach or teammates or structured events every week. It had Taylor pushing Taylor. Repeat after repeat. Training, recovery. Training, recovery. Day after day.

She entered more races. She tasted success. She wanted more.

At the 2025 Chicago Marathon, Taylor posted a 3:06 finish time. “I shocked myself,” she said. And what a great feeling. The seed was planted for a sub-3-hour marathon.

Running through a Chicago winter isn’t easy, but she was up for the challenge. She’d log miles on the Lakefront Trail, passing the same landmarks and the same dedicated runners, day after day. The frozen edges of Lake Michigan, the sometimes-slick concrete path. She’d hit the 606 Trail, passing by the same walls of art as she’d breathe in and out, in and out. The repetition of the run became more rewarding.

By the next Shamrock Shuffle, Taylor was fit and ready. She ran a smoking 31:04, dropping eight minutes off her previous time.

Taylor now trains with the HOKA Clifton PRO in her quest to break the 3-hour marathon mark. No matter how hard the training is, she laces up and shows up. “Do the work anyway,” she says. Do the work anyway, no matter how hard, how tired, how fried. Because she knows it’ll pay off come race day.

The Clifton PRO keeps Taylor healthy and able to chase speed. Its high stack of supercritical EVA cushions every step and responds to every one of her powerful strides. The shoe’s aggressive MetaRocker™ rolls one step into the other for premium efficiency, while the overall lightweight, comfortable package is a joy to pull on every day.

Taylor and her Clifton PROs are chasing that 2:59:59 marathon. No coach, no team. Just Taylor and her shoes, her drive. “It’s just me against me out there now,” she says, “and I kind of like it that way.”

HOKA is one of the fastest-growing performance footwear and apparel brands in history. Conceived in the mountains, HOKA footwear delivers an unprecedented combination of enhanced cushioning and support for a uniquely smooth ride. Every day, HOKA pushes the innovation and design of its footwear and apparel by teaming up with a deep roster of world champions, tastemakers, and everyday athletes. From finish lines to everyday life, HOKA fans love the brand for its bold and unexpected approach, and its belief in the power of humanity to create change for a better world. HOKA empowers a world of athletes to fly over the earth. For more information, visit HOKA.com or follow @HOKA. #FlyHumanFly