Which U.S. marathon hosted the 1978 debut of Nike Air cushioning in the Nike Air Tailwind?

The Honolulu Marathon hosted the 1978 debut of Nike Air cushioning in the Nike Air Tailwind.

Nike used the Honolulu Marathon as a high-profile setting to introduce the Air Tailwind, a running shoe containing an early form of its air-filled cushioning system. The technology was intended to provide cushioning while keeping the shoe relatively light for distance running.

The debut is an important milestone because it came before the launch of the Air Max 1. The Air Max 1, released in 1987, made Air visible through a window in the midsole and turned the technology into a major visual feature. The Air Tailwind’s earlier design kept the cushioning hidden.

The event is sometimes confused with another major marathon because Nike has sponsored or promoted products at many large road races. The Honolulu Marathon is the specific race associated with the Air Tailwind’s 1978 introduction.