Seven years. Still moving. VING’s 2026 timeline

January / A sandal at the front

On 24 January, Kenya’s Barnabas Kiplimo won the men’s Buriram Marathon in 2:21:16. World Athletics and AIMS record that result; MyBestRuns reports that he raced in carbon-plated VING NIRUN sandals. The result and the footwear report are separate pieces of evidence.

For VING, this put a familiar question in public view: why do running shoes have to cover your feet? It documented one athlete’s race, rather than a promise that every runner will achieve the same outcome.

February / Design meets the home ground

On 1 February, Bangkok Design Week hosted “Shaping a New Sports Brand: Product, Identity, and Retail” at TCDC Bangkok, connecting product thinking with identity and retail. Later, VING announced a Top Choice Product recognition from the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce on 20 February.

These are two different kinds of recognition: a design conversation with a published programme, and a regional award reported by the brand. Together, they show a Thai product entering wider conversations without losing its local roots.

March / Beyond the running category

Brand Inside’s 20 March report put VING’s 2025 revenue at THB 180 million and said more than half its customers were not runners. These figures refer to 2025 and to the publication’s reporting, not audited 2026 results.

The same story described connections with a New York partner community and team, sales and running activities in Miami, and research across design, sports science and chemistry. The product was finding a place in everyday movement as well as racing.

April / Passing the learning on

On 1 April, the National Innovation Agency invited VING CEO Watee Wichianit to its National Innovation Awards 2026 Open House. He returned as a 2025 economic-contribution award recipient for NIRUN marathon sandals, sharing the process behind the work.

The role had shifted from receiving recognition to explaining how an idea was developed, tested and taken through an award process.

May / A case study, and a wider outdoors

On 16 May, THE STANDARD / The Secret Sauce presented VING as a business case: innovation and talent developed in Khon Kaen, with international ambitions. Its reference to a forthcoming New York store was a plan at that time.

VING also joined OUTDOOR FEST at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on 21–24 May, meeting people through travel, outdoor activity and active living beyond running events.

June / Recognition for developing people

Rajamangala University of Technology Isan’s 6 June report on CWIE Day 16 named Watee Wichianit of VING Intertrade as a national outstanding workplace supervisor. This was a leadership and cooperative-education award, not another footwear award.

It adds another dimension to the timeline: connecting university learning with real work, and helping other people develop their practice.

July / Building a race of our own

Registration for VING KHON KAEN 100 2026 opened on VING Race on 27 July. The event was scheduled for 24–25 October on a 2.5 km road loop at the Agriculture Park, Khon Kaen University. At this article’s original September publication date, the race was still ahead.

Five formats were announced: 100K SUNBREAKER, 50K SHINERUNNER, 35K LIGHTSEEKER, 10K THUNDERSTEP and the 100K × 4 mixed ULTRA RELAY.

The official page listed more than THB 400,000 in total prizes, including cash, VING gift vouchers and the 10K Open Top 20 bonus. Eligible sandal winners in the 100K and 10K could double the cash component only, subject to footwear inspection and event rules. Consult the official event page for current details.

August / People, cities and new horizons

On 23 August, VING SONGWAD turned an approximately 6 km route into a social run: city scenes, photographs and coffee. It began at the VING flagship store at Thephasadin Stadium and offered 30 places; the official page recorded a full event.

At Dailynews Talk 2026 on 24 August, the founder reported accumulated sales of more than 100,000 pairs and several tens of thousands of runners. These are founder-reported cumulative figures, rather than independently audited totals. The story discussed New York and Kenya operations and South Korea as a future market; it did not establish that every overseas presence was the same kind of retail business.

On 27–28 August, the original timeline also recorded footwear trials with a medical audience at the THOFAS annual meeting in Chiang Mai. Participation and trials are not clinical evidence of treatment benefits.

9 September / Seven years, with more to learn

By 8 September, the original article counted more than 4,300 participants across five VING Race events. That is a dated platform snapshot, not a live counter. The year connected six themes: performance, design, business, knowledge, community and international expansion.

The September story also mentioned a future shoe priced above THB 6,000 and a possible late-2026 rebrand. They were plans, without a confirmed model, specification or launch date. Anniversary offers were linked through VING’s Facebook page; check that page rather than assuming a historical promotion is still available.

A platform for more movement

The original 8 September 2026 snapshot recorded 4,312 registered runners, 134,641.17 accumulated kilometres and five events on VING Race. These figures describe the platform at that date.

Performance, design, business, knowledge, community and international growth are the six threads connecting the year. The milestones stretch from the marathon result to product and retail conversations, from innovation awards to mentoring, and from attending races to organising them.

Seven days. Seven missions.

VING marked its seventh anniversary with a 3–9 September campaign: seven days, seven missions, with announced prizes worth more than THB 30,000. Anniversary promotions and their conditions were shared through the VING Facebook page. The campaign belongs to the September timeline.

The year was still being written

The August Dailynews interview discussed a future shoe above THB 6,000 and a major late-2026 rebrand, following three earlier rebrands. South Korea was named as a market on the roadmap. Brand Inside reported a three-to-five-year ambition to reach THB 1 billion in business and introduce new innovation at least every one to two years.

Alongside those plans, VING KHON KAEN 100 was scheduled for 24–25 October. The original story leaves the year open: new products, community routes and markets still ahead. Seven years is another marker on the way.