Smoothie King Celebrates Runners in New ‘Run-Thru’ Concept, NYC Marathon Deal

Smoothie King is giving runners a new way to refuel on foot.

To mark Global Running Day on June 4, the smoothie chain tested its first-ever "Run-Thru" concept at a store in Richardson, Texas, inviting runners to jog up and grab a smoothie post-workout.

It’s part of a bigger move to position the brand closer to the fitness community.

Central to this is Smoothie King becoming the first-ever Official Smoothie of the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon.

To celebrate, the brand will also be offering free Watermelon Hydration Smoothies on June 4 across the U.S.

The drink is part of its newly launched "Hydration" line, made with coconut water and electrolytes to help runners recover after workouts.

The giveaway also helped spotlight the brand’s commitment to its “No No List.”

It consists of a set of over 75 banned ingredients that include artificial colors and high fructose corn syrup.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by TCS New York City Marathon (@nycmarathon)

"As a brand that is committed to supporting holistic healthy active lifestyles, Smoothie King is proud to show up for runners in a meaningful and dynamic way this Global Running Day," said Claudia Schaefer, the brand’s CMO.

"Whether you're gearing up for a marathon or just out for a quick jog, we’re here to fuel your journey."

Smoothie King’s running push is also going digital.

Through a new partnership with Strava, the brand kicked off a national fitness challenge.

This gives participants the chance to win exclusive prizes, including three hard-to-get entry bibs for the NYC Marathon in November.

From Drive-Thru to Run-Thru

The one-day-only Run-Thru took over the Smoothie King location at 1325 E. Belt Line Road in Richardson, TX.

Runners could literally jog up, place an order at the window, and receive their smoothie on the go.

No cars needed.

The activation was designed for runners and health-conscious guests who want a quick and easy way to recover after a workout.

While it only ran for a day, the pop-up hints at how Smoothie King might rethink fast-casual service for fitness-focused communities.

On the East Coast, the brand is also preparing for race day by setting up a Smoothie King Cheer Zone in Brooklyn for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon.

The marathon draws more than 50,000 athletes and 2 million spectators annually.

Runners and volunteers will also receive special offers from the brand during the event.

"New York Road Runners is excited to welcome Smoothie King as the first-ever Official Smoothie of the TCS New York City Marathon, helping fuel the spirit and energy of race-day and making the best day of the year in New York City even better," said Christine Burke, CCO of NYRR.

Meanwhile, the Smoothie King Challenge on Strava will run from June 1 to 30.

To enter, runners must complete the challenge through the app’s "Groups" tab.

Winners will be selected at random, but must complete the challenge to qualify.

Our Take: Healthy for Business?

Smoothie King really went all out with its latest campaign.

To me, it's a holistic approach to experiential marketing, meeting consumers where they are (literally) with a smart “Run-Thru” brand activation.

For brands looking to turn one-day events into moments that really matter, this is where event marketing agencies can shine.

Beyond giveaways, it's also about crafting challenges that gauge consumer interest, letting the benefits of your products shine, and creating real-world experiences that stick.

Meanwhile, Sprite recently launched a summer campaign, teaming up with music artists and festivals in a global push.