With new models coming out every few months, and revamps coming for popular staples across all running shoe brands, the end of 2012 provides a snapshot of where running shoes currently stand as a market, and where they’re poised to go in 2013. With a fresh crop of Winter/Spring releases just around the bend, running shoe manufacturers are eager to anticipate trends and provide new shoes that stay ahead of the curve.

Leading the pack in terms of sales at the end of October 2012 is the Nike Free line. Bolstered by the success of the Free Run+ 3, the Free 3.0 v4, and the brand-new Nike Free Inneva Woven, the Free lineup helped Nike grow by half, hitting a market share of 70 percent.

Overall, running shoe sales showed the greatest growth in the lightweight category—led by the success of the Saucony Kinvara, Puma FAAS 350s, Brooks PureConnect, Merrell Mix Master 2, Saucony ProGrid Mirage, Sketchers GOrun, and Asics Gel-Lyte 33 among others.

Some of the biggest-grossing brands this autumn in addition to Nike were Asics and Brooks as others dipped slightly during a usually-slow purchasing period. With new shoes on the horizon, many runners are holding out for their favorite models’ new offerings in the coming year.

On tap for next year are some exciting new models in new categories — Mizuno makes its first charge into minimalism, Brooks firms it footing in the lightweight category, and New Balance asserts itself in the same category through a slew of new choices.

Mizuno is set to release the Wave Evo Levitas and Wave Evo Cursoris, the brand’s first foray into minimalism. Brooks’ PureProject lineup gets a refresh in Spring 2013, with updates to the PureConnect, PureCadence, PureFlow, PureGrit, and the all-new PureDrift zero-drop model.

New Balance, after striking paydirt with the Minimus lineup, is set to release brand-new models in the series. Additionally, cushioned and stability shoes continue to shed weight without sacrificing support—taking advantage of technological advances in materials, construction, and design which has gripped the running shoe industry as of late.

For now, runners can retain their focus on fall races with the promise of exciting new models arriving in early 2013.