Disclaimer: None of the shoes I’m about to talk about will make you a better runner over night. New runners become good runners and good runners become great runners because they spend time…you guessed it…running. When picking a running shoe, I recommend looking for 2 things: make sure it’s comfortable and feels good on your feet, and also make sure it’s a quality shoe that will keep you healthy and injury free. Staying healthy will lead to more time spent running and therefore quicker results. Oh, and it’s always a plus if the shoes look sweet on your feet. Generally speaking, there are 3 main types of workouts for a runner preparing for a half marathon or full marathon. Luckily, New Balance has shoes for all three. Let's check them out...
New Balance Supercomp Pacer: First impression - very light. Fast. Sleek design. Very minimalist shoe with very little drop. Love the mesh top and tongue. In terms of specs, the Supercomp is a super light (7.1oz) shoe that offers FuelCell foam along with a Carbon Fiber plate which propel me forward. This shoe is perfect for shorter races or sprint workouts at the track or around the neighborhood. Because the shoe has very little support or cushion, this definitely isn't a long distance shoe, but is perfect for speed work or a fast 5k. I feel like Usain Bolt when I run in them for sure.
FuelCell Rebel v3: First impression - hate the white color. Just not my style. As far as fit and feel goes, the shoe has a great combination of cushion/support while still being super light with a touch of "minimalist" like the Supercomp, which gives me the speed I'm looking for during a tempo or fartlek training run, but also provides the cushion I like during an easy recovery run. I realize most people don't want to buy multiple pairs of shoes if they're training for a race, so if you're only looking at buying one pair, I would recommend this one. It's got a little bit of everything, perfect for an every day run shoe.
Fresh Foam More X v4: First impression - oooh yes, that's a hot shoe! Love the red color, love the look. Probably the bulkiest, widest show I've ever run in. But that said, the shoe is still super light (because of all of the Fresh Foam!) while the inside of the shoe still hugs my feet perfectly, so the shoe definitely doesn't "run" wide or bulky. For the dreaded long and easy weekend runs, what I look for most in a shoe is something that is both comfortable with a lot of cushion and support, as well as being durable and able to handle a lot of miles. That's the Fresh Foam More X v4 for sure. Just like the name says, its got plenty of Fresh Foam and then some, making for a smooth ride. I've been running in primarily New Balance shoes for the last decade, and one of the things I like about their shoes is that they hold up to the miles really well. Give them a shot and let me know what you think!
**Full disclosure there are affiliate links within this blog post. Any commission I receive allows me to purchase new shoes and gear to review them and share my thoughts via the blog.**
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