Welcome to Trail Tested, a new monthly column from entrepreneur and athlete Jack Espy as he trains for the grueling Leadville 100 ultramarathon this August. Trail Tested will follow Jack along his journey to do his first 100-miler to see what his body is capable of and what his mind can endure. Throughout his training he’ll be giving us a rundown of gear he’s been putting to the limit.
OVER 15,000 FEET of elevation gain across steep climbs and high-altitude passes await me in August at the Leadville 100. But up to this point, the majority of my training miles have been on pavement. That’s because I live in South Florida.
Here, we have no trails and no real elevation. The closest thing to any climb is a bridge. So instead of chasing vert and altitude, my training is built around volume. That means miles, and a lot of them. Because of that, I’ve spent this training block testing just about every road shoe I can get my hands on. It’s not the traditional way to prepare for an ultramarathon, but it’s what I’ve got and I’m making it work for me.
I’ve rotated through everything from On to Altra and pretty much every major brand in between, but the shoe that surprised me the most this cycle is the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V5.
What I Like
For a little context, I wore the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V4 during the Missoula Marathon last summer and put hundreds of miles on them. I loved that shoe, so I wasn’t sure how much better the V5 could actually be. I have yet to race in the V5 but plan to do my next marathon in them, which won’t be until after the Leadville 100. The V5 and V4 have a very similar fits, however the V5 has a little more room in the toe box which feels amazing and helps with toe splay on longer runs.
The first thing I noticed is the pop the V5 has. The energy return is immediate thanks to the FuelCell midsole that’s 100% PEBA, and it makes running fast feel effortless. A full carbon plate further helps with that push—which means this shoe is really for longer runs and speed/tempo work. Even deep into long runs, 20 to 30 miles in, the shoe still holds that responsiveness. Comfort-wise, it checks every box. No foot pain, no blistering, the tongue sits nice and flush, and the cushioning hits that sweet spot for a performance shoe. The midsole feels soft without losing structure, which is exactly what you want when you’re logging serious mileage at speed. I’ve tested a lot of shoes for long runs, and right now this is my top pick.
Others I’ve Been Testing
During my training, I’ve been testing a few other shoes as well. The Saucony Endorphin Azura I’ve worn on steady-state and recovery runs, typically in the six to 10 mile range. The standout here is the stack height (40 mm)—it gives you a solid level of cushioning, which makes a big difference when your legs are already beat up. But the midsole felt a bit stiff underfoot, and over longer runs I started getting some foot cramping. I also ran into blistering on the outside of my toes, which ultimately became a dealbreaker for me. Everyone’s foot is different, but for me, it didn’t quite check the boxes for a reliable mid-distance trainer.
I’ve also been rotating two shoes that I keep going back to: the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 and the Adidas Evo SL. The Endorphin Speed 5 is about as dependable as it gets. If you want one shoe you can throw on for anything—short runs, long runs, or tempo days—this is it. The Adidas Evo SL is another strong all-around option (and a long-standing best overall pick amongst the Men’s Health editors). It’s comfortable, versatile, and holds up well on longer days. No hot spots, no blisters, just a smooth ride from start to finish.
Verdict
The author getting some road work in with the V5.
To be clear, I won’t be racing Leadville in any of these because they’re strictly road shoes. But these are critical for my training given where I live. The New Balance SuperComp Elite V5 will stay in the rotation for long runs and speed days throughout my training. It’s one of the best shoes I’ve tested and has held up exactly how I need it to.
As race day gets closer, I’ll begin shifting into more trail-specific training and dialing in the right shoes to match (more to come there). I’ll be splitting time between Montana and Colorado for most of the summer, getting up to elevation and putting in real climbing in the mountains to prepare for Leadville. That’s the next phase of training, but for now this three-shoe rotation (and specifically the V5s) will keep helping me build up a strong foundation of road miles.
| Weight | 7.6 oz |
| Stack Height | 40 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm |
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
About the Author
Jack Espy is the founder of Strive Soda and Spirited Hive. He is in the midst of a 50-week training regimen with coach Duncan Callahan (two time Leadville 100 winner). His current run mileage is 50 miles per week (typically including one speed day, two recovery runs, one threshold session, and one long run) and his strength training (four days a week) focuses on full body movements to hit every muscle group. Nine months ago he could barely run five miles before challenging himself to tackling the Leadville 100. Now his mile pace is 9:50 while he’s finished races like the Dead Horse 30k, the San Diego Trail Marathon, and the Black Canyon 50k. His current favorite road shoe is the Saucony Endorphin 5 Speed and his current favorite trail shoe is the Hoka Speedgoat.
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