Not unlike Hansel back in the day, carbon-plated running shoes are so hot right now. In the wake of releases from Hoka One One, Nike, Adidas and New Balance, we’re not surprised to see Saucony’s Endorphin collection, a trio of carbon running shoes announced on the eve of the Olympic marathon trials. The flagship of the group, the race day-oriented Endorphin Pro, will be visible on the feet of 2016 Olympian Jared Ward as he vies for a spot on the 2020 team.
So what has us excited about the shoes? Besides the eye-popping colors, they were developed in close collaboration with Saucony’s world-class distance runners; Ward himself ran through 30 prototypes. The Pro boasts SpeedRoll Technology, which angles the forefoot forward, combining with the full-length S-curved carbon fiber plate to maximize the propulsive power of every stride. At 7.5 ounces, it’s also quite light, thanks to efficient cushioning and a track spike-inspired upper that minimizes weight while maximizing comfort.
The Pro (visible above as the far right shoe in the first slide and in the second slide) is complemented by two siblings, the Speed (middle in the first slide and also the third slide) and Shift (left in the first slide and also the fourth slide). The Speed is geared toward speedwork and tempo runs, while the slightly beefier, heavier Shift is designed for all your other training efforts.
The Endorphin Pro ($200) will be available April 15, while the Endorphin Speed ($160) and Endorphin Shift ($140) will be available July 1.
The Olympic marathon trials begin shortly after 12 pm on Saturday, February 29. You can track individual runners here, and you can watch the race on NBC.
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