Mario Fraioli’s New Balance Running Shoe Rotation
|I’ve been fortunate to have a partnership with New Balance since 2020 (and have been running in their shoes a lot longer than that). In any given week I run in 3-4 different types of shoes, which is a privilege I don’t take for granted. Even if that’s not possible for you, having at least two pairs in your rotation—one for general mileage and one for speed workouts/races—can help each shoe last you a little longer, lessen the likelihood of injuries, and optimize performance and recovery. What follows here are the different models of New Balance shoes I use for various types of runs:
The 1080 has been my go-to daily trainer for the past 5 years—it’s the shoe that I run 75% if not more of my weekly miles in—and this latest version picks up right where the v13 left off without missing a beat. As the workhorse in my stable, the 1080 is durable enough to handle the daily pounding underneath my feet but lithe and responsive enough to run fast when I feel like it. The Fresh Foam X 1080v14 is available at your favorite run specialty store or at newbalance.com (men’s sizes here, women’s sizes here).
The FuelCell Rebel v4 is the trainer I rock for nearly every workout I do. As fast and fun as carbon-plated shoes can be, it’s important not to be overly reliant on them for all your track sessions, fartleks, hills, and tempo runs. The Rebel v4s allow your feet to do what they want to do while providing plenty of protection underfoot when you’re putting a lot of extra force into the ground. They offer a responsive ride in a flexible, lightweight package that will fit a variety of foot types (n.b. my wider-than-average forefoot really appreciates them!). The FuelCell Rebel v4 is available at your favorite run specialty store or at newbalance.com (men’s sizes here, women’s sizes here).
I’ve been racing in the new FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 and these bad boys can really fly! The fit is dialed and the shoe feels like an oversized extension of my foot. The FC SC Elite v4 has a new PEBA foam FuelCell midsole with a full-length carbon plate for the right blend of lightweight, plush cushion and snappy responsiveness. (As soon as you start running in them you’ll know exactly what I mean.) It’s an amazing marathon shoe but is versatile enough for racing shorter distances and mixing in for longer workouts from time to time. The FuelCell SuperComp Elite v4 is available now on newbalance.com (men’s sizes here, women’s sizes here) and at your favorite local run specialty retail store.
When I hit the trails I make sure that I’ve got the Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 on my feet. I love these shoes because they provide incredible grip and protection underfoot to help you navigate the trickiest of terrain but they’re also light and nimble enough to rip down your favorite trail. The Fresh Foam X midsole provides the perfect amount of cushioning without sacrificing proprioception and the Vibram outsole will provide you all the traction you’ll ever need. The Fresh Foam X Hierro v8 is available now on newbalance.com (men’s sizes here, women’s sizes here) and at your favorite local run specialty retail store.