THOMAS: Overall, I’m really happy with how this shoe turned out. It’s not as accommodating as the last version, but I think it’ll win over plenty of runners. This is New Balance’s best race-day shoe yet—and they still have room to make it even better.
I wore the SC Elite v5 at the London Marathon because I had to. I’d wear it again because I want to. That says a lot. I don’t have one go-to race shoe anymore. Things have gotten more nuanced. Now I choose based on my fitness and the course, but the SC Elite v5 makes that decision easy. It’s light, it’s cushioned, it fits like it should — and that kind of no-brainer matters when the nerves hit and the starting horn sounds.
Because on race day, the last thing you want to worry about is your shoes. You just want to run your race, chase your goal, and finish strong. And this shoe? It’ll help you do that.
You can pick up the New Balance SC Elite v5 for $250 on August 7, 2025 from New Balance by using the button below.
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