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NB FUELCELL RC ELITE V2: TEST REVIEW, FLYING ON ASPHALT
NB FUELCELL RC ELITE V2: TEST REVIEW, FLYING ON ASPHALT. Our RUNNING SHOES section today brings us the test review of the New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite v2. The shoe chosen by many New Balance sporsored athletes like Javier Guerra from Spain or the triathlete Sebastian Kienle to compete in both half and marathon.
Our colleague Abel de Frutos has been rolling them in recent months, from the Popular Marathon of Madrid to the Behobia-San Sebastian.
NB FUELCELL RC ELITE V2: TEST REVIEW, FLYING ON THE ASPHALT
As you already know, the Spanish marathon champion Javier Guerra finished the Tokyo 2021 Olympic marathon in 33rd place, with a time of 2.16’42’. Unfortunately the Segovian suffered a fall at kilometer 8 that did not allow him to run as fast as he would have liked. On his feet, he wore these New Balance Fuelcell RC Elite v2.
We already brought you the analysis of this shoe before the Olympics Marathon by the hand of our colleague Abel. And of course, we have not been able to resist testing the shoes thoroughly and discovering the sensations when runnig with them. We leave you a summary of the technical sheet before starting.
NEW BALANCE FUELCELL RC ELITE V2: DATA SHEET.
- Price: 230€
- Weight: 219gr
- Drop: 8mm
- Gound height: 27mm forefoot – 35mm heel.
- Cushioning: Mix ACL with Fuelcell.
- Sole: Improved to lighten weight and provide greater traction.
- Integral carbon plate
NB FUELCELL RC ELITE V2:
TEST REVIEW BY ABEL DE FRUTOS
We are not going to go into technical details of the shoe or description of it, because you have all the information in our analysis of this shoe. But if we are going to focus on the sensations we have had when putting on the fastest New Balance shoes on the asphalt.
A few months ago we also brought you the in-depth tests of “their sisters” with carbon plate. The New Balance Fuelcell Lerato, a shoe intended for the popular runner.
Focused on runners in need of greater support and sity. And the New Balance Fuelcell TC, perhaps for runners who want a shoe for everything, training and competing.
RC ELITE V2: HOW DO THEY FEEL ON THE FEET.
The first thing I noticed when I got the shoe, was in the midsole, a fairly high midsole and very, very soft to the touch. Of course, the second thing I noticed, was the upper, which at first glance seemed somewhat narrow.
Something normal in racing shoes, but of course, as I have already told you many times, I feel sorry for the width of my foot.
When I put them on, both characteristics were confirmed, the shoe is high, 35mm in its back, and the stylized cover, let’s go that fits quite a bit to the foot. In this case, you have to give thanks that it is a fairly “moldable” cover so it does not make much pressure.
However, let’s see if these people from New Balance, return a little to the past and put wide lasts back in the shoes. As for example the lasts of the Fuelcell Prism v2 or Propel V3 that we have also had the pleasure of testing.
RC ELITE V2: TO TEST
The RC Elite V2 is clearly a racing shoe, and that’s how I’ve used it. Of course, before competing with them, I have used them on several occasions for occasional training to do it.
But as soon as you put it on, you clearly see that it is a “racing” shoe. I am not a runner with spectacular timings, but thanks to the years in which I competed speed on the track, my running technique is not bad.
I have to say that in the first few stages, I thought it was a super unstable shoe. With a very soft midsole but a great power of reaction.
However, after several outings with them, I have become accustomed to that “instability” and I am very comfortable with them. It is true that in a short time we have padded great.
However, as I said I decided not to touch them just in training and use them only in races, now I tell you why.
RC ELITE V2: RACING
After some training with them, the first test I had in the race with the New Balance RC Elite v2 was in Mapoma (now Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Madrid). Just a month after finishing the Ultra Trail of Mont Blanc, I didn’t have them all with me. In fact, my idea was to go see, but of course, having the RC Elite v2 and talking about a marathon, I could not use other shoes.
Result: incredible, despite having run the 170k of Mont Blanc just a month before, I could soon observe that I ran at rates of 4’45 a kilometer with hardly any effort. In the end I noticed a little fatigue and finished the Madrid Marathon in 3h36, hovering around my best marks in Madrid with hardly any effort.
Seeing how well I was, I decided to finish the season by preparing a marathon in the bag. The chosen one, the Malaga Marathon on December 12. On the way I had proposed to do an intermediate test, the Behobia – San Sebastián.
There I wanted to see precisely what state of form I was in and how much the shoes could really offer me. And the test could not go better, The idea was to see if he would be able to maintain a pace of 4’15 per kilometer during the 20 kilometers of the Behobia. It must be said that I have only gone down once from 1h30 in the Half Marathon of Getafe.
The rest of the attempts were unsuccessful. So if I was able to do the 20 kilometers at a pace of 4’15 I would be quite happy. At the end, 1h24:36, on a pace of 4’14m/km. With unbeatable sensations. Running at paces around 4’05 – 4’25 for most of the race (except for those two long slopes that the Behobia has) And finishing the last three kilometers giving everything at rates of 3’40 – 3’55 – 3’55 m/km
What to say, that the shoes have gone like a glove and the sensations have been fabulous. Now, to wait for the Malaga marathon to arrive and see if we can endorse all these sensations in a marathon and looking for a PB.
NB FUELCELL RC ELITE V2: CONCLUSION.
Comfortable, light and with an incredible response. Ideal for competition, I have not been lucky enough to try other carbon plate competition shoes, but if I compare them with the rest of the shoes that do not carry it, they give you a plus.
A shoe to complement it with others in the range, such as the New Balance More v3, for long workouts and where we look for a lot of cushioning, and the New Balance Fuelcell Revel v2 for fast and series training. Leaving these RC Elite v2 for competition.
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