Sports Insight

N ew Balance is focusing on speed and energy return with FuelCell, its new performance running footwear platform. Two years in development by the company's Innovation Design Studio, the idea behind FuelCell is "to make fast athletes faster." e new FuelCell footwear line features what the brand describes as "the highest rebound properties" of any New Balance performance foam. e first FuelCell shoe launched on Global Running Day in early June, with the FuelCell Rebel. New styles will continue to drop throughout the fall. e FuelCell line will range in price from $100 for the FuelCell Echo to $200 for the FuelCell 5280 — a road racing flat that is the pinnacle product in the line. "is was one of the most fun, but focused shoe projects we've ever done," Danny Orr, New Balance's strategic business unit manager for performance and innovation says. New Balance focused on propulsion, trac- tion, lightweight and fit when developing the performance running shoe range, including a 40-degree angle at the toe to pitch the wearer forward and help with better running form. New Balance athletes Jenny Simpson and Jake Wightman, both of whom were involved in the design of the FuelCell 5280, spoke to us about the shoe and the R&D process. "The 5280 not only helps professional runners run faster but it will help everyone run faster," says Wightman. "It's the best road flat I've ever worn." Simpson says it was "special" to be a part of a project whose initial concept was about building a shoe specifically to meet her de- mands and needs as a world-class miler. In addition to lab testing, both athletes tested it in last September's 5th Avenue Mile, a world class one-mile road race held in NYC, which Wightman won on the men's side and Simpson on the women's. "at is the ultimate test," Simpson says. "You can't replicate the demands of a race in a lab, so wearing it and winning the 5th Avenue Mile — it passed the ultimate test." A closer look at the FuelCell platform: • FuelCell 5280: Speed without spikes, built from data from Team New Balance's fastest road milers. e FuelCell 5280 features a multidirectional carbon fiber plate designed to flex and accept the runner at initial contact and stiffen for superior propulsion at toe-off. MSRP $200. • FuelCell Rebel: Made for runners who are ready to take their run to the next level, with energy return optimized, speed when needed. is model features FuelCell technology in the forefoot to create a high-rebound but lightweight running experience. MSRP $130. • FuelCell Propel: Everyday energy return. e FuelCell Propel is built for a speedy ride, using the high rebound FuelCell midsole foam that delivers underfoot liveliness and springy responsiveness. MSRP $110. • FuelCell Echo: Fast and stylish, a lower pro- file, more streamlined silhouette for runners that want to be quick on their feet. Designed with a TPU heel counter for performance lock down, this road runner sits above a supportive, full-length FuelCell midsole. MSRP $100. n RUNNING Top Tech in the Spotlight. Turning Heads New Balance Re-Fuels in Performance Running 28 • Sports Insight May/June 2019 sportsinsightmag.com New Balance FuelCell Rebel

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