Editor’s note: This feature is brought to you by New Balance and The Running Company. New Balance’s 2023 range of running shoes is now available at your local The Running Company store.

Maximalism. Full colour. These are a couple of the trends that The Running Company’s team is feeling right now.

“Triple-black running shoes are dead! You are presumably running because you enjoy it, so have some fun with the colour, people,” says Mitch Lorkin.

Last year, we spoke to Mitch and his Running Company colleagues Nathan Shearer and Brianne Hook about New Balance’s latest running line up. This time around, we’re going back to the same folks – who lace up thousands of Aussie runners each year – to ask them how those shoes have been to run in over the past several months.

Oh, and for a bit of fun we also asked each of them, “If you were a running shoe, what kind would you be?” Because, as Mitch suggests, we’re here to have some fun, aren’t we?

Nathan Shearer

The Running Company, Head Office, Melbourne

Nathan is running in the Fresh Foam X 880v12, the latest evolution of a shoe that’s long been revered as the perfect daily trainer, one with just the right balance of cushion and responsiveness. It’s been described as “a great, classic trainer with a modernised ride that will work for tons of people for a ton of different reasons”.

The retail development manager at The Running Company, Nathan is currently building towards the Ironman Western Australia event in early December, so he’s definitely taking the long view to consistent training – just the thing for a shoe like this.

“It’s super versatile and a no-nonsense workhorse. An absolute go-to in the weekly rotation,” he says.

“It will suit those with slightly more efficient mechanics due to the softness of the foam, but for those that run in a neutral shoe and want something with a touch more sexiness, this is an absolute must try.”

Asked about what he’s noticed about the shoe over the past several months, Nathan reckons its “unremarkable” – in a good way.

“That’s not meant in a derogatory sense but to highlight that the shoe has done exactly what I hoped it would: I’m not conscious of it on my foot, meaning it fits me well, and I haven’t had any issues over the life of the cushioning. It’s held up to intense mileage and a variety of terrain, through the full spectrum of Melbourne’s fickle weather. As far as running shoes go, it just works, and for 80% of my running that's all I need.”

Nathan echoes Mitch’s sentiments about shoe trends this year. He sees an explosion of colour coming back into vogue to coincide with an increase in stack heights permeating all brands’ ranges. (That’s something that Brianne would go on to forecast, too: “Maximalism. Higher, softer, protecting longer.”)

And if Nathan were a running shoe?

“I’d be a circa-2006 racing flat with elastic laces, two-and-a-half sizes too small. Look good ≠ go good!”

You’re looking good out there, Nath.

Brianne Hook

The Running Company, Geelong

When we last caught up with Brianne, she’d only recently returned to running after having a baby and had been banking a stack of easy runs in the Fresh Foam X 1080v12. Fast forward and she’s training for the Berlin Marathon in late September, which will be her first 21 miler since 2019.

The Fresh Foam X 1080v12 is renowned as New Balance’s most popular running shoe. Its Fresh Foam sole provides deep cushioning and the legendary Hypoknit mesh upper nails the mix of comfort and lockdown. Runners swear by this shoe.

“It’s all about comfort and simplicity,” Brianne says.

“The 1080 is such an easy shoe to slip on and run anywhere. Anyone who likes some cushion underfoot and who looks for an easy jogging shoe will feel right at home here.”

Brianne is lucky enough to live in Anglesea, not too far from the Geelong store she runs with her partner, and coastal trail running is a big part of her routine.

“The 1080 has been able to withstand a serious amount of running. The 1080 complements my shoe rotation perfectly; it’s a cushioned, neutral, easy running shoe that works perfectly as my daily trainer. Considering the terrain of the coastal trails that I run on, its ability to withstand the punishment has made it one of the most durable options on the maket.”

If she could be reincarnated as any kind of footwear, Brianne would like to come back as “a race shoe – maybe a New Balance FuelCell Supercomp Elite v3 – on an elite runner up front of a major marathon”.

“It would be awesome to view the course at paces that I couldn’t personally imagine running.”

Mitch Lorkin

The Running Company, Albert Park, Melbourne

Mitch, whose goals this year include “keeping fit for skimo season and some big foot-bound adventures”, has been running in the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer.

It’s a carbon-plated, high-stack “super shoe” that brings the all-out race-day performance of energy-return technology to a high-mileage training shoe.

Mitch reckons it would be “a good shoe for athletes who put a little too much force through typical super shoes”.

“The SuperComp Trainer holds up well and would make a good long-run shoe for those racing in plated shoes, especially if they’re seeking an even training-to-racing crossover. It’s been durable and a nice addition to my rotation.”

“Plus, the colourway on the pair I’ve been using is a lot of fun. It pops, just like the underfoot feel of the SuperComp.”

As well as anticipating a colourful 2023, Mitch has a solid prediction for all the running fashionistas out there.

“There will be a return of the track pant for jogging through winter months, just as President Bill Clinton once did.”

That sartorial sense extends to his pick for what kind of shoe he metaphorically is.

“It’s an interesting question! I’m probably a pair of recovery slides. I know it might be a stretch to call it a ‘running shoe’, but recovery is an important part of training, and slides pass the pub test.”