# Training for 100 Miles: How the Right Shoe Makes the Difference
Ultra-distance running demands everything from your body. Covering 100 miles means your feet absorb impact equivalent to thousands of foot strikes, making shoe choice as critical as training volume itself.
The New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite V5 addresses the core demands of ultramarathon preparation. The shoe combines responsive cushioning with energy return, helping runners maintain efficiency across extended distances. FuelCell foam technology absorbs impact forces while the SuperComp plate structure distributes pressure across the forefoot, reducing localized stress that accumulates over many miles.
For ultra-runners stacking training volume, shoe choice influences both performance and injury prevention. Research consistently shows that appropriate footwear reduces impact-related injuries by stabilizing the foot and ankle during repeated ground contact. The Elite V5's design targets this directly, particularly during the longer training runs that prepare the body for 100-mile efforts.
The practical advantage emerges during back-to-back training days. Ultra-training requires runners to log significant weekly mileage across multiple sessions. A shoe that balances cushioning with responsiveness helps runners maintain running economy—the efficiency of movement—when fatigue sets in. This matters late in training blocks and, more importantly, during the race itself when fresh legs are a memory.
Shoe durability becomes another factor in ultra-training. The FuelCell SuperComp Elite V5 handles high mileage without rapid breakdown of cushioning compounds. Ultra-runners often complete 50 to 100 training miles per week for months leading up to their event, requiring shoes that maintain structural integrity throughout the build-up phase.
Individual fit variations affect every runner differently. What works for one 100-miler may not work for another. Gait analysis at a specialty running store helps match shoe characteristics to your running