Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 Review After 100 Miles

Introduction

At first glance, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 looked exactly like the Endorphin Speed 1. But after 100 miles in the Speed 2, some subtle differences have emerged, and they matter for how this shoe fits into a running rotation.

The Endorphin Speed 2 pairs Saucony’s PowerRun PB foam, the brand’s highest-end racing foam, with a nylon plate. That combination puts it in a strange but valuable middle ground: it borrows the construction language of carbon-plated race shoes without the carbon itself, and that shapes nearly everything about how it runs and who it suits.

One transparency note before diving in: the shoes were provided for review at no cost, with no payment attached and no approval over the final opinions shared here.

Where It Fits in the Rotation

This is not a shoe that works for easy days, at least not for this particular runner. Instead, it earns its place on the faster days: the workouts where you want to be working a little harder and want to make sure you arrive rested. Marathon-effort long runs are where it truly shines, combining a high total mileage with a big block of miles at race effort.

Threshold repeats and even shorter 5K-pace efforts are possible in it, but the sweet spot sits between marathon pace and threshold effort. In that range, the shoe really sings.

The Foam and the Plate

The PowerRun PB midsole is the dominant sensation when running in this shoe. It is a very responsive material: when your foot hits the ground, you feel the foam bounce back into the next stride, giving it that premium race-day feel.

The trade-off is firmness. Compared with some other super foams, PowerRun PB leans firm, and the Speed 2 feels slightly firmer than the Endorphin Speed 1. The firmer, speedier Endorphin Pro 2 works beautifully for half marathon racing, but for marathon distances that firmness becomes a question mark. The Speed 2 is a bit more mellow and easier to live with over longer distances, which makes it the more versatile of the two.

Some runners use it as an everyday trainer that does everything, and it may well be just that for people who are taller, heavier, or land harder. But for lighter runners, easier paces can feel a touch firm. If your priority is easy-day comfort, other shoes may serve you better.

Durability After 100 Miles

Speed shoes tend to age in the opposite way to daily trainers. Daily trainers start cushioned and gradually turn firm and dead, while race-style shoes start firm and eventually lose their life, becoming muddled and squishy rather than springy.

After 100 miles, the Endorphin Speed 2 has maintained that right-out-of-the-box race-day feel. In fact, a slight mellowing would have been welcome, since it is already a bit firmer than the original. The exposed midsole foam shows only discoloration, which is typical for this type of material, and even the paint on certain portions of the midsole is holding up well, arguably better than the Endorphin Speed 1.

The outsole uses the same pattern and colors as last year, yet the wear is noticeably lower, with only one small worn spot on the rubber. Whether that comes down to running habits or a tweaked rubber formula is unclear, but it is a good result either way. The upper remains pristine even in white, and it stays comfortable without pinching or binding the foot. Among the best running shoe uppers available right now.

Price and Value

At $160 full price, part of the story is that this is a lot of money for a running shoe. There is no way around that. The other part is that it represents strong value in this category, because it can handle both training workouts and racing. Plenty of runners race in this shoe, in both versions, and if you are not ready to commit to carbon-plated racers, the Endorphin Speed 2 is a great way to test the waters of a higher-end race shoe while picking up a lot of fun running miles along the way.

Conclusion

The Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 is a firmer, more mellow evolution of the Speed formula, best suited to marathon-effort long runs and threshold work rather than easy days. Its foam holds its race-day feel over 100 miles, the outsole wears exceptionally well, and the upper is among the best in class. For runners who want one versatile shoe for fast workouts and even racing, it justifies the price.