TYR Valkyrie Speedworks Review: A New Contender in Plated Speed Training

Introduction

TYR entered running with the Valkyrie Elite Carbon and, somewhat surprisingly, delivered a genuinely competitive racer on the first try. The Valkyrie Speedworks is its plated training sibling, and it arrives aimed squarely at the fast end of the trainer segment: the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 and the Adidas Boston 12.

TYR keeps the design language of its racing shoe almost intact here. The black-on-black packaging, clean white-on-white colorway, and even the “always in front” motto printed on the plate itself all signal a brand that takes presentation seriously. More importantly, the underlying recipe is performance-first: a beaded PEBBA foam shared with the racing shoe, a plastic plate, and one of the taller stacks in the category.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Speedworks is built for bigger, stronger, and more powerful runners, especially those who land midfoot or at the forefoot. On a 12-mile run averaging around 7:30 pace, the defining quality was cushion: roughly 39.5 mm of foam in the heel and 33.5 mm in the forefoot for a 6 mm drop. It rides like a tall, protective shoe rather than a soft sinking one, and the firmer foam tuning comes alive as pace increases.

At slower, more relaxed paces, the shoe does not feel great, and that is relative to your own mechanics rather than an absolute number. The first few miles of the run felt a little firm and over-foamed, but as speed picked up and landings moved toward the midfoot and forefoot, the ride noticeably improved. It also shares the racing shoe’s geometry: flat through the platform with an aggressive rocker at the front, so heel strikers will likely find it less accommodating.

Main Strengths

The midsole is the headline. The foam is sourced from the same beaded PEBBA family associated with Saucony’s Power Run PB, tuned slightly firmer. Unlike shoes that flatten out past the hour mark, there was no bottoming-out sensation even after 90 minutes on foot. That makes it a genuinely good option for long tempo work and extended marathon-pace efforts in the 6 to 10 mile range.

The upper is another highlight. TYR calls it the Alpha Weave, and it is a lightweight, semi-transparent knit with a crisscross pattern that resembles the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3’s upper. The midfoot lockdown is excellent, helped by an internal overlay strip, a strong gusseted tongue, and a very structured heel counter with no compression at all. Cornering feels planted thanks to the flat, straight platform, and the slightly wider midfoot is more comfortable than many competitors in this segment.

On the scale, the left shoe came in at 250 grams, making it one of the lightest plated trainers in this comparison group: lighter than the Boston 12 at 270 g and the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 at 283 g, and essentially even with the Endorphin Speed 4 at 251 g despite offering noticeably more cushion.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The most significant caveat is pace. If you want a plated trainer for everyday miles and recovery jogs, the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 or New Balance SC Trainer V2 are better fits. The Speedworks sits firmly on the fast end of the spectrum, similar in character to the Endorphin Speed 4 and Boston 12, and its rigid plastic plate offers very little forefoot flexibility.

Fit runs slightly snug, particularly in the forefoot, though the toe box and midfoot are wider than the Endorphin Speed 4, where a pinky toe and big toe knuckle visibly pushed against the upper. The snug last may push some runners toward a half size up, though staying true to size works if you prefer a locked-in feel.

Durability and grip are the open questions. The white rubber outsole is a concern given reported high wear on the racing shoe, and grip on the Valkyrie Elite was middling, below the Puma and Adidas options. Wet-weather testing is still pending, and the outsole had already begun turning gray after a single outing. Long-term durability testing continues, but the outsole will likely need watching past the early miles.

Buying Advice

Priced at $170 at MSRP, the Speedworks sits at the same launch price as the Endorphin Speed 4 and slightly above the Boston 12 at $160. As a newer brand, paying full price is a tougher sell, but a 10% discount code brings it down to around $153, where it becomes a very competitive choice for the right runner.

Against the Boston 12, the ride feel is similar but the Speedworks requires no break-in and arguably has the better upper. The Boston 12 likely wins on outsole durability and wet grip thanks to its Continental rubber. Against the Endorphin Speed 4, it is nearly identical in weight with more cushion and a more comfortable, less awkward heel setup, and it serves as a credible option for runners searching for a replacement for a beloved older speed trainer, or even a non-carbon plate alternative for shorter races like 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons.

Conclusion

TYR has once again put together a shoe that competes with established players on the first attempt. The Valkyrie Speedworks is protective, fun, and fast, with excellent midfoot lockdown, top-tier cushion for a fast trainer, and a ride that rewards commitment. It is not a do-everything daily trainer, and heel strikers and relaxed-pace runners should look elsewhere. But for bigger and more powerful runners who want a plated shoe for long speed work and marathon-pace efforts, especially at the discounted price, it is one of the most interesting new entries in the segment.