Article by Sally Reiley
Tracksmith Eliot Racer ($280)
Tracksmith Running is ready to introduce the Eliot Racer!
We got a sneak peek of this upcoming marathon race shoe at The Running Event in Austin, TX. Once again, Tracksmith had an amazing display with their Tracksmith van (complete with White Sash graphics) right there on the showroom floor and got all the details for this article.
This innovative carbon-plated race day shoe stays true to Tracksmith classic aesthetics we all love, but with some novel construction.
The midsole is a combination of a bottom layer of supercritical PEBAX foam (26mm heel / 10mm forefoot with underfoot a unique 12.5 mm at the heel, 21mm at the forefoot thick, removable, drop-in supercritical aliphatic TPU foam midsole. This type of new supercritical TPU foam is notably soft and at the same time energy returning. We’ll see in test how the Eliot’s TPU feels and performs.
When you remove the sock liner, the full length carbon plate is visible inside the shoe.
By eliminating the traditional sockliner and lasting board (now a thin mesh with a central cutout), Tracksmith is able to increase the high energy returning cushion depth while staying below the World Athletics 40mm heel height limit. This combination of the two foams, with no glue in between, promises to feel very responsive and softer feel underfoot (adhesives can stiffen a midsole). The On Cloudboom Strike has a similar drop in midsole construction. RTR Sam says the additional cushion and rebound there is clearly noticeable in comparison to more traditional construction approaches.
In comparison to the Ellot Runner’s removable PEBA top midsole shown below, the Racer’s is clearly thicker. And by using ATPU foam instead of the firmer PEBA of the Runner, we expect a more forgiving and at the same time more dynamic ride
And if you flip the sock liner over, you can read some words of inspiration written on the underside.
Tracksmith did not skimp on the outsole rubber coverage
The full stack height is 38.5mm at the heel /31mm at the forefoot for an 7.5mm drop. The sample shownin a men’s size US9 weighs a mere 7.5 oz / 213 g, a nice light weight that is very competitive with other race day shoes.
And of course we have the iconic Tracksmith sash! We saw two colorways of the upcoming racer, one in navy with the white/gold sash (you can match your raceday Strata singlet) and the other in white with a gold sash.
The Tracksmith Eliot racer will debut at the Tokyo Marathon on March 3, 2025 and be available online March 3 for $280.
We look forward to testing these out on the roads this winter, so stay tuned for our full multi-tester review on Road Trail Run.
Sally is a lifelong runner and mother of five who agreed against her better judgment to run her first marathon at age 54; she has since run the past ten Boston Marathons, two NYC Marathons, one Chicago, and one London with the WMM Six Star Medal now in her sights. With a Boston PR of 3:25:55 in 2022 (9th place in AG) and two consecutive 2nd place in Age Group W60 awards in NYC, she competed in the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championships at the 2022 London Marathon and ran an all-time PR of 3:24:02, placing 6th in the world in her women’s 60-64 age group. She also competes in USATF races with the Greater Lowell Road Runners team. To add meaning to her Boston Marathon races she runs with Team Eye and Ear and has raised over $275,000 for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital. Sally is 5’2’’ and 105 pounds and lives in Marblehead, MA, training outdoors year round. She blames her love of skiing out West for any and all Boston Marathon training challenges.
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