I bought the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 for a simple reason: I loved the Elite 1, and I wanted to race Marine Corps Marathon in the new version. Before making that call, I put in the work. I logged roughly 30 to 40 miles in the Elite 2, including two 10-mile tempo workouts (about 13 miles total on each workout day), faster treadmill running, and easy miles.

My verdict: for my running style, this shoe felt too unstable to trust for a marathon.

The biggest difference from the Elite 1 is the feel underfoot. The Elite 2 is very soft and cushioned. Saucony calls its new midsole foam IncrediRUN, and there is plenty of it. But I never got the firm, controlled sensation I want from a race shoe. It felt like running on a big marshmallow. My ankle seemed to keep rotating as I tried to settle on the platform, and I felt like I was spending energy stabilizing the shoe instead of moving forward.

That was most obvious on Atlanta sidewalks. City pavement is uneven, sloped, and broken in places. A shoe that feels forgiving on a perfect road can feel very different when the surface tilts under you. I wondered if the Elite 2 was simply built for smooth race courses, but I had the same unsettled feeling on my Peloton Tread+, where the surface is consistent. After about 10 miles, the ride felt uncomfortable rather than fast.

For reference, Saucony lists the Endorphin Elite 2 as a neutral road racing shoe with IncrediRUN foam and a full-length, slotted carbon-fiber plate. The men’s version weighs 7.0 ounces (199 grams); the women’s is 6.4 ounces (183 grams). It has an 8 mm drop, with a listed stack height of 39.5 mm at the heel and 31.5 mm at the forefoot. The knit-and-mesh upper is light and breathable. Those are impressive race-day specs, but specs don’t tell you whether a shoe will feel stable on your stride.

I decided not to wear the Elite 2 at Marine Corps. I’m going back to the Endorphin Elite 1, even though it already has about 130 miles on it. That shoe feels familiar and predictable. A supershoe can be fast on paper and still be the wrong shoe for one runner. The Elite 2 may work beautifully for someone who likes a soft, bouncy ride. For me, it was too much marshmallow and not enough control.