Shoutout to TYR: First Impressions of the Valkyrie Elite V2

A huge thank-you to TYR for donating a pair of race shoes to the Tri For The 22 campaign.

I've owned some great training and racing shoes over the years, but my first reaction to the TYR Valkyrie Elite V2 was pretty simple:

Wow.

The first thing that stood out was the weight. These shoes are extremely light—the kind of light that immediately makes them feel purpose-built for racing.

Then there's the look.

The upper has an almost iridescent sheen to it, paired with a sharp orange-and-yellow contrast through the midsole that gives the shoe a genuinely aggressive, athletic appearance. They look fast before you even put them on.

Once I did, the next surprise was the cushioning.

The soles are incredibly soft underfoot—almost like walking on marshmallows. There's a noticeable rocker geometry through the heel and forefoot that seems to naturally encourage forward movement, and the carbon plate gives the shoe a much stiffer, more responsive feel than a traditional trainer.

Even just walking around in them, you can feel that the shoe wants to move forward.

What surprised me most, though, was the brand itself.

For years, I primarily associated TYR with swimming apparel and equipment. These shoes made it immediately apparent that they are putting serious engineering into footwear as well. Based on my first impression, I would have no hesitation putting these alongside the other major performance-running brands in the market.

Of course, the real test comes next.

I haven't taken them out for a run yet, so I'm reserving judgment on actual performance until I get some road miles in them. Fit, stability, comfort at pace, and how the carbon plate feels under load will matter a lot more than how good they look sitting on the counter.

But as first impressions go?

TYR absolutely got my attention.

I'm looking forward to putting them through their paces and seeing how they perform as the road to Chattanooga continues.

Thank you again to TYR for supporting Tri For The 22 and helping equip this campaign for race day.

Because 22 ≠ 0.