Running in the New Balance Anatomy Of A Heart
I picked up a pair of New Balance Anatomy Of A Heart last winter after a friend recommended them for daily miles. They're midrange neutral shoes, basically a comfort-focused daily trainer with a soft foam and moderate stack height. Not exciting on paper, but they do their job without drawing attention. The shoe uses New Balance's standard foam composition in this price tier, not their top-tier Fresh Foam X or FuelCell. The upper is engineered mesh, fairly breathable but nothing special. The outsole has rubber in high-wear zones with foam exposed in the midfoot for weight savings. It's a typical New Balance build for this category. Fit runs true to size for most people, though I'd note the toe box is slightly narrower than their wide options, which matters if you have wider feet. Sizing up half a size won't fix that, so stick with your usual size unless you specifically need length.
I've put roughly 340 miles on my pair so far. The foam hasn't bottomed out yet, which is about what I expected from this material. After 400 to 500 miles, you'll notice a meaningful firmness change. That's just the chemistry of the foam, not a defect.
How They Feel In Practice
The ride is soft but not mushy. There's a slight rocking motion built into the geometry, which some runners find smooth and others find annoying. If you like a more traditional straight-shoe feel, you might want to try before buying. The drop is around 8 millimeters, which puts it in the higher-drop range compared to modern training shoes trending toward 4 to 6 millimeters. Weight is roughly 10 to 11 ounces for a men's size 9, depending on the colorway. That's middle of the road for daily trainers. Not light enough for tempo work, not heavy enough to slow you down on easy days. One thing nobody mentions: the tongue is padded and stays in place well, but the lacing system can create pressure points on the top of the foot if you lace tightly. I learned that after getting numb toes on a 10-mile run. Drop the middle eyelets and lock the laces down low instead. Took three seconds to fix.
Get the Full Details
Where These Shoes Actually Work
Daily easy runs, recovery miles, longer weekend runs up to about 15 or 16 miles, walking, and gym use. They handle all of that fine. The cushioning protects your legs on hard days when your legs are already sore from a previous week. They don't excel at speed work. The foam compresses too much for efficient tempo runs, and the higher drop encourages a heel strike pattern that feels natural to many people but might not match your current running form.
What I Wish I'd Known Before Buying
The most important detail: these shoes have a break-in period of about 20 to 30 miles. They feel slightly stiff and the fit isn't quite right during that first window. A lot of people send them back thinking they're defective when they just needed a few runs to pack out the foam and stretch the upper. Don't return them on day three. Also, the outsole rubber is decent but not as durable as some competitors in the same price bracket. If you drag your heels during walking or push off aggressively, you'll wear through the forefoot rubber in under 300 miles. I hit that spot around mile 310 and patched it with a small amount of superglue mixed with baking soda. Not elegant, but it extended the life by another 80 miles before I replaced them. There's also a width issue I should mention. New Balance offers standard and wide options, but the standard width is more narrow than Nike or Brooks standard widths in my experience. If you have average-width feet, you might actually prefer the wide version for comfort. It doesn't look bulky on these shoes. I went with wide and it made a noticeable difference in long-run comfort.
Common Problems and Fixes
The foam tends to compress unevenly if you have a very heavy foot strike pattern. I know a few runners who get a noticeable heel bias where one side wears faster. The workaround is rotating between two pairs and alternating which shoe goes on which foot every other run. It evens out the wear over time. Another issue: the insole is thin and slippery. The factory insoles tend to slide around inside the shoe. Swapping to a third-party insole like Superfeet or even a basic drugstore foam insole costs five dollars and solves the problem permanently. I did this on my second pair and noticed the stability improved immediately.
Alternatives Worth Considering
If you want something similar but different, the Brooks Ghost gives you a smoother ride and more durability for about the same price. The ASICS Gel-Nimbus is softer but costs more. The Hoka Clifton is lighter and more cushioned but runs narrow in the standard width. None of them are dramatically better than the New Balance Anatomy Of A Heart, just different priorities. If you're looking for a true budget option, the New Balance Fresh Arishi is cheaper and still solid for easy miles, though the foam degrades faster.
Should You Buy Them
Yes, if you want a no-fuss daily trainer that works for most people. No, if you're chasing a specific ride characteristic like carbon-plated speed or maximalist cushioning. These shoes are the athletic equivalent of a beige sedan. They get you there reliably without making any statements. At current retail prices around 90 to 110 dollars, they're fairly priced for what they are. Wait for a sale and pick them up at full price only if you need them immediately. I haven't had any major issues after 340 miles. The stitching is intact, the foam is holding up, and they still look presentable after routine cleaning with a damp cloth and mild soap. That's the standard expectation for this tier of running shoe, and these meet it.
