For a second year in a row, Newton Running shoes were rewarded for their outstanding products in the prestigious 220 Triathlon awards held on 13th February at Sandown Park.
Following their 2009 win for ‘Innovative Product of the Year’ the popular ‘Newton Gravity’ training shoe was awarded the 2010 ‘Run Shoe of the Year’ award, beating Asics Noosa and Saucony Fastwitch 3 to the title.
Mike Trees, managing director of Triathlon Consultants (Newton Running’s UK distributor) accepted the award and said “It is a great honour to receive this award on behalf of Newton Running, who have put so much research and development into producing what is now recognised at possibly the greatest running shoe in the world for forefoot and mid foot runners. We at TCL have the relatively easy job of selling the Newton Running shoes the eagerly awaiting public.”
The attached image shows Mike Trees standing with his long time hero in sport Dave Scott, 6 times winner of the Hawaii Ironman and arguably the greatest triathlete to date presenting Newton’s award for Run Shoe of the Year.
Barefoot running was clearly one of the most talked about trends in the running industry last year. From the bestselling book Born To Run, to the explosive growth of the Vibram Five Fingers, runners everywhere seem to be talking about barefoot running.
Well, the buzz about barefoot running is about to hit a fever pitch. As we’ve talked about in previous posts, Harvard anthropologist Dan Lieberman has been studying the evolution of human running for several years. Dr. Lieberman has just published the results of his study in the journal Nature and the mainstream media is running (cough) with the story. For those of you who listen to NPR on the drive home, you might have heard this story on “All Things Considered” today. The story is also available on NPR.org and features a pretty interesting video:
Not surprisingly, Vibram Five Fingers are also getting a lot of attention from the media (Vibram sponsored Lieberman’s study). The Five Fingers clearly help people to try barefoot running, while providing some protection from rocks, glass, etc. As we talked about in the previous post, Newton’s are built for Natural Running but some of you may be wondering how Newtons compare to Vibrams. Amanda Brooks asked just that on her blog, Run to the Finish, and Newton Running’s Director of Education and Research, Ian Adamson, had this response:
Running Newton Shoes and Vibram Five Fingers have many similarities, at least from a form perspective. The primary difference is the cushioning and energy return provided by Newtons, which is largely absent in Vibrams.
Both Newton Performance Racers and Vibrams have a 2 mm heel lift, or toe drop depending on how you look at it. This translates into a 1.3% down grade in the shoe, also referred to as ramp angle or drop. Newton Performance Trainers have a 2% gradient, which although very small, can be felt by aware runners. Regular running shoes have a much steeper angle, up to 15% depending on the shoe.
Barefoot running forces you to run efficiently and preventatively with respect to injury. Vibram’s allow people to experience barefoot running with an added layer of protection from harsh surfaces, while Newton’s go one step further, adding forefoot cushioning and a significant energy return component.
Newton shoes are much kinder to the body’s structure and musculature when transitioning from a traditional running shoe to barefoot, and allow you to perfect a natural (barefoot) form while providing protection and cushioning. Newton’s active membrane technology has been carefully designed to facilitate afferent feedback, which means the nerves in your forefoot feel the ground very quickly through the shoe. This is achieved through the outer lugs and internal semi-rigid chamber that is connected to the bio-mechanical top plate adjacent to your foot inside the shoe.
Traditional shoe cushioning mechanisms dampens afferent feedback, hampering proprioception and thus hindering your ability to self-regulate the impact of your foot strike. Studies show that runners strike much harder in shoes that dampen afferent feedback, one of the causes of injury. Barefoot runners and runners in shoes that allow you to sense the ground encourage you to run protectively, as if barefoot.
Bottom line is that both Vibrams and Newtons encourage a barefoot or natural running style, but Newtons make it much easier for runners to transition from typical running shoes.
About the Run: My assigned workout was for one hour at, “Nice steady medium effort run the entire time.”; CHECK. Although, I have to say, it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what “medium effort” is when it is so flippin’ cold! At the start of my run the temperature was 20 degrees Farenheit, same as yesterday. However, I was going much farther and the wind was NUTS!! In fact, for the first twenty minutes I thought I knew what cold was, until I stopped to answer nature’s call and then I found out what cold REALLY was!
As far as gear goes, I would have had a SERIOUSLY rough time were it not for my Newton AW’s. My feet stayed nice and toasty with only my AW’s and a pair of the Newton socks that I cannot say enough about. One other thing that kept me from winding up flat on my ass was my Black Diamond Sprinter headlamp. There was seriously no other way I could’ve seen the ice I was about to run on.
All in all, a very good run. I really felt good and happily rediscovered the fact that my body tends to warm up (temperature-wise) regardless of the temperature outside. By the end of my run, my entire upper body, with the exception of my nose, was perfectly warm and comfortable. I also reaffirmed that running with forefoot/midfoot technique and with a high turnover is the ONLY safe way to run on icy pavement.
As is the case for many at Thanksgiving, my Thursday morning was met with a Turkey Trot. A Turkey Trot, for those not yet in the know, is a race of varying length on or around Thanksgiving. The race in which I, along with two of my brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, mother-in-law and my wife were participating was the Dreamcatcher Classic Road Race in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The race had two distances to choose from; a five miler and a two miler, I chose to do the five.
When recovering from a marathon, conventional wisdom says to rest one day for every mile you’ve run. Since on Thursday I was only four days removed from the Philadelphia Marathon and had not reached the requisite 26.22 days of rest, I was rather curious to see how my recovered my legs would be.
If you’ve visited my site before, or you’ve listened to my podcast, it’s no secret that I am a rabid member of the Newton Running Tribe. I make no apologies for this and defend my choice of footwear at every turn. I never fancied myself a runner until I stepped into my first pair of Newtons. Since then, I have only gone farther, faster and stronger than I ever thought possible. This race report is a testament to what is one of the strongest arguments for “natural running’ (i.e. Newton running); recovery.
Race morning was perfect, in my opinion. It felt like it was in the mid-40’s with no wind to speak of. I had not really done any research for this race in terms of terrain, so I was clueless as to what kind of hills and such lay in store. The race was a mass start and not chip timed, so in an effort to get the most accurate time I could, I lined up as close to the starting line as I could. This is not a place where I usually find myself, but I figured why not?
The starting horn sounded and 1,200 of us were on our way. The front row was, as expected, the races “elites”. They pulled away pretty quickly and cleared out the space in front of me. I haven’t looked at the data from my Garmin yet, but I imagine I was at about 6:30/mile at the start. There were a few of us who fell into a stretched out pace line and who seemed to be running a similar race. As the race progressed, many people who had taken it out hard, simply fell off and ended up walking. The course was, in my opinion, good, if a little hilly. Some of the climbs definitely knocked me down a couple of notches, but I just seemed to have more in my legs.
When doing a last minute race plan in my head for this event, I readily assumed that I would go out pretty quick and sustain that for as long as I could and then lest my pace fade to something more comfortable. The problem with that plan was that I just kept going. Don’t get me wrong here, I felt every step. I took it out quick and pushed myself to do what I could. I guess I just expected my tank to run out at some point and it just didn’t. When the hills came, as I said before, I really felt it, BUT, rather than muscling through it with raw power, I reassessed my body position and technique. This kept my pace fairly consistent on the hills and kept my heart rate at an acceptable place.
I crossed the finish line with an official time of 32:55, which made my per mile pace 6:35 (my Garmin read 32:54 and 6:34 but who’s counting?). This was a PR by exactly FOUR minutes. That, to me, is insane. I finished 3rd in my division and 32nd overall.
But why was I able to do this? I believe that this was a perfect storm of proper training (MASSIVE hat tip to Jeff Kline, @coachprs) and the rapid recovery facilitated by natural running (forefoot/midfoot striking) by way of Newton. My legs, SHOULD have been dead from top to bottom. Instead I felt like I was just doing a fast tempo run.
It’s funny how many are calling “natural running” a fad or trend when, before forty years ago, it’s what we all did. Barefoot technique is what we did through millions of years of evolutionary history, so why did it all change when Mr. Bowerman decided to put a big-ass wedge of air-injected foam under our foot? Newton has been at the forefront of “natural running” since well before that term made it’s way into the vernacular of the running community. Look, I don’t work for Newton and they don’t ask me to write or say things like this, I do it because I want to. In my opinion, because of Newton and the natural running technique that they promote:
I AM A RUNNER.
Additional kudos to my bro-in-law C and mom-in-law K for running their first ever road race (the 2 miler). Also to my bro and sister-in-law A and K for making the early trip to run the 5 miler with the fam. Last but not least to my wife, Danielle, for finishing a 2 mile race while being 6 months pregnant!
This morning in New York City was one of those autumn days when the crisp air bites just enough to make you feel invigorated. It is the part of the year where the city seems somehow washed clean of the humid grit and grime that the summer brings.
So, it was an incredible canvas upon which to join the team from Newton Running for a clinic and group run in that stalwart of nature stuck squarely in the middle of the city, Central Park. We all met at The Boathouse at about 7 o’clock AM amidst runners getting in their last taper runs before the 40th running of the New York City Marathon on Sunday.
Once the group of about fifteen runners had assembled, Danny (Abshire, co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Newton Running) bid us all good morning and went on to, first and foremost, discuss exactly what “natural running” is. Among the assembled members of the Newton team were Jennifer Abshire (Danny’s wife), Erin Gehlsen, Pam Simich and Josh Cox (American Record holder in the 50K and super nice guy!).This was followed by a quick demonstration by Danny of proper form and technique. It still strikes me how everything he says is not some huge secret, but is quite simply common sense.
After Danny’s introduction we all set out for a quick three mile run around the bridle path that encircles The Reservoir. I have discovered, twice now, that The Boathouse is a fantastic meeting place, however upon leaving The Boathouse and heading North along East Drive, you immediately come upon what has come to be known to many a runner as the bane of their existence; Cat Hill. Today however, with a group of new friends and runners, the Cat was tamed without a problem. We then entered the bridle path loop at about East 85th Street. Now, when I spoke earlier about the time of year, I neglected to mention the brilliant colors the abound in Central Park. Entering the bridle path was like entering another world. We were surrounded by the brightly colored tree canopy as we all ran effortlessly through the park. The other runners on the path, including the occasional professional who came flying by, made the air ring with fresh excitement. Danny, Jennifer and Josh (the Newton crew accompanying us on the run) were so wonderful, and took the time to speak to everyone in the group, discussing everything from technique to the weather to Broadway shows! The wellspring of running knowledge was unparalleled and the kindness and caring with which it was dispensed was overwhelming.
As we wound our way through the trees and back to The Boathouse, it was the perfect end to a wonderful run. There were lessons learned, friends made and a good run had by all. Among those that came was Ty Garner. Ty was at the Newton clinic in the spring and also became and Ironman in Wisconsin with me in September. The next time Newton does a clinic and group run in your area, I cannot encourage you enough to go. It’s an awesome experience!
I am SOOOO excited! Once again, the Newton Running team will be heading to the Big Apple! They’re going to be here for the New York City Marathon which is being run next Sunday, November 1, 2009.
While they’re here, they wanted to spread the love to all of those who are die hard members of the Newton tribe and to all those who are curious to see what the Newton running philosophy and shoes are all about! If you wear other brands of shoes (or none at all!) come! For that matter, even if you’ve never heard of Newton, come on by!
Danny Abshire, co-founder of Newton, will be heading up a clinic in Central Park on Friday and Saturday morning, October 30 & 31. Danny will go over the Newton philosophy and technique and then we will all go on a group run in Central Park, where he and other members of the Newton team will give pointers and tips for improving your technique and form.
As an added bonus, they’re going to come bearing gifts! Each participant in the free clinic will be given a Newton Running hat!
If you have any questions regarding the event, please feel free to contact me by leaving a comment or click the CONTACT ME link above! If you’d like more information on Newton Running, check out these links:
After much waiting and procrastinating, I finally went today and purchased my frst pair of Vibram FiveFingers. I went with the KSO model and I cannot wait to get home to give them a shot on the second part of my run this evening! Here are the unboxing pics!
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This review comes from the site, My Running Doc. Please click the link to view the original article.
Product Reviews: Gear to Make You Faster?
As an award-winning foot and ankle surgeons and Ironman triathlete, I believe that innovative running products can help to make runners faster, train more effectively, stay injury free and have more fun. With a goal of providing reviews based on the opinions of an avid distance runner and biomechanics expert, we have established this section of our website. Dr. Segler and MyRunningDoc.com do not accept monetary contributions for reviewing products. We only provide reviews of products we believe have the potential to increase performance, help you enjoy an active lifestyle, and get the most out of life!
Newton Gravity Trainer Running Shoes
Newton Running Shoe Review
by Dr. Christopher Segler
Why I Decided to Write This Review
There are really two reasons I decided to write this review of Newton Gravity Trainer Running shoes. The first has to do with the fact that I am an award-winning foot surgeon and podiatrist who has chosen to limit my practice to elite, competitive and recreational athletes. For this reason, I get questions about running shoes from a lot of runners. I am frequently asked about “new trends in barefoot running” as well as about shoes like Newtons that reportedly create more of a barefoot-type running experience. I always prefer to answer such questions on the basis of scientific theory as well as personal experience.
The second reason is that I am an age-group Ironman triathlete who has aspirations of qualifying for Kona one day. So I have a very personal interest in discovering any and every way to increase my own biomechanical efficiency, decrease my risk of injury, and run faster. Newtons (in theory) should to do all three, so I thought I should give them a try.
First Impressions
As I opened the box and lifted my brand new Newtons from their tissue paper nest, the scent of new running shoes filled the air. And these shoes felt light as air themselves. I was extremely surprised to sense that these “trainers” actually felt quite a bit lighter than any other pair of running shoes I have ever owned. I also noticed the generous use of mesh in the uppers. While this certainly helps keep them light, I was also pleased because my feet are always hot. And in my shoes, there can never be too much cooling aeration.
In looking at the soles, the four forefoot lugs caught my eye. They protruded slightly more that the rest of the forefoot and heel. This, of course, is the business end of the Newton Running concept; where science meets the road, so to speak. It was obvious looking at the profile of the shoe, that the lugs should make it easier to land on the forefoot instead of the heel. I figured if these shoes don’t get me to land on the forefoot, nothing else will.
Science of Gimmic?
Naming your product after the Father of Physics creates a pretty big pair of shoes to fill. After all, the laws of physics set some pretty strict rules to follow. There is a section on the Newton Running website called “Newtonian Science.” Within that section is a distillation of the laws of physics that affect all runners. Basically, it describes the science without all of the cumbersome math usually associated with physics.
In a nutshell, running is all about energy. And there is only so much to get you from start to finish. You must use your energy to cover ground. If you land on your heel and slow down, you use up valuable energy in braking. If you then have to re-accelerate to get going again, you use up more energy. This leaves you with less energy to get you to the finish in good form.
The Newton Running “Active Membrane Technology” is part of the patented components of Newton Running shoes and is one of Newton’s proposed keys to stop wasting energy and thereby start running more efficiently and faster. By writing this review, I hope to determine whether or not this is true and if the shoes can actually live up to Sir Isaac’s name.
Expectations vs. Experience
I will have to admit that when I first read about Newtons I was skeptical. I understand that all energy lost in a running stride, in theory, could be harnessed and returned. But when I first heard this notion applied to the elastomeric lugs on Newton running shoes, I envisioned Wile E. Coyote with coiled bedsprings attached to his feet bounding down a desert highway in pursuit of the Roadrunner. But I put my imagination aside and decided to trust the voice of reason and experience.
When I first laced them up, I noted a perfect fit. As a men’s size 12.5, I seem to (more often than not) have trouble finding shoes that run true to size. For that reason alone, I am always sheepish about ordering shoes online. The Newton Running website claims that shoes should be ordered “true to size” and they were precisely that. Great fit!
Standing in my Newtons, the most perceptible difference (as compared to my old running shoes) was a slightly lower heel height. This, of course, is also by design. Its really partly a lower heel, but more a relative drop from the thicker lugs on the forefoot. But I realized that in order to run faster, more efficiently, and get to Kona, I would need to learn to more consistently avoid landing on my heels anyway.
The Right Shoe for My Foot Type
With the first few steps, the shoes felt soft and cushy. Given my high-arched “rectus” foot type (most often referred to as “neutral” or incorrectly termed “supinated”), I knew I would appreciate the give in these shoes.
For anyone with a rectus foot type, cushioning is key. The reason is because a person with a lack of pronation (the opposite of a “pronated foot” or flatfoot) simply cannot absorb impact effectively when the foot hits the ground.
One way to describe pronation is to say that it is the motion in the joints of the foot that absorbs energy as the arch collapses. But in my case, in a sense, the joints are locked. There is an absence of pronation during walking and running. This means higher impact and higher risk of injuries such as stress fractures, shin splints and some types of tendonitis.
How Newtons Might Help Me Run
The Newton Gravity Trainers have the potential to help lower my risk of injury in two ways. First, the lugs are soft and provide ample impact reduction to compensate for my biomechanical deficiencies in terms of using my joints to absorb energy through pronation (this is important). Second, they should be able to convert my running style to one that reduces the impact the road will deliver to my chasis (this is more important).
The highest impact that a runner can sustain is by landing on the heels. The higher the arches, the higher the impact. Every time the foot lands heel-first out in front of the runner, a braking force is applied by the foot and lower leg. This slows the runner. The energy loss is essentially converted to friction, heat and that pounding sensation hammering through your legs.
By contrast, when you land on your forefoot, the 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments work together to absorb that impact. By landing on the part of the foot that is by nature more flexible, the force is spread out and dissipated more naturally.
This is where the barefoot running concept comes in. It is well known that barefoot runners land on the forefoot and never on the heels. Landing on the heels is a learned behavior resulting from a lifetime of reliance upon shoes. Barefoot runners simply run more efficiently and should be at lower risk of injury.
But you cannot just go run barefoot and expect to become someone who has the running style of a life-time barefoot runner. First, the risk of injuries such as stress fracture and tendonitis is very high when running barefoot. Second, you still have to train the brain to restructure your stride to run “like” a barefoot runner.
The First Ride on My Newtons
With the first few strides I immediately noted something unusual. I was landing on my forefoot.
After reading the instruction card that says the goal should be to “land, lever and lift,” I assumed that I would have to put a lot of effort into landing on the forefoot, levering off of the lugs (without pushing off with my toes) and finally lifting my knees and feet. But in fact it was all very simple and natural.
I tried to focus on keeping a high cadence and short stride, leaning forward slightly at the ankles. And just like that, I was landing more consistently on my forefoot. The few times I landing on the heels, it felt rather unnatural. This is likely due to the excess stretch of the Achilles tendon. As promised, the shoes were gently keeping me off of my heels.
Break-in Time
Having gotten my new Newtons only a couple of weeks before Ironman Louisville, I knew I wouldn’t have time to adequately break them in before the race. These shoes require a slightly more conservative break-in period.
I wore my Newton’s for five runs of 2 miles before I tried anything longer. Then three miles, then four and so on. Before long I was out on the road for a 10 mile run. I am pleased to say that my first 10 mile run in the Newtons went very smoothly. I was relaxed and felt like I was moving well. And in fact I was. I can honestly report that it was the easiest 10 mile run I have had this year. Maybe it only felt that way because I had recently recovered from an Ironman, or maybe I am becoming a more efficient runner.
Overall Impression
I can say that for me personally, I believe Newton Gravity Trainers are proving to be a valuable training tool and are changing the way I run for the better. As an award-winning podiatrist and foot surgeon caring for athletes, I would recommended Newtons to any of my patients who have had a history of injury, or simply hope to run more efficiently. It seems the greatest benefit is, of course, for those demanding efficiency such as marathoners and Ironman triathletes.
At the time of this writing, I am doing all of my long runs, bricks and speed workouts with Newtons. No pain, no injuries and no complaints. I love my Newtons. In about six weeks I will apply the true test: Ironman Florida. I plan to run the race in them and will post a follow-up review to update you on my progress. With the changes I have seen thus far, I am fully expecting to set a substantial new run split personal record. Who ever said physics can’t be fun!
Dr. Christopher Segler
Award Winning Podiatric Surgeon
Stay Fit, Go Long, Run Fast, Be Strong!
www.MyRunningDoc.com
Disclaimer and Disclosure: This product review is meant to serve strictly as opinion and personal experience regarding the product described above. None of the content herein is meant to serve as medical advice, but is for informational purposes only. The opinions are exclusively those of the author and are not meant to necessarily represent those of Newton Running. The author of this product review is not affiliated with Newton Running, is not a shareholder in the company and has no relation to any stakeholder in the company.
This month, Newton Running released their latest trainer, the much anticipated, Sir Isaac and Lady Isaac Guidance Trainers. I have gotten lots of questions myself about this new shoe, but being that I have only ever seen them in person once and have only read about them, I thought it would be great to let the folks at Newton answer the questions about the details of the shoes themselves. I believe that this shoe, in particular, is a special one to highlight because it is a shoe aimed at individuals who would like to transition to forefoot running.
We’ve had some recent requests to post more information on the new Sir and Lady Isaac shoes that are now available on our website or from a specialty retailer near you. We’ll also be at the Virginia Beach Rock ‘n Roll marathon this weekend, Ironman Wisconsin Sept. 10-12 in Madison, and at the ING Distance Run in Philly Sept. 19-21. Come see us and try on a pair!
The newest addition to the Newton family offers intelligent control for all foot types. The Isaac is a neutral guidance trainer designed for runners committed to improving their running form to the more efficient midfoot/forefoot running style.
UPPER
Highly breathable, fast-drying, closed mesh
Slip-proof laces with heel-securing double eyelets
Lightweight ergonomic support strapping
Metatarsal stretch panels
Reflective logo and heel tab
MIDSOLE
Single-density, high rebound EVA that stabilizes all foot types
Second generation Action/Reaction Technology™ forefoot and heel
Midfoot/rearfoot support chassis for added stability
Beveled heel and toe
Met-flex enhanced forefoot flexibility
Enhanced sock-liner that increases energy return and protection
Accommodates orthotics
OUTERSOLE
Second generation durable, high traction actuator lugs
The debate rages on and on. Yet still, medical “experts” and shoe companies cannot produce anything that shows that over-stuffed running shoes do anything for you. And now the New York Times takes another look at the issue. One person quoted in the article, one Simon Bartold, an international research consultant for Asics, is quoted in the article as saying the barefooters, “are propagating a campaign of misinformation.” Really, Mr. Bartold? There is 2.5 millions years of research on the minimalist side, where’s yours? Click the link below to read:
Forgot to put this on the show, but a HUGE shout out to Kate and all the luck and ass kicking in the world this weekend in the America’s Finest City Half-Marathon this weekend in San Diego!!
If you’re reading this, you probably know that I am a big proponent of forefoot/midfoot running. Why, well because it’s the way we ran as children and the way we still do run now, if we would take off our shoes. Well, Toyota proves once again with it’s humanoid robot that forefoot/midfoot running is the only way to go!!
I’m not sure of the exact date when I discovered Newtons, but thanks to this site, I can tell you the first time I spoke about them on my show. It is BMP #16 at about 29 minutes in. From that point, much of the research I did on the shoes themselves was done away from Brandon’s Marathon. I did however, talk some about the technology of the shoe and how it works. I also encouraged people to go to their website rather than hear the information secondhand from me. I STILL encourage everyone to do this.
The first time I tried Newtons was in October in Richmond, Virginia when I was picking up my race packet for a sprint triathlon I was doing. The store where the pickup was located was also a Newton dealer. I asked and they happily allowed me to take a pair of trainers for a spin around the block. They were exactly what I was looking for and felt amazing. Before anyone suggests that they felt “amazing” because I wanted them to feel “amazing”, I made a promise to myself when I began this website that I would be as transparent with my audience as possible, sharing every feeling that I had (though not necessarily every event). I have kept that promise, and not in the way our government is “transparent”, rather, for real.
Due to the fact that Newtons do cost a bit more than many running, a fact which does not escape me or my wallet, I could not immediately get my hands on a pair. Also, I wanted to wait because at the time, Newton had announced a new, all-weather shoe, that would be more appropriate for running in New York City in the winter, which would not be shipped until the end of the year or early the following year. For my birthday (December 2) my father and stepmother gave me my first pair of Newtons (which wouldn’t be in my hands for a couple of weeks, but what can you do?)!
My Newtons arrived on December 15, 2008. I know it seems excessive that I know when they arrived, but again, thanks to this site I have a record. Before then, I had been slowly transitioning to forefoot for a while and my legs were more than ready. As luck would have it, I had a race about five days after getting my Newtons, however, Mother Nature intervened and dumped a ton of snow on the city and Central Park was a cold, slushy, snowy, icy mess, so I opted for my Vomero’s. With the exception of some extremely snowy or disgusting weather runs, that was the last time I would go Newton-less.
But, WHY did I switch? The answer to that question has a few layers. First, as I said earlier, I was blissfully unaware of what running actually was. For me it was something where I just went out and did it to lose weight or to look better, but now I was doing it because it was fun! Yes some of the long, boring mile remained long and boring, but they were not so laborious as before. Keep in mind that I did not all of a sudden get my Newtons and begin forefoot/midfoot striking, I had been doing it for a while in my existing shoes. Newtons, due to their minimal heel-toe drop (about 1/6 of an inch), allowed me to use a much more “piston-like” (up and down) action with my legs rather than having to force my toes down to overcome the giant wedge of my Nike’s.
Second; I wanted to go farther and longer. This part is less about Newtons, “the shoe” and more about the technique which they use and promote. Over time, I had come to discover, through trial, that forefoot running, with a shorter, more efficient stride, allowed me to go longer with minimal fatigue. It also allowed me to get up hills, where before I had to walk, I could now run up no problem. I know that this, again, may sound like a bit of, “hey mom! look how I can run faster and jump higher in my new shoes!!” syndrome, but again, this is NOT about the shoe, but about the technique that they promote. As I said before, I am not a small, lanky runner type of guy. I am tall and big and can bench-press about 275 lbs. (or could before I began trying to lean out for my Ironman). I have not had a single injury, save for ITBS which was existing, since running in Newtons. Not shinsplints, not plantar fasciitis, not knee pain, nothing.
Third; when you go to Newton’s website, you will notice that, while they are a shoe company, they are less about the shoes themselves and more about running healthy. On their YouTube channel, there are seven videos talking about the shoes themselves but EIGHTEEN videos that are about running technique and testimonials. In my experience this embodies what Newton is all about. They are taking a stake in the general health of the world around them and promoting running healthy, shoes or no shoes. When the guys from Newton came to New York this past June and did a running clinic, about half the people there were wearing Newtons and the other half not. While they definitely told us about their shoes a bit and why they were different, not ONCE did they say, “Now go buy our shoes!”.
I wear Newtons because they work for me. I wear Newtons because they promote a technique that I believe in. I wear Newtons because when I wear them, I’m not “getting through” a run, I’m just running! If you have never tried a pair, try them! What do you have to lose? If your shoes work for you and you have zero problems, don’t try them. But don’t knock it until you try it.
I don’t work for Newton, and everything I’ve said in the parts of this article are how I feel. When I run in my Newtons, or barefoot with the same technique, I feel alive. I feel like I want to run, not like I have to.
If I recall correctly, the first time I heard anything about forefoot/midfoot running was in an article in Men’s Health in 2006 in an article entitled, “The Men Who Live Forever”, by Christopher McDougall. Thus, it was quite something, when three years later Christopher McDougall became the first interview on my podcast for his book, Born to Run. The paragraphs in the article that caught my eye were:
One of Hartmann’s star clients, marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe, has been training in the Nike Free, a new, minimalist slipper designed to mimic the range of motion of a naked foot. Alan Webb, America’s best miler, also works out in the Free. Webb had been hobbled by foot injuries early in his career, but after he started barefoot exercises, his injuries disappeared, and his shoe size shrank, from a 12 to a 9. “My foot muscles became so strong, they pulled my arches up,” says Webb. “Wearing too much shoe prevents you from tapping into the natural gait you have when landing on the ground.”
Perhaps this was what I had witnessed while trying to keep up with Alejandro. Watching him run, I was surprised to find that instead of the long, galloping stride I’d expected, he never stretched out his legs at all. He kept his knees bent and his forefeet padding down directly under his body, as if he were riding an invisible unicycle.
“Exactly!” says Ken Mierke, an exercise physiologist and the creator of the barefoot-modeled Evolution Running technique. “That’s why they don’t get hurt.” Mierke believes there is a perfect, Tarahumara-like footstrike that can guarantee you will run longer and faster, and drastically reduce your chances of injury. The key is to stay off your heel and to use your leg as a pistonlike shock absorber.
“You wouldn’t jump off a ladder and land on your heels, right?” Mierke asks. “Same with running. If you land on your heel, your leg is straight, and the impact is smashing into one joint after the other. If you land on your forefoot, however, with the leg bent, it absorbs shock using elastic tissues instead of bone.”
A while later, I stumbled across an article in the New York Times from 2005 entitled, “Kick Off Your Shoes and Run Awhile”, funnily enough, also by Christopher McDougall. By that time, I was a few month into Brandon’s Marathon (both the site and podcast) and was sharing my trials and tribulations with an online audience. With both of McDougall’s articles fueling my curiosity, I took to the treadmill.
At first, I was landing much too far forward, literally on my toes. I was also attempting this new form of running in shoes that had all but taken away my ability to strike the ground with my forefoot due to the heel-toe drop (again, the difference in height between the heel and the toe). Even my first ungainly attempts at forefoot running, with my toes taking a beating and my feet WAY too far out in front of me, I could already feel what I was looking for, or rather didn’t feel. This was in September of 2008. You can hear me talk about all these discoveries in Brandon’s Marathon Podcast, Episode 16.
I was hooked.
I discovered, the hard way, that to change to a forefoot/midfoot technique takes time. Newton says this very clearly on their website. I had very sore calves and even a touch of achilles tendinitis. So, I slowed down and began to take my time, doing a little bit of forefoot running mixed in with my runs…which kept getting longer.
As soon as I heard about forefoot running for the second time, I began to Google it (as is the custom it seems). and THAT is when I found Newton Running.
A skeptic recently asked me, “Why did you switch to Newtons?”. If you’ve heard earlier episodes of Brandon’s Marathon Podcast, or if you’ve followed this site by reading many of my articles, then you have probably heard or read about my running evolution which brought me to Newton Running. Now, however, I am going to lay it out.
I was not a runner. This is a very important point, I feel because it gives perspective to how innocent and blissfully ignorant I was of running and all the trappings that come along with it. Yes, in high school I ran the mile like everyone else had to for the Presidential Physical Fitness program. Due to the fact that I was in insanely good shape from swimming (my sport of choice in which I was nationally ranked), I was able to get on the track for the mile and crank out a respectable 4:40. But, I was not a runner.
When I was in college, I stopped swimming on a team due to the fact that my school, VCU, did not have a team. I also discovered beer and loved it! This made for a not-so-great physique, which I did basically nothing to work on. I would lift fairly consistently, but this did little for my cardio health or weight loss.
After college (2002), I went to work as an apprentice artist with Virginia Opera (I am a singer, you see). Part of my job was touring around the state and giving concerts and recitals. This meant a great deal of time in hotels and a lot of eating out. Around Christmas of that year, I overheard someone at the opera house say that I was beginning to “look like a real tenor”. This was not a compliment. Tenors, well, most singers for that matter, have the well deserved reputation of being a little less than in shape. When I heard this statement, I knew something had to change. I weighed 240 lbs.
I began working out by getting on an elliptical machine because I believed, “my knees can’t take running”. I coupled the elliptical with some swimming (stick with what you know, right?) and lifting as well as watching my diet…sort of. I began to lose weight, coming down to a svelte 215 lbs. I think it is important to note that I am a heavily muscled person, and I’m 6′1″ so weight is relative. To give you an idea, in THIS picture, I weigh 201 lbs.
Eventually, I began to run a bit. In the summer of 2005, I was working at Santa Fe Opera and was living very close to the gym. So, I began to run on the treadmill about for about twenty minutes at a time. This was the first time I really “ran”. I think I was wearing some Reebok or Adidas shoe that I probably bought because it looked cool. My running kind of came and went for about the next year. In December of 2006, my wife (who is also a singer) and I were working in Osaka, Japan. We both got really excited about the then new Nike+ system and we each got a pair of Air Zoom Moire+. This is a very flexible, lightweight, slipper-like shoe. I began running in them quite a bit and they really felt great. However, my runs were always about two miles and rarely more than three. That’s about the point where my legs would begin to break down.
I kept up running pretty consistently, never pushing my body or trying to find out how to do more. Then in February of 2008, I was inspired and decided I was going to enter the lottery for the NYC Marathon (I won’t go into the details of all the races and things, please read older posts for that). At the same time, I had been running in the same shoes for what I was told was far too long. So, I went to Nike’s online store and chose a new pair of shoes. Because they were so narrow, these hurt my feet a lot (again, read older posts), so I exchanged them for a pair of Nike Air Vomero II’s. My reason for going with Nike was because it was what I knew, and it seemed to be working well enough.
The Vomero’s were literally like running on marshmallows. There was a HUGE heel-toe drop (height difference between the back and front of the shoe) which emphasized my heel strike which felt ok for a while because of the insane amount of heel cushioning. I also began increasing my distance, mostly on a treadmill, and then my knees showed up to the party and everything went to hell. I had it in my head that my knees were not built for running and that I would have to get through my marathon on muscle and will (which partly came true, but only due to injury).
Whether you think you’re a “heel-striker” or forefoot striker, this little video from the folks at Newton Running shows perfect technique. I posted it a while ago, but I think it is well worth revisiting!
Yesterday evening, at 5:30 on a particularly beautiful day here in New York City, a group of runners met at The Bosthouse in Central Park. We were meeting with the common interest, not only of running, but of running smart and running healthy. The vehicle through which this took place was Newton Running.
We were met by Danny, Ian and Ian. Danny, being one of the founders of Newton was not only INCREDIBLY in touch with his product (obviously), but is one of the foremost experts on running in the world today. With the help of the Ian’s, Danny explained in very clear terms the theory and technique behind using the Newtons to further proper running technique. What was of great advantage was the fact that what Danny was explaining is not some revolutionary concept that ad piles upon piles of numbers to digest, but rather, was simply common sense and utilizes our true “natural” running technique.
After we met, we went up to a part of the park where there was a traffice turn around (fortunately with no traffic) so that we could run around the circle to nail down the technique. One of the FIRST things we did was TAKE OFF OUR SHOES! I think it is important to note, to the Newton skeptics out there, that 1. Not everyone was wearing Newtons. and 2. They explained the technique WAY before the technology.
We then went on a short group run on the bridle path (not too sure how far) and during the run, the Newton crew was taking the time to look at our strides one at a time and gives us tips and encouragement. They also were more than happy to answer any questions that we had.
I will go more into detail about some of the things we discussed on next week’s show, but for now, suffice it to say that if Newton is EVER in your area you should go talk to them. In the meantime, I will be putting up videos every day (if I can remember) that come from Newton themselves. If you would like to explore more about Newton, please visit their site, or feel free to ask me any questions if that is easier for you and I can pass them along. However, they are extremely accessible and I’m sure would be hapy to help out with anything you may want to know!!
For my part, I would like to say thank you so very, very much to everyone from Newton!! If you guys EVER want to do another thing in NYC, you can count on me to drum up as many people as I can get my hands on!!
Thanks so much for visiting my site! My name is Brandon Wood and I am an opera singer living and trying to make it in New York City. This site and podcast follow my adventures on the way to competing in and training for all kinds of endurance events, especially triathlon and running. Click the "About Me" tab for more info!
Join the forum discussion on this post
The debate rages on and on. Yet still, medical “experts” and shoe companies cannot produce anything that shows that over-stuffed running shoes do anything for you. And now the New York Times takes another look at the issue. One person quoted in the article, one Simon Bartold, an international research consultant for Asics, is quoted in the article as saying the barefooters, “are propagating a campaign of misinformation.” Really, Mr. Bartold? There is 2.5 millions years of research on the minimalist side, where’s yours? Click the link below to read:
