Comments on: Natural Running Symposium Recap

By: The Running Couple

The Running Couple — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:12:00 +0000

I was just reading about your brand. Super cool shoes and I love your company’s approach to running! Can’t wait for them to hit the market.

By: Altra Running

Altra Running — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 23:08:00 +0000

Just found your post. Got to visit Luke’s Locker this past week during The Running Event. Sounds like there was some great content covered. There is a big push in this Natural Running movement and I am excited to be part of an innovative company that is taking part of it as well. Altra Running is all about Run Natural and the approach to getting to natural biomechanics. http://altrarunning.com

By: Lori Atkins

Lori Atkins — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:39:25 +0000

Great summary Isis. MY sweetie and I have had this conversation many times. I have run in Newtons for 3 years. At first I was a real heel striker so I had a lot of bio-mechanical issues to resolve. Now I use my fivefingers in the gym and I run in my Newtons. I love my stylish nikes for kicking around.

By: Lori Atkins

Lori Atkins — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:39:00 +0000

By: Isis

Isis — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:04:36 +0000

It was a great event! Newton put on a very informative and relative
event for runners of all skill levels. I was so impressed that I ended
up buying the Newton Neutral Racers. Same pair for three years? That's
awesome!

By: Sand Sock Girl

Sand Sock Girl — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:19:28 +0000

Hmm I missed the event. How was it? Have been using Newton for more than 3 years and it's the best shoes for me so far!

By: Boston Natural Running Symposiums | The Running Front

Boston Natural Running Symposiums | The Running Front — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:53:03 +0000

[...] first Natural Running Symposium in Dallas was a huge success (read about it here and here) and now we’re bringing the roadshow east to Boston. Next Friday, March, 19 at 6 p.m. [...]

By: Mark Cucuzzella

Mark Cucuzzella — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:20:13 +0000

Running Couple,

It was a pleasure to visit Dallas, meet many nice folks, and run the KATY trail.
Was sent this nice article from friends at Newton. I gave the medical part of the talk and can comment on Bill's post related to Chi Running and Newton's. Yes if you have good landing patterns you will have similar impact forces on the ground with whatever shoe you wear (or not wear). I too have tested similar on a treadmill in various shoes to what is called the Vertical GRF...this is impact ON the treadmill. A nice midfoot strike gives a hump, a heel strike gives a large spike and another larger force to reaccelerate.
The difference with proper and complimentary footwear is the ground's effect ON your body....what forces go upstream. Recent published articles show greater torque at knee and hip when heels are elevated. In my own tests there were differences too and more importantly, outside of what the graphs show, I could feel a big uncomfortable difference in heel lift shoes.
More level shoes allow the use of natural elastic recoil in foot, achilles/calf, hip flexors.
When folks have sore calves they likely are still pushing off too much....so practice and transition gradually. I highly suggest reading and practicing Chi running as well as viewing the videos and education on Newton's Website. These are highly complementary. I've done 2 studies on ChiRunning which are summarized in an education file on www.freedomsrun.org - go to the "running education ppt" linked from the training box on the home page. Lots of good footwear and Newton info in there too.

All the best
Mark Cucuzzella MD

By: Erika Beth, the Messy Chef

Erika Beth, the Messy Chef — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:04:52 +0000

I just got another pair of Newtons last night in NYC because I'd run over 300 miles on my old ones. The guys at the store said they knew people who had used their Newtons for 700 miles! I didn't believe it. Reading your post confirmed that it IS true. However, putting on the new pair was like heaven to my feet and legs and I don't plan on using my old ones for much longer. Every runner is different, so don't buy a pair thinking they will last you 700 miles. However, I've used Newtons for the past 2 years and would marry my shoes if I could! They are WONDERFUL!

By: Bill Reid

Bill Reid — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:18:36 +0000

Thanks for this great recap. Here is a link to the chirunning blog where Danny shows some tests comparing barefoot heelstrike to barefoot forefoot strike and then he shows a test where he runs in tai chi shoes ( basically barefoot ) and two types of NB's, one made for chirunning and another standard shoe and all 3 have the same force on impact. He attributes this to his ChiRunning technique. I think all 3 of the current rages, ChiRunning/Pose Running, netwons and barefoot/vibram's all share a common thread about trying to land and distribute the impact across the whole foot and not just the heel or toes. The problem for some runners mainly heel strikers and those without a neutral stride is trying to transition to a more natural way of running while maintaining our current training levels without getting injured. I know both newtons and vibram both recommend a gradual transition to their products, but I think what would be better is a transition strategy. I would be interested in the newtons, but from what I've seen from others trying these out are ankle injuries and Achilles problems. The newtons are more appealing to me due to the lugs that supposedly assist in the pushoff phase.
I currently run in a Brooks Beast for long runs / Adrenalines for races/track work. The Beasts have an angle of 8degrees which is not bad, I haven't been able to find the angle for the Adrenalines but I think its about the same. So for me what I would like is to know how to get from the 8 degrees to the Newtons 1-3 degrees without reducing volume and risking injury. I don't think running in the Newtons 1 or twice a week for low mileage is that great of an idea for a triathlete like myself who only runs 3 times a week. I would however consider switching to a shoe like the Beast with a 6 degree angle then after a year to a 4 degree shoe then after a year to the newtons, but not all shoe companies list there heel to toe angles. Also and I think more importantly is people really need to work on their pronation/suppination problems before switching, another gradual shift.
What the ChiRunning technique preaches is that running correctly with proper form is more important than what shoe you wear. If you are running neutral with a whole foot strike you can wear any shoe without getting injured. But once again you have to get there gradually from your current form. So Getting your form assessed and making slight adjustments should be everyone's first step.
I am very impressed with newton and would love to try their shoes, I'm just not ready to shell out the money until I can get closer to where I need to be to run in them injury free. There is just so much going on out there and with every side having something to gain from their products its hard to get a clear picture.
Sorry this got so long. thanks again for the great recap