|
http://www.yourrunning.com/forum-how_not_to_heel_strike#comment-4597 Simon says: [the Newton Shoes website doesn't] exactly issue a formal "disclaimer", but having spent hours with Danny and several hours in the retail shop, I know for sure they make it clear to people that ...The FIRST section, headlined, "The Shoes" says things a bit more clearly, "Newton Running shoes were designed by runners for runners to mimic the advantages of barefoot running. "Whether training or racing, Newton Active Membrane Technology™ provides greater shock absorption, greater energy return while promoting the natural and more efficient forefoot strike of barefoot running." (My emphasis.) If you then get into the actual description of the shoes and click on the link that says "...With Newtons, you have to break into the shoes", you will get to this statement: "While running in Newton shoes, your feet will sense the ground faster and you will want to strike the ground with the actuator lugs. Right away you won't feel the need to land on your heel. If you already run with a mid-foot or forefoot strike you will notice that you are on and off the ground quicker with less harsh impact and greater forward propulsion. The faster you run the more you notice the benefits of Newton. "Newton Running shoes will promote a change in running form, so your body may need time to adjust. You may have sore muscles in areas you were not utilizing before. From our wear testing program we have had runners who needed no time to adapt to runners who required 2 to 3 runs (1 weeks time) to get acquainted with the technology." I told Danny Abshire that I'd half-jokingly told you to send the shoes back, and he said: "By all means have him send them back. They do not work overnight for people who are heel strikers. It takes up to 20 miles of short runs to break into the shoes. If people are not willing to do the break-in and change form they will never get better. You may tell him he could run up to 30 miles and still return them for a full refund after that since he has not run in some time." You're dead right when you say "I think that for a lot of us (Simon mentions millions of fore-foot runners - that leaves several billion of us other folk) the most effective style isn't always the most efficient style.." Dave Albo's comment, which supports this view, also bears repeating: "I study form pretty obsessively. Lots of the elite runners are more forefoot, but not all. Jen Rhines lands really flat, but boy can she motor along!" | |
| Tags: | |
|
|
Are Newton Running shoes right for you? |
|
|
