Do These Shoes Make My Feet Look...Fast?

Running is cheap.  Relatively speaking.  As a sport.  No fancy equipment to buy or maintain.  No gym membership necessary.  No costly greens fees or club memberships.  Just clothes and shoes. 

The clothing is pretty simple.  You want fabric that wicks moisture away from your body.  It may not matter so much for a tool around the block, but log three or four hours in the summer in Tennessee and this becomes vital.  Gloves and a hat or ear band are essential in the colder months.  Even as body heat builds, your extremities will be the last to benefit.  I have run many times in a tank and gloves.  If you are persistent enough to run in the rain, a rain jacket with hood that allows for sweat evaporation is also extremely helpful.  And, at the risk of being a wee bit too personal, girls will want a really good sports bra.  Trust me on this.

The shoe element of the equation gets a little more complicated.  There are several schools of thought here.  For a number of years, the prevailing opinion has been the more padding, cushioning, support, gel, air, etc.... the better.  But recently, doctors and running coaches have begun to challenge this way of thinking and to point out that the rise in running injuries has closely paralleled the increase in padding and manipulation of the foot. 

Enter the barefoot runner.  Obviously, people have been running barefoot since humans have inhabited the earth.  But, as compelling evidence mounts for the benefits of trusting the natural suspension and strength built into the foot itself, ordinary runners are beginning to embrace a more minimalist approach. 

The shoe industry is quickly reconfiguring to accommodate this new approach.  If you wish to embrace the barefoot philosophy but still keep some sort of insulation under your foot, you now have a number of options.  Nike has introduced the Free (and some really creative marketing to go along with) and Mizuno the Wave Universe.  These are stripped back, bare bones shoes that give more freedom of movement while still cushioning and protecting.

The most popular entry in the "barefoot shoe" game is the Vibram Five Finger shoe.  To be fair, Vibrams have been around for a while.  Climbers and divers were the principal target audience in the beginning.  But, runners find in these glove-like shoes the perfect compromise; allowing all 26 bones in the foot to do their job of supporting and adjusting, while providing a protective layer between runner and ground. 

I love my Vibrams and am using them for all my shorter training runs.  They definitely required an adjustment period, but I love that they are strengthening muscles in my feet and legs that had heretofore been neglected.  I believe my running posture and technique are greatly improved as a result.  I had harbored hopes of running my next marathon in them, but the adjustment has taken longer than I anticipated. 

My two "newest" pairs of running shoes both have more than 300 miles on them.  So, a few weeks ago I began the search for my Disney Marathon shoe.  Because I have begun to dream of running a Boston qualifying time this next year, I was all about speed.  I did a good bit of research, visiting pose and chi running sites, reading Runner's World reviews, and checking out runner's forums.    Somewhere in the midst of all this, I ran across a company I had never heard of before.  I was immediately intrigued by their unique concept.  I started reading everything I could find on them, and found it nearly impossible to locate an unfavorable review.

Newton Running is named for Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion.  Their exclusive action-reaction technology is revolutionary.  It is a company created by runners.  The shoes are finding their most loyal following in the Iron-man and ultra-marathon families.  I confess I was less than enthusiastic about the Mardi Gras colors...until I found the pink ones.  They are so pretty. :)

The company recommends that you allow yourself to adjust gradually to the shoes.  I have to say that they feel quite a bit different than any shoe I have ever worn.  There is very little padding in the back of the shoe so the front is actually higher than the back.  Though this seemed awkward at first, it felt fine by the second run.  Also,  because they are designed to accommodate and support fore-foot running they may require the use of muscles you haven't used before.  My Vibram training is probably helping me here.  I began with a 3 mile get acquainted run last Monday.  I found myself automatically running faster.  My legs felt fresh and strong at the end of the run, though my heart was begging for mercy.  I used them for 4 miles of my 20 mile run on Wednesday, 6 miles on Friday and 7 on Monday.  Thus far I am very pleased. 

My training plan from here out is to continue using my Vibrams for my 5-6 mile training runs and to use both the Newtons and my old Asics for long runs, increasing the mileage in the Newtons til I am using them exclusively.  I'll let you know how it works out...

Comments

[Tyler]

Very interesting! Thanks for the insight into the world of running. An enjoyable read fo sho. :)

[Michael Hyatt]

I bought some Newtons last year, but I haven't worn them for a while. Your post motivates me to try them when I am not running in my Vibrams. You are such a hopeless gadget-girl. I love that! ;-)

[Rhonda]

Very cool looking!

[Jen]

I don't know about fast but you sure look pretty! :)