I was at Road Runner Sports yesterday, while I was there I asked about Newton running shoes, as they seem to be the favorite of many triathletes/runners. The sales guy told me he tried them for 3 miles, was sore for 2+ weeks and gave them away. I tried one shoe on and walked all of three steps, it was definitely different.
My question, is there a reason I should make the switch if I’m doing ok with the Asics Nimbus. IF I do make the switch, can I cycle my running shoes (between Asics and Newton) until I get completely comfortable with forefoot running or will that completely screw me… Thanks!
Are you injured a lot? What is your reason for wanting to “switch” to forefoot running, other than it’s the fad of the moment? How you you know you aren’t already a mid/forefoot runner?
I have been running in Newtons now for about 4 years and really love them. Several of my training friends have tried them and had issues and stopped running with them. My main training partner love his and have helped him run with much fewer stress injuries.
It seems you either love them or hate them and at least with my experience I had to work into them slowly to get used to them. Anyone that is not interested in working into them might not have the patience to see the benefits. For me personally they allow me to run with much less fatigue to my knees, hips and legs and run about 10-15 seconds faster per mile pace. You can try alternating between Newtons and your regular run shoes to break in slowly…worth a try.
I routinly switch back and forth between two different Asics models and two different Newton models with out any ill effects. Newtons are different then Asics, but some folks are running well in Krocks and flip flops. You really will not know unless you try them. Tim
I was at Road Runner Sports yesterday, while I was there I asked about Newton running shoes, as they seem to be the favorite of many triathletes/runners. The sales guy told me he tried them for 3 miles, was sore for 2+ weeks and gave them away. I tried one shoe on and walked all of three steps, it was definitely different.
My question, is there a reason I should make the switch if I’m doing ok with the Asics Nimbus. IF I do make the switch, can I cycle my running shoes (between Asics and Newton) until I get completely comfortable with forefoot running or will that completely screw me… Thanks!
Well you don’t want to buy them and then go bust out 3 miles right away. Newton even tells you that. The sales guy is a moron.
Should you try em? Sure. Follow the directions that come with the shoe. They will change they way you run. Whether that’s good, who knows? They worked for me.
I don’t use them anymore (too much shoe) but they helped me transition from heel striking in Nimbus to midfoot striking in my current k-Swiss kwicky blade lights. I also can run pretty good barefoot (as in nothing on my feet (it irritates they shit out of to have to clarify that)).
BTW, I’m 6’2 and weigh 195 lbs and I do not recommend that anyone run barefoot.
I started wearing them…very different but I love mine! Just give them a try…the main thing I did was to wear them around for about 2 weeks before I ran in them!
Are you injured a lot? What is your reason for wanting to “switch” to forefoot running, other than it’s the fad of the moment? How you you know you aren’t already a mid/forefoot runner?
Don’t fix what isn’t broken.
John
Honestly, I’ve never seen a shitty runner wearing Newtons. I’m a shitty runner, so I think if I wear these I’ll magically fall in love with running and be “road runner” fast, but I know becoming a good runner is training, training, training and form!! Not the shoe. So I think I just answered my question. Speaking of training, I better get my ass to the coast for my run. At least while I’m suffering in misery, I get to watch a beautiful sunset. So, I guess running isn’t all that horrible
I’ll probably buy a pair anyway, give them a try…you never know.
I run in Newtons and love them. I ran in Saucony for a long time and actually decided to change my running “style” while still in Saucony. My calves were sore for weeks until they became accustomed to the new form of running. I switched to Newtons without having to go thru any kind of break-in period. I was having alot of foot pain in minimalist shoes and that went away with the Newtons. I also get about twice as many miles out the Newtons than I did in the Kinvaras so they are cost effective.
Are you injured a lot? What is your reason for wanting to “switch” to forefoot running, other than it’s the fad of the moment? How you you know you aren’t already a mid/forefoot runner?
Don’t fix what isn’t broken.
John
Honestly, I’ve never seen a shitty runner wearing Newtons. I’m a shitty runner, so I think if I wear these I’ll magically fall in love with running and be “road runner” fast, but I know becoming a good runner is training, training, training and form!! Not the shoe. So I think I just answered my question. Speaking of training, I better get my ass to the coast for my run. At least while I’m suffering in misery, I get to watch a beautiful sunset. So, I guess running isn’t all that horrible
I’ll probably buy a pair anyway, give them a try…you never know.
I’ll tell you why they magically “work” for some people. Those people already were mid to forefoot strikers naturally, and these shoes fit that kind of a run. My comment about fad of the moment is the “gotta be a mid/forefoot striker” and people assuming they aren’t so they grab onto chi/pose/vibram/newton. You probably aren’t a “shitty” runner, you’re probably just a typical person that doesn’t have years of run background to fall back on. Nothing says you can’t try them, just don’t expect them to replace consistent training.
I have been running in newtons for over 3 years and love them. When i got my first pair, I broke them in slowly. Started with 10mins per run for the first week, then added 10min per week until I built up to over an hour. Basically, I went out for my runs in my asics, then came back, switched and finished up my runs in the newtons. It was annoying, but I never had any issues.
Check out the newtonrunning.com website. It discusses how to break them in. Also, if you have any questions or concerns, the customer service is amazing.
Hughly recommend giving them a try. Newtons have been fantastic for me. It takes time to transition (your calf muscles will be sore!) and you need to start with low mileage but IMO, worth the effort.
The shoes helped me transition from terrible heal striker to more effecitent mid foot strike form, and I have had way less injuries since the change. I also like them more than other minimalist shoes I have experimented with since making the original change to Newtons.
I wore mine for over a year and really liked them. I did notice that I was running faster and was feeling good in them, but after a year I started having an achillies problem anytime I used them. No idea why but I switched away from them after that.
I am thinking about giving them a try too. I have been wearing Kwickys, Blade Lights, K-Ruuz and Kinvaras but keep hearing these amazing things about the shoes so I want to test them out myself. The price is steep but now that they are doing their 60 trial I am going to jump on them. If I decide I don’t like them no biggie. Where before I didn’t want to test them out because if I didn’t like them I’d be down like $170.
ive been running in them for two years and love em. was running in brooks. always felt odd trying to get over the heal/ toe drop. im naturally a mid foot striker, so the transition for me was almost non-existent. i particularly like the fact that late in a long run (past mile 15) they dont feel like they break down the way a traditional EVA shoe does. all in all, they are a solid, well made shoe.
but like has been said before, people seem to either love them or hate them.
My wife is a midfoot striker. She wore Brooks Adrenaline for years. I insisted she try Newtons as I thought they’d better suit her running style. She’s been running in them for nearly a year. I even bought her some Hokas, which I love, but she’s gone back to Newtons.
