All my Twitter “tweeps” (@TRIPHX) know I’m a big fan of Newton Running shoes, I tweet about them all the time. I’ve also converted a handful of friends (including @jasoncwarner) as well as at least one awesome runner I “met” on Twitter, Steve Speirs (@britishbulldog). Steve’s blog is Runbulldogrun.com, and aside from being faster than I can ever hope to be, he’s also the author of the book “7 Weeks to 100 Push Ups”.
I also have a Newton Running Shoe Review on this blog; when I started with these shoes they were (in my opinion) a little-known niche shoe company that made a great – albeit unique – running shoe. I figured I’d give my review of the first few runs and maybe a race or two and that’d be the end of it. Little did I know that they would be instrumental in changing my running life, and I’d still be wearing, tweeting and blogging about Newton Running Shoes!
Currently I’m on my third pair of Newton Running shoes, and I bought a pair of Motis Trainers (on sale!). They are “stability” shoes, and a bit stiffer than the Gravitas and Distancia models that I’ve bought in the past. So far, Gravitas are my overall favorite.
About a week ago, something interesting happened during a lunchtime run; intense knee pain that forced me to stop running. I’ve had some knee pain here and there, but never like this. It felt like a burning under my knee cap and the concussion from every footfall sent a spike of pain up from my right knee. I stretched and tried to run some more, but 3-4 strides later I was out of action. I was a little scared because I really don’t want to take time off from running. I’ve got a few tris and marathons coming up and have big plans for this summer (more to come soon). So, I actually did something “smart” and stopped running… Wait, no I didn’t. I took my shoes off and ran barefoot on the grass and what do you know; the knee pain didn’t get any worse. I’d been reading articles about barefoot/forefoot running and didn’t realize that I was “cheating” my form in my Newtons!
Newton Running Shoes are made to promote a proper forefoot strike — and reward you when you land properly on your forefoot (look at the red lugs on the bottom of the shoe above). Those lugs help absorb and return energy — and they really work. Unfortunately, there’s just enough foam cushioning in the heel of the Newton Trainers that you can let your form slide and start heel striking and “get away with it”. It finally caught up to me in my Runner’s Knee; and that’s no bueno.
I used the knee pain as a wake-up call; I need to work on my optimal running form and get back on my forefoot. I’m doing this (2) ways: Running barefoot in the grass for my lunchtime runs on odd days and alternating my speedwork and longer runs on even days on the roads in my Newtons. I’m actually getting used to my Newtons all over again and my calves are getting a heck of a workout. The good news is I’m getting faster on my forefoot and my calves are strengthening. I think it’ll take about a month of retraininig my muscle memory before I’m back to 20-milers. 