Article by Jonathan Hammond
At the beginning of my winter training this year, I started training with a new Triathlon Coach who wanted me to change my running style from heel striker to forefoot running. He said it would increase my speed and running efficency, and reduce my risk of injury. I was apprehensive at first and questioned his judgement. I’d struggled with a left shin splint injury for the past 3 years and had gone to a lot of expense to get special orthotics and the right running trainers to try and ward off this recurring injury. But, I was still finding it hard to run longer distances without my shin splint (left tib post to be precise) flaring up, so I decided to give forefoot running a go.
“I went out for my first run in my new Newtons in January and haven’t looked back since.”
At first, I found it really hard to run on my forefoot without my heels dropping so my coach suggested that I invest in pair of Newtons, initially as a training aid. He told me that the Newtons would ‘put me up’ onto my forefoot and help me to progress from heel striker to forefoot runner. I’d also heard the buzz about Newtons on the Triathlon circuit and decided to find out what all the fuss was about. £120 later and I was sporting a pair of lightweight orange and white Newton Distance S trainers, a far cry from my bulky motion control Asics running shoes (also £100 plus shoes).
I went out for my first run in my new Newtons in January and haven’t looked back since. It felt really strange running in the Newtons for the first couple of runs and to be honest I didn’t think I was going to get on with them at all but then the Newton ‘magic’ kicked-in. I started to hit the Newton ’sweet-spot’ with every footstrike and felt my feet springing off the ground as I landed on the red lugs directly under my forefoot. The video below from the Newton site really helped me get this right.
My heels had stopped hitting the ground altogether and more to the point I hadn’t felt a single twinge in my shins because with forefoot running my ankles weren’t ‘collapsing’ and causing stress on my shins – a total revelation that neither physio, orthotic or fully supported state-of-the-art running trainers had managed to rectify. But, in the back of my mind I was wondering how long this Newton love affair was going to last. I’d only been doing shorter runs to ease my calves into handling the extra workload they needed to do with the new forefoot running style and was unsure if I, or the Newtons, were going to able to handle longer distance runs.
Then my coach asked me to start coming to track sessions for speedwork and wanted me to only run forefoot. He didn’t mind what running trainers I ran in as long as I was running forefoot. Naturally, my Newtons were my firm favourite and they joined me on our first track session together and wow what a difference they made! I was running 73 second 400s, which for me was unheard of. I still had a way to go to get my forefoot technique totally right but I was clocking speeds that I could only put down to my Newtons. Even with the red lugs under the forefoot, I could ‘feel’ the ground so much more under my feet than in my old clumpy running trainers. I found myself actually looking forward to track sessions. Insane I know but you’ll know what I mean when you feel the effect the Newtons have on your running when you strike on that red lug ’sweet-spot’.
After a few months on the track and some shorter steady runs on the road, I decided to progress to long distance road running with my new forefoot running style and Newtons. I’d been running in my Newtons for about 5 months now and they’d definately been working hard on the track surface. I did a 10K run on the road and something didn’t feel right. My coach was with me and took a look at the sole of my Newtons and saw that the outer red lugs had worn right down and therefore I was starting to find it hard to strike the ground evenly with my forefoot. It was time for a new pair. Looking back over my training log, I’d done over 500km in my Newtons, with a large proportion of that being speedwork on the track so it was little surprise that they’d had their day.
I’m now the proud owner of my second pair of Newtons and this time they’re red and white MOTUS (Motion) stability trainers. They’re designed to last longer as a training shoe than my previous Newton Gravity trainers, which i’ve subsequently found out are designed to be more of race shoe and not quite as durable.
My New MOTUS Newtons
A few months in with my second pair of Newtons and I’ve really been putting the road miles in, and all forefoot running. As for the shin splints, I haven’t felt a thing, even on the long distance runs when I find my heels can start to collapse slightly as the calves get tired. I recently logged a steady 16 miles long distance run and apart from sore muscles didn’t feel the slightest twinge in my shin… so I guess I can say that my Newton love affair has now become a fully fledged relationship and they come out with me on practically every run. I say practically because every so often I do put on a pair of lightweight Asics Gel DS-trainers to double check that I’m not dependant on the Newton lug technology to run forefoot. I definately tire quicker and use more energy wearing my Asics than in my Newtons but now forefoot running is the running style for me.
For anyone wanting to go from heel striking to forefoot running, in the words of my coach, I would definitely advise steady ‘progression’ and not going out for long distance runs until your calves have acclimatised to the additional workload they take on with forefoot running. As for deciding whether or not to invest in a pair of Newtons, I can only say that for me the proof have been in the results. I have consistently posted quicker times running in my Newtons compared to running in other trainers.
Back in the day when I was running at school (the 70s), I knew nothing about running technique and certainly knew nothing about what Running Trainers to wear. At school, I ran cross country and track races in a pair of tired Hi-Tech tennis shoes, the only trainers I owned apart from some trusty old Converse blues. I wonder what times I would have posted running forefoot in a pair of Newtons…
Rating: 10/10
Pros: We’ve found the Newtons to be a great lightweight running trainer for forefoot/midfoot runners and those looking to transition from a heel striking running style to a forefoot/midfoot running style.
Cons: They’re not a cheap running trainer.
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Hello,
Great review and thanks for the insight. I think I am going to make the switch as well. My next shoes first of the year will be Newtons. One question: what type of pronation do you have and have you felt that the Newtons have influenced a change in it?
Thanks much!
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