Newton Running Shoes, Part 1

Newtons! I decided to give the Newton running shoes a shot. After my transformation to a forefoot runner, I have tried several different pairs of shoes in my quest to find the right ones for me. I am a bigger triathlete, I usually run 205-210lbs during the season. The lightweight flats that I was running in, did not give me any protection from rocks etc. I wanted something with a little more protection, not necessarily more padding. Lots of padding in the heal does not serve forefoot runners well, and simply weighs down the shoe. I bought the Cushion Racers for $154 from a local tri shop. I think that they look great, but some people may find them a little on the "bright" side. The shoes came with the mesh shoe bag shown in the picture.



Out of the box they feel light, not bulky like a normal running shoe. The quality appears to be top notch, and I particularly like the full body mesh they chose. It will allow your feet to breath nicely on those long, hot runs.







Note the red actuator lugs. These are the real science behind the shoes. They claim to have up to 58% energy return when compressed.



These are the insoles that came with the shoes. They are made by Custom Insoles, which oddly enough was no longer a valid website when I went to the url on the insole. I am not sure if they are out of business or no longer affiliated with Newton. Regardless, they are lightweight and comfortable. The waffling on the bottom is supposed to develop an "active imprint" of your foot over time, for a custom fit.





After a short warm up, I went on a 2.5 run around the block. Newton recommends only running 2-3 miles at a time over a week period to allow your body to break in to the shoes. Yes, it's not the other way around. During the run the shoes felt great. They definitely push your feet in to a more mechanically correct running position. I could feel the actuator lugs absorbing the foot impact nicely, and they give you the sensation that they are pushing your feet back off the ground. The best analogy I can give would be that of a bouncing ball.

The run went well, and to my surprise my calves are a little sore. I was trying to stay true my Pose technique and not push off with my calves. I suspect it is simply a more aggressive foot position than I am used to, and it undoubtedly will put more pressure on your calves when they absorb the impact.

Overall I was pleased with the Newton's and the run in general. I will be following up this review with Part 2 once I get some more time in them!

You can find out more information about the Newton running shoes at www.newtonrunning.com.

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