Shoe Review – Courtesy of Apex Sports, Farnham Common
The Newton Gravity
Background
Newton Running shoes were launched in the UK in the autumn of 2008. There are constant developments in running shoes design and while the majority of running shoes focus on cushioning and stability around the heel the Newtons are very different. They encourage you to land more towards the midfoot and forefoot by placing a raised lug under the ball of the foot and having a very minimal heel to the shoe.
The principle behind the shoe is to recreate a ‘more natural’ foot strike. By impacting on the forefoot, the foot lands underneath the body, with a slightly bent leg. This makes a lot of sense because more force is exerted backwards helping to propel the body forwards. The majority of quicker runners land on the mid to forefoot and if you take off your shoes and run barefooted you will land a lot more on your forefoot than your heel.
The Running Experience
My first run in the shoes felt rather odd at first but as the run progressed began to feel better. The next day my calves and achilles were very tight! I decided to have a rest day and ease into wearing the Newtons more gradually as is suggested. The next day I ran for 20 minutes in the shoes and then changed back into my normal shoes for the next 20 minutes. After a couple of weeks of running in the shoes they began to feel a lot more natural and I really started to enjoy wearing them. I’ve continued to wear the Newtons, alternating them with a couple of other pairs of shoes.
Verdict
I’ve really liked the Newtons and intend to get another pair in the future. I found them particularly good on quicker pace runs and longer speed sessions. Moreover, I feel they have helped to change my running style slightly. When wearing other shoes, I feel I am running more on my forefoot than before.
However, initially you do have to be careful how long you wear them for as they do put a lot more strain on your calves and achilles. This is probably different for different people. Craig Alexander wore the shoes for the marathon at the end of the Hawaiian Ironman.
Conclusion
As much as I like the shoes, I wouldn’t want to have them as my only running shoe. I think for a lot of runners, a pair of Newtons alongside a more ‘conventional’ shoe would be a good combination, but for some runners the shoes might not be suitable at all. If you have spent a long time running landing heavily on the heel, it could be a very big change to move to landing on the forefoot.
In terms of improving running style and preventing some injuries the shoes make a lot of sense. If you gradually build up the length of time you wear them, they give something quite different to other running shoes.
Matt Whiting – Apex Sports