The shoe was put into an acid test today, after I ran with it occasionally for the past 3 weeks. Plus there was a NEWTON Shoe Trial session for runners participating in the McD Olympic Run 2009.
Why I said acid test was that today's race will be a 7k fast and furious event. The shoe itself will be push to the limit by me and by those runners wearing it for the trial session. I guessed this is one of the best way to wear test a shoe and check on its performance (besides doing a long run like a 20k with it). Wearing it and do a slow jog over a very short distance do not do any justice at all. You may feel comfortable with it but will not find the true potential or flaws of the shoe itself.
After the race, I personally found that the shoe is pretty responsive and will basically guide a runner to transition from mid foot to a forefoot striker. Especially when your strike is fast and hard, the front part of the shoe will keep pushing and lifting you forward. That basically provide better efficiency in my strike and therefore less energy is used from strike to strike. And I kind of find the technic of running forefoot which is the most natural way to run, it is also the fastest and most efficient way to run.
I am not the only one who have such experience today, but out of 10 runners who had a trial session with the shoe, I must gladly said 80% gave me similar feedback that the shoe is very efficient. They are able to transition to midfoot/forefoot running, a technique and position that helps keep you running more efficiently, injury-free and faster, no matter the distance.
Will do another wear test on the shoe, and the next time will be a 20k run and see how it will perform over a longer distance and at a slower pace. One other thing that I may want to highlight is that the shoe may have a disadvantage when it comes to the width of the toebox. A runner which have a broad feet may not fit into the shoe very well hence could experience discomfort and may even to the extent of getting blisters. But will definitely get a runner with wide feet to test it out later.
To learn more about the optimal running form, click here foor more information.
Newton Running shoes - The Science In Motion were developed to make your feet think they're barefoot and increase your performance.
I will be conducting another shoe trial session this coming Sunday in conjunction with Siemens Run 2009. If you are interested you can come to Bukit Aman carpark, Lake Gardens to get the shoe before heading to the race site.
6 comments:
feel weird when walk but run ok...
nice shoe but the price a little high...
any promotion running;-p
feedback by Fadzli....
hello choi,
i want to give feedback to ur blog, but i dun hv personal blog...hehe
anyway i was so thankful about ur newton shoe trial session last sunday, dats newton shoe i was try for Olympic Day Run was really give a big different
compare 2 others running shoes, its very light, the cushioning make my foot very comfortable n feel softly while running n feel the air system dats make my
foot dry..
for me i give 9/10 scale..the shoe is very efficient but the price is high,
i suggest how about if u can give a discount price for the shoe.. ;-)
anyway choi, thanks for newton shoe trial session.
Regards
Thanks Choi for the free trail, I like this shoe as you say it will make me land on my forefoot and infact I didn't overcome any paint on my knee which I used to have during my run. I think might be the shoe who help me to run in a correct way. Thanks.
another feedback, this time from Yuan Khai Heng.
Dear Choi,
I am unable to go to your blog but here is my comment as promised.
I have always wondered what is so amazing about the Newton shoes. I first saw it in Singapore and the first thing that fire up my senses is its price. It is the LV or Ferrari of running shoes as its price is far beyond the rest even with Asics which is considered premium to me.
So when I hear that you are conducting a trial I quickly jump in like having to test drive a Ferrari. I have run in NB, Brooks, Mizuno and lately Saucony and each one of them have their strength and weakness. The Newton trial shoes I have was the Training Cushion and my first impression is that it feels much lighter than its reported weight of 9oz. I have the Fastswitch 3 that weighs in less that 8oz but both feel almost equal in weight.
The moment I wore them I had a funny feel that the shoes are different from the rest. The most prominent is that it has an extended support at the forefoot and this makes you feel only your forefoot is in contact with the road. The heel feel a bit hard though and it gets sometime to get use to. As trial shoes were given out in Bukit Aman carpark, I have the opportunity to get use to it while jogging down to the Dataran Merdeka for the Larian Olym-pig.
When the race started, I had a different feel of the shoes because of the fast pace and heavier landing. The extended cushion supported the landing very well and my forefoot feels less strain because of the extended cushion. The heel though remains hard but tolerable. I finished the race without much strain and clock impressive time with it despite my first time with it. It feels light and comfortable and well ventilated during the run. On a whole it is a respectable pair of running shoes and my personal opinion is that is would be suitable for long distance run like marathon because most of the other racing flat shoes would compressed and feel flattened after 30km and your forefoot would be hurt. If you require additional cushioning you will have to compromise using training shoes but with added weight. Here is where the Newton shoes would have the edge over the rest with its good cushioning but light weight.
My last comment is that if the shoes are worth its price? I think this would depend on individuals and affordability. For those who can afford, it certainly feels different from the rest like driving a Ferrari. As for me the shoes are not expensive. I am just poor.
P.S. I certainly would love to try the Newton racer if given the opportunity. This would be like driving an F1. Thanks.
Best Regards,
K. H. YUAN
Review by Carboman
http://carboman.blogspot.com/2009/07/newton-stability-racer-trialing-run.html
wah, cinya good feedback nia. let me find sponsor for the shoe so i can get one before pbim . . . heheheeee :P
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