Newton Trainers
bunong
Posts: 49
in General Chat
I am thinking about buying Newton Trainers??? Can someone can help[8|]
I am currently recovering from Tendinosis and part of the treatmet program is to strengthen my calfs which is what I have been doing - I am also a medium/severe over pronator.
Will the Newton trainers destroy me or help me avoid further injury??? In particular I am thinking about my over pronation, will this be nutralised and possible calf injuries. I don't really care about run times (although going faster would be nice) the real benefit I want is to be injury free for a whole season - a big ask at the moment[:@]
Sorry if this has been discussed before - I had a quick look and couldn't find any threads
I am currently recovering from Tendinosis and part of the treatmet program is to strengthen my calfs which is what I have been doing - I am also a medium/severe over pronator.
Will the Newton trainers destroy me or help me avoid further injury??? In particular I am thinking about my over pronation, will this be nutralised and possible calf injuries. I don't really care about run times (although going faster would be nice) the real benefit I want is to be injury free for a whole season - a big ask at the moment[:@]
Sorry if this has been discussed before - I had a quick look and couldn't find any threads
0
Comments
I think its more likely to be tendonitis as you are recovering from it, so I'll go with that. In regards to the newtons as you know these are designed to kind of force you into forefoot running. This puts a hell of a strain on your calves, as it requires them to act as shock absorbers instead of your knees. Which is great in theory as it should sharply reduce the incidence of knee and ankle injury. However it does require strong/injury free calves, and I would be a little worried that due to your recent tendonitis you may cause too much stress to the Achilles/calf region.
In regards to the over-pronation newton as well as all other proper running companies provide shoes which provide extra medial support for over-pronators. Whilst it wont actually stop you from pronating it will help to reduce the level of pronation and protect your foot against injury when you do pronate.
Personally i really don't think newtons are a great idea for you at the moment. You would be better off getting some good quality motion control trainers, i would recommend both asics and saucony. I would wait until your tendonitis has completely cleared up before going for the newtons.
I think the following thread is about it: http://forum.220magazine.com/tm.asp?m=24220
You could ask Britspin about it in PM if any specific questions.
I bet he'll be happy to answer them with the necessary sarcasm alongside![;)][image]http://forum.220magazine.com/micons/m6.gif[/image]
I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
Oh by the way, you forgot to include Porridge, red, expensive and carbon in your answer to bunong.
Are we trying to ditch that beautifull and very true statement????
Please dont forsake us
Regarding Tendonosis/Tendonitis I have swelling of the Tendon sheath on both legs - its nearly gone albeit it is still uncomfortable first thing in the morning when I'm a bit like an old man. I currently run 8 miles happily at 7:30min pace after which I stretch and ice for quite a while.
I currently use Asics motion control trainers at the moment and really like them. What I was thinking is that when I am recovered will the Newtons protect my calfs as they would gain extra strength just by using the Newtons??[8|] I would also start slowly and build time/distance as I know I have a weakness in this area.
The last two seasons I have had various calf/tendon injuries which occured just as I started biulding up speed work. Both seasons I survived the runs rather than raced them, which drives me mad.
If Britspin can recommend some Carbon Tendons and Calfs then I'm buy them what ever the cost - can they have a clear varnish finish so I look cool??
Would anyone agree with my logic about the Newton trainers increasing calf strength and therefore reducing the risk of future injury or is this an over simplification??? At £120 a pair it would be an expensive punt especially when you think how much Carbon Porridge you can buy for that money.
As newtons try to force you into running this way immediately (hence why most people will get calf pain with their 1st few uses) they would not be a good idea for you at the moment.
As I mentioned above in a round about way the newtons could help teach forefoot running, however i think this is better done by a good coach if you have access to one. I guess yes the newtons could strengthen your calves, and would probably reduce your injuries in the long run, but its not the trainers that are doing this its the style of running.
Can't really comment on Newton trainers just yet as they are that new. I'd need to see them, read research etc etc.
Anyway sorry if I'm ranting
Phil
I recently had the op to try the Newtons out (I work within Video Gait Analysis as a Performance Analyst), and as primarily a flat footed heel striking pronator, I was a tad sceptical whether these trainers could rescue me from the perils of the usual heavily cushioned motion controlled trainers that I prescribe myself. As it happened I was very suprised by the Newton Motion range. As far as i am aware, the Motions were designed for the more overly pronated foot type, it has a mid tarsal post which would prevent you from rolling over. Regarding my heel strike, the 'actuator lugs' seemed to transmit a message up my brain to prompt me to lean forward and use my body weight more. That way my foot didn't have time to dorsiflex fully and I found myself landing on the mid foot. I can see how it will take time to master, plus a strengthening plan for the calves is a must. Eccentric loading is the true way forward, plus a standing calf raise with a bar across your shoulders. Also invest in a 'foam roller' to help release the muscle tightness that will occur when 'evolving' to this running technique.
Hope of help
Mitchell Phillips
Strideuk
I just tried it in my Sauconys and it worked fine; it does seem odd to me to spend £100+ on a pair of trainers that'll teach you to run like you're barefoot!
Is it horses for courses? I don't know. I need to get new runners very soon, I've had about 10 pairs of Kayanos and they have been great, including a 10kM PB (39.10), but the Newton hype has hooked me. What should I do?
I think it is possible to run fast which ever way you do it, but baring in mind that a running style does not necessarily make you fast!
In regards to your thoughts on your running shoes have you ever thought about getting a pair of flats? They take a while to get used to, but when you have you realise that you don't need all that padding, and you start to feel the road a lot better!
Watching the youngsters run tonight taught me that ...
1. Each of has our own Natural/Individual style
2. Changing runners ... if for genuine reasons ... might me a good thing!
So we're back to square 1!!!!
All this talk of running styles recently has made me think very carefully about my own technique, not that I'm anything special when it comes to running.
As a 38 year old I'm told by most shoe 'experts' that I probably heel-strike and over-pronate, because that's what you do when you're 'older'. Pah!
When I'm running I am not conscious of my heels striking down. If anything, I'm quite flat-footed. Also, I now have a high cadence and feel that my stride is mainly behind me - contrary to the advice I got a few years ago that my stride should be symmetrical. If I look down when I'm running my legs are never far in front of me, and never straight in the forward part of the stride. Finally, when I up the speed I feel lighter and higher... maybe I'm running on my toes?
So... I reckon I'm a possible candidate for a pair of Newtons (assuming I can scrape together the cash). They're probably a shoe to buy if your technique suits them, rather than something to buy to change your technique? What do you think?
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XjpZt7wXeNg&feature=related
do think it's a case of horses for courses too though. if i'm just out doing easy base miles i tend to heel strike as i'm running at a slower pace, whereas if i up the pace i tend to run up on my toes/flat footed with my feet landing below my body. i race in flats so they might be encouraging fore-foot striking though....[&:]
An awful lot of 'gait analysis' is not overly professional & everyone pronates..because well everyone pronates, your foot rolls in to dissipate shock, its what it does, no matter how old you are. So I am sure that a lot of support shoes are wrongly sold. I can always tell a heel striker..you can hear them coming..thud, thud, thud, whereas mostly no one hears me coming (even in normal runners), scare the poop out of people & their dogs as I fly by...
you're completely correct that many still promote heel to toe running, it can be safe as chips for a lot of people providing that they promote a bent knee on contact rather than a straight knee which often occurs due to the position of the foot being in breach of your centre line. (hope that makes sense)
However... (throwing the line out here!!) watch any distance race and see which majority hit the finish line first, and then see which majority hit the finish line last.
Food for thought.
(Thai tonight)
Two things happened: 1) I realised my runners are really knackered. 2) All my fillings fell out.
So, it does look like I'm a mid-foot or toe runner. Not sure which. It doesn't make me better, though, becaue I'm not. I'm slow at running.
Different styles suit different people, I think is what we're saying. Just makes me think that those Newtons would suit me, but if I was a real heel-striker I wouldn't buy them.
Many proponents of the fore-foot running technique point to Gebreselaisse's victory in the 2000 olympics 10k over his heel striking opponent (can't remember the name).... this still means the second fastest 10k runner in the world was a heel striker.