Newton Trainers... Are you for or against?

Newton

Are you aware of this brand of trainers that (like many others) also claim to be all singing and dancing into improving your running style, gait and speed? The marketing behind these trainers attempt to encourage runners to land with each foot strike on their mid/front foot thus enabling a more "forward" motion and propulsion. The trainers are not finished here either. With now your foot landing in a different position and allegedly in a quicker motion, the change in pattern in the way your foot comes into contact with the road, should now mean there is less impact. Less impact now means less body strain, less injuries and I suppose your body lasting a little longer before the fatigue then starts to take over in any race you may be participating in. Newton trainers have different versions to those runners who naturally run on their front foot and those willing to convert into running on their front foot which has heel protection until you learn not to run on your heels altogether

Now you can sit reading that I'm falling for this companies marketing trick (Hmmm maybe so) but the more I think about this but the more I think about it this is a great aid for those who don't "naturally" land on their mid/front foot, E.G ME!! When you look at Elite athletes, you will notice they run with a quick leg turn over and every strike is in fact on their front foot. These people have been trained to run like this so although (I am told) 

Newton's are allowed to be used in professional events although you do not see many (if at all any) Elite runners, running in Newton trainers. So if they don't use these trainers why should we?

As I have said, elite runners have the time and the coaches to aid them to running correctly and quickly without the aid of these shoes. To us plodders, standard or club runners how can we possibly benefit?

I have not been able to afford an all out gait analysis assessment but from the way I walk in normal shoes (and wear them out), I appear to land quite heavily on my heels. I have been to various running shops and run on a treadmill and seen using there camera that even running I land heavily on my heels and then slightly, ever so slightly overpronate. Due to this level of pronation and my love for half marathon marathon's I've always been advised to by a slight supportive shoe to take into account the later stages of my races when my overpronation will be emphasised. I have never been able to buy a typical neutral shoe, In fact I have tried Adidas and Asics brands but always seem to have stuck by and using Asics 1140's, 50's & 60's.

More experienced/ professional runners/trainers may say spending money on a proper analysis is wiser than buying these Newton trainers, so you have more of an understanding on how you run, making only the slight changes that you may need to improve. For me attending a proper analysis centre is miles away and to be honest I can't be asked to attend. Which brings me back to the question, how can a classic heel striker can suddenly throw themselves forward in an attempt to running front foot.

I'm getting older now and been running the way I have for years (rightly or wrongly) the sudden change in running style could cause me more injuries than I already receive. I'm sure I must bore people close to me about my running injuries so why would I be interested in changing my running footwear which my threat of injury would increase? Well... For me I won't lie but I still have the ambition and drive to run quicker than my last race at that distance. I actually get annoyed with myself when I feel my race time has not achieved what I felt my training justified! (Even though realistically is not possible every time!) I have thought about running in these trainers for well over a year and am prepared to spend out on these trainers and at least give them a "try"

instead of sitting indoors wondering "If" they may improve my running?

I have looked and posted on various message boards wanting other runner's opinions on Newton trainers and to be honest there appears to be a lot more runners against these shoes than for them!

I have now bought a pair of Newton Sir Issac's trainers and while I have a break within my race period, I will give them a go. They come with a 10-point rule to make the transfer from normal trainers to these one's simpler starting from scratch I suppose running shorter distances to begin with and build up again giving your calf muscles and Achilles tendons time to adjust to the change. My plan is to use them on my shorter runs or if anything start using them on an incline of a treadmill. If I don't, like them I'll soon let you know but I am giving them the benefit of a doubt and "TRYING" them. They are nearly double the price of what I could buy a pair of last years versions of Asics but believe that could they last longer?

Any opinions or experiences please share. I'm still all ears.

Injuries....

I'm not a spring chicken anymore and bordering on officially entering races in the "veteran" category, I'm finding this period of my running not so simple and straightforward. If I have, one regret from my running is not continuing this from my school days. I left school, got a job within London and most lunchtimes and Friday evenings spent a lot of time and money trying to destroy my own liver. Once I got this period of my life over and done with, returning to my running I spent god knows how many months trying to recondition my ageing weakening body into running how it used too. Although my mind is full of youthful running memories and my mind says go go go! My body itself is still playing catch up and is not so keen.

If you're of similar age to me, you may start to find you get injured or pick up an annoying niggle at the time you're performing at your best and on top of your game? Alternatively, injuries occur just as you increase mileage for the build up of a race you really want to run your best in. Why does your body feel it'll have a laugh at your expense and let you down like this? I've rubbed you when you're sore, fed you healthy food! All I ask in return is you run your best when I say, alas you now feel like going on strike so I find it hard to run? How painful, depressing can this feel? Boarding heart breaking! Non-runners in your family will never understand but to fellow runners who know this can send you spiralling into depression

I applied for the old Virgin London Marathon for many years before one May found out I received my fifth rejection and the following year I would be running in the London Marathon that I have dreamed so long for running in. This has meant I have been regularly running for the last four years or so. Within this time, I have had the usual sore muscles, DOMS, chafing, sore nipples, fatigue, wall hitting, stinging eyes from sweat, etc etc but within this time can say I have only ever had two proper injuries. The first being Runners Knee from a tight IT band in the very early stages of running. Although painful, I found this really easy to cure. Although I still ended up on a recovery bed of a Physio for advice. Simply reducing inflammation of the knee and stretching out of my thigh muscle solved this injury fairly quickly. Occasionally a knee will flare up and I confidently know what I need to do to cure it.

The second injury, My Lord Achilles Tendonitis, oh what pain. Now I first noticed my Achilles hurting prior to the 2010 London marathon.

Thought nothing of it as after an hour of waking first thing in the morning the pain would go. Naively I carried on running without nipping this problem in the bud. I participated in the Bluewater 10K race in June and come the Monday morning both Achilles just seized right up and this was the start of an on going pain! That was over a year ago now and to date I still suffer. Perhaps if I stopped running and performed more of those stair exercises this injury would have healed by now? However, with various races including the 2011 London Marathon I haven't ever completely stopped running. It appears I have tight calf muscles, which in turn are pulling up on my Achilles, which now means they are fragile and prone to giving me grief! Not to mention my age, you know this is a classic injury of other runners my age too.

What am I doing about it? Well I have been to two physio's and spent ages looking on the net for advice and watched untold YouTube videos of curing Achilles Tendonitis. To which I have come up with the following routine. No! I am not stopping my running but after every run I'm applying a cold spray and maybe biofreeze after a shower. I also apply two ice packs to my tendons in the evening whilst watching TV. As I head upstairs to bed, before I get to the top I stop and perform the lowering and raising of my calf muscles so they don't cause me grief when I wake up in the morning. Lastly, I treat myself to a Sports Clinic massage above Sweatshop at Bluewater once a month! Not ideal but I'm still able to continue doing something I feel so passionately about. Any other suggestions that you can come up with, I'm all ears!

www.marathontalk.com

Episode 69

www.marathontalk.com

ITV's Emerdale Farm actor Tony Audenshaw aka Tony's Trials sums up PERFECTLY the love hate relationship of a couple where one person loves to run and the partner clearly puts up all barriers and is labelled as a runner hater

Tony'sView

Running Etiquette...?

Heading out for a run, there is going to be a high chance that you will come across another fellow runner running in the opposite direction. Now assuming you're in the zone concentrating and most definitely out of breath, do you ignore this runner completely or show some sort of acknowledgement towards this runner who has the same reasons for running as you do?

To be honest I do try my best to show some sort of acknowledgement. If I can utter two words, I will always say good morning. If I am gasping for breath, I will nod my head towards them. No, I don't know you... but manners to the human race a "free" so there is no law broken by using them. The running boom is growing as more and more people are putting on their trainers and heading out the door for a whole variety of reasons, to socialise, get fit, combat work stress or improve race times, there are loads of people running that you have something in common with.

I have been running religiously now for about four years or so now and when in the early years I ran past a runner and didn't show some sign of acknowledgment , gradually I actually felt guilty about this. So to avoid this feeling if you see me running towards you like it or not I am going to say hello!

I have been running.... HONEST ...

It has been far too long since my Blog update. Really, really poor effort on my behalf. Out of routine and habit, I suppose. Since my last Blog, I have run through the snow over Christmas and if it was too cold dived into the gym to use the treadmill. Participated in the Watford Half Marathon finishing in 1:29:56 and a week later running in the Sidcup 10 miler finishing just under 1hr 5 minutes. I was pleased with myself getting these two results but then running full on, twice within a week I aggravated my Achilles Tendons (again) and spent my preparation for the 2011 Virgin London Marathon by running and then spending 20 minutes a night, with two ice packs on the backs off my legs. Worst timing ever to pick up a niggle when you know you must increase your mileage weekly. Sensible people will always suggest if not expect you to back off the running and rest! But you know damn well yourself you must keep up the mileage and through gritted teeth say Nah, I'll be alright continuing the vicious circle of running through the pain barrier and risking! Injuring yourself even more!

My preparation for the VLM was to get up 04:00 Saturday mornings and run

18 miles to work. It took me several weeks of this to realise why 10 miles In I found myself blown to bits! Resorting to a run walk strategy with anger and depression as to why I was running so badly! Duh of course up, wash out for a run with NO breakfast and source of energy is clearly, why I was running on empty. Not sure how you feel but I do agree going for runs without energy beforehand forcing your body to work harder using body fat as a source of energy but trying to do this for 18 miles. Hell No! Not a good idea! So if I plan to run this far again I must have a banana before hand?

Running the VLM was again another great experience!! The week leading up to race day I found myself being a proper grouch, that I can only put down to nerves in fear of hitting that dreaded wall or expecting my Achilles to fail and give me race day grief! I had my last sports massage on the Thursday and started my carb loading. By Saturday night, I really had enough of carbs and can honestly say I was sick of seeing anything carb related.

Taking my little girls to the Expo on the Saturday to get my race number, was another great experience as I tried to do as little walking as possible saving myself for the big day tomorrow? Still found myself attending stalls and signing up to "anything" that I thought I might win. To date I have won nothing which makes giving permission to my details being used by company's a waste of time! The afternoon was spent packing my race bag and shuffling through the freebies I picked up from the Expo into piles of rubbish, importance or the not too interested pile that I only took out of politeness!

The Marathon itself was again one hell of an occasion! My third on one in a row and an event you should and I hope I can run many more times in the future. The noise, crowd support / encouragement, unusual outfits make the whole 26.2 miles one long street party! This is one race you know you are about to push your body through a horrible pain barrier which is painful enough but today my biggest complaint was the heat! My god it was horrible to run in! The pre race announcement of thinking of others and only taking water bottle at water at stations to "drink" only and not pour over your head, I'm sad to say I soon ignored! such advice.

Please don't call me selfish but I passed a few water stations before I soon started to pour water over my head and neck as often as possible otherwise I would have completely burnt up. I finished this marathon in 3hrs 25 and saw more than enough casualty's street side and this was me finishing the marathon after 13:00. By all accounts, people still running after this time really suffered pushing the police and St Johns ambulance crews to the very limit as now runners battled exhaustion from the 26 miles as well as the heat.

Even though my legs were tired and very sore (obviously). The memory of this run is firmly embedded in my memory and I really would like to run it again in 2012 and hope you have applied to run it too? I promise you will not regret it! The only downside of this marathon and I am being very serious! Is the price you are expected to pay for the photo's taken of you in the day by the official photographers. Oh my lord how much!