Run It Fast®

I’ve run in Newton Running Shoes most of the last two years. Newtons help you improve your form to become more of a forefoot or midfoot striker….therefore cutting down on injuries.

Not many color options or changes have been made to the brand until now.

Newton is releasing several new colors of it’s Distance, Gravity, Momentus, MV2, and Performance trainers throughout 2012.

Newton Running Website

Check out all of the colors and options below by clicking the photos:

Read more about them at TriBomb

Hat tip to Chris Estes.

Shoe company Reebok International Ltd. has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a complaint from the Federal Trade Commission for misleading advertising and claims.

The company will give refunds to customers who bought the RunTone running shoes($80-100/pair), EasyTone running shoes, and EasyTone flip flops ($60/pair).

The FTC found that Reebok couldn’t back up the claims they were making about the shoes (and flops):

The FTC said ads for the shoes claimed that a special technology in the sole featured pockets of moving air that created “micro instability” that toned and strengthened muscles as a person walked or ran.

In ads that began appearing in 2009, Reebok said walking in the shoes had been proved to provide 28% more strength and tone in the buttock muscles compared with regular walking shoes, 11% more in the hamstring muscles and 11% more in the calf muscles, the FTC said.

The agency’s investigation found Reebok was unable to back up those claims, Vladeck said.

Customers can apply for a refund on the FTC website. The size of the refund will depend upon how many apply for it.  So if you are the only one to apply for it then you won the lottery. 😉

Reebok has agreed to the settlement but stands by it’s product and will continue to produce it:

“Settling does not mean we agree with the FTC’s allegations; we do not,” Reebok said. “We have received overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback from thousands of EasyTone customers, and we remain committed to the further development of our EasyTone line of products.”

Reebok can’t make any more health claims about the shoes unless they can back it up with scientific data.

Where was the FTC back in the 80’s and 90’s when Nike was claiming that it’s Air Jordan and various Air models would help Joe White-boy be able to jump 5-feet off the ground and be able to dunk?

What do you think? Did you ever own or try out the Reebok RunTone running shoes?

Complex Magazine has published it’s list of ‘The 50 Greatest Running Shoes of All-Time.’

Perhaps a better name would have been ‘The 27 Greatest Nike Shoes of All-Time and 23 Others.’

I don’t know if Nike owns Complex or if the Complex writers were simply trying to remember the 50 most popular pairs of shoes they saw their friends wearing through the halls of junior high school.

The #1 shoe on Complex’s list was the Nike Air Max 1 from 1987.

I’m no shoe snob and have only been running a decade or less so I don’t recognize most of these shoes, but in the past decade MANY really good shoes have been made that should have made this list.

1. Nike Air Max 1 (1987)
2. Nike Air Max 95 (1995)
3. adidas ZX 500 (1984)
4. Nike Air Max 90 (1990)
5. New Balance 1300 (1984)
6. Nike Cortez (1972)
7. Nike Air Huarache (1991)
8. adidas SL 72 (1972)
9. adidas EQT Torsion Support (1991)
10. ASICS GT II (1986)
11. New Balance 1500 (1988)
12. Nike Bermuda (1979)
13. Nike Air Stab (1988)
14. adidas ZX 8000 (1989)
15. Nike Terra T/C (1981)
16. ASICS Tiger X-Caliber (1982)
17. Nike Zoom Preston (2000)
18. ASICS Gel Lyte III (1990)
19. Nike Air Footscape (1995)
20. New Balance 577 (1989)
21. Nike Zoom Talaria (1998)
22. Saucony Jazz (1981)
23. Nike Air Rift (1995)
24. adidas Fire (1986)
25. Nike Waffle Trainer (1975)
26. adidas EQT Running Support (1992)
27. Nike Zoom Spiridon (1997)
28. Nike Air Huarache Light (1993)
29. adidas APS (1986)
30. Nike Epic (1984)
31. Nike Zoom Citizen (1999)
32. Nike Omega Flame (1983)
33. Brooks Chariot (1983)
34. Nike Cram Vendetta (1985)
35. adidas Torsion SP (1995)
36. New Balance 991 (1999)
37. Nike Air Tailwind (1978)
38. Reebok Insta Pump Fury Road (1994)
39. Nike Air Mariah PR (1990)
40. adidas Oregon Ultra Tech (1991)
41. Nike Air Windrunner (1987)
42. Nike Air Pegasus 92 (1992)
43. Etonic Quasar (1984)
44. Nike Free 5.0 (2004)
45. Nike Zoom JST (1998)
46. Reebok ZL6000 (1986)
47. Nike Air Span (1989)
48. Nike Lunar Racer (2008)
49. Mizuno MZ-84 (1983)
50. adidas ZX 930 (1988)

View Complex’s List Complete with Photos and Commentary @ Complex

Most runners agree that Nike makes horrible running shoes. I wore them for my very first marathon and could barely walk for two weeks afterwards.  I haven’t even thought twice about lacing up a pair of them since.

However, those that I know who wear Nike running shoes are usually elite runners and they are often wearing the Nike Lunar Racer.  The only shoe from the 2000’s that made this list.

Others I recognize on this list are the Nike Air Cortez (1972) which created a huge hoopla in the running community in the early 70’s, New Balance 991 (big boys wear), Nike Air Pegasus, and of course the Nike Air Max versions.

The list is laughable in the fact that a Reebok Insta Pump (#38) made the list.

What’s up with a shoe named after Mariah Carey (Nike Air Mariah PR #39) making the Top 50?  Surely that’s not really named after Butterfly Carey is it? Although, she first made it big around that time.

What is your favorite running shoe of all-time?  What do you think about this list?

Hat tip to @katierunsthis

Newton Terra Momentus (Momentum) Off Road Trainer

Finally, after nearly two-months of waiting and delays, I received Newton’s new and first off-road trainer, the Netwon Terra Momentus (Momentum) on my doorstep earlier today.

In full disclosure, I’ve been running in Newton Running Shoes for nearly a year and love them.  Since switching from the Asics Nimbus to the Newton Distance I’ve had no major injuries and less soreness/pain from long runs.

Newton is different from other shoe companies in that they put a lot of resources, research, and technology towards creating a shoe that patterns that of a natural or barefoot runner.

Newton’s rubber lugs on the forefoot of the sole of  the shoe trains you to land on the forefoot or sweet spot of your foot, as opposed to landing on your heel which can cause serious injuries if done over and over.

The shoes have worked great for me. There is a learning curve with them, and Newton advises to start over with short distance runs and gradually add mileage as your feet and body adjusts to running in Newtons.

As I’ve finished several marathons in the past year, I’ve started to eye more trail marathons and ultras for the upcoming year.  I knew the Newton Distance, although great for road racing, was not ideal for dusty, technical trails and nasty roots.

So Does the Newton Momentus Live Up to the Hype?

I opened the Momentus box today and told myself I would wait until I had a good trail to try them out on.  Two hours later I had them laced up for a quick 2-mile test on the pavement.

I could tell just holding the shoes, right out of the box, that they would fit like a glove.  They actually almost felt like a glove just holding them.  They fit more snug than a regular Newton running shoe for sure.

The shoes feel more stable than your normal Newton. The lugs are smaller and placed a bit further back on the sole. The lugs also have added traction on them, as opposed to the smooth lugs on the Distance.  The Momentus is very stable on the foot and feels a bit like the Asics Nimbus without being as bulky or heavy.

Once I took off on my run, I almost didn’t notice the shoes again until I took them off. They felt great, my foot seemed to naturally fit the shoe, and the lacing system did a good job of conforming the shoe to my foot even more.

I felt like I was able to focus more on my running form in the Momentus.  I was able to hold my form well and land on my forefoot with ease (I didn’t have a chance to over think it).

I ran the Bartlett Park Ultra 50K back in September in the Newton Distance and it performed pretty good.  I noticed two things that day that caused problems on the trail: 1. Stability/support and 2. Lugs were perhaps a bit too big and caused a couple of my trips and face-plants.

Those two things are the most modified on the Momentus.  The lugs are rounded, not as big, and further back on the shoe as I mentioned earlier.  And the stability of the shoe is kinda freaky similar to what I loved about the Asics Nimbus a couple of years back.

The insole of the shoe is thicker than your typical Newton and the outer sole is a thicker rubber as well, especially in the heel.

Some how Newton was able to make those modifications while keeping the shoe light.  The shoe only weighs 11.2 ounces (which is light for a trail running shoe).

The colors are bright and loud (Forest+Lime).  But that is a Newton trademark that makes them easy to spot at 5K’s, marathons, and ultras.

My Newton bias aside, they appear to have put together a great trail running shoe in the Momentus while adding comfort and stability to their forefoot technology.

As I’ve seen in road marathons over the past year, I expect to see more and more bright Newtons off-road and putting down miles on dusty trails.

RATINGS

• Comfort: A+
• Lightness: A-
• Durability: (TBD)
• Stability: A
• Cost: B- ($139)

– Joshua Holmes

Newton Terra Momentus Website