New Newton Minimalist shoe???

Trent Prough

So it's not like I've ran in some minimalist shoes before or anything, even had some 5 fingers which I didn't really like to run in much, but I decided when I ordered my 5th pair of Newton's (So I've been running in Newton's for over a year now) for training I see they come out with a new racer shoe.  Basically it's there racing flat but with their studs on bottom of shoe and it has a 0 pitch and bio mechanical plate.  Now the only difference I can see is they have the Zero pitch thing that I've never ran  with a shoe like that, but boy after the 1st run in the shoe today my calf's lower legs (basically area from ankles to upper calves) are just on fire and killing me.

Question is weather I just can't handle the Zero pitch shoe or did I over do it the first workout in the shoes.  I did 3X1mile @ TP for a total of 6 miles in the shoe in a little over 40 minutes.  Should I limit to just intevals only or not just do so long of intervals in them?  I really don't want to go into the start of the OS with a silly little injury from something I could prevent with a little patience.  Or am I getting all worked up for nothing and this is normal for a while in minimalist shoes with Zero Pitch and just stay the course as the legs adjust.

Thanks for any experience imput

mgraffeo

sore calves are pretty common in switching to more minimalist approach, but you probably exacerbated it by jumping in to 3 x 1mi. I'd suggest easing in to them on a few brick runs, before doing any intensity in them. Give yourself a couple of weeks.

rtagher

I'm certainly not a seasoned triathlete yet, but am an experienced runner. I try to run in my Five Fingers once/week to keep my form in check and keep my cadence up. If for one reason or another I haven't run in them in a few weeks, the next time I do, my calves will hurt bad, just like yours did. As long as your pain is the same in both legs and improves over a couple of days I think you should be fine and I would continue using the shoes. I've eased in to the minimalist thing over the last couple of years and and now am sold on it because I've gotten so much faster. My form has also improved so that I also have much less knee/hip pain after marathons/ultras.

kurshing

I would have recommended easing into those just as you probably eased into the original pair. Racing flats are likely very different being zero pitch like that.

I would try using them on the brick runs a few times before sliding them in for 6-7 miles like that...but that is just my opinion.

I run in Newtons as well, and I have been contemplating trying those for some shorter races.

William Jenks

I've been a Newton Gravity runner for 2 years. It took me a couple of months to adjust the the Newton Gravities. I bought a pair of the MV2s immediately after IM WI and started running with them - knowing the adjustment for them would be needed, but also figuring that the slow climb back after IM was a good time...just as I had done with the Gravities.

If your experience is like mine, you just overdid it. I was finding that there was a pretty significant adjustment from the Gravities to the MV2s, and I had gone to wearing them back and forth. No problem wearing the Gravities having been running the MV2s (I don't like wearing big pitch "regular" running shoes at all any more.) I was just about adjusted to going either way when I yanked a hamstring in an unrelated incident.

Anyway, just go slow, and give it a while.

Trent Prough

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I figured I just got a little over zealous. They are just so nice a light and make the fast running seem easier. i'll ease into them slowly with caution.

@William-- I am exactly like you though now not wanting to go back to the old heavier big pitch shoes.

Al Truscott

 While I've been using Newton's for about 2 yesrs, I've learned to avoid them when doing TP intervals or other speed work, or even on the treadmill. For that stuff, I use Saucony Kinvaras, another low heel shoe with better mid foot support.

rkling

As with everyone else, I think you overdid it with the new MV2's. Although you've been running in Newtons previously, the MV2's are "more different" because of the zero drop. The eccentric contraction in the calves (I think this is correct) was increased because there is less drop than you are used to, and it is eccentric contractions that make you more sore. While this should get better, I'd give your body the chance to get used to the difference in biomechanics with the new shoes.

Some of it is also dependent on your natural stride. If you naturally have a midfoot strike, there may be less transition between different shoes. I had a couple of long discussions with friends of mine this weekend about running biomechanics, and I think the biggest thing to overcome (no pun intended) is the big, wide, built up heel that evolved in running shoes.

Cary Blanco

FWIW - One thing to keep in mind with the MV2s I believe by default there's a 3 degree lift in the heel lift under the foot liner that you need to remove to get a "true" zero drop.

William Jenks

@Al - Like you, I stay away from the Newtons on the treadmill. I had two (fortunately very minor) Achilles tendonosis/tendonitis incidents directly traceable to hard treadmill workouts with them. I also use another flat-ish shoe, although in my case it's a pair of Zoots. There must be something very different about my gait on the treadmill.

Trent Prough

Good news fellas!! I did a short 2 miler in the MV2's after the bike this morning and all feels pretty normal. Other than the fact that it was my first brick I've did since my last tri race at end of August. Ouch!!

I'll keep the slow and easy approach and ease into them. And yes I think treadmill running causes changes as this was my only injury last winter from hard workouts on the treadmill led to lower leg issues.

rkling

I think your gait is much different on the treadmill than when running outside, based on the dynamics of the treadmill. When you run outside, you are propelling yourself of a stationary surface. When you run on a treadmill, you are remaining stationary over a moving surface. Add in the console in front of your face, and you have typically changed your center of gravity and your stride pattern, since you are trying not to move forward.