Salomon Trail Running Shoes

Salomon's most popular trail running shoe gets completely redesigned for 2010.

The Salomon XA Pro 5 is the completely redesigned model of Salomon’s
most popular shoe, the XA Pro 3D Ultra.

Dual mesh upper (open mesh over 3D stretch mesh) is highly breathable,
yet keeps fine debris out. TPU toe cap, heel cap, and mudguard protect the
shoe in rough terrain.

3D+ chassis provides the ultimate stability and propulsion for mountain terrain.
Energy Cell 2 forefoot gives extra rebound and comfort. All-mountain sole
combines great traction and efficiency.

Quicklace™ one-pull lacing system, with friction free eyelets, takes just one pull
for a precise fit across the instep. SensiFit system works to cradle the foot
providing a precise and secure fit.

Ortholite™ footbeds provides step in comfort and enhanced durability by using a
combination of special PU and rubber crumbs. Ortholite™ footbeds use an anti-
microbial treatment for reducing odor.

Salomon XA Pro 5

New Balance Running Shoes

Here is another midfoot running shoes.

The New Balance 769 Racing Comp is a high performance racer suitable for distances from 5Km
to the marathon. The NBx line has done it again with this one--it's chock full of technologies to help
you push yourself further every time you run.

The RC769 is best suited for those who have slight to moderate over pronation and is the ideal flat
for fast half and full marathons.

Shoe structure

Stability Web delivers midfoot support and reduces the weight of the shoe
Solid Sticky Rubber Outsole is constructed of durable, tacky rubber for traction on slick surfaces.
Ndurance rubber compound for maximum outsole durability.
Blown Rubber Forefoot for lightweight cushioning.
Acteva Midsole cushions and resists compression set - 12% lighter than standard foam.
ABZORB cushioning in both heel and forefoot for exceptional shock absorption

.

Run Right

Studies have shown that mid-foot striking while running will provide
better results and much more efficient strides. Newton knows this and
caters exclusively to it.

ForeFoot/Midfoot Running

Running For Charity

Live Earth / Run For Water 18 April 2010

The largest worldwide water initiative in history.
The Dow Live Earth Run for Water consists of a series of 6 km run/
walks in countries around the world. The event will feature live
concerts and water education activities aimed at igniting a tipping
point to help solve the global water crisis.

Why 6km?
This is the average distance many women and children walk every
day to get access to clean and safe water in developing countries.

‘This is Why we Run’
Right now, close to a billion people are without access to clean, safe
drinking water, and by 2025 two thirds of us will live in water scarce
areas.

Register here:
http://runforwatersingapore.com/run-for-water-registration

Running Tips

First time I started running with this new technology Newton
running shoes, I could already feel the difference. I managed
to run 2km without feeling any pain on my knees. Now, that’s
an achievement. Prior to this, I could barely cover 100metres
without feeling the discomfort and pain on my knees due to the
continuous pounding of the heels with the ground upon impact.

The fore-foot running technique not only helps to keep my legs
from injury, it also help me to increase my running performance.
I now run about 20km per week, with an increase of 1.2km at the
end of every week. I do cross-training on days when I am not
schedule to run. I am taking it easy and focusing on my technique
rather than speed at the moment.

I do feel some strain on my calf muscles. This is normal as
I am getting use to this new technique of running and at times
I stretch the distance I covered. Hmm! There are actually some
gain to the pain. The sense of accomplishment and the freedom
to let my spirit breeze through the air outweigh the stress that
the body go through.

Running Tips

Why Is Newton Running Shoe Different?

Newton running shoes have a unique feel as soon as you put them
on - lightweight, breathable, comfortable, highly cushioned but
completely stable and responsive.

The actuator lugs extend from the base of the forefoot region
promoting a natural running technique as if you were barefoot.
Newton Action and Reaction Technology allows you to land on
your forefoot safely. When your forefoot impacts first your foot has
less pronation as it would if you were to land on your heel, thus
minimizing injuries.

After the forefoot makes impact and the actuators are driven fully
into their corresponding chambers (the action), then levering and
propulsion come into play. As you push off and drive forward the lugs
are released (the reaction) providing energy return resulting in better
performance with less effort.

Compare a cheetah's (fastest land animl in the world) foot with a
Newton  running shoe and you will notice the smlilarities.

A Cheetah's Foot                         Newton's Technology

Ironman 70.3 Singapore 2010 Winner Craig Alexander using Newton Distancia

Newton Running Shoes

I must have a pair! Search the internet at Newton’s website
http://www.newtonrunning.com/  for any local retailers. Hmm! Not
bad at all, there are several shops in Singapore but a bit too pricy
for a pair. The prices are quite standard across all the shops that I
have enquired. Not much difference in prices also in neighbouring
countries like Malaysia and Philippines, two countries I visit several
times in a year.

“Hi Jeff!” This is a shop in Peninsular Shopping Centre which I
bought my last Asics running shoes before I stopped running. The
shop has a wide range of sport shoes. It is not the best looking sport
shop I have walked in. Piles and heaps of shoes overflowing from
every shelves and where there are no shelves, shoes are stacked in a
corner forming what look like christmas trees beaming with different
brands and designs. Jeff has much respect for Newton shoes as this
is the only brand which has its own dedicated rack .

My heart started pounding when I saw those shoes with the reflector

strip ‘Newton’. This is going to be a love affair that will last a life-

time. “Jeff, which is the latest model for a beginner ?” He took

Sir Isaac off the rack and magically with the blink of an eye, they

were on my feet. “Wow! It feel fantastic! So light weight and

comfortable.” and the actuators on the shoes anticipating my feet

to do it works.So bouncy. It felt that I could easily dunk a basketball

into it’s net from 20 metres away. Now, that's Newton's Third Law of

Motion with Energy Return System.

Natural Way To Run

Many experiments done indicated that we run naturally with our
forefront and not with our heels. When we land with our hells,
2-3 times our body weight impact is being cushioned with our
heels and this may caused injuries to the calf, knees and also our
hips. I am testimonial of such injury to the knees due to excessive
repetitive impact of hell landings.

When I was little, my grandfather used to tell me ‘Ian, when
running use your toes (what he meant was forefront of my feet),
you will run like a cheetah.” I won many trophies during my school
athletic sport days because of my grandfather’s wise advice.

What is forefront feet running? This is the most natural way to
run. It is also called bare feet (we use both feet to run) running.
when running without shoes, we will naturally run with using our
mid-section/forefront of our feet and not the heels. We will un-
naturally run with our heels due to the psychological perception
that the rubberised heels will absorb the impact. This is somewhat
true, but due to the angle of the feet when landing, this will
inadvertently transmit the impact to other parts of our legs and
hips. Forefront feet running will only impact the foot area which it is
designed by nature to handle.

heel landing                                       forefoot landing

                                                                            

                                                

The Need To Run

Running!! Now that sounds boring. It is not at all fun. Getting tired,
panting, and getting sweaty is not what I consider an interesting
hobby. How can anyone feel the joy in running? There is no gain,
only pain.

After running all my life, my knees took a tole. I am no longer the
‘bionic man' I used to be. Years of hard running elements; during
my time in serving National Service in the Army, we were given
a pair of tai chi shoes for running and obviously army boots, have
ruin my knees due to the hard impact of the heels hitting the ground.
I was in a camp what known as 'Terror Camp' back in the old days
in Singapore. My training as an athlete, running up and down
staircase also played the notorious role in knees injury. I can barely
run a 100 metres. So, that’s the end of running, so I thought.

The need to run felt greater when I got married. My beautiful wife
is my inspiration. And her inspiration for my running is due to her
crafty recipe of Asian cuisine. In a nutshell, my waistline was getting
too much for my Levi’s and Taverniti jeans. My wife concluded that
it was wiser to lose the extra kilos than getting new pair of jeans
with a new expanded size.

Choosing a pair of running shoes
Hmm! What shall they be? Nike, Asics, Adidas....? There are too
many in the market and everyone has their own opinion as to the
best running shoes. My wife in particular suggested Nike. “But
hunnie, Nike don’t make good running shoes. They make shoes
that look good. Maybe for other sports they do but not running”.
I was thinking of Japanese brands. I just love Mizuno and Asics.
Pearl Izumi sounds Japanese, well some sort, and I like their
design too.

Off I went to the malls in Tampines having very little in mind what
suited me best. The first shop I went to was Nike. No doubt, the
sales person was very keen to introduce to me to their better range
of running shoes. The shoes look too flat and lack of support. That
is just my opinion. I am sure some people will find them the perfect
form, or perfect foam. The next shop has a wide range of brands.
Sales girls “You’re looking for motion control or stability?”
Thinking to myself, motion control sounds pretty dynamic and cool.
So obviously it’s motion control for me. But unfortunately or
fortunately for me, they did not come with the colour I like. Well,
that’s just the reason I gave. I thought that running shoes are just,
well, running shoes. As long as they are able to fit me comfortably,
and feel and look great,  that’s the shoes I wanted. Hmm! Looks like
I need to read up on the many types of running shoes.

Feet Type

What else! I went to the internet to understand the type of feet I
have, besides one left and one right. Pronation, neutral, arch,
stability, performance and of course motion control. These are all
new terms I have learnt. But still undecided. Then I came across
Newton Running shoes. A number of readers mentioned that they
are converted to this new shoe religion called Newton Running
Shoes. Hmm! It sounds too Newton, so scientific and the Laws
of Motion came to mind.