Newton Motion Stability Performance Trainer–Initial Review

It’s been a little over a month since we received a sample pair of these shoes from the folks at Newton.  The Motion Stability Performance Trainer  is new for 2012 and is designed to provide a flexible shoe with the support necessary for those needing a little more support.

The shoe features breathable and fast drying open mesh, minimal support strapping, the Action/Reaction Technology forefoot and rearfoot, and, most importantly for this tester, accommodates orthodics.

Initial Impressions:

As you’ve probably read in previous review, this tester uses stability or motion control shoes and SuperFeet insoles, so moving to a minimal shoe was a bit of a jump.  When these shoes arrive, let’s be honest, the first thing we noticed was the color.  They’re…bright.  We continue to get numerous comments on the shoes, mostly positive.

Compared to our normal running shoes, these are unbelievably light.  Almost not there.  A significant change for us.  The shoes are breathable and cool.

We followed Newton’s recommendations and started very slow with the shoes.  Initially, we’d only use the shoes for quick 2-3 mile runs as our gait and form changed based on the shoe design.  After two weeks of testing, we decided to move to longer runs, getting to the 6-7 mile range currently.  When you run in these shoes, the design forces you to alter your gait and form, striking midfoot, taking shorter strides, leaning forward a few degrees.  These are essential components to using these shoes comfortably.  If you fight your body’s response to the shoes and try to toe strike or heel strike, you’re going to be quite uncomfortable.

Running in the Stability Trainers:

HOLY HELL, these are fast shoes.  We’re not prone to exaggeration, so trust us on this one, they’re fast shoes.  A rough estimate: Our normal first mile time at RPE 7 is about 8:30.  After getting used to the feel of these shoes, our new first mile at RPE 7 is about 7:17.  Two miles in less than 15:20.  We haven’t run that fast since college, and just barely.  We’re not saying that the shoes are going to make you faster, but changing our gait and form has certainly sped up our times.  And the effect is not just there when wearing the Newtons; when we use our regular shoes, we’re 20 seconds faster than previously.

The minimal running style is a change for us, so we’ve been progressing slowly.  We did experience a little tension and slight pain around our plantar fascia during our first week.  That pain only occurred twice and was slight both times.  Since that week, we haven’t experienced any pain.

You can also expect to feel the changes in your calves.  Changing your running form uses different muscles, so don’t be surprised to see and feel changes in your body’s response to this new form.

What’s Next:

As a triathlete and an over-pronator, the real test of these shoes will be the long term results.  We will provide additional reviews as we continue to extend our runs in these shoes.  Expect to see side by side comparisons to other shoes, possibly with video, in the near future.  We will conclude this review with a final evaluation, including notes about durability, wear, and long-term comfort.

Again, we don’t guarantee results; we just report our own experience, but these shoes have drastically increased our pace and have a very natural feel.  As the weather here heats up, we’re also excited about the breathability

Remember: Before you make significant changes in your running style, do your research.  What works for us might not work for you.  Be careful, listen to your body, and don’t make dramatic changes quickly.