Last June I started training for my first marathon. As I increased my training mileage, I developed a nasty case of plantar fasciitis that has plagued me ever since. I did everything I was ‘supposed’ to do to help remedy the problem: visited a podiatrist and a sports medicine doc, bought shoe inserts and custom orthotics, ART, cortisone shot, deep tissue massage, took time off, ultrasounds, and physical therapy. None of these relieved my symptoms.
During this time I was continually searching for a solution. In desperation, I would Google random key words to see if anything new popped up. I purchased various types of shoes, thinking that if I switched them maybe one day I would hit on THE lucky shoe! No luck. One day I randomly Googled "Are Newtons good for Plantar Fasciitis", which directed me to the Newton Running website, where I saw this written: "This shoe allows you to run naturally — faster with greater efficiency and fewer overuse injuries (like achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis)." Curiosity piqued, I emailed Newton about the pain I was having, and I immediately went out and bought a pair of Lady Isaacs.
Newton Running was, and has been, amazing from the start. Not only did they email me back with tips to help move into their shoes, they also me gave tips to hopefully help me fix my feet. After a little time in the Lady Isaacs, I knew I liked them and wanted to try another type of Newton shoe. I was lucky enough to get to test wear a pair of the Newton Gravity trainers (disclosure: these shoes were provided free of charge by the manufacturer).
Okay, a few thoughts on the shoes.
Newton Running Shoes vs. Standard Running Shoes
Coming fresh from wearing standard running shoes, I will say that the first thing you will notice is the forefoot is built up in Newtons. This is to help promote forefoot / mid foot striking – a more natural running form. The shoes accomplish the goal nicely, without feeling awkward. The Newtons are pretty easy to move into from a standard shoe with the only immediate noticeable difference being they have the added lugs in the forefoot. They don’t feel shockingly different, as it may feel going from a standard running shoe straight into a minimalist zero drop shoe. Don’t get me wrong, you need to follow their advice and gradually work your way into them. Your running form is changing and this requires an adjustment period to avoid injury.
Lady Isaacs VS. Gravity
I didn’t really feel a huge difference between the two. Both shoes are light and comfortable. Lady Isaacs are 8.7 oz, Gravity are 8.4 oz. Both have the Newton lugs under the forefoot, and both felt more or less the same to me. However, I will say the Gravity has a more round and roomy toe box.
Appearance
I really like the the look of the Gravity. I like the shape of the roomy, round toe box and the way the laces seem to go down a bit further on these shoes (more so than the Lady Isaacs). I love the bright Orange color, a trademark of most Newton shoes.
Feel
Even though the Gravity trainers are roomy, the insoles are form fitting, especially around the heel. You can feel it curve and embrace your heel, but in a way that feels good. As mentioned before, the toe box is roomy, which is nice because you don’t have to worry about any rubbing. I ran the 2011 Boston Marathon in these and walked away blister free.
And not to be forgotten, these shoes are light! You don’t sacrifice support to get the light shoe. Being made mostly of mesh, it lightens the load and gives plenty of stretch at the same time.
A note on sizing: I found that they do run small, and I needed a half size larger than my other running shoes.
Performance
The built up forefoot does make it easier to keep a more natural running stride, landing and lift, avoiding heel strike. The light weight of the shoe, along with the ease of better running form, does seem to shave some time off my running pace. I have gone back and forth between shoes to test this, and it has always held true for me. I run faster in my Newtons.
My Plantar Fasciitis
I feel like I need to address this, as it is what led me to Newton in the first place. As I have continued my training, I have gone back and forth between my Gravity trainers and standard running shoes. I wanted to see if there was a difference among shoes in how they aggravated my plantar fasciitis. Experimenting proved to me that I do run faster in my Gravity (sweet perk!), and though my PF is still there, it is not as severe when I wear my Gravity.
In my standard running shoes, the night of and next day after a run, my foot hurts. The pain in the heel can be sharp, and walking is typically stiffer and a little more difficult. But, in the Gravity, I don’t have the sharp pains, and I don’t hobble the next day. As mentioned, the pain is still there, but it seems that the shoes prevent the pain from flaring up after a run. This gives me hope that with time, it will go away. If nothing else, the Newton shoes have helped me keep my PF at bay, allowing me to continue to pursue my running goals. That is what’s most important if you ask me.
Lastly, I’d like to thank Newton for their incredible customer service – they have gone above and beyond what I would expect from a shoe company. I can’t say that enough.
For more information about Newton shoes, visit the Newton Running website.
