Next Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12, come to Gord’s Running Store in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for a Newton Natural Running ™ Sympoisum and Form Clinic with Newton Running’s Director of Education and Research, Ian Adamson.

Learn the principles of running biomechanics, injury prevention and how to adopt a natural running stride.

The natural running presentation begins at 5:15 pm at Gord’s Running at 919 Center Street NW, Calgary, Alberta, and the form clinic is on Tuesday at 7:00 pm.

For more information, visit www.NewtonRunning.com or www.GordsRunningStore.com.

In less than a year, Two Rivers Treads Center for Natural Running and Walking has sold over  1000 pair of Newton Running shoes. Newton Runner Dr. Mark Cucuzzella (pictured left) opened the concept store in June  2010.

Dr. Mark, one of the earliest adapters of Natural Running, began researching and learning about better running form after several foot operations in 2000. He discovered the effects of footwear affects as a runner for Brooks Sports and working on minimalist shoe projects. “By cutting the heels off shoes I understood the feel of zero-drop,” says Cucuzzella. “I didn’t need any more data to realize that elastic recoil and natural motion were enhanced with my foot in its anatomic position.”

When these projects were shelved, Dr. Mark contacted Newton Running‘s Danny Abshire, of who was building a shoe designed to facilitate proper running form. Dr. Mark and Newton Running continue to learn and evolve with  a common goal of having runners embrace the notion of “No Pain…Thank you”, not “No Pain…No Gain”.

In 2009 Shepherdstown started hosting running events that soon become the largest in the state.  There is now an entire Freedom’s Run Series of Events (www.freedomsrun.org) with partnerships with the National Parks.  The all-volunteer group builds trails and gardens for schools and has established the Historic Region as a National Heritage Area.

The events have grown such that a race headquarters was needed. Freedom’s Run race committee members Tom Shantz and James Munnis, stepped up to the challenge of creating a shoe store specializing in flat and minimalist shoes.

“The Sir Isaac Guidance Trainer has been an excellent and safe transitioning shoe for many new and experienced runners,” says Shantz. “It is durable and allows the feel and protection of a shoe as runners start to learn and understand better form at their own pace”

“We are big supporters of barefoot running as a supplement to land better and improve posture,” he adds. “Most who have not achieved proper strength, mobility and efficiency would trash a pure minimalist shoe and their bodies in two to three weeks. The resiliency and firmness of Newton Running’s midsole and its sustainable properties make it unique in the shoe market. We also teach the components of healthy movement in weekly clinics and at each customer interaction.”

The Distance Light Weight Trainer is the shoe of choice for State Champion Jefferson High School Cougars. Whereas most coach recommend cushioned trainers to their athletes, Jefferson Coach Scott Biola understands it is critical not to let his runners transition to a dysfunctional heel-to toe-pattern.  One Newton runner who has achieved great success is multiple state champion and 4:15-miler Brandon Doughty.  Brandon has but over 1200 miles in his Newton Running Gravity Neutral Performance Trainers and has avoided injury.  He will run for Oklahoma next year.  Five of Biola’s runners broke 10 minutes over 2 miles this year, when five years ago he would have had trouble finding five runners to break 5 minutes in a mile.

“Chi Running principles have helped me overcome my own injuries,” says Biola. “Getting away from heel striking is an essential aspects to teaching proper mechanics to high school athletes. I prefer to see them land on either the forefoot and rearfoot touching simultaneously or the ball of the foot (forefoot) touching first.”

“It seems that the older the athlete, the harder it is to transition away from the heel strike,” he adds. “Time spent in traditional training shoes definitely has a lot of us accustomed to heel striking. I’ve found that the Newton shoes and other lightweight minimalist models help reinforce proper mechanics. In addition to getting people away from heel striking, these shoes are also light in weight which is essential to having a rapid cadence. That quick turnover not only makes for faster running, it seems to help reduce injuries.”

Dr. Mark has these thoughts about the future: “We are seeing many runners now graduating into less shoe in a healthy and progressive way.  We look forward to the launch of the MV2 in the fall.  It will be a fresh option for those who have learned and evolved. The Isaac , Gravity, and Distance will continue to be our focus for the new and transitioning runners.  With over 1000 pair of these out now I have yet to hear of a customer or their doctor come back to us blaming the shoe. I give credit to my staff who teach patience and progression.”

After the lead of Two Rivers Treads, several stores are now opening with a similar model of selling only flat and minimalist shoes. They are aligning in a partnership and all are Newton Running retailers:

• Born To Run; Bellevue, WA
• Natural  Running Center; Dallas, TX
• Good for the Soles; MA
• Revolution Running; WI
• The Runners Sole; Chambersburg PA
• Hunter Gait; Newcastle, Australia

The store started in a 500-square-foot second-story space and just last week moved to a beautiful  new street level space with triple the space and a new visibility.  The future looks bright for both Newton and Two Rivers Treads.  Two Rivers Treads wishes to thank the support of Newton for a successful first  year. Newton has also been instrumental in the success of Freedom’s Run as a major sponsor (www.freedomsrun.org)  and the US Air Force Running Team, of which I have been a part of for almost 20 years.

Meet Dr. Mark and learn about Newton Natural Running at this weekend’s Running Injury Prevention Conference in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Click here for more details and registration.

i-tri Girls Learn Natural Running Form

We’re proud to be involved with many philanthropic organizations, abroad as well as those close to home. One such organization is i-tri Girls, a small New York non-profit started by one mom who wanted to help local high-school girls find empowerment through sport.

She founded i-tri Girls as a community-based intervention program that fosters self-respect, personal empowerment, self confidence, positive body image and healthy lifestyle choices for adolescent girls. Through the sport of triathlon and a curriculum of physical fitness and nutrition activities, self-affirming lessons of respect, responsibility, teamwork and dedication, i-tri Girls develop healthy habits and attitudes that last a lifetime.

Last week, Newton Running’s Michael Blanchard held a natural running form clinic at the Gubbins Running Ahead store, and the girls all received a pair of Newton Running shoes.

SkirtSports Founder Nicole DeBoom Leads Fun Run

A 13-weeks pregnant Nicole DeBoom joined a running group at The Runner’s Soul in La Grange, Illinois last Monday. The former Ironman Champion and founder of Skirt Sports took part in a fun run. Newton Running tech rep Justin Dyszelsk outfitted many of the participants a pair of test-drive Newton Running shoes.

Runners of all levels are invited to take part in The Runner’s Soul regular Monday evening runs at 6:30 p.m. Fine more information in this article in triblocal.com.

The highly successful “New Trends in the Prevention of Running Injuries” is returning to Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and this time, is paired with a Newton Natural Running™ Coaching Certification Program.

Citing more than a thousand scientific articles and systematic reviews, this edition of New Trends in the Prevention of Running Injuries questions many current practices in the treatment of both runners and non-runners alike. With high quality audio-visual material, this course will integrate the theory and practice of a number of advanced concepts on running.

Topics include:

• Injury etiology and theory
• Diagnosis and treatment of injury
• Planning of training sessions
• Evidence based stretching and strength training
• Biomechanical gait analyses taught by the world’s expert Jay Dicharry
• Analysis of the running shoe
• Teaching barefoot running style with Dr. Mark Cucuzzella recently presented at 2011 Boston Marathon See video
• Optional group runs with experts in the field

The three-day course will enable you to efficiently treat your patients whether they are runners or active in other sports. You will leave with clinical tools such as a DVD (running mechanics, demo exercises, warm-up sequence, etc.), a CD with a PDF document (evaluation sheets, exercise programs, tips, running programs) and portfolio that includes all the academic content of the course.

The course is instructed by three internationally known teachers and leaders in running medicine:

• Blaise Dubois is a physiotherapist who teaches at the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University. Blaise has developed the Running Clinic Canada and has taught over 50 conferences around the world. His involvement with the Canadian athletics team has led him to travel around the world enriching his knowledge and adapting his clinical approach.
• Jay Dicharry is a physiotherapist at the University of Virginia and director of the SPEED Clinic. Jay is the world’s leader in gait analysis and running injury evaluation and treatment.  Runners of all abilities travel from around the world to visit his treatment center.  He has published dozens of studies and reviews and teaches around the country.
• Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, the conference host, is one of the world’s leaders on teaching gait mechanics and injury prevention.  He is an authority on footwear and in the small town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia he opened Two Rivers Treads Center for Natural Running and Walking- the first store focusing exclusively on flat and minimal shoes. In his spare time he directs the Freedom’s Run Series of Events and continues to run at an elite level as a Masters runner.
• Dr. Robert Wilder is Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Virginia and Director of the Runners Clinic.  He has published several texts and articles on running injury, prevention, and treatment.

Gifts, snacks, networking, and free monthly updated literature are some of the many extras you will receive by attending the 24-hour training course. Register now….course limited to 30 participants.  24 hours of CME approved for physicians and physical therapists.

Date: June 23 – 25, followed by the optional Newton Natural Running Coaching Certification Program on June 26. (see below for details).
Program  8:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m.

Special rate $545 (usually $650 USD in Europe and Canada)

Military rate $495

Location: Bavarian Inn
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
304-876-2551
www.bavarianinnwv.com special rate $119/night

Register here at The Running Clinic.

Newton Running Natural Running Coaching Certification Program

Following the three-day course, participants may also take place in a one-day intensive Newton Natural Running™ Coaching Certification Program at Two Rivers Treads in Sheperdstown, West Virginia on June 26. This is normally a three-day program.

The registration free of $250 includes a pair of Newton Running shoes, Natural Running book by Danny Abshire and running apparel. (Exception: Newton Running retailers are free). **You must attend the New Trends in Running Conference to register for this coaching certification program**

Newton Natural Running™ form coaching certification provides coaches with knowledge designed to assist clients with efficient running form, injury prevention and training goals.

Newton Natural Running™ Form Coaching Certification requires participants to:

• Practice a Newton Natural Running™ form
• Attend a three day coaching certification clinic
• Pass written, oral and/or practical examination

Certified Newton Natural Running™ Form Coaches can:

• Teach and analyze Newton Natural Running™ form
• Present Newton Natural Running™ talks and clinics
• Use Newton Natural Running™ certified logos and marks
• Obtain a free listing on newtonrunning.com
• Get discounts on Newton Running products
• Become a Newton Running Affiliate

Cost: $250 (free for Newton Running retailers)
Location: Two Rivers Treads, 113 W. German Street, Sheperdstown, WV
Time: 8:00 am to 3:00 p.m.
To register, contact Dr. Mark Cucuzella at mark [at] freedomsrun.org
For more information, visit: http://www.newtonrunning.com/community/running-coach-certification

Paul Fireman bought Reebok’s North American sales rights in 1979, then capitalized on the ’80s aerobics craze to build a mega-brand. (Boston Globe/File)

The rumors are true! Newton Running just signed a deal to receive a substantial investment from a Boston-based investment firm, Fireman Capital Partners.

“Combining FCP’s expertise in sales and marketing with our innovative technology will allows us to continue our rapid growth and maintain our position as the leader in natural running footwear and education,” says Newton Running CEO Jerry Lee, who retains a controlling interest in the company.

Read more about this new partnership in this article published in today’s Boston Globe.

Newton Natural Running™ form coaching certification provides coaches with knowledge designed to assist clients with efficient running form, injury prevention and training goals.

The next coaching certification program will be held:

JUNE 18 – JUNE 19, 2011 | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

RED COYOTE RUNNING
5800 Classen Blvd. Suite 1, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
June 18, 8am – 8pm
June 19, 8am – 12pm

***Registration deadline is June 15, 2011.
Please contact coaching@newtonrunning.com to register or for more information. NOTE: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

Newton Natural Running™ Form Coaching Certification requires participants to:

• Practice a Newton Natural Running™ form (e.g. Chi, Pose, Evolution, barefoot)
• Attend a three day coaching certification clinic
• Pass written, oral and/or practical examination

Certified Newton Natural Running™ Form Coaches can:

• Teach and analyze Newton Natural Running™ form
• Present Newton Natural Running™ talks and clinics
• Use Newton Natural Running™ certified logos and marks
• Obtain a free listing on newtonrunning.com
• Get discounts on Newton Running products
• Become a Newton Running Affiliate

The two-day coaching clinics include:

• Newton Natural Running™ seminar
• Natural Running textbook
• Pre-assessment
• Posture analysis
• Gait analysis
• Form drills
• Strength and balance exercises
• Teaching techniques
• Footwear choices
• Shoe and apparel package

Not interested in becoming a coach, but want to learn about becoming a natural runner? Attend the free Natural Running Presentation on Saturday, June 18 at 6 p.m. and one of the associated one-hour associated form clinics on June 18 or 19 at 10 a.m. All events take place at Red Coyote Running in Oklahoma City, OK.

Newton Running’s Director of Research and Education, Ian Adamson, will be traveling through Georgia and Alabama next week to give a series of *FREE* natural running presentations and form clinics:

Natural Runnning Form Clinic
Friday, May 13, 7:00 a.m.
DEKA Atlanta, 3400 Around Lenox Road, Suite 102 B
Atlanta, GA 30326
www.dekaatlanta.com

Natural Running Presentation
May 13, 6:30 pm
Natural Running Form Clinic
May 14, 8:00 am
All 3 Sports, 8601 Dunwoody Place, Ste 450
Atlanta, GA 30350
www.all3sports.com

Natural Running Presentation
May 14, 5:30 pm
Natural Running Form Clinic
May 15, 8:00 am
3517 Northside Parkway
West Stride, Atlanta, GA 30327
www.weststride.com

Natural Running Presentation
May 16, 6:00 pm
Natural Running Form Clinic
May 17, 6:30 pm
Montgomery Multisport, 8107 Vaughn Road
Montgomery, AL 36116
www.montgomerymultisport.com

Natural Running Presentation
May 17, 6:30 pm
Natural Running Form Clinic
May 18, 6:30 am
McCoy Outdoor, 3498 Springhill Ave
Mobile, AL 36608
www.mccoyfineguns.com

Visit www.newtonrunning.com for a complete schedule of upcoming Natural Running Symposia across the country.

Natural Running Form Clinic and Presentation
How Running Naturally can Improve your Marathon
Saturday, April 30, 2011, 8:30 a.m.
Forerunners, Vancouver, B.C.
3502 West 4th Avenue
This is a FREE event.

Who is Leading the Symposium?

Steve Mackel lives in California and is a Newton Running Certified Natural Running Coach by Newton, Certified ChiRunning® Instructor, RRCA Marathon Coach, USA Triathlon Coach, and is Head Coach of the Sole Runners Full and Half Marathon Training Programs.

He founded running web sites SoCalRunning.com and recently launched MarathonTraining.TV. In 1999, he turned is attention to endurance sports training and in 2005 became a full time coach focusing on running. He has helped thousands of runners complete their first marathon and helped others gain new personal records. He focuses his attention on the biomechanics of running efficiently, increasing running speed and reducing potential injuries.

What Will I Learn?

-Basic running biomechanics
-How Natural Running reduces injury
-The Science behind the design of Newton Running shoes

For more information, visit. www.forerunners.ca or call 604-732-4535.

We’re excited to announce that the newest addition to our list of upcoming natural running symposia is Culver City’s Sporteve, L.A.’s first active-wear store dedicated to looking after women’s needs.

The natural running form clinic, led by Newton Running’s Ian Adamson, will be followed by a presentation on natural running biomechanics and injury prevention.

Natural Running Form Clinic & Presentation
Where: 3849 Main Street | Culver City, CA 90232
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Time: 8:30 – 11:30  a.m.
Contact: 310-838-6588 | sporteve.com

Learn more about Natural Running Symposia here:

The Starting Block – Springfield presents:

Natural Running Reception & Presentation
Where: Missouri State University | 901 S National, Professional Building, Room 103 | Springfield, MO 65804
Date: Monday, March 28, 2011
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Contact: 417.890.7200 | startingblockonline.com

Natural Running Form Clinic
Where: 1254 E. Republic Road | Springfield, MO 65804
Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Time: 5:30 pm-6:30 pm
Contact: 417.890.7200 | startingblockonline.com

———————————————————

Red Coyote Running and Fitness presents:

Natural Running Reception & Presentation
Where: 5800 N. Classen Blvd. Ste 1 | Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Date: Friday, March 25, 2011
Time: 6:00 -8:00 pm
Contact: 405.840.0033 |redcoyoterunning.com

Natural Running Form Clinic
Where: 5800 Classen Blvd. Ste 1 | Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2011
Time: 12-1:00 pm
Contact: 405.840.0033 |redcoyoterunning.com