FACT #1- Marathon running is boring.
And the only thing more boring than doing a marathon is watching a marathon. Road-running may give you a healthy set of lungs, but will leave you with as much upper body strength as Keira Knightley. At Tough Mudder, we want to test your all-around mettle, not just your ability to run in a straight line, on your own, for hours on end, getting bored out of your mind. Our obstacle courses are designed by British Special Forces to test you in every way and are meant only for truly exceptional all-around people, not for people who have enough time and money to train their knees to run 42.1 km.

FACT #2 – Mudders℠ do not take themselves too seriously.
Triathlons, marathons, and other lame-ass mud runs are more stressful than fun. Not Tough Mudder. As hardcore as our courses are, we meet you at the finish line with a pint, a laugh, and a live band. It’s pretty hard to take yourself seriously when you’re covered in mud and have just finished an obstacle called ‘Just The Tip’, so please don’t show up at a Tough Mudder without a sense of humor. Just check out the ridiculous team costumes in our event photos to get a feel for the spirit of Tough Mudder.

FACT #3 – You cannot complete a Tough Mudder course alone.
To get through mud, fire, ice-water, and 10,000 volts of electricity you’ll need teammates to pick you up when your spirits dip. To get over 3 m walls and through underground mud tunnels, you’ll need teammates to give you a boost and a push. Tough Mudders are team players who make sure no one gets left behind. To that end, all Mudders℠ are expected to uphold our ideals and exhibit teamwork and camaraderie both on the course and off it. All participants are asked to join us in reciting the Tough Mudder pledge before starting each event.

The Obstacles

Arctic Enema
This obstacle is all about mental grit. Many athletes use ice baths for recovery, but you’ll have a difficult time relaxing your muscles in this frigid dumpster. First you must bravely jump into Big Mudder’s floating iceberg abyss. Once submerged, find the mental and physical strength to swim through the ice, under a wooden plank and pull yourself out on the other end before you become hypothermic.

Bale Bonds
Hurl yourself over (or through) a stack of hay bales – and watch out for the pitchfork inside! You’ll need a strong core to get over this mountain and help your teammates complete this obstacle. The hay bales present a unique challenge with an uneven surface and loose hay making it difficult for Mudders℠ to get a good grip while climbing. Once you get to the top, help Mudders℠ behind you by giving them a hand! You can train for Bale Bonds by strengthening your core with planks, side planks and dips.

 Ball Shrinker
This obstacle earned its name because it’s almost impossible to conquer without getting at least half submerged into an icy pool of water. Mudders℠ must cross a body of water with just one rope overhead to hold, and another below to walk on. The rope is slippery, and tends to get water-logged causing it to sag deeper and deeper into the water as the day goes on. This obstacle requires mental grit and persistence to successfully complete. Forget about trying to keep your jewels warm, just suck it up and Mudder℠ on.

Berlin Walls
This obstacle relies on teamwork. Scale three 12′ wooden walls with the help of your teammates, strategically placed for when you are at your weakest during the event. While some Mudders℠ have worked up the strength to ascend the walls alone, most need a boost from a fellow Mudder℠ — they got your back, literally.

Boa Constrictor
If you don’t like small spaces, this obstacle will be a challenge for you. Crawl through a series of pipes that force you on a downhill into some freezing mud, then a slippery uphill to the other side. Your legs will be useless in the narrow confines of the Boa, so use your arms to pull yourself through this obstacle. There really is light at the end of the tunnel.

Braveheart Charge
Charge onto the Tough Mudder course with a start wave full of pumped-up Mudders℠. Battle cries are essential! The Braveheart Charge marks the beginning of every Tough Mudder obstacle course. Some courses navigate straight up a hill or mountain as soon as Mudders℠ exit the start area. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to charge full-steam ahead or use the slow & steady approach. The Mudders℠ go marching one by one, ooh rah.

Cliffhanger
Cliff Hanger is an obstacle all about teamwork and camaraderie: a 40+ foot cliff of slippery mud angled at 45-degrees. The Cliff always begins with good intenions: a muddy sprint up onto the slope and transitions into a crawl with handholds and footholds in short supply. Beware if you attempt this obstacle alone, your futile verticle scramble will likely turn into an uncontrolled slide back down into the mudpit below. Successful Mudders℠ will form a chain link of fellow participants slowly inching up the slope. If you want to train for Cliff Hanger you should find the biggest hill near your house, measure it, then drive until you get to a hill twice as steep.

Devil’s Beard
A cargo net fastened to the ground that Mudders℠ must pass underneath. Try as you might, you will get caught up in this annoyingly low cargo net. Teamwork is essential to get through this obstacle, otherwise you’ll be forced down to the ground by the weight of the cargo net. On some courses, Devil’s Beard is placed on an uphill, adding gravity to the already strong forces pushing you downward.

Dirty Ballerina
Leap with the grace of a black swan muddily over our 4-foot-wide mud pits. 4 feet may not sound challenging at first, but the tracks of leaping Mudders℠ will erode the mud pits into wide, jagged-edged muddy gaps. Should your inner ballerina stumble, as she often can, you’ll find yourself submerged in a mud pit and calling your teammates for an assist.

Electric Eel
Mudders℠ frequently forget about this obstacle since they’re so focused on Electroshock Therapy – but they shouldn’t. Slide on your belly through frigid water or, even worse, a layer of ice and beware of the shocks overhead. Should you try to crawl on your knees, you’ll be smacked with live wires and your body will compulsively contort. Be sure to protect your head, otherwise you might experience what Big Mudder calls a brain reboot.

Electroshock Therapy
Sprint through a field of live wires — some carrying as much as 10,000 volts of electric shock. Watch out for hay bales and deep mud, or you will face-plant into some electrifying mud. Some Mudders℠ try to stealthily wind their way through the wires without getting shocked, while others barrel forward to get through as quickly as possible. Either way, you are guaranteed to get zapped with as much as 10,000 volts of electricity and it does NOT tickle. This is typically the last obstacle Mudders℠ must overcome before they cross the finish line.

Everest
Snowboarders and skate boarders have the half-pipe. Mudders℠ have a real obstacle: Everest. A quarter-pipe that you’ll have to sprint up and enlist the help of other Mudders℠ to hurl you over this beastly summit. Everest is coated in mud and grease, a combination which will likely send you right back from where you came. Call upon other Mudders℠ to catch you as you run up the quarter-pipe or work together to form a human chain so that you can scale someone’s shoulders to finally summit Everest.

Fire Walker
As the name of the obstacle implies, you’ll be running through a trench of blazing, kerosene-soaked straw. You can expect flames at least 4 feet tall. While the flames might seem like the most intimidating aspect of this obstacle, Mudders℠ often forget that with fire comes smoke. Take a deep breath before you enter this obstacle because believe us, you don’t want your lungs full of this thick smoke. Build up your lung capacity while training for Tough Mudder or you’ll be forced to inhale some nasty carcinogens.

Funky Monkey
Sure monkey bars were easy when you were 5 years old, but you’ll need to hold on extra tight to these. Some have been greased with our finest mixture of mud and butter and if you slip you’ll fall into an icy pond below. Bars are spaced 1.5 feet apart and you will be on an incline upward for the first half of the Monkey and then descending downward for the second portion. Seasoned Mudders℠ keep their arms bent at a 90-degree angle and bicycle-kick their legs to gain momentum.

Gauntlet
Prepare to feel like you’re at a South American political demonstration as you get high-pressure hosed from both sides while climbing a steep, muddy incline. Usually, Mudders℠ are already soaked to the bone and quite cold when entering the Gauntlet. This obstacle is as mentally challenging as it is physically, and definitely contributes to the “Tough” in Tough Mudder.

Glacier
The concept is simple: summit a frigid glacier. Your hands and feet will freeze while you try climb this big-ass pile of snow and ice. The longer you take, the colder you’ll get. Try to move quickly to preserve warmth and mobility in your extremities!

Greased Lightning
Have some fun sliding down this massive slippery slope into a frigid, muddy pool of water at the bottom. On some courses, Greased Lightning is built on a snowy hill making for some literally cold-ass Mudders℠. Inflatable inner-tubes and pool toys are welcome! Real Mudders℠ go head first.

Hangin’ Tough
Swing Tarzan-style across a series of hanging rings suspended over a pool of ice-cold water. Rings are placed 4 to 6 feet apart. It is important to maintain momentum and coordination while swinging across this series of rings. A strong grip and precise coordination are required to complete this obstacle successfully.

Hold Your Wood
Make like a lumberjack and carry a heavy log through a section of the Tough Mudder course. If the course is flat, expect to be lugging your log for at least 1/2 mile. If the area is hilly or mountainous, get friendly with your wood because you’ll be hauling it up a steep and challenging ascent.

Kiss of Mud
Eat dirt as you crawl commando-style under barbed wire set 8 inches from the ground. This obstacle is true to it’s name – Mudders must belly-crawl through mud in order to avoid getting snagged by the barbed wire above. On some courses, the Kiss of Mud is set on an uphill, increasing the level of difficulty. To prepare for this obstacle, start crawling in any mud you come across, or, do our Tough plank series (alternating low & high planks – fast!).

Log Bog Jog
Jump over and crawl under large logs strewn across the course. This may not sound very difficult, but with fatigued muscles and logs placed at varying heights, the Log Bog Jog has proven to be a challenge for Mudders℠. To prepare for this obstacle, find a bunch of fallen trees to scale & crawl underneath. If you don’t have an abundance of fallen trees nearby to train with, belly-bombers (also known as burpees) will suffice.

Mud Mile
Slosh through up to a mile of waist-deep sludge as you try not to lose your shoes in the mud. Balance and coordination are required if you want to make it through this obstacle without face-planting… but what’s the fun in that? Real Mudders℠ eat mud for breakfast. On some courses, Mudders℠ will encounter obstructions throughout Mud Mile that require them to fully submerge in the mud to slosh onward.

Spiders Web
Crawl like a spider up and over a cargo net suspended between two trees – keep a good grip or you will fall into a tangled web (er, cargo net) below! The net is fastened with tension at the top only, leaving the bottom of the net loose and unsteady. Teamwork has proven to be very helpful for successfully completing this obstacle. Mudders℠ will pull the bottom of the net towards the ground to create tension so their teammates can climb with balance and control.

Trench Warfare
This military-style obstacle requires Mudders℠ to crawl through narrow, dark, muddy trenches. Watch out for rocks, obstructions, and the occasional splash of muddy water from the Mudder℠ crawling ahead. We advise all Mudders℠ to move quickly through this obstacle to reduce the risk of contracting gangrene or trench foot. These trenches will test the stamina and mental grit of all Mudders℠, especially those who fear dark, confined spaces.

Turd’s Nest
Crawl over this suspended cargo net – make sure you don’t fall! Watch out for raging rivers, barbed wire or Mudders℠ running below. The cargo net can feel unsteady and Mudders℠ risk getting limbs tangled in the ropes if they fall through the gaps. Balance and coordination are required to successfully complete this obstacle.

Twinkle Toes
This obstacle’s not as easy as it sounds. Call upon your inner chi to maintain balance and carefully traverse a narrow wooden beam or risk falling in yet another ice-laden pond. Mudders℠ are known not only for their strength and stamina, but also for their balance and agility. Just remember to breathe.

Underwater Tunnels
Bob underneath rows of floating barrels as you battle the frigid water temperatures. This obstacle requires mental grit, as extreme cold can be as challenging mentally as it is physically. Focus on breathing, and move quickly through the water to complete the Underwater Tunnels and warm up once you are ashore. You can prepare for this obstacle by swimming in ice-cold bodies of water, or taking cold showers. Try to regulate your breathing and control your heart rate in order to acclimate your body to cold water conditions.

Walk The Plank
Test your fear of heights and cold all in one with our 15+ feet high jump into freezing water. Mudders℠ like to display their fancy diving skills (or belly-flops) at this obstacle. Don’t spend too much time pondering your leap – Marines at the top of the platform will chew you out, or worse, push you into the freezing depths below.

So those were just some examples of what you’ll be facing when you test your chances at being the toughest mudder out. Just to make everything easier for you all, we went through the FAQs and thought we’d give you a hand with some things, especially the big one which is “what kind of shoes can I wear on the day?”

Here’s a few options that we at Adventure Megastore recommend:

1. Inov-8 X-Talon 190

This shoe will redefine expectations for elite runners looking for the highest levels of proprioception and the most natural foot position. Featuring a 3mm differential between the forefoot and heel and a 3mm footbed, the X-Talon™ 190 ensures that your foot remains closer to the ground in its most stable position.

Weight 190g / 6.7oz (UK8)

2. Inov-8 BareGrip 200

The freedom and sensation of barefoot running but the grip of an all conquering off trail shoe. Incredibly light and responsive, the bare-grip™ 200 simply screams “SPRINT ME, RACE ME” when you lace it up…and boy, does it deliver! Uniquely the ZERO Arrow Shoc-Zone™ Bare-Grip™ 200 does not have a midsole, so all the natural power and speed of the foot is transferred directly through the shoe. The closest you can get to barefoot running in a harsh off road trail environment.

Weight 200g / 7oz (UK8)

3. Inov-8 X-Talon 212

More World Championship wins than any other shoe in off road running. The optimum combination of minimal weight, stability and grip as well as a durable and protective upper.

4. Inov-8 RocLite 285

A lightweight and versatile trail shoe designed for maximum performance in both races and training. The reinforced toe box protects the foot and shoe upper from any unexpected terrain.

5. Vibram FiveFingers Spyridon LS

Our first trail running specific model, the Spyridon LS provides the perfect balance of foot feel and protection on rugged surfaces. A minimalist 3.5mm Vibram rubber sole provides impact protection from stones and debris, while better allowing proper barefoot dynamics.

The aggressive tread design delivers sure-footed grip in all directions, moulded nylon mesh in midsole adds a rock block effect, dispersing impact over a wider area. The Coconut Active Carbon upper offers natural breathability and an adjustable hook-and-loop closure ensures a secure fit. 3M reflective applications for safety after dark.

6. Vibram FiveFingers TrekSport

Optimize your outdoor performance. Building on the success and versatility of theKSO and KSO Trek, FiveFingers presents the TrekSport for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s designed with rugged, high-performance materials to help maximise your outdoor experience. Vibram used abrasion-resistant Coconut Active Carbon in the upper for natural breathability, 4mm EVA in the midsole for plating protection, and we’ve added a lightly cleated 4mm Vibram® performance rubber outsole for extra traction on a variety of terrain.

What is the Spartan Race though?
With four race distances, from the 7k Sprint to the 42K Ultra-Beast, Spartan Race is the word’s most exciting and challenging obstacle race series. You’ll climb rope, avoid barbed wire,drag a concrete block and throw spears. At the end, you’ll face off against the gladiators – expect no mercy in the arena. You will do 30 burpees for each obstacle you fail to overcome. Show up unprepared at your own peril.

So for those competing will be after some Spartan shoes to help you get through that tough day. Here’s a few that we think is the best for you:

Inov-8 X Talon 190

This shoe will redefine expectations for elite runners looking for the highest levels of proprioception and the most natural foot position. Featuring a 3mm differential between the forefoot and heel and a 3mm footbed, the X-Talon™ 190 ensures that your foot remains closer to the ground in its most stable position.

Weight 190g / 6.7oz (UK8)

Inov-8 RocLite 285

A lightweight and versatile trail shoe designed for maximum performance in both races and training. The reinforced toe box protects the foot and shoe upper from any unexpected terrain.

Inov-8 BareGrip 200

The freedom and sensation of barefoot running but the grip of an all conquering off trail shoe. Incredibly light and responsive, the bare-grip™ 200 simply screams “SPRINT ME, RACE ME” when you lace it up…and boy, does it deliver! Uniquely the ZERO Arrow Shoc-Zone™ Bare-Grip™ 200 does not have a midsole, so all the natural power and speed of the foot is transferred directly through the shoe. The closest you can get to barefoot running in a harsh off road trail environment.

Weight 200g / 7oz (UK8)

Vibram FiveFingers Spyridon LS

Our first trail running specific model, the Spyridon LS provides the perfect balance of foot feel and protection on rugged surfaces. A minimalist 3.5mm Vibram rubber sole provides impact protection from stones and debris, while better allowing proper barefoot dynamics.

The aggressive tread design delivers sure-footed grip in all directions, moulded nylon mesh in midsole adds a rock block effect, dispersing impact over a wider area. The Coconut Active Carbon upper offers natural breathability and an adjustable hook-and-loop closure ensures a secure fit. 3M reflective applications for safety after dark.

Trek Sport

Optimize your outdoor performance. Building on the success and versatility of the KSO and KSO Trek, FiveFingers presents the TrekSport for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s designed with rugged, high-performance materials to help maximise your outdoor experience. Vibram used abrasion-resistant Coconut Active Carbon in the upper for natural breathability, 4mm EVA in the midsole for plating protection, and we’ve added a lightly cleated 4mm Vibram® performance rubber outsole for extra traction on a variety of terrain.

As you can see from the above pictures, there are different types of shoes that we at Adventure Megastore, recommend for you to wear when competing in the Spartan Race. It’s important to find a shoe with tough soles and good grip, hence the Inov-8‘s with their cleats and trail traction to give you that better grip when running through that mud and dirt.

Spartan Race as you can see is an ultimate test of strength, mentality and camaraderie.

Who will come out on top…

… and who will fall to their weakness?

Come grab a pair of shoes from Adventure Megastore today and test your limits!

Getting your size for Vibram Fivefingers without trying them on can be very difficult. Due to the unique design of Vibram Fivefingers there is no direct conversion from your shoe size to an associated Vibram. However, using a few techniques shown in the Vibram Fivefingers Sizing video below will help you roughly get the Fivefingers size range.

There are a few tips that make sure you’re accurately sizing Vibram fivefingers.

1. Always Measure both feet as studies say 60% of people have one foot bigger than the other, with the left commonly being larger. (Always use the same measuring technique when sizing up both feet.)
2. Make sure the ruler used underneath the foot is completely against the wall.
3. Make sure your heel is touching the wall once the ruler is in place.
4.  make sure to slightly bend your knee to get a proper weight bearing measurement.
5. If you’re on the edge of a size always size up to make sure you give your feet freedom to move.
6. Make sure you use the larger foot to accurately use the sizing chart.
7. If your second toe is more than 4MM longer than your big toe, it may be difficult to get a precise fit.

Some things to consider when sizing:

1. What activity will I be using Vibram Fivefingers for?
2. What is my foot type? (wide, high instep, narrow heel, high volume)
3. How is my running technique?
4. Do I have any gate issues that Vibrams will make it worse?
5. Do you plan to wear socks?
   

   If so what thickness. The Injinji liners wont add much in terms of sizing, but the wool and regular weight can affect the fit.

Vibram Fivefingers Sizing Video

Vibram Fivefingers Sizing Chart – Metric

 Properly Fitting Vibram Fivefingers

Here is a sneak peak at some of the new colourways for the New Balance Minimus Road MR10 & WR10. We think they’re much more exciting than the current models seen here. They’re set to be released in the first week in June 2013.

New Balance introduced the Road R10 with 4mm drop around 2 years ago, which had decent success in the states, but failed to make an impact here. We found the previous model to be much too thick and too similar to a standard running shoe. The newly improved sole unit and lightweight design make the shoe an excellent choice for transitioning into barefoot running.

New Balance Minimus Road MR10 – Mens

New Balance Minimus Road WR10 – Womens

The unique concept about Merrell Barefoot shoes is their soles. Adapting the Vibram rubbers they’ve created their own tread made specifically for either road or trail running. Of course, this doesn’t specifically mean its a running shoe, Merrell Barefoot created a more conventional looking shoe so that you could wear it out as a walking shoe around the city or perhaps go bushwalking. But let’s discuss it from a runner’s point of view for a moment. What would you say to a runner who was considering both shoes?

Appearance

Let’s all be honest here. A traditional running shoe doesn’t exactly treat to kindly to the eye but we all secretly go out there trying to find ourselves a nice looking running shoe. Merrell Barefoot have taken this thought into consideration and created a somewhat more conventional looking shoe so that you could wear it when you’re walking around the city as well.

Road Tread

Trail Tread

Now that you’ve seen the two soles, what could possibly be the difference between the two? Everything! Okay, not everything, it still is a fairly similar shoe but the key differences in these two shoes are really specifically made for the environment it’s in.

Fit

For example, the Trail Glove ties up tighter around the neck of the shoe to ensure that sticks and stones don’t fall in, similar concept of the Vibram FiveFingers KSO model, whereas the Road Glove has a looser feel to them. Not that you’ll be slipping out of your Road Gloves any time soon but the model was made that it didn’t need to be so tight around the neck because there was a less likely chance of rocks and sticks getting in compared to the Trail Glove.

The Trail Glove is noticeably tighter around the arch as well, as if there is an invisible band around the shoe, keeping your foot fairly snug as you run. This could be the game changer when it comes to choosing between the two models. If you have a narrow foot, you’ll find the snugness no problem to handle with, even someone with a normal foot will notice the snugness but not enough for you to be annoyed by it but if you have a wide an flat foot, this could be a problem. If this is the case, the Road Glove may be the one to go for.

Tread

The tread of the Trail Glove is much more prominent, imagine it to be somewhat similar to cleats but not as technical, this allows traction for when running through loose gravel and dirt in comparison to the Road Glove, which has a smoother sole which although doesn’t allow the same traction on trail, still has incredible grip on the sole to allow traction on the road. Now here’s the thing, everyone is always looking for the golden shoe. The one that allows you to do anything and everything, for example, if you’re a runner like I am, you’d want to be able for your feet to take you everywhere, whether it be running from road to dirt or road to trails, you’d want to make sure your shoe can handle it all. The good thing that I have been informed about is that I’ve had customers who run in the Trail Glove on the road and still absolutely love it; it goes for the Road Gloves too. Merrell’s ability to create a shoe that allows you to run in a variety of environments, in my books is a great shoe.

With a great fit, good looks and amazing versatility, it is hard to choose between the two models but as the name states, each model is made for it’s use and I think the best way to choose between the two models is where you’ll be running more in and to know that even if you decide to run in a different environment, you’ll be able to with no troubles.

For all you guys preparing for your treks to Everest (Summit, Base Camp and Surrounds), check this out, if you haven’t seen it already.

http://www.glacierworks.org/the-glaciers/everest-tour-spring-2012/

.. in addition to checking out the view – why not check out our great range of products for your trip..
Shoes
Socks
Apparel

Skora is a new running company that have been around for about three to four years now. Although being a zero drop shoe, it isn’t exactly as ultra minimal as some other shoes are out there. So for the barefoot fans, Skora is a good cushioning option for a long race but if you were keen on a super barefoot feel than it may not be the one you are after. Either way, here’s a few details about Skora and maybe that way you can make the decision for yourself.

Run Real is more than a statement, it is a way of conducting business. They believe that runners are smarter than most brands give them credit for. They are free-thinking and challenge conventional wisdom. They believe in common sense, rational principles and challenging the status-quo.

SKORA Running Video from SKORA INC. on Vimeo.

At SKORA they view Real Running as running how nature intended – efficient, effective and with ease. As the foot strikes the ground, contact is made in the middle of the foot, not at the heel. Running with a whole-foot gait results in less impact energy and force shock transmitted through the body than compared to the heel strike gait favored by conventional running shoes (built with large amounts of cushioning, support and a thicker heel).

For years, they have been sold technology that is supposed to make the running process better than nature has intended. Despite the millions of marketing dollars spent, and countless studies, there has yet to be any conclusive proof that bags of air, gel, shock absorbers or fancy support systems work or decrease instance of injury. In fact, there are many studies that show the opposite.

There is indeed now a movement towards products that encourage more natural running form. Some call it “barefoot”, “minimal” or “natural” or “free”.

If you look closely however, you will find most of these products are little different than the running shoes built and sold with “advanced technical features” for years. “Natural” shoes that have thick heels and TPU shanks? Proprietary technical cushioning systems? Doesn’t sound so “natural”, does it?

At SKORA, they reject the terms “minimal”, “natural”, or “barefoot-style” when it comes to running. They believe there is only one way to run that respects our bodies — simply put, it is Real Running. Nothing more, nothing less.

Run Real.

“Running ability is programmed into the human DNA. For millions of years, we have run from danger and towards the things we seek. As humans, we innately know how to run — we Run Real.”

Real Running is not a new program, proprietary technique, or something they invented. Real Running is their honest, open solution to the confusion over terms like “barefoot”, “minimal”, “natural” and “free” styles of running.

At SKORA, they look at things differently. They believe that running shoes should be built to encourage running performance that is as biomechanically correct as possible, with minimal interference. SKORA’s footwear lets people run naturally. Run Real is their philosophy and they stand by it.

SKORA is a new company with a new vision and philosophy. This means that they can do things differently and are not in a position of trying to follow all the marketing and design practices that are the foundation of conventional athletic brands and products.

Run Real is more than a statement, it is a way of conducting business. They believe that runners are smarter than most brands give them credit for. They are free-thinking and challenge conventional wisdom. They believe in common sense, rational principles and challenging the status-quo.

1. Minimal means many things.
“From the start, we envisioned creating a range of “minimal” within the collection in order to satisfy the interests and needs of a broad spectrum of runners. The response to our original 10 series product (4mm drop) has been terrific, but we know that there are many runners who are intensely interested in zero drop products. There are good reasons why a runner might prefer one style over the other – and we ultimately want to support them both and more.”

2. ‘Zero’ refers to more than just the size of the drop.
“We define our NB Minimus collection by 3 measures: weight, stack height and the heel-to-toe drop. Those are the levers that we can pull to create different levels of minimal product. In addition to the reduced drop, NB Minimus Zero products also feature lower stack heights and weights than the 10 series – 6.4 oz for NB Minimus Zero Road and 4.4 oz for NB Minimus Zero Trail.”

3. Zero wouldn’t have been possible without the first round of NB Minimus product.
“We definitely learned a lot in the process of making the first NB Minimus product. I don’t think we’ve ever done more prototype rounds on a shoe than the MT10!”

4. We’ve had too many ideas to fit into just one model.
“We had some ideas for the 10 series that we weren’t able to execute at the time. You’ll begin to see those on the NB Minimus Zero product. One example is the coring of the midsole on the Zero that greatly reduces weight and provides amazing flexibility. In fact, we had an idea for the original product that we are still working on for the third evolution of NB Minimus in 2013.”

5. These shoes are going to make you work for it.
“The NB Minimus Zero series product is for runners who are looking to go even more minimal – more ground feel, more independent foot movement, less weight. The Trail Zero is particularly minimal. It will really force the runner to pay attention to how they are running because the shoe won’t be doing any of the work for them.”

6. You’re going to want to come prepared.
“We would recommend the NB Minimus Zeros to runners who are already experienced with minimal trainers. NB Minimus Zero would be a big departure for people who are running in traditional shoes – even more so than our current line. The zero drop is only part of the minimal equation that runners should note. We have significantly reduced the amount of foam and rubber underfoot.”

7. Zero drop is going to be an adjustment for a lot of people.
“Transition times vary per person, but it’s important that even experienced minimal runners make transitions cautiously. Incorporate more minimal products slowly into your running schedule and be hyper-aware of what you are feeling in your feet, ankles and calves. We also highly recommend employing Good Form Running techniques while using minimal shoes.”

8. NB Minimus is inspiring updates in other running shoes.
“In general, we’ve found that runners are increasingly interested in more neutral platforms. We have taken this thinking into other areas of our running product line and have expanded our use of non-traditional off-sets. In Spring 2012, we’ll launch 2 key performance updates that will move from a 12mm to an 8mm drop.”

9. And even in some places that don’t have anything to do with running.
“You’ll definitely see that influence in other products…you’ve already seen it with NB Minimus Life and NB Minimus Training.”

You will have noticed in the last few posts the different styles that New Balance have released but here you’ll receive a more in depth post about each and every one of those styles.

What makes it Minimus?

LOWER DROP
Drop is the difference between heel height and toe height. Minimus features a range of drops to encourage a more natural foot position.

WIDER TOE BOX
The wider forefoot allows your foot to expand naturally on impact.

LOWER STACK HEIGHT
To maximize closer-to-barefoot feel, Minimus has no insert, minimal midsoles & outsoles, and is engineered to encourage mid-foot strikes.

LIGHTWEIGHT
Because Minimus contains only what is necessary, it’s almost 50% lighter than traditional lightweight shoes.

*Caution: This product should be introduced slowly into a running exercise routine. New Balance recommends limiting initial use to 10% of overall running workouts and very gradually increasing time and distance. This product increases the strain on the foot, calf, and Achilles tendon. Overuse of this product or use for activities outside of running and walking may increase the risk of sustaining injury.

Now let us introduce you to the new range!

1. New Balance Minimus Road MR10 – Mens

2. New Balance Minimus Road WR10 – Womens

3. New Balance Minimus Trail T10 – Mens

4. New Balance MT810 Trail Running – Mens

5. New Balance MW995 Walking Shoes – Mens

Inspired by the lightness and cushioning of clouds, the New Balance 995 is an innovative walking shoe with REVlite technology designed for the ultimate in comfort and all-day wearability. Full grain leather provides a premium yet versatile look and feel with superlative durability.

Features

EVA Ethyl Vinyl Acetate foam used primarily in midsoles and footbeds for cushioning

Odor resistant

Full Grain Leather Natural comfort, durability, and breathability

REVlite innovative midsole provides premium responsiveness and durability at a 30% lighter weight than other foams with comparable performance

Lightweight blown rubber for effective bounce

Weight: 275 grams (9.7 oz)