Wednesday, September 21, 2011

New Balance To Get Zero Drop

New Balance Minimus is adding their version of Zero Drop shoe.  From Jason's Robillard's Site 

New Balance joined the club by eliminating the heel drop on the 2012 Minimus line.    Finally!
I like to imagine there’s a faction within New Balance that is adamantly fighting to make their entire product line zero drop.  I can see the “new guard” quoting Lieberman, teaching good running form, and telling stories of seemingly amazing recoveries of oft-injured runners finding new life in zero drop shoes.  They’re constantly at odds with the “old guard” that puffs on their cigarettes and talks about the good ‘ole days when slapping 2” of cushioning in a heel was marketing gold.  Sure, it’s unlikely, but that’s how my mind works.
I managed to wrangle up some critical details about the new Minimus Zero Trails and Minimus Zero Roads.  Here are the juicy details:
  • Both are zero drop
  • Both are exceptionally light… perhaps less than 6 ounces
  • The sole of both is somewhat similar to the soles of the original Minimus Trails (think pods)
  • The location and size of the pods were developed based on data from wear testing- they put material where it was needed most
  • For the Trails, other material was eliminated, which explains the feather-like weight
  • The eliminated material should increase flexibility and ground feel (note- I have handled a pair… they are incredibly light and flexible)
  • Both utilize Vibram soles, which has become the gold standard for minimalist shoe sole material.
  • These shoes should be quite different from anything else on the market, which adds more potential tools to our toolbox.
More pics and detail on Barefoot Running University

Give a Dollar or More? (Fight Gone Bad)

My Fight Gone Bad is this Saturday.  Raising money for charity here.
 
To support two great charities ...

THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION

The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides full scholarship grants and educational 
and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who die in 
operational or training missions and immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special 
operations personnel and their families.

THE CROSSFIT FOUNDATION

In 2010 the CrossFit Foundation was formed to serve as a resource for all of the CrossFit 
philanthropic activities. The foundation board works in an advisory capacity with the 
Sportsgrants Foundation on Fight Gone Bad, and in 2010 became one of the event beneficiaries 
insuring that funds raised by the community served the community.  This year the foundation’s 
primary focus is on the CrossFit Kids ISR Swim Program. The goal for ISR this year is to 
contribute $1 million through Fight Gone bad to train instructors which could save as many as 
300 children from accidental drownings in 2012 and beyond.  In addition to this primary 
objective, the foundation also maintains a fund for grants to causes supported by its affiliates, 
Operation Phoenix and community grants to members of our community in need of immediate 
assistance.