Natural Running

The push to get your foot closer to the pavement

Generally, shoes are getting lighter, more flexible, and lower to the ground. Manufacturers are making these changes to create a smother, more stable ride. This trend is especially apparent in designs such as the Nike Free Everyday (page 98), the Newton Gravity (Feb '09) and the new Ecco Biom (shown left). All of which have low heels and flexible forefeet. This design is intended to encourage contact with the ground that is more like how a bare foot functions. Studies show that these minimalist shoes can help strengthen ankle and foot muscles, and reduce injury rates in some runners.

#3 Ecco Biom

The firm-yet-cushy polymer on the bottom of this shoe lasts longer than traditional sewn-in padding and creates a thinner midsole. Translation: Your foot is closer to the ground and less prone to rolling. eccousa.com for stores.

Founded in 1963, the Denmark comfort and outdoor brand has competed in the running category since it launched ECCO Performance, initially branded as Receptor by ECCO, in 1999. But now, the brand is making a making a major push into run specialty with the launch this March of its BIOM collection. One core reason ECCO is moving into run specialty is that running is the foundation for training in all sports. "If you are to be considered an authentic athletic brand, you need to offer serious running product," says Dan Legor, senior marketing manager, ECCO USA. "The second reason is that we knew that ECCO could make a difference in the category by applying 45 years of shoe and last making expertise to the running world." Developed in conjunction with biomechanics expert Dr. Peter Bruggeman and world Triathlon champion Torbjørn Sindballe, BIOM allows the foot and the body's supporting structure to move in its most natural way.

Midfoot Shoe: Ecco BIOM line designed to keep the foot lower to the ground

Developed in conjunction with renowned biomechanist Peter Bruggeman of the University of Cologne, ECCO's new BIOM line of shoes (eccousa.com) was designed with the notion that when the foot is lower to the ground, a runner will have better proprioception and resort to a more natural running gait. The top-of-the-line BIOM A -- available with either a yak leather ($220) or textile mesh upper ($195) -- has a polyurethane midsole that provides cradling support and a significantly beveled heel to better accommodate a midfoot gait.

Ecco

Ecco's new BIOM collections features a number of shoes tailored for a variety of runners. For fall, the Londonderry, NH, company plans to release the BIOM C and BIOM Trail. Like the BIOM A and B (which are launching for Spring '09), these two shoes will be manufactured using direct-inject process, which I said to outwear a cement constructed shoe by six months or more, according to David Helter, U.S. performance general manager. In addition, the entire midsole of all BIOM products are made from PU versus EVA for a longer life. The BIOM line was based on a "natural motion concept," he adds, meaning the objective was to mimic barefoot running. Because these shoes provide as little motion control as possible, the "support" is more natural, Helter explains.

Happy feet

A revolution in running-shop technology proves that when it comes to cushion and support, less is more.

After decades of reliance on the cushion-and-support model, running-shoe makers are completely reinventing the way people hit the pavement. If your old shoes swathed your feet in static stability on top of cloudlike comfort, the new thinking lets the 26 bones, 32 muscles and tendons, and 107 ligaments of each foot carry their own weight. These shoes keep you on your toes, literally, and simulate (to varying degrees) barefoot running. When your feet are free to do what they've evolved to do, the theory goes, you'll be both faster and less prone to injury.