At 52-years old, Joe Bonness is one of the best triathletes in his age group in the world. In celebration of his 50th Ironman in September, Newton Co-Founder and CEO Jerry Lee gave Bonness his first pair of Newtons. Bonness dominated the World Championships in Kona in his age group and came in 51st overall. A week later he ran the Great Floridian Ironman in his Newton Gravity shoes, taking first place overall and setting a new personal record by 12 minutes for a course that he has completed 11 times. Even more recently, Bonness won his age group at Ironman Florida in Panama City. "My legs feel great again after three Ironman. It has to be the shoes," said Bonness.
Van McCarty picked up a pair of Newtons only two days before the Ironman World Championships. Against the traditional wisdom of never racing in gear you haven't trained in, he decided to race in his Newtons and ended up running a personal record of 3:00:52 on the marathon, the 6th fastest run split in his age group in Kona. "I experienced less foot and leg pain after a marathon than ever before," said McCarty.
Rob Chance, a Newtonian since June, tied on his Newtons for the first time before the Buffalo Spings 70.3. He initially encountered some hesitation when it came to trading his New Balances for a pair of Newtons, but his results spoke for themselves. Running in them for the first time just a day before the race, "the Newton's felt more comfortable and my time was 30 seconds faster over the distance with the same heart rate," according to Chance. His success with Newtons has continued, too. At Kona, Chance placed 8th in his age group, besting his 2006 time and setting a personal record by 12 minutes during the run portion.
Just like thousands of runners from around the world, these athletes all used their Newtons to run faster than ever before.
Natascha Badmann claimed a women's world record for half-Ironman distance as she took her fifth Eagleman title in 4:08:18 on June 10 in Cambridge, Maryland. Natasha ticked off a 6:21 mile pace in the 13.1 mile run with ease wearing her Newtons—and a smile. Triathlete Magazine has the full story and a great photo of Natasha.
The waves and roads of Kona will take even the greatest triathletes to the brink. But this is familiar territory for Brian Boyle. When he was 18, a car accident left him in a coma for two months. He technically died eight times. A collegiate-level swimmer and power-lifter, Brian's athletic life seemed to come to an end and we wasn't expected to walk again, no less swim or ride a bike.
Three years later, Boyle lined up beside the world's elite triathletes to compete in the Ironman World Championships.
After months of therapy and a relentlessly positive attitude, Boyle had only one goal in mind: competing in the Ironman World Championships. Only three years after dying and coming back to life, 21-year old Boyle completed the Ironman in 14:42:35. Newton Running is very proud to sponsor Brian in this incredible comeback.
Like most visitors to Kona, Craig Alexander took in the beautiful beaches, treacherous lava fields, and endlessly green landscape that have made the island famous. He just did it a little faster. In an Ironman World Championship that saw its fair share of ups and downs, Newton Pro-Athlete and current 70.3 World Champion Craig Alexander finished second overall in his first time competing at the World Championships. With a time of 8:19:04, Alexander and his bright yellow Newtons were a force to be reckoned with. Coming off of seven wins in 2007, he topped his amazing year with an incredible performance on the triathlon's biggest stage.
Newton Running shoes made their debut at the World Championships on the soles of several other members of Team Newton. Alexander competed alongside fellow Newton Pro-Team members Natascha Badmann, Michellie Jones, Katija Schumacher, Joanna Zeiger, and Hillary Biscay. Based on the inaugural performances of both Alexander and Newton, it won't be long before the bright greens, yellows and pinks of Newton shoes grace the Ironman World Championship podium again.
When triathletes began crossing the finish line after Craig Alexander, more than 90 finishers were wearing Newton running shoes. This is no small accomplishment for a shoe company that is less than a year old! And Craig Alexander wasn't the only success for Newton. Take a look at some of the other participants who used Newtons to propel themselves through the hilly roads of Kona.
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