Getting Started with Your Muscle Runner

The Muscle Runner is a new and innovative tool to help enhance training and performance. The will feel completely different from anything else you've ever put on your feet. So, please take the time to make these tools the perfect tool for You!

STEP 1: Break-In Period

Gettin' Started

First things first. The Muscle Runners are made of the highest quality components and natural fibers! They need to be broken-into and there is a break-in period of about a week or two. During the break-in period please follow the suggested instructions below:

Wear semi-thick & long socks, & squeeze the foam:
The collar-foam behind the heel is a little firm at first. Squeeze the foam in the collar with your fingers, or attach a clip to it overnight, to help it break-in sooner.
Tight mid-foot fit:
If the shoe is too tight, then completely loosen the laces for a few runs until the natural fibers have taken their natural shape.
HEELX tabs:
If the tabs rub on the back of the ankle, then bend them back. They might have been pushed forward during storage or transportation.

STEP 2: WARM-UP

Massage & Activation

Any muscle intensive workout requires the body to be warmed up as to avoid injuring the unprepared cold body's muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Roll your leg muscles with the Fascia Crusher:
Using the supplied (if purchased together) Fascia Crusher massage roller, roll your calves, the muscles around your ankles and the legs' tendons and ligaments.

Perform the following 3 exercises prior to each time using the Muscle Runner:

Isometric Calf & Achilles exercise:
Stand on the ball of your first foot, bend your knee and elevate your heel off the ground. Hold this position for between 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Now perform this on your other foot.
This static/isometric exercise will help strengthen you Achilles and Plantar fascia. Straight leg isometrics target mostly the fascia at the top of your Gastronemius (upper calves) connecting to your knee.
Calf Raises with 1. Straight Legs & 2. Bent Knees:
Perform two-leg calf raises in the Muscle Runners by lowering your heels to the ground and raising them in a slow and steady motion, hold at the top for 2 seconds, then lower your heels very slowly. Perform this calf raise with only 1 foot when you've grown strong after about a 1 month. Perform 2 sets of 15-30 reps with stiff straight-legs to strengthen the upper calves (Gastrocnemius) and the Achilles. Then perform another 2 sets of 15-30 repetitions with bent knees to strengthen the lower calves (Soleus) and the Achilles.
Pogo hops on 2 feet first, then on a single foot:
Perform pogo hops on both feet by jumping on your spot for 8 reps, then side to side for 8 reps, then front to back for 8 reps.
Now repeat the above, but on one foot. Now repeat on the other foot.

The above excercises will ensure that your feet's muscles and tendons are ready for the intensity of the Muscle Runner!

STEP 3: Testing your body

Short Distance Run

Test your current strength & readiness:

Shorter Distance Run: Limit the distance to only 1 or 2 miles for the first couple of sessions as to evaluate your leg strength and to ensure giving the leg muscles and tendons enough time to adjust to the greater force applied onto them.
Lower Frequency Of Runs: We only encourage running 2 to 3 times a week with the Muscle Runners until proper strength has been built in the calves, Achilles and ankles.

The ideal running gait for the shoes:

Running Gait: The athlete is encouraged to approach and strike the ground with the forefoot, between the front half of the arch and the ball of the foot, then roll forward towards the ball of the foot, and then initiate lift-off. Even though the heel can be lowered to the ground to help alleviate some of the weight off of the calves, it is encouraged that over time the athlete would avoid touching or putting too much weight on the ground through the heel portion of the shoe.

Goal: Find Your Groove

Speed - Strength - Distance

Run slow long distances, fast short distances and perform your plyometric drills, such as the ones in our Training Guides, in your new favorite athletic shoes, as you see fit for your athletic capability!

Muscle soreness is a common result from training in the Muscle Runners and is a sign of muscle growth. However, if there is any tendon pain, such as from the Achilles tendon, then stop using the Muscle Runners and start rolling and massaging your lower legs until the body has fully recovered and the pain is gone.

Muscle Run™ Trainers

Enhanced Training = Enhanced Performance

Muscle Running™ technology and DNA may take some time to get used to and some extra time for the body to physically adjust and work itself up to. How to get started with the Muscle Runners:

Start with approaching the ground with the forefoot dropped lower than the heel and strike the ground with the front of the foot's arch

Then roll from there onward towards the ball of the foot

Start lifting the foot from the ball of the foot

Keep weight off of the toes and only use the toes for balance

Drive your knee forward and towards your chest until you start feeling your flexors start pulling your leg down. Start dorsiflexing your foot during this motion.

Then drive your foot down and under the center of your mass

Repeat the above

LEARN MORE ABOUT MUSCLE RUNNING

MUSCLE RUNNING

Improved Stride for Optimal Ground Strike and Push Position

Pain free

I struggled with running due to foot pain and chronic plantar fasciitis. I feel like for the first time in life I have a consistent Gate pattern and I am finally getting sore in the right places.

Endorsement purchase

I brought for grandson who runs track. He really likes these shoes.

drummers - give yourself an edge

I bought the negative heels for 2 reasons - one to help my posture and lower back pain, and two to get a leverage advantage playing double-bass on the drums. I don't know that the first one has made much of a difference, but I now rely on these antepes whenever I play the drums.

Best shoe in several decades, rehabilitating entire posterior chain, ankles, and feet

Sizing down twice to fit my bones from when I was most athletic, rather than fitting my corns, callouses, and old injuries, has given the shoes extra value. 13' s were great, but the 12's are fantastic, as that is my "twenty five year old" shoe size. I wear them climbing San Francisco' s hills, and shooting baskets on a half dozen indoor and outdoor courts. As long as you make them, I will probably be buying them. Nothing else comes close to the 1 cm negative drop. I think someone made a shoe with a one inch negative drop thirty five years ago, and it was too much for me, but some people could handle it. Anyway, very happy with this. Thank you very much.

MUSCLE RUNNER

Great sprint training shoe!

I’m loving these Antepes! Great alternative to a sprint spike. I can actually sprint on concrete or in the street. They cushion like a jogging shoe but perform & feel like a sprint spike. Saving wear and tear on my feet & legs. Very pleased with the purchase.

Just what i needed!

I am a 46 year old who is starting sprinting again after 20 years. That's why the support that the Muscle Runners offer me when running forefoot is simply irreplaceable. I noticed the difference on the first run! The delivery to Germany was unproblematic and took just a few days.

Very good !

The shoes practically forces you to use correct sprinting form.

They the best

I love how they keep me from running flat and my coach recommends my whole team to get it they are great

Game changer

It really made my sprinting routine better. It stands above all running shoes ive tried before.

Looking forward to get a New pair ASAP!!

They're great!

Running as it should be! They fit true to size, in my case, US Men 8.5, Euro 42.

Just what I expected.

These shoes were exactly what I expected. I plan on using them in training and as well in competition in short road races.

Definitely for Sprinting

When I first put the shoes on they felt like my hurdle spikes, except without the spikes and in the form of a training shoe. These shoes allowed me to be able to run in full sprinting form which I really liked. Moreimportantly, these shoes allow you to sprint and run more efficiently as a sprinter and middle distance runner, but your body has to be ready for these shoes, much like sprint shoes. I really like them.

Muscle Runners & Fascia Crusher

I recently purchased these two items after many years of sprinting. I have finally found the perfect training partner, when not wearing spikes. Not only are the muscle runners the Closest runners you can get to spikes, followed up with the Sue crusher. They are the perfect compliment for a sprinter. Well done guys excellent product.

Great training show!!

These shoes were everything as advertised!! So far they are best training shoes I have bought!! They feel amazing on my feet and my legs feel great after working out!! WILL DEFINITELY buy them again

Awesome Shoes

I really love how they have me run on the balls of my feet.

Brilliant first training session wearing these shoes.

This review is from my very first training session last week wearing these shoes. I will be able to give a proper review in a few months time. Basically the shoes felt brilliant whilst putting them on. Lovely and snug with a true to size fitting. Didn't take me long to run as the shoes force you to. Did a great speed session and was amazed how fast I was running. This was followed by a plyometrics session. I was able to perform repetitive bounds with excellent technique. So far I'm loving the shoes. Although the athletics season only has a couple of months left, I’m sure I can improve my performance within this time. These shoes will be used in all of my winter training sessions (speed work, hills, and plyometrics), and I'm confident my performance in the triple jump will improve due to a better running technique in the 2025 season.

Awesome shoes!!!

Tried them a couple of times, they definitely do what they promised!! They push to run forefoot, they makes calves working more, and they make you fly faster than any other running shoes!!! I LOVE THEM, and I’m going to get another pair, as spare shoes!

Fantastic

A beautiful shoe, feels extremely smooth.

The best running I’ve ever put on my feet very comfortable and light weight they feel exactly like a maxfly

Excellent shoe

I like these as they’re a good transitional shoe to actual Track shoes. They have enough cushioning For your joints, but at the same time while you’re Achilles tendon to fully load up and spring with each step in a sprint or a jump. Highly recommend

Best running shoes!

As a sprinter this shoe has helped me so much in making sure my foot strikes are with the correct part of the foot. I feel the correct muscles working and I feel myself getting faster. Has to be the best running shoe purchase I have ever made! 10/10

Awesome Shoes!

Awesome for sprint training! Will be buying another pair after these wear down. Will always have them in my shoe collection for weekly training!

Walking Shoe

I bought this to help shift my weight into my heels while standing and it definitely works. I am having a bit of rubbing on the heels and the achilles alignment “horns” are kind of annoying and feel unnecessary. I like the fabric a lot and they feel really good on my feet. Overall though, I think they’re a quality shoe that fulfilled my need when there isn’t much out there with this heel drop.

Beautiful Build

I don't wear the shoes, but they are a high quality shoe. I've owned many running shoes over the years and these would compete with any runners you compare them to in looks and structure.

ALL SIZES RE-STOCK ON MAY 5TH