WHAT IS MUSCLE RUNNING?

When you run on your forefoot, your body benefits in a number of ways: 

First, striking on the forefoot reduces the impact on your joints.

Landing on your forefoot allows your feet, legs, and upper body to distribute and gradually absorb the shock of impact from your running surface. Striking with your heel, on the other hand, sends the shock of impact directly through your leg to important, injury-prone areas of the body, such as the shin, knee, and hip.  

Second, striking on the forefoot contributes to a healthier running form.

Many people who strike on the forefoot notice that their running form and running posture improve.  

Third, running on your forefoot strengthens important muscles.

Running on your forefoot will strengthen your calves, muscles in your feet, and muscles around your ankle in ways that heel striking could never achieve. If you are new to forefoot running, this strengthening process will increase your capacity for forefoot running and beyond. And if you run long-distance and prefer to continue running long-distance by heel striking, increased muscle strength from forefoot running can improve your long-distance running. Forefoot striking builds muscle, which is why we have coined the term “muscle running!” 

Antepes were designed to give you every bit of running support a shoe can provide for strengthening muscles and joints. The antepes MUSCLE RUNNERS design is the culmination of over two years of research, development, and experimentation. Every feature, measurement, and material was chosen to provide the best muscle running experience.

The antepes MUSCLE RUNNERS design includes: 

• A well-cushioned forefoot sole. Muscle Runners™️ give you cushioning where you need it the most: under the forefoot and the front half of your midfoot. Unlike other running shoes on the market, the majority of cushioning on a pair of antepes Muscle Runners is found where you will strike during a forefoot run. The cushioning is expertly designed to absorb shock from your running surface when your forefoot hits the ground. 
• A slim sole at the heel. If you’ve tried running in a traditional running shoe, you likely were frustrated that you couldn’t get a great midfoot and forefoot strike with a bulky heel in the way. antepes MUSCLE RUNNERS eliminate the extra cushioning at the heel to streamline your running experience and add more comfort during your run.
• Stability and flexibility. Flexibility in the foot is essential for forefoot running. That’s why antepes MUSCLE RUNNERS contain a split Carbon Fiber Plate from the midfoot on toward the front. The Carbon Fiber Plate stabilizes the metatarsophalangeal joints, providing extra stability distributing weight to the ball of the foot rather than to the toes. 
• A sole ideally shaped for striking on the mid- to forefoot. The sole is precisely curved to facilitate striking in an area between behind the ball of the foot and in front of the arch, and from there efficiently rolling off onto the ball of the foot. The higher stack cushioning in the forefoot allows the calf muscle to stretch slightly farther without overstretching and create a stronger rebound while running.