RUN BETTER PROJECT

Protection from water and dirt, from heat and cold. For more comfort or faster times. From hunting tools to running tools: There are plenty of reasons why we run in shoes today. Together we look back hundreds of years - to a time when people wearing shoes still seemed like figures of the future. A journey through the history of the (running) shoe.

Neutral, support, rocker and U-TECH™: Our favorite running store has them all - running shoes with a wide variety of midsole technologies. Behind all technologies, there are different approaches, assumptions and ideas: for more comfort, more performance or less stress. Find out more about the thoughts behind the different sole technologies, why they were developed, how they differ from each other - and what wishes they are intended to fulfill for us as runners.

Neutral, Support, Rocker and U-TECH™: All four midsole technologies are designed to help runners make their runs better, more comfortable or healthier - with supports, carbon plates, maximum cushioning, minimal cushioning or a horseshoe shape. Different ideas for a wide range of needs. Which technology helps to fulfill my individual wishes? Studies from all over the world deliver impressive results.

The perfect running shoe? Individual. The first impression, the first time you slip it on counts. Despite all our individuality, we runners are not so different in this respect. Because we all love comfort. Reason enough for running shoe manufacturers to start here, to redevelop comfort and think further. Thick midsoles, comfortable uppers, padded collars, an optimized fit - there are almost endless ways to make a running shoe as comfortable as possible. But the following applies: Comfort is something subjective, difficult to measure and depends - precisely - on our individual perception as runners. An excursion into the world of comfort.

Go for a run around the park - preferably in the morning, before the day really begins. For TV presenter Sebastian Hellmann, it's just part of his routine. Two or three times a week, but not for a limited time. Other things are more important to the 55-year-old when he's running. "I can switch off, think things through in peace and quiet, and get fit at the same time," he explains. What else fascinates him about running and why he places particular value on comfort. A portrait.

Our running shoes are in the corner, our running shirt is hanging in the closet. We would actually be outside, running around the park. But not today, and unfortunately not all last week. An injury is stopping us from doing so. Our left knee is causing problems. But why is that? Why do we injure ourselves when running? And what should we pay attention to when running to stay healthy? A look at how the human body works solves the mystery.

If we feel pain while running, there is only one sensible course of action for us at first: interrupt our training to reduce the acute strain on the affected area. If the discomfort or even pain does not go away or keeps coming back, we have little choice but to seek medical help. We need a reliable diagnosis in order to be able to act accordingly and avoid more serious subsequent injuries. What it means for us as runners to be injured, how we can get fit again as quickly as possible and how important it is to heal injuries completely - a look at the treatment approaches used in physiotherapy reveals all.

Running: a sport that gives us freedom. Whether alone or in a group. Whether in the morning, at lunchtime or in the evening. We can run wherever and whenever we want. Normally. The only thing we need is our running shoes. It is important that we wear running shoes that fit us, that we find comfortable and, above all, ones that we are less likely to injure ourselves in. Running shoes have a decisive influence on our risk of injury when running because they can significantly reduce the risk of injury. This is shown by the results of a recent study, the Run Better Research Study. How exactly the study was conducted, who was involved in it and why it is unique in its size.

Reducing the risk of injury by more than half sounds like hard work, a lot of training and - if we're honest - almost utopian. The idea that all we need to do is run in the right running shoes seems far too simple at first. Yet the results of the Run Better Research Study show exactly that. In concrete terms: the choice of running shoes, or more precisely the choice of midsole technology we run with, influences the risk of developing running injuries. By up to 50% - especially in the knee and Achilles tendon. Impressive findings about where we injure ourselves, why we injure ourselves - and what we can change. An overview.

“I was never an outstanding athlete. It wasn't until a friend asked me if we wanted to train for an Ironman that running became something I pursued more intensively. I wanted to challenge myself - and see how far I could go and how fast I could become. Today, endurance sports have become my tool. A skill that I have acquired over the years - and that I know I have mastered well and that I enjoy.” On the beauty of leaving our comfort zones. Read Fritz Sitte's full story.

Unique comfort, even better grip and a fit that gives you exactly the freedom you need: With the U-TECH Nevos Elements next gen, our hybrid running shoe is getting an update that brings runners closer to endless possibilities - whenever and wherever we look for them. Day and night, in sun, rain or wind, when long summer nights turn into unpredictable autumn days: the U-TECH Nevos Elements next gen defies all elements and, as an update, enables an even safer, more comfortable and therefore even better running experience on all surfaces. And thanks to U-TECH™ technology, with an up to 50% lower risk of injury.

"When I tell others about my job and my project to run from Cairo to Cape Town, I often find that this is more of a conversation killer than a good way to start. For many people it is simply difficult to identify with such a project. So let me try to break the ice a little," writes Fritz Sitte. Read the next part of the full story behind his Running Africa project.

The sun is shining, our running shoes are ready. And we are ready. But after just a few kilometers we have to stop again. A stabbing pain on the outside of our knee forces us to do so. Every attempt to start running again becomes torture. So we only have one option: finish the run and go home. What sounds dramatic is something many runners have experienced in one way or another. To be more precise: more than one in four people have knee problems. Knee specialist Dr. Andree Ellermann explains why this is the case, what typical running injuries to the knee can occur and what we should do if we are plagued by recurring problems.

When at rest, it is so strong that we could pull a small car with it: our Achilles tendon. However, under constant strain and the resulting overload, it can happen that we can no longer walk a single step without pain. Achilles tendon pain and injuries are widespread among runners. More than one in eight runners is injured at least once a year in the actually very robust tendon that connects our calf muscles to the heel. Dr. Paul Klein, sports physician and team doctor of 1. FC Köln, explains what makes the Achilles tendon so susceptible to injury, what we can do as soon as it hurts, and what we need to consider when treating an Achilles tendon injury.

Former professional athlete Jennifer Oeser runs two or three times a week along the streets and paths of Markranstädt in Saxony. But her favorite place is around the lake in the immediate vicinity. Put on your running shoes and just head out the front door. Without a running watch or heart rate monitor, the 39-year-old prefers to run based on how I feel. "The great thing about running is that I can spontaneously decide when to start, how long and how far I want to run - completely flexible and independent of appointments and sporting commitments," she says. What Jennifer enjoys about running in her free time, what role the choice of running shoes plays in this and how she struggled with persistent Achilles tendon problems during her active career. A portrait.

For Felix Sonnenschein, running is a way to balance things out. "I'm recalibrating myself - physically and mentally," says the 35-year-old when asked why he runs. A lap through the city forest? Sometimes that's not enough. So the Münster native looks for a new challenge together with two school friends. And finds it in a five-day ultramarathon through Jordan. Why he dries vegetables and does yoga in a wet, hot studio.

With every step, forces act on our body - every single time. Again and again. In order to absorb these forces and make them harmless to our structures, our body has various shock absorber mechanisms. One of the most important: our back. However, if this is exposed to excessive or misdirected stress, it is only a matter of time before pain makes running difficult - or even prevents us from doing so altogether. This is exactly what happens far too often: more than one in eight runners has a back injury at least once a year. Dr. Matthias Kinderzimmer, orthopedist, sports physician and team doctor of the ice hockey Bundesliga club Kölner Haie, gives an insight into how the back works and explains why the lower back is particularly prone to injury in runners.

My name is Felix Sonnenschein. I am 35 years old. And two weeks ago, I ran through the Jordanian desert for five days in a row. A total of 220 kilometers. At over 30 degrees Celsius. The toughest thing I’ve ever done in terms of sports. A real challenge for body and mind. But also an unforgettable experience. This is my story.

Reading customer feedback, examining new materials and discussing possible optimizations – a lot happens at the same time when a new True Motion running shoe is being developed. “The development process is multifaceted. A wide variety of steps need to intertwine to end up with a running shoe that appeals to runners and works biomechanically at the same time,” explains True Motion co-founder Andre Kriwet. An insight into the process of creating new running shoes.

A unique mix of dynamics and even more comfort, longer durability, and an optimized fit – for more freedom of movement on all your runs. With the new U-TECH Nevos 3, our award-winning debut model gets an update that consistently takes the next step. A reliable companion for every day – and above all for every run. No matter when and for how long. Thanks to the patented U-TECH™ technology, the U-TECH Nevos 3 reduces the risk of running injuries by up to 50%. Evolution never ends!

In October 2023, I set out to run from Cape Town to Cairo. The goal was ambitious, spirits were high, and preparations were thorough. For 22 days, I managed to cover over 60 km daily, battling fatigue, extreme temperatures, and the sheer vastness of the Namibian desert. And then I “failed”. Nearly 1,500 km into the journey, a hip injury halted my progress.