Here’s a vintage 1980 running shoe ad for the New Balance 420 which was a protective training shoe. This shoe featured the ‘Lunaris Pillow’ technology and Evazote foam to stabilize the ride.
Ad info is below:
THE NEW BALANCE 420 WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT RUNNERS 6 DAYS OUT OF 7.
The New Balance 420 is the most protective training shoe we've ever made. And as every runner knows, training is 99% of running. So how come we're only recommending that you wear it 85% of the time?
TWO DIFFERENT GOALS.
TWO DIFFERENT SHOES.
Training is the means to two important ends: improved endurance ( strength and fitness) and improved performance (speed over distance). Obvious, right? And yet it seems we're the first running shoe company to recognize that the pursuit of these goals is best served by two different training shoes. We designed our remarkably lightweight 620 training flat for that one or two days of running a week when time is key: e.g., when you're doing speed work or running in a road race. It's for all the other days of the week that we developed our new 420.
On the 7th day, we recommend our highly regarded 620 training flat.
HOW THE 420 PROTECTS.
The natural position of the foot at rest and in motion is called the neutral plane. When you engage in motion outside this range, you not only waste energy, but invite injury. Isn't it odd, then, that in the guise of cushioning, some running shoes in effect encourage deviations beyond the neutral plane? Following orthopedic principles, we designed the 420 in such a way to keep your foot in the neutral plane throughout your gait cycle. Extended along the medial side of the arch, the 420's heel counter provides maximum rear-foot stability while allowing you your full range of motion. Our Extended Saddle' pro-vides support along the longitudinal arch and, together with our unique straight last construction, encourages an efficient straight-line running motion. Finally, our exciting new Lunaris Pillow, a pre-molded Evazote and memory-foam insert, serves to stabilize your foot in the neutral plane and helps to provide unprecedented shock absorption. Indeed, the 420 delivers up to an astonishing 70% shock attenuation experience. And given the structure of the human body, that's as good as you can get.
The neutral plane. Deviations outside of it waste energy and invite injury.
WE COULD RUN ON AND ON....
As you might have gathered, to fully describe all the features of the 420 would take more space than we have here. So we'll simpl3 conclude with the following observation: No other training shoe offers more protection. And that's a statement we'll stand behind seven days of the week. New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc., Boston, MA 02134, U.S.A., which is where our shoes are made.
Women's sizes 4-10 (widths AA, B and D). Men's sizes 6-13 (widths B, D, EE and EEEE).
NEW BALANCE
WE'RE WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
