PRGRESS TO ZERO

Can natural ability be learned?
The short answer is 'Yes'. The long answer: 'Hell yes'.
Our feet have been taken down the wrong path too long.
Seek natural movement. Let the foot control the shoe.

Years before anyone else inov-8 pioneered the 'Arrow System', reducing differential from heel to toe, helping athletes improve their own performance.

inov-8 products starts at 3 Arrows. You can start wherever you like. 3 Arrows gives the biggest heel to toe drop in the inov-8 range, about half that in overly cushioned overly structured shoes. As you drop arrows you tend to drop weight and cushioning, you tend to gain proprioception and speed. Reach Zero for a pure performance shoe – lightweight, stripped-back and fast. Dominate-the-race kind of fast.

Athletes not yet conditioned for natural running choose 3 Arrows. Same goes for those wanting a shoe for long endurance sessions, although we do tailor our products to each terrain. If you're introducing stripped back shoes into shorter sessions choose 2 or 1.
Before you start, it is important to know that you should NOT go from a regular running shoe to a zero drop shoe. Based on feedback, the program takes about 16 weeks to transition 1 Arrow, but don't get discouraged and do too much too soon. Too much too soon can lead to injury.

INTRODUCTION PHASE
Short runs to minimize soreness and maximise complete recovery from the new stresses.

PROGRESSION PHASE
Increasing the amount of time spent in minimalist shoes with supplementary exercises to increase strength and flexibility.

ADAPTION PHASE
The body adapts to consistent exposure to a minimalist shoe.

PERFORMANCE PHASE
The most demanding phase with an emphasis on speed work and drills.