10 weeks until my half marathon – will I be running in Nnormal shoes?
8.8.2023
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Testing running shoes is tricky. A lot comes down to your foot anatomy, running style and personal preferences. But I took on the challenge and tested the Nnormal Kjerag. And now I don’t want to take them off!
When Kilian Jornet, the ultramarathon and mountaineering legend par excellence, develops a shoe, expectations are high. After all, he’s won just about everything under the sun when it comes to trail running and ultramarathons. In 2022 alone, this included the 100-mile Tjörnarparen Trail Ultra, the Hardrock 100 and the 171-kilometre Dacia UTMB Mont-Blanc. In the latter two races, Kilian Jornet set new course records. In short, he knows what running is all about.
I could write an entire article just about his achievements, but that’s not the focus here. This article is about the shoe Kilian launched with his new company, Nnormal, in collaboration with Spanish shoe manufacturer Camper.
Source: Siri Schubert
I want to incorporate the shoe into my preparation for the Lake Hallwil half marathon. In the roughly ten weeks I have left until race day, I’m testing different sportswear, forms of training and products in an effort to be as well prepared and equipped as possible on 14 October.
The Nnormal (short for New Normal) shoes appeal to me because they’re suitable for both flat runs and trail running. After all, I like to run on forest trails, but also in steep, challenging terrain. So, finding shoes that can do both would be the dream.
One pair of shoes for race day and training
Kjerag is the name of the shoe, named after an iconic mountain in Norway known for its spectacular views, steep cliffs and boulder wedged in a crevice in the mountain. I can well picture Kilian Jornet, who lives in Norway with his partner, ultra-trail runner Emelie Forsberg, and their two daughters, easily running up this mountain wearing the Nnormal Kjerag shoes.
Source: Arhadij/Vecteezy.com
He wore the Kjerag shoes in his big 2022 competitions, that is, the Sierre Zinal, the Hardrock 100, the Zegama and UTMB – and has already covered a total of 800 competition kilometres in the shoes. In the one pair. He’s stated this on multiple occasions. These shoes are clearly perfect for a running legend like him. But how will my feet fare in them – the feet of an average runner who loves to run but isn’t particularly good at it?
Lifting the shoe out of the box, I’m already impressed. At 200 grammes, it’s extremely light, but doesn’t feel fragile by any means. Kilian and his team’s goal was to produce an environmentally friendly shoe that can withstand long-term wear.
The specs:
**– Weight: 200 g/shoe (EU size 42)
**– Heel drop: 6 mm
**– Lugs: 3.5 mm
**– Midsole height: heel 23.5 mm / forefoot 17.5 mm
Most running magazines and guidebooks recommend switching out your running shoes after 400 to 800 kilometres. Kilian says he wore his first pair of Kjerag shoes for a total distance of 1,300 kilometres and an altitude gain of 70,000 metres. In addition, the shoes are supposed to be suitable for any terrain, from the road to technically demanding mountain trails. The thought behind it is that the less often you have to switch out your shoes, and the more versatile the pair is, the fewer resources are used and the more environmentally friendly you are.
The first impression is a positive one – minimal material and a good fit
I’m still sceptical. The shoes look narrow. I have wide feet. Many popular running shoes are too tight for me and cause blisters, pressure points and pain. When I put on the Kjerag, I’m pleasantly surprised: it has a wide enough toe box! At the midfoot, it’s comfortably fitted and gives me good support. The upper is made of lightweight, coated polyamide and Kevlar fibres that feel very robust. The tongue wraps around the sides of the feet. The lacing can be adjusted well and the heel has extra padding that prevents your foot from slipping around uncomfortably in the shoe.
Source: Siri Schubert
The Kjerag have no insole. I’m happy about that; insoles cause your foot to move around more in the shoe, at least in my experience. As that can lead to blisters, I usually remove the insoles anyway. So, I find it convenient that the Kjerag have none to begin with. This way, I’m directly in touch with the midsole and have one less element on my foot that can bother me, slip around and cause friction. Of course, a shoe with no insole is also lighter.
Off I go! I’m excited to give the shoes a first go. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be testing the shoes on longer runs and steeper terrain. But first I’m taking them on a casual 10K run through my neighbourhood on gravel and forest trails.
The shoe shows what it can do from the first kilometre
In short, my first impression is a positive one. The midsole doesn’t provide excessive cushioning; it gives me a good feel for the ground. The shoes don’t feel the least bit spongy when running. I love that. It allows me to feel the terrain and makes for better balance.
In general, I like shoes that give me a good feel for the ground, which is why I like to wear minimalist and barefoot shoes. But I do know that some runners prefer more cushioning – and, now that the trend for minimalist shoes has died down, many shoe manufacturers are focusing on shoes with extremely thick midsoles. If you’re one of those runners, the Nnormal Kjerag are not for you. However, if you occasionally run in barefoot shoes and prefer less cushioning in general, the Kjerag could become your new favourite shoe.
Source: Siri Schubert
I also liked the rebound of the midsole. Rebound describes the material properties of the foam, which quickly expands again after compression on impact, thus returning energy. Now, I’m no physicist and can’t measure or prove energy return. What I can say, however, is that I ran these 10 kilometres faster and with a lower heart rate than in the days before. Whether this is thanks to better recovery, my expectations of the shoes or the Nnormal midsole itself, I can’t say. Either way, the shoes feel extremely good – and running in them feels like a breeze. They support my natural running style and offer me sufficient support, cushioning and rebound with an equally good feel for the ground.
The very light, but very grippy Vibram Megagrip sole is also a plus. I’ve already tested it on wet, slippery stones and roots, and it’s held up well. My next plan is to wear the Kjerag on mountain trails and see how the grip fares in steep terrain. At 3.5 mm, the lugs are suitable for most conditions, but they seem a bit short for very muddy tracks.
Source: Siri Schubert
The lowdown: a shoe fit not only for running legends
So far, I’ve covered about 50 kilometres in the Nnormal Kjerag. In addition to the 10-kilometre run, my training included a 16-kilometre run, a stride session (a workout where I accelerated to 90 per cent of my maximum pace for 20 seconds at a time), a 5-kilometre tempo run, and short casual running sessions in between. Each time, the shoes have felt very good and supportive in my training. With that, I’ve already put it down on my gear list for the half marathon on 14 October.
Header image: Siri Schubert
Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
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