Anyone who has been around A Balancing Act knows that I love to run. Anyone who has been around for a while knows how much I love my Mizunos! I’ve been running in Mizunos since I really started to kick up my mileage and run multiple half marathons a year back in 2011. I’ve stuck with my Wave Riders through the 14, 15, 16 and now 17th edition. I even tried a different pair and went right back to my beloved Mizunos last summer. Well, a few weeks ago, I was sent a pair of Altra Running Shoes courtesy of Altra through my ambassadorship with Zooma Women’s race series! Altra became a partner and sponser for Zooma Texas and offered to send a pair to each of the ambassadors to try! Now note, I was not required to write up a post about these shoes, but I ended up loving them. So that being said, I wanted to share a bit with y’all in case you want to give altra a try!
When I first received my shoes in the mail, I was skeptical and figured I would wear them from work time to time if nothing else. At first glance they looked kind of funny with a wider toe box and I worried they would make my feet look clown-like. It turns out that not only do they not look clown-like, I have gotten compliment after compliment on these shoes. I have clients and club members asking about the brand, where they can find them and how they feel. My dentist even asked me about them. Who knew my new shoes would be a conversation piece?
So let me tell you just a bit about these shoes: why they look different, how they work and why I like them!!
Why they look different:
Altra’s goal is to let your feet feel as relaxed and natural as possible. The wider toe box allows your toes to natrally spread and may even feel too loose initially while your feet grow accustom to the new fit. The fit keeps you from getting blisters in between and on top of your toes and should eliminate the feeling of wanting to rip your shoes off after a long run! Personally, my toes spread apart quite a bit and Altra’s fit has helped immensely in just the few weeks I’ve been wearing them!
How they work:
Altra uses a zero drop platform which means the heels and toes are the same distance from the ground. This leads to less heel strike and allows the foot to land more naturally similar to barefoot running. Zero drop also reduces impact on joints, naturally aligns feet, back and body posture and reduces joint torques. Because of the zero drop it’s recommended to ease into running in Altra’s. Normal running shoes are built on a 2-to-1 heel-to-toe ratio unlike Altra’s 1-to-1 ratio. It will take a bit of time to re-develop Achilles’ tendon and calf strength. I started with a two miler followed by three and four miles. Last weekend, I did my 8 miler in them and felt great!
Why I like them:
They’re pretty…it’s true!
The toe box is great for my weird toes.
They’re comfortable and I like the way my feet feel when I wear them. After a few wears I can tell the difference!
Now don’t get me wrong, I still love my Mizunos and for now I’m switching back and forth between Mizuno and Altra. I’m glad I gave Altra Running Shoes a try! A huge thanks to Altra for sending a pair to all of the Zooma Texas ambassadors!
Don’t forget to register for Zooma Texas! You can get a 10% discount using TXAMB1 for any of the race distances (half marathon, 10K, 5K) on April 12th at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines!
Have you ever tried a minimalist running shoe?
What do you think about the look and facts behind Altra? Would you try them?
Altra Zero Drop running shoes sent me a pair of shoes to test because I am an ambassador for Zooma Texas. Altra did not require me to write this post. All opinions in this post are strictly my own. Facts about Altra can be found at www.altrazerodrop.com
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