Me kicking it with my new Altra running shoes!
As athletes we all get into our routines and it usually takes an act of god for us to switch equipment, our style or our pre-race routine. Well my lightning bolt came in the form of some sharp pain and swelling behind the metatarsals on my right foot. It persisted for quite awhile and even ruined the run portion of my Ironman Coeur d'Alene. I immediately thought it was due to my new running shoes, but like I said I don't like to switch equipment and I hadn't really, but my old style shoes had been phased out and I had gotten the new and improved version. Since I am a fairly neutral runner whose shoes wear out pretty evenly I switched back to my old worn shoes but the pain persisted. So I grudgingly went to the podiatrist.
Dr Tepper, (who by the way has a running background http://www.drtepper.com ) spent plenty of time with me. He examined my gait, watched me run on the treadmill and looked over my running shoes. He diagnosis was that my toe box in my new shoes was squeezing my toes together thereby not allowing them to flex in a natural manner. The switch back to my old shoes did not work because the swelling, although minor, made even that toe box too small. He explained the the toes need to spread out and flex as we move from mid foot strike to the forefoot and eventually lift off the ground as the other foot moves into position. He was great in demonstrating this and showing just how my mechanics had been compromised by the new shoes. He recommended I got orthotics to help my feet perform the way they were intended. But his excellent demonstrations had already pointed me in one direction: Altra!
Yes Dr. Tepper sounded just like a commercial I had recently seen for Altra running shoes. Wide toe box shoe so your toes would behave properly, zero drop so you feet were in the proper position as the landed and moved through to liftoff. A shoe made to keep you feet healthy!
Instinct 1.5
So I got me some of the Altras, specifically the Instinct 1.5 , and they are awesome!! Lightweight, comfortable, easy on your feet and they make you much faster (ok I just through that one in!) Out of the box I ran in them for 4 miles and immediately felt a difference in my form. Now Altra cautions you to break them in slowly but I am pretty limber and a midsole sticker so I just went for it. The shoe is awesome for me and has me running mile after stress free mile.
Tech Specs: Instinct 1.5 Minimal cushion training shoe. Full length A-Bound layer atop the midsole cushioning. Heel to to offset is 0mm (zero drop) with overall heel height at 16mm and 16mm at the forefoot (not including the insole) Weight on men's shoe is 8.9 oz and women's is 7.7 oz. The women's and men's shoe are built slightly different with the women's shoes built specifically for their running needs.
Lone Peak trail shoes from Altra
Altra can be found locally at Top Speed Running http://www.topspeedrunning.com and they will let you run with them on their treadmill. If you a feeling good about them already I have become a Altra Ambassador (because I loved the shoes so much) and can order some for you at 20% retail. New this spring Altra will have a tri shoe as in addition to their trail and street shoes. Give'm a tri!
No comments:
Post a Comment