In the past, I've completed Ironman distance triathlons, run marathons, and done various distance races (70.3 to 5K). Over those years running shoes were a regular part of my daily routine, including both trail and road shoes. After my latest 70.3 race I began experiencing some serious IT band pain accompanied with a weird pain behind my right knee. Lucky for me I was running with a physical therapist at the time, and he recommended I come in and see him. After working together he determined that I had a Baker's Cyst. I let the pain get the best of me and quit running, gained weight, and tried to embrace my new Dad body. Six months later I started trail running again to get back into shape. I became a trail running shoe tester for The Gear Institute and found myself testing my first pair of Altra running shoes. After the first 10 miler that didn't result in serious pain I jumped on the zero drop train!
The first Altra I ran in is the Olympus 2.0, which was a welcomed shoe given that I'd been running over 40 miles a week the in the Hoka Speedgoat. The transition from one cushioned shoe to another wasn't a big deal, but immediately I noticed a huge difference in my form. Now, I'm not attributing my poor form to Hoka, nor am I saying those that run in Hokas have poor form; rather, I'm saying that I personally noticed a difference in my running form based on the shoes I ran in. With Altra I was much more conscious of my arm position, foot strikes, upper body form, and on the trail I was focused on where I was placing my feet. For me, the end result was better running form, which meant that my body didn't feel like it was beat down at the end of longer runs.
Since that first run in the Altra Olympus 2.0, I've run in the Superior, Lone Peak, and even the new King MT with great success. By success I don't mean I've won any races, or broken any FKTs, but rather I've been able to continue running without injury. For whatever reason, be it placebo, reality, or some weird blend of the two, I can go run without my IT flaring up or my cyst forcing me to walk. In not saying I had a Born to Run type of experience, but I am saying Altra shoes have made my running more enjoyable.
SO, if you've considered joining the weirdos with huge toe boxes at the starting line, what should you do next?
1) I was turned onto Altra by a running partner who is far more accomplished and experienced than I am in endurance sports. He's a Wasatch 100 finisher, age group winner of various events, including JOTOJA, and an overall accomplished professional, husband, and father. He has some foot issues and he suggested I give Altra a try. I was able to use his experience to guide me through going from 4-8 mm shoes to zero drops.
2) Visit an actual store and try on various models of Altra shoes. I've found that there are some models I much prefer over others. Most of the time this is related to the materials and perceived durability of the shoe, but occasionally I've found a shoe I just don't fancy. So try them on, walk around the store, and figure out what works for you.
3) Altra is great about teaching you how to transition into their shoes, and they include a great little booklet in their shoe boxes. Most of us are used to shoes with a drop (thickness from heel to toe, in mm) and as such our anatomy has adjusted to accommodate those changes. This includes changes to the muscle groups we use to run. Start with a gentle break in period by wearing your shoes around the house, work, or the store. Walk in them to see how your feet and legs adjust to them. Some people, like my wife, will notice tightness in their achilles and in their calf area. If that is the case, spread your transition to zero out to give your muscles a chance to adapt.
4) Once you've become accustomed to walking around in your Altras, go for a short run in them. I started with 2-3 milers, and after two weeks was running 5-8 miles no problem; however, you may notice stiffness during or after your run. If this is the case, slow your roll and take your time getting fully into your zero drops.
5) When running in your Altras becomes a regular thing, focus on your form and see if it doesn't improve along with your times. I think you'll be happy with the results. I noticed that not only could I run harder much more efficiently, but I could do so without my body hating me the next day.
Now that I've been running in Altras for a couple years now, I really don't enjoy running in much else. I have a pair of Pearl Izumi trail running shoes I love, but PI said they are getting out of the running world, so I've since moved to Altra all together. Not because I'm a shoe snob, but because Altra is fairly consistent in how the design and build shoes. I'd originally started trail running in the Brooks Cascadia, but by the 11 the shoe had become so narrow and uncomfortable that I quit running in them altogether. I now use them for yard work.
If you log miles on the road or the trail I'd encourage you to try the zero drop revolution and give Altra a try. Not to mention, they're a company that was started along the Wasatch Front in Utah. Visit them at https://www.altrarunning.com/ and check out the goodness that they have.
The first Altra I ran in is the Olympus 2.0, which was a welcomed shoe given that I'd been running over 40 miles a week the in the Hoka Speedgoat. The transition from one cushioned shoe to another wasn't a big deal, but immediately I noticed a huge difference in my form. Now, I'm not attributing my poor form to Hoka, nor am I saying those that run in Hokas have poor form; rather, I'm saying that I personally noticed a difference in my running form based on the shoes I ran in. With Altra I was much more conscious of my arm position, foot strikes, upper body form, and on the trail I was focused on where I was placing my feet. For me, the end result was better running form, which meant that my body didn't feel like it was beat down at the end of longer runs.
Since that first run in the Altra Olympus 2.0, I've run in the Superior, Lone Peak, and even the new King MT with great success. By success I don't mean I've won any races, or broken any FKTs, but rather I've been able to continue running without injury. For whatever reason, be it placebo, reality, or some weird blend of the two, I can go run without my IT flaring up or my cyst forcing me to walk. In not saying I had a Born to Run type of experience, but I am saying Altra shoes have made my running more enjoyable.
SO, if you've considered joining the weirdos with huge toe boxes at the starting line, what should you do next?
1) I was turned onto Altra by a running partner who is far more accomplished and experienced than I am in endurance sports. He's a Wasatch 100 finisher, age group winner of various events, including JOTOJA, and an overall accomplished professional, husband, and father. He has some foot issues and he suggested I give Altra a try. I was able to use his experience to guide me through going from 4-8 mm shoes to zero drops.
2) Visit an actual store and try on various models of Altra shoes. I've found that there are some models I much prefer over others. Most of the time this is related to the materials and perceived durability of the shoe, but occasionally I've found a shoe I just don't fancy. So try them on, walk around the store, and figure out what works for you.
3) Altra is great about teaching you how to transition into their shoes, and they include a great little booklet in their shoe boxes. Most of us are used to shoes with a drop (thickness from heel to toe, in mm) and as such our anatomy has adjusted to accommodate those changes. This includes changes to the muscle groups we use to run. Start with a gentle break in period by wearing your shoes around the house, work, or the store. Walk in them to see how your feet and legs adjust to them. Some people, like my wife, will notice tightness in their achilles and in their calf area. If that is the case, spread your transition to zero out to give your muscles a chance to adapt.
4) Once you've become accustomed to walking around in your Altras, go for a short run in them. I started with 2-3 milers, and after two weeks was running 5-8 miles no problem; however, you may notice stiffness during or after your run. If this is the case, slow your roll and take your time getting fully into your zero drops.
5) When running in your Altras becomes a regular thing, focus on your form and see if it doesn't improve along with your times. I think you'll be happy with the results. I noticed that not only could I run harder much more efficiently, but I could do so without my body hating me the next day.
Now that I've been running in Altras for a couple years now, I really don't enjoy running in much else. I have a pair of Pearl Izumi trail running shoes I love, but PI said they are getting out of the running world, so I've since moved to Altra all together. Not because I'm a shoe snob, but because Altra is fairly consistent in how the design and build shoes. I'd originally started trail running in the Brooks Cascadia, but by the 11 the shoe had become so narrow and uncomfortable that I quit running in them altogether. I now use them for yard work.
If you log miles on the road or the trail I'd encourage you to try the zero drop revolution and give Altra a try. Not to mention, they're a company that was started along the Wasatch Front in Utah. Visit them at https://www.altrarunning.com/ and check out the goodness that they have.