Altra Running WINNNER! Race Day Ready #4

Crossing the finish of the Runner's World Half Marathon in Bethlehem PA
in Altra Intuition 1.5.  I finished the 10k and the half alongside my husband.
(you can see my bright pink Armpocket too!)

Instead of taking until tomorrow or the next day to post this for fear of not having enough time to write a cute kitchy entry about the winner, I am just going to spit it out.  Mainly because I need to get on with the next giveaway and I'm experiencing a bit of a writer's block.  Oh and I'm flooded with work.  (In a good way!)

Jessica Messer!

You got it!  Congrats to you on your new pair of Altra Zero Drop Footwear!  May they take you across many more finish lines!  And thank you for sharing with us that you quit a bad habit (smoking) and picked up a good one!  You are a great example to many.  Keep at it for the love of the run!  I hope you continue to discover the healing that running provides- not only because it's good for you (physically) but because it brings you to a beautiful place where you learn to rely on your own heart, brain, breath, will, strength and spirit.  Please find my e-mail in the "about" tab and contact me.  I will connect you with the folks at Altra and they will get your size, address, etc. and send your shoes out to you!

A hint about our next giveaway:  It's for ladies only!  I'm going to gather up all my ladies only giveaway stuff and pile it into one generous giveaway.  This is a good one!  Coming up soon!  Oh, and our Runner's World Running Festival Race Review to follow that!  (My husband may chime in.  This was one of the best weekends of running we have had so far!)

Race Day Ready #4- Altra Zero Drop

Perfect perfect timing.

I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but while training for the Runner's World Hat Trick and Marine Corps Marathon, I have not uttered a word about shin or foot pain.  I have not whined about more missing toe nails.  I have not had issues with my knees (I used to wear a patella strap) and I haven't been sidelined (at all) for any problems with my legs or feet.

A little tidbit about me: I HATE HATE HATE shoes.  I know- so outside the female stereotype.  I will base my daily shoe selection (if I must wear them) on how long I am going to be out and how long I can bear in whichever shoe I select.  I often walk into my home with arms full of groceries, and I take my shoes off before walking the small distance into the kitchen to put the groceries down.  Sometimes I'll take my shoes off on the boardwalk when I finish my run and walk the 4 blocks home barefoot.  Shoes feel binding and constrictive to me almost all the time.  Why a woman would feel fabulous in high heels that squeeze her foot and bind her toes together is something I will never understand.  I comprehend that they look nice, but comfort cannot be part of that equation.  I am usually a few steps behind most trends, therefore I have yet to master feeling simultaneously sexy and uncomfortable.  Tips and hints on figuring this one out would be much appreciated...

All of that said, I knew I was on the right track when I transitioned to zero drop shoes.  I absolutely love barefoot/minimal style shoes, but I was not down with the idea of training for a marathon in them.  Although I spend most of my time unshod, running barefoot is just not practical for me.  But FEELING as close to barefoot as possible while wearing shoes is something I have always fantasized about.

When we discovered Altra Intuition 1.5, I was EXCITED by one statement I read:  That these shoes are SO comfortable that you won't feel the urge to kick them off of your feet as soon as you walk in after a run.  REALLY?