Runner’s World Half Festival- (Part 2) Altra Zero Drop

In case you missed all of my Twitter posts this weekend, I was at the Runner’s World Half Festival in Bethlehem.  You can view Part 1 of my recap that goes over the 10K.  In this recap, I wanted to talk about one of the sponsors, Altra Zero Drop. 

When I arrived on Saturday the other bloggers had already done the Altra Zero Drop clinic, but the wonderful people at Altra allowed some of us to take part in it late.  Before heading to Bethlehem, I had never heard of Altra or even knew what type of running shoes they offered. 

After my 10K was finished, I rushed over to the expo to take part in the Altra Clinic with Karen and Sylvia.  I was excited to learn more about Altra, because I saw all the photos and tweets from other Fitfluential bloggers the night before and it seemed very informational! 

Founder Golden Harper greeted us at the tent and was more than happy to give the clinic a second time.  I learned SO much during this clinic, and the best way to deliver this information to you is in a Q & A format.  But of course, if you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to send me a comment below or an email.  If I don’t have an answer, I’ll gather that information from a representative at Altra. 

Q & A

1.  What is proper running technique?

Altra Zero Drop Footwear allows for better running technique, because of the zero drop.  Good technique is very important when running any distance, because it allows you to run with increased efficiency, reduced fatigue and less risk of injury.  Here are four main ways to ensure proper technique while running. 

• Balanced forward posture.  Straighten your body, but don’t bend at the waist.  Slightly lean from the ankles and move your chest forward with the shoulders back and relaxed.
• Compact arm swing.  Elbows should not extend in front of the waist (except for sprinting).  Pump back and recover forward without swaying from side to side.
• Land on a bent knee. Avoid keel striking and keep the knees bent and feet relaxed.
• 180 cadence.  Cadence is how many steps per minute you take.  Try to aim for approximately 180 steps per minute.

2.  How is Altra is different from a traditional running shoe?

Zero drop footwear has been built on a 1-1 ratio.  The heel and forefoot are the same heights off the ground.  *I know that my current sneakers have an almost 2 inch height difference between the heel and the toe. 

The shoes also have a larger toe box.  This gives more run for your toes to naturally spread while your run, which allows your feet to relax.

3.  Can I alternate between Altras and my current running shoe?

Yes.  It’s actually highly recommended that you do for a few weeks starting with your easy runs.  Once your lower leg muscles and feet become accustomed to the natural loading effect of Zero Drop shoes, you can run all you want in your Altras.

(source)

After the clinic was completed, we were able to pick out a pair of Altras to take home!  Thank you to the very generous people over at Altra for treating us so well.  I picked out the Intuition 1.5.  I haven’t been able to go for a run with these shoes yet, but when I do I plan to do a full review.  They sure are comfy though!  I put these on right after leaving the clinic and they felt amazing after running a 10K.  I love how the toe box on these shoes are a bit wider than normal running shoes.  This will allow my toes to spread out instead of being crunched when I run. 

To purchase a pair of Altra Zero Drop shoes for yourself, go to the website’s store locator.

FTC:  Altra Zero Drop provided me a complimentary pair of Altras.  No other compensation was provided.  All opinions are my own. 

Talk to Me

• Have you ever tried running in a “zero drop” running shoe before?
• Although these aren’t barefoot running shoes, have you tried running in barefoot shoes?
• What color are your running shoes?