Altra Men's Olympus Running Shoes

Last year as I was training for the 2014 Marine Marathon I was having some calf and foot pain during and especially after my weekly long runs (10 miles plus). I have some bunions on both feet and generally bent up feet from a 28 year career in the Marines. I'm not built like a distance runner (5' 7" 170lbs), and I'm 54. Once I got these, I was able to do my long runs without any pain, especially afterward, I had much less soreness. The toe box is very wide, and there is lots of cushioning. Even though it's listed as a trail shoe, it doesn't look like one. The thread isn't aggressive at all, IMO it's just like a normal road shoe. I wouldn't want to try this in any real off road running.Altra recommended that you go a half size up, I did and it fit my very wide feet perfect right out of the box. In the the very first time I put them on I ran 15 miles. It was my longest run in my training up to that point, and I ran it at a 9:30 pace without any walking. It was my best training run up to that point. Needless to say I was very happy with them at that point, still am.In Oct 2014 I ran the marathon in an almost new pair of these. I didn't run my best time (4:42). The course was hillier than I thought itwould be and the HUGE amount of people bunched up at the start through me off my pace for at least the first 6 miles. However I finished with only a little walking near the end. My feet were not an issue.The bottom line is if you are an heavier runner, need lots of cushioning and have very wide feet these would be a good choice. I wouldn't recommend them for off road. They feel like a twisted ankle waiting to happen.One thing negative, and if I could, I would take off 1/2 a star for. No other way to say it, but these are very ugly shoes. Altra doesn't help with the weird colors they offer. I got the black/green as they were the least ugly. My friends and family laughed at me when I showed up with them on. They just look like clown shoes. "Bo Bo shoes" one guy put it. I'm not sure if this can improved or not, it may be just a by product of the design. They could at least do a better job with the colors. There is nothing ugly about how they feel on long runs.

I love these shoes. I bought my first pair based on the recommendation of a local running store owner after sharing with him my needs for an athletic shoe with a LOT of cushion, which I required b/c of severe peripheral neuropathy resulting from extensive chemotherapy and total body irradiation. He explained the cushion of several styles (Torin and Olympus), the way the "Zero Drop" sole works (essentially your foot stays parallel to the ground, just as if you were barefoot, i.e., no heel as in most athletic shoes), and very importantly, the shape of the toe box. It's shaped just like my foot! It's not a typical pointy shoe. Why, after all we now know, are people still buying ATHLETIC shoes that squish their toes together, and running in shoes whose construction still "encourages" runners/joggers to take long strides and land on their heels?! My goal was to have something that I would wear for physical therapy and fitness training after loosing 100 pounds during my cancer treatment. I bought the original Torin, and within 2 weeks bought a pair of casual Torin's (made of gray leather suede to wear with jeans), about 9 months from my first pair, bought a pair of Torin 1.5's, and most recently, the Olympus Running Shoe to which, sort of, this review refers. I've had it several months, and bought it for the sole purpose of wearing to appointments with my trainer. Ha! That lasted one day! They are so comfortable I don't want to wear any other shoes if I can help it. I try to rotate through my Torin's and this new Olympus shoe, but I'm already thinking that at this rate the Torin 1.5 is ready to be replaced.By the way, I started using an app (Tabata Timer) to start jogging. 20 secs running, 10 seconds rest, repeat for 4 minutes. In 2 months, with severe peripheral neuropathy mind you, I'm now running using the timer to run 20 minutes at 7.0 mph, and when I'm finished, my feet still feel fantastic. Look up Tabata in Wikipedia. Also go to the Altra web site and read about the actual, real world purposes for the different styles. It's not to match your latest outfit for sure, although it can do that too.If you want comfortable, effective, protective, light-weight, durable shoes, that don't make your feet hurt, then look no further. Buy Altra!

Happy with the running so far, although laces started fraying immediately which is a minor irritant.

Having suffered with plantar fasciitis for 5 months I have been searching everywhere for a shoe that gives comfort when running .I love this shoe ! It's deeply cushioned and promotes midfoot running which takes impact off heel .This causes problems in itself (tight calves and hamstrings myself ). But if I stretch properly after running the plantar heel pain is managed .Give them a try .Happy after 15 miles