They have a wider toe box than most shoes is the biggest difference. That and the arch shape seems to fit my foot much better. These are the first shoes that don't aggravate my planter fasciitis.

Never really had shoes that fit well until I discovered Altra!

Turns out it just has a bit of a prominence which is causing some tendon irritation. The doctor says I am unlikely to cause any damage and as long as I monitor the pain level I should be good to continue #marathon training!

I have heard too many horror stories of people who ignored warning signs and kept running through pain. Decided it would be best to see my doctor and have this looked at. My concern was a stress fracture of the navicular bone in my right foot.

Next week is going to be bitterly cold so I will be back in the gym for more strength work and some VO2 max intervals on the treadmill.

Not realizing this is what kept me from running most of my life. Once I learned how to run slow and easy I found I love it. One tip, doing some treadmill running is a good way to learn how to run at a slower pace. Set it at a pace just over walking speed so you can run without pushing too fast.

Go outside right now, find a good mud puddle and throw the shoes in it. That will avoid you using the excuse of not wanting to get your nice new shoes dirty.

The marathon I will be running in is www.mainecoastmarathon.com