Kara Goucher signs with Altra!

Announced on their FB page less than 30min ago, but cannot find a link online.

Kara's website still lists Sketchers as her show sponsor. Oops!

No offense to Altra, but that must be a strong indication of her stock falling.

Anybody know what races she has coming up?

I really like Altra shoes and have run in them for a few years now for the most part. But I do wonder when a name gets signed like this whether the person really gets and loves what makes Altra shoes great or whether they'd take any company when the deal is right. And if the latter is true are they really the best person to promote the uniqueness of the brand.

Love the shoes or the money? wrote:

I really like Altra shoes and have run in them for a few years now for the most part. But I do wonder when a name gets signed like this whether the person really gets and loves what makes Altra shoes great or whether they'd take any company when the deal is right. And if the latter is true are they really the best person to promote the uniqueness of the brand.

+1

The problem with Altra is that they are so completely different from other shoes. I have tried them and I couldn´t run in them. The low drop killed my achilles and the ridiculously wide toebox felt very akward when I was trying to run fast. I guess she must have tried them and liked them. You just don´t switch to Altra for the money.

well,, wrote:

The problem with Altra is that they are so completely different from other shoes. I have tried them and I couldn´t run in them. The low drop killed my achilles and the ridiculously wide toebox felt very akward when I was trying to run fast. I guess she must have tried them and liked them. You just don´t switch to Altra for the money.

Altra was also recently acquired by VF corporation (north face) which recently relocated to Denver.

She didn't retire years ago?

Considering she has hardly raced over the past few years, Skechers may have decided not to renew her deal. They may not have getting enough of a return on their investment to renew her. Ultra may have been her only choice. Who knows how much of how little she is getting. At some point unless she and Adam have a lot of cash out away, it will be time for her to get a job.

Car guy just asking wrote:

Kara still have a nice healthy trunk?

She drives an SUV so no trunk.

well,, wrote:

The problem with Altra is that they are so completely different from other shoes. I have tried them and I couldn´t run in them. The low drop killed my achilles and the ridiculously wide toebox felt very akward when I was trying to run fast. I guess she must have tried them and liked them. You just don´t switch to Altra for the money.

If the low drop hurts you, you have really been hurt by the high drop for years previously. Ditto with foot shaped toe box. Just need to give it more time and you'll never switch back.

As an Altra fan, I just hope she understands and embraces what makes Altra special and doesn't do it for a while and then go back to high heeled, toe squashing shoes for a bigger buck.

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

Car guy just asking wrote:

Kara still have a nice healthy trunk?

She drives an SUV so no trunk.

She has a motor in the back of her Honda

Love Altra too wrote:

well,, wrote:

The problem with Altra is that they are so completely different from other shoes. I have tried them and I couldn´t run in them. The low drop killed my achilles and the ridiculously wide toebox felt very akward when I was trying to run fast. I guess she must have tried them and liked them. You just don´t switch to Altra for the money.

If the low drop hurts you, you have really been hurt by the high drop for years previously. Ditto with foot shaped toe box. Just need to give it more time and you'll never switch back.

As an Altra fan, I just hope she understands and embraces what makes Altra special and doesn't do it for a while and then go back to high heeled, toe squashing shoes for a bigger buck.

2 out of 3 ain't bad. Too much cushioning in Altra. I haven't tried the Escalante yet though. Whats that like?

Love Altra too wrote:

well,, wrote:

The problem with Altra is that they are so completely different from other shoes. I have tried them and I couldn´t run in them. The low drop killed my achilles and the ridiculously wide toebox felt very akward when I was trying to run fast. I guess she must have tried them and liked them. You just don´t switch to Altra for the money.

If the low drop hurts you, you have really been hurt by the high drop for years previously. Ditto with foot shaped toe box. Just need to give it more time and you'll never switch back.

As an Altra fan, I just hope she understands and embraces what makes Altra special and doesn't do it for a while and then go back to high heeled, toe squashing shoes for a bigger buck.

I'd agree with this except altra's aren't foot shapped, they are caricature of a foot shape. Those of us without hobbit feet slosh around in them.

There's definitely some selection bias when it goes to altra fans impressions of the foot shape. You all have self-selected the shoes most likely because you have larger than average feet, that's why you think you're great.

TLDR You love altra because you have fat feet.

IFonly wrote:

Love Altra too wrote:

If the low drop hurts you, you have really been hurt by the high drop for years previously. Ditto with foot shaped toe box. Just need to give it more time and you'll never switch back.

As an Altra fan, I just hope she understands and embraces what makes Altra special and doesn't do it for a while and then go back to high heeled, toe squashing shoes for a bigger buck.

2 out of 3 ain't bad. Too much cushioning in Altra. I haven't tried the Escalante yet though. Whats that like?

Escalante is light and very soft underfoot - I liked both those things. But I wasn't a huge fan overall as the upper was to soft/loose and the last seemed narrower/less stable. Favourite casual sneakers though.

That said the Escalante 1.5 and Escalante Racers both seem better. Might be worth a try.

If you don't want something feeling too cushioned, yet you still want light, definitely get the Solstice. One 2.5 was very light but very cushioned. One 3.0 was heavier and way too firm. Solstice is a happy medium.

Or you "slosh around" because after years of pointy shoes your toes don't have gaps between them as they naturally should.

Try using Correct Toes to open the toes up a bit and run with Injinji toe socks. Once you start to adapt you won't ever go back.

Love Altra too wrote:

Dril wrote:

I'd agree with this except altra's aren't foot shapped, they are caricature of a foot shape. Those of us without hobbit feet slosh around in them.

There's definitely some selection bias when it goes to altra fans impressions of the foot shape. You all have self-selected the shoes most likely because you have larger than average feet, that's why you think you're great.

TLDR You love altra because you have fat feet.

Or you "slosh around" because after years of pointy shoes your toes don't have gaps between them as they naturally should.

Try using Correct Toes to open the toes up a bit and run with Injinji toe socks. Once you start to adapt you won't ever go back.

People have long ago had reasonably normal feet 'bred" out of them. Going barefoot or wearing wider shoes isn't going to change genetics.

The idea that just going barefoot or wearing Altra is guaranteed to change your foot shape drastically is ludicrous.

I've been running in Altras for 5 years and the escalante is one of the only pairs that I dislike. They are overly soft and way too sloppy.

Yeah, and the idea that wearing braces won't change your teeth is ludicrous too! ;)

The shape of Altra's footshape was a composite of the shape of tracings of many many runners with NO history of foot problems or foot pain.

Turns out that those with feet that haven't been changed by shoes, have more healthy shaped feet.

The genetics comment is insane...look at the feet of any of the billion people on the planet that don't wear modern footwear...their feet are all wider at the tips of the toes than at the ball and most wouldn't even come close to even fitting in an Altra toe box.

Yeah, and the idea that wearing braces won't change your teeth is ludicrous too! ;)

The shape of Altra's footshape was a composite of the shape of tracings of many many runners with NO history of foot problems or foot pain.

Turns out that those with feet that haven't been changed by shoes, have more healthy shaped feet.

The genetics comment is insane...look at the feet of any of the billion people on the planet that don't wear modern footwear...their feet are all wider at the tips of the toes than at the ball and most wouldn't even come close to even fitting in an Altra toe box.