at one time there was a small company based out of oregon called nike. they decided that they wanted to make a better running shoe. did they have to go up against some of the most reputable and established companies of the time (onitsuka and adidas)? of course they did. if you have a product that the public likes then you will succeed. i suggest starting at the grassroots level. i mean, where would nike be without geof hollister and prefontaine who sent shoes to pros to try and traveled the country getting people to try this new shoe. get one runner to like your shoes and he'll probably get 5 more to like them and so on. i'm going to listen more to a runner with years of experience long before i'm going to be influenced by a stupid publicity stunt (defy the ban, last years boston marathon etc.)