Altra Footwear Women's Escalante Running Shoe, Gray, 12 B US

First, I'm on my knees begging you for all the unicorns and rainbows and everything good and holy.... please don't change these shoes! I've been a persistent runner for 25 years, name a shoe and I have tried it. Some were horrible and some OK, and some good, but never did I feel that my feet had found their home until I was introduced to these shoes 3 months ago. I was nursing recurring calf issue, which landed me with a DNF at the marathon of my life in Paris. I needed a miracle and these shoes were it (combined with dry needling and other PT). I'll be very honest.... I thought they were a bit homely and after seeing a little lady at my church wearing the exact same pair I have, I cheated off and on with a cuter more traditional pair. But that cuter pair landed me back in the hurt zone and it was very clear the Escalante is the shoe for me. I run 40-50 miles a week and every run is in one of my two pairs of Escalante.... I wear them for short, long, cross country and trail runs that aren't too technical and on the treadmill. My toes and feet love me again and so do my calves. I'm happy every time I put them on and can't wait to hit the road in them. I was completely crushed 3 months ago, because it seemed I had reached a crossroads in my running career. This shoe gives great energy, without overkill. Plenty of room for my toes, which allow my feet to connect with the ground in a way which has improved my over all form. And they're not too expensive. I'm back on a marathon training track and feel more secure on the controllable variables before toeing the line for one of two BQ attempts this fall.... and there is no doubt of the shoes I'll be wearing. Thank you Altra for making me monogamous after all these years!

I have always had problems with running shoes giving me blisters and just not fitting right because my feet are a weird shape (read: bunions etc). These shoes are absolutely perfect! The wide toe box gives you plenty of space without feeling like they're going to fall off. The soft/flexible upper material allows the shoe to easily mold to fit my feet without rubbing. So glad I found these!