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Thank you for playing. THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED !
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Barefoot running shoes constitute the most exciting new development in footwear for active lifestyles. Onlineshoes.com is happy to announce a new contest giving four lucky enthusiasts the chance to win a free pair of minimalist shoes from the Merrell Barefoot collection, giving them the opportunity to try out this new, lightweight style of running shoe.
Barefoot running became part of the cultural lexicon in the mid-1980s when the record-breaking South African-born Zola Budd rose to fame. Now, two-and-a-half decades later, Merrell and Vibram® have teamed up to create the Merrell Barefoot collection of minimalist running shoes for men and women, combining the natural benefits of going barefoot with enhanced support and protection from environmental hazards. Read more about the collection in the Onlineshoes.com blog post Merrell Barefoot Running Shoes.
Current styles offered by Merrell include the men’s Trail Glove, Tough Glove and True Glove, and the women’s Pace Glove—which was designed by women, for women, with a women’s-specific last. These four styles feature Merrell’s Omni-Fit™ lacing system to ensure a snug, glove-like fit. Additional women’s-specific minimalist shoes include the Pure Glove mary jane and the Power Glove bootie with a one-hand Z-Rap™ closure. All styles keep feet fresh with Aegis® antimicrobial treatment, offer a thin layer of compression-molded EVA, and have a smooth interior for chafe-free comfort. A specially engineered Vibram® Trail Glove outsole provides protection, traction and nimble response on rocky or uneven terrain.
Three primary benefits of running, trail running or walking in Merrell’s Barefoot style running shoes include:
1. It stimulates sensory receptors in the feet: Truly feel and connect to the terrain through the more than 7,000 nerve endings in each foot.
2. It encourages realignment: Merrell Barefoot running shoes help engage the feet, creating a more natural stride. Moving the body forward from a heel-strike landing to a midfoot landing lowers impact on the joints, producing better posture and a more efficient gait.
3. It strengthens foot and leg muscles: A byproduct of stimulated muscles is increased strength, amping up agility, balance and quickness, and aiding in the body’s ability to burn more calories.
However, like any new physical activity, it’s not possible to jump in with both feet: Adapting to barefoot running footwear is something that happens gradually. People wearing barefoot running shoes for the first time must start slowly and pay attention to what their bodies are telling them, incorporating barefoot training in no more than 10% of overall activities at the outset. Unlike most street shoes and running shoes, styles in the Merrell Barefoot collection have a 0mm difference in elevation between the heel and forefoot, which engages a different set of muscles—a fact that every body is sure to respond to.
New users must develop a new “barefoot form,” learning to walk before they run: In fact, the suggested preparatory training for Merrell Barefoot shoes includes toe, forefoot and ankle exercises and literally walking barefoot for 30 minutes per day on varied surfaces for five consecutive days.
Once graduating to wearing their Merrell Barefoot shoes, such as the Tough Glove for men or the Pace Glove for women, people are advised to begin on flat, smooth surfaces, avoiding steep hills or rocky, uneven trails until strength and endurance have increased. (Note: A bit of muscular discomfort is to be expected; sharp, shooting pains are not. If the latter is experienced, suspend use of minimalist shoes until pain subsides. Additionally, anyone who suffers from chronic, pre-existing physical issues should consult their physician before using minimalist shoes.)
Barefoot running shoes are not necessarily intended to be a replacement for normal walking and running shoes: They are an additional component of an athlete’s arsenal, encouraging the development of another set of muscles—or tools—to benefit a fitness regimen or overall physical health. In this contest, Onlineshoes.com is seeking active, curious individuals eager to expand their workouts by embracing the less-is-more concept of minimalist shoes and be among those at the forefront of the latest revolution in fitness.
Four randomly selected blog readers will each win one pair of men’s or women’s shoes of their choice from the Merrell Barefoot collection, with a value of up to $120. Just answer the question (in 200 words or less) in the comments section below: “Why do you think you’d be a perfect candidate to try out a pair of minimalist running shoes from the Merrell Barefoot collection?”
Entries will be accepted from Thursday, March 10, 2011, through Wednesday, March 23, 2011. See the complete contest rules and regulations for details. Good luck…and what are you waiting for? Get outside! Open to U.S. residents only. No purchase necessary to win.
***UPDATE*** 03/28/2011
The giveaway is now closed and the winners are:
1. ARunningDad “After marrying into a running family, I repeatedly attempted to lug my technically “overweight” body around my neighborhood with the atypical result of (take your pick) knee pain, shin splints, hip pain, back pain or self-esteem pain (no one wants to be the running gear encrusted walker). This all changed when my elite marathoning sister-in-law bought a pair of Vibrams and the tidal wave of purchases (brother-in-law, brother-law-in 2, wife) eventually found its way to my feet. For the first time ever, I could run. I could finally BE a runner. As my mileage and my love of the road-run increased I realized I needed to strengthen my feet/legs throughout the day so I wore my Vibrams to work. Baring the more elicit responses, they distracted my students and confused/irritated my boss, but the muddled social reaction didn’t keep me from running more and more. 5k turned into a half-marathon, and a half-marathon turned into…me needing a replacement pair of Vibrams. I needed a more work-friendly barefoot shoe that could stand up to some serious pounding to come out…and with some form of divine intervention, here are the Merrell’s!”
2. Dennis Sellers “I think I would be a great candidate for testing out the barefoot movement because I’ve been running for almost 40 years (I’m 54) and have tried out just about every type of running shoe known to man, from the Nike waffle-sole shoes of the 70s to Nike Frees to the recent Reebok ZIGGs.
I run 30-40 miles a week and also do lots of cross training. I play various sports such as softball, basketball, volleyball and flag football, so I’m in excellent physical condition. I also work out of my home, so I have a little more flexibility in my schedule than most folks. That will allow me to experiment with the Merrell Barefoots, working “test” and “training” days into my regular workout schedule. Also, I’m used to “test driving” new products as I do tech reviews for an online news site (http://www.macnews.com).”
3. mynameismatt “My name is Matt and I am a 22 year old energetic college student who loves being outdoors and running. Over the last month I have been suffering from a low back injury that keeps coming back because I have been insisting on getting back to running as soon as I start feeling better. It turns out that the shock from running (improperly) had been aggravating my S-I joint and kept my back from healing properly.
After my most recent re-injury of my back I finally took the hint and decided it was time to give my back the rest it needed. Frustrated by being couch-bound a friend of my recommended I read a book “Born to Run.” I found myself turning page after page, and I wasn’t able to put it down! After I finished reading the book I started looking more into barefoot running and became intrigued by this whole new concept! I can’t wait for my back to finish healing so I can start perfecting this new art of running! And that is why I believe I would make a great candidate to try out a pair of these minimalist running shoes.”
4. marilyn “I am a soon-to-be 70 year old female, and started running 35 years ago. My goal when I started running was to prevent the high blood pressure and stroke problems of my parents and siblings. I worked at learning to run by landing on my heel, which was correct at that time. With custom orthotics, good shoes, patience and persistence I have survived 2 stress fractures and multiple small injuries. Not a fast runner, I am content with no racing. My good health is my reward. Originally I planned to keep running until I turned 85. Now, 90 seems a better goal. Last year at this time I could not run or walk without pain in my right knee. After strengthening exercises and learning the amazing technique of Chi Walking and Chi Running, I now am alternating days of 5 mile brisk walks with 5 miles of runs faster than I could run 20 years ago — and no pain! I also discovered that I am more comfortable without the custom orthotics I’ve been having made for running for the past 34 years. I now walk in my sox around the house, and feel that I’m ready to transition (again, with patience and persistence) to barefoot running shoes. Those Merrell shoes look like the perfect way for me to venture into this new world. Things have changed a lot in the past 35 years, and I am looking forward to many more years of discovery.”
Congratulations! Thanks to everyone for your inspiring submissions and make sure to check back with the OnlineShoes Blog, we’ve got other exciting things planned on the calendar!
So in a nutshell, perfect candidate for ya 
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I think I’d be a perfect candidate to try out a pair of Merrell Barefoot shoes because I love to try new things – moving out of my comfort zone keeps me moving!