Running Shoes & Sneakers

I’m right at home on the dance floor and can keep going until the sun starts rising.  If I’m having a conversation with a friend, I can walk forty city blocks without even noticing.  But I must confess, when it comes to jogging or running, I usually get about one block before I lose my motivation.  Probably all the more reason I’m in absolute awe of all those who regularly put on the running shoes and put in the serious miles.  Especially in the last year or so, it seems more and more friends of mine are deciding to add the marathon jewel to their crown of personal accomplishments.  I’m cheering for all of you!  And you’ve inspired me to do a little cruelty-free research in this area…

Although I’m not a runner, my city legs need to move on a bike almost every day – my way of compensating for living in a car-culture town right now.  My New Balance sneakers are perfect for biking and long walks.  The style is part of New Balance’s Susan G. Komen for the Cure Partnership, which aims to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.  When I asked a few of my running friends which shoes they preferred, New Balance came up as a fave.  Pangea’s online store, VeganStore.com, has a separate section for athletic shoes, with New Balance options for men and women.

Here are some other vegan running shoes to check out:

• Nike: the LunarElite+ shoes for men and women, designed for high performance and low environmental impact.  Open mesh and synthetic overlays let your feet breathe; rubber outsole and heel make these shoes durable.
• Earth Shoes: For women and men, the Kinetic running shoe.
• Spira: Just looking at this footwear makes me break a sweat!  With its “Wave-Spring Technology,” these shoes seem like they’d be the perfect fit  for all you ambitious runners.

You also can purchase Earth and Spira running shoes at the online mega-store, All Vegan.  Perk: you can complement your running-shoe purchase with some cruelty-free chocolates while you’re there

Bonus Tip!
Ahimsa Footwear is a great online store that features eco-friendly, vegan, sweatshop-free alternatives.  Among the products, trail running shoes by Garmont, Patagonia, and Vegetarian Shoes.

Not a long-distance runner?
Asics has a super-cool footwear option — a vegan version of its running shoe circa 1981, the Ultimate 81. Other sneakers this non-runner likes for everyday: check out Macbeth and Simple — I have styles by both in my own closet!  And let us not forget the absolute sneaker classic: the Chuck Taylor All-Star by Converse.

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