super narrow!!!!

I loved the look of these shoes, but I had to return them because they were so narrow!!!!

Comfortable sneaks

These are my go-to sneakers for working out at the gym. They are very comfortable, have great arch support and absorb shock well.

Wow! I didn't know the shoes can make such a difference...

I'm a casual runner... not one of those "sophisticated" runners who know that much about fancy/expensive running shoes. In the past, I had always just bought new running shoes whenever my old pair wore out or when I came across a good deal (which usually came out to about 1 pair every 1-2 years).
My exercise schedule is rather sporadic... with months of regular, almost daily, exercise interspersed with months of sedentary lifestyle. I'm a student so most of my life is spent sitting in front of a computer or a book unless I tear myself away for a run or a swim.

I'm currently in the exercising almost daily phase. I run about 20 miles a week (about 3 - 4 miles a day, with maybe one or 2 days off). Recently my friend pointed out that my running shoes had WORN THROUGH TO THE FOAM. wow... I didn't even notice that! Although... I did notice that my R hip and my bilateral 4th digits of both feet were hurting...
Due to his urging, and the great deals I saw in the Sunday paper, I went and bought a new pair of shoes. I settled on the Adidas Allegra because they felt pretty good in the store and they looked nice. :-) I like running shoes that are not too bulky or wide looking (and yes, appearances do matter... who wants to wear ugly shoes? Plus, I think it IS possible for a shoe to be attractive AND functional).

After my first run, I noticed a HUGE difference. My joints were no longer hurting during the run. I wasn't even tired at the end! In fact, my pace was decreased by a whole minute (8:30 mile pace vs 9:30 per mile pace). And no, I don't think it's possible that I suddenly became more fit in just 1 day.
This pair of shoes made such a huge difference that I had to come here and write a review.
I'll try to update this review in a few months to report if the shoes held up after months of wear.

I also know that everyone's feet are different... these shoes might be perfect for me, but feel awful on someone else's feet. Some people might prefer wider/bulkier shoes.
Just a little background on what shoes I've liked in the past... in case this might help you decide whether this type of shoe would be good for you:
I had been an avid supporter of the Adidas Response Trail ever since it became popular back in ... 1997. Remember? The awesome slime green and blue and black colored one... it was classic. That model was great up through the Response Trail 8. After that, they changed it to a bulkier/wider shoe. I also own the Response Trail 10, but didn't buy any after that because they kept making them bulky and wide. Also the Response Trail 10 is stiff and pinches my feet in the most uncomfortable places.
A very recent pair that I bought is the Adidas Adizero Mana. adidas Women's adiZero Mana Running Shoe
It's beautiful and light. It doesn't have a lot of cushioning, so it's probably not going to be comfortable for long distance running on hard terrain. I reserve this pair for indoor gym use only, and it's great to use for sprinting!

You might think I have some weird loyalty to Adidas. Really, it's just personal preference, and the specific size/shape of my feet. I've also bought Nike, New Balance, and Asics running shoes in the past. However, I've found that Adidas shoes fit me the best. All the different shoe company run their sizes slightly differently. Adidas 7.5 fits me perfectly, whereas with the other brands, I seem to fall in between 2 sizes.

In short, the Adidas Allegra is a comfortable shoe at an affordable price. (yes, a shoe doesn't have to be expensive to feel good and serve its purpose). Plus, it looks great! Beauty meets functionality.
Hope this helps, and remember to check your treads regularly!

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3.5 MONTH UPDATE (9/13/09)
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Good news! These shoes have held up thus far.

However, there was a bump in the road earlier. After using these shoes for 2 months, I noticed my joints were starting to hurt again (mostly hips and knees) at about the 2 mile mark during each of my runs. I was rather disappointed because I had really loved these shoes (as you can tell from my review ;-) and it didn't seem reasonable to have to buy new shoes every 2 months.
The first thing I did was look at the treads... and I saw those little rocks/stones stuck in the treads. I dug them out with a partially straightened paper clip. During my next run, I noticed a big difference. No more joint pain! That seems almost unbelievable. I suppose that having little rocks stick out a little bit might have added some awkward pressure points that got transmitted to my joints. Who knows.

Ever since that time, I always dig out the little rocks/stones from the treads right before each run, and so far, no more joint pain has crept in over the last 1.5 months (*knock on wood*). I think buying new shoes every 6 months - 1 year is reasonable... so I hope these shoes will last until then. Will keep you posted. At this point, I would definitely buy these shoes again... They are one of the cheaper running shoes of the Adidas line. Plus they feel light and look good. Next time, I'm going to get the pink one or blue one. :-)

Happy running!

Great shoe...

This shoe is ultra comfortable. I'm a fatty with sensitive knees. These certainly outdid my old NewBalance in the comfort department. We'll see if they last. I'll try to remember a review in the coming months with an update on lasting performance. My only complaint... the shoelaces are short. I needed to get some longer ones.