Altra, the American brand of running shoes recently acquired by VF Corp., has signed a sponsorship deal with a 40-year-old distance runner, Kara Goucher, who was formerly sponsored by Skechers. Goucher competed for the U.S. in the Beijing and London Olympics in 2008 and 2012. She was the silver medalist in the 10,000 meters at the World Championships of Athletics in Osaka in 2007 and has been a top-ten finisher in numerous other races over the past decade. She hosts a women's retreat, and she recently published a Runner's Guide to boost self-confidence. Known for its Zero Drop design, Altra stands out particularly for its women's running shoes, made with a “female-specific” last to fit the anatomy of the female foot.

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