Introducing…The Nike Chicago LunarGlide+3

If there’s one thing that’s always consistent about Chicago, it’s the fact that this is one city that really knows how to celebrate. This weekend was a strong testament to this fact as Nike launched the Chicago LunarGlide+3 to coincide with the Chicago Marathon. I was more than excited to come out to help celebrate the release of this shoe and definitely got more than I expected.

You could tell something fun was going on even before you walked in the doors of Akin Chicago. Music was blasting from the entrance and DJ MarkyBoy knew how to get the party started. (I found myself dancing uncontrollably at times.) When I finally got to see the shoes in person, I knew they would be awesome.

Besides some of my favorite colors, some of the top features include:

• Waffle out-sole (ideal for running shoes)
• Horizontal flex-grooves that give you the opportunity to build those key muscles in the bottom of your feet (adapted from the Nike Free’s)
• Dynamic mid-sole support
• Mid-foot strap that goes underneath the bottom of the foot to help cradle it
• Great shoe for beginners and advanced runners

Nike has a way of inspiring people to be and do their best at whatever they set out to accomplish. It will be easy to do just that in these shoes.

After getting educated about the shoes and what runner’s like myself could expect, we got to meet the woman behind the artistry, Ms. Tara D.

Chicago artist Tara D holding her masterpiece.

When asked what inspired her artwork for this particular shoe and the custom t-shirt that compliments it, she explained that she had no friends who were runners and didn’t really know where to begin. So, she decided to go out and just ask people who were running. (Which she said started getting kind of weird.) So she turned to some of the running stores. Most of them boasted going to the Lakefront and that she should start there. She was also inspired by the old signage around Chicago and it’s sort of vintage look which she included on the t-shirt. Her background as a graphic artist and her great sense of humor also inspired the design.

More artwork created by Tara D.

Tara D also has her own mobile gallery truck called the Hot Box which she drives around Chicago and parks in different neighborhoods. She displays her art as well as some other local artists’ work. Tara opened up the “HotBox” for us to see where she gets inspired and she is, no doubt, amazing at what she does.

I absolutely can not wait to try out these shoes and see what they’re all about. To be able to say I’m wearing and running in a shoe especially designed for the city I live and thrive in is going to be a fantastic feeling.

Once again, Nike has inspired us to be bold and confident in everything we do and I’ll be keeping that in mind as I hit the pavement this Sunday, October 9th for the Chicago Marathon.

Be Renewed