I started running to lose weight. I took some workshops on correct form. I run with a midfoot strike and a slight forward lean, at least I try to. Despite being careful about form, runs longer than five miles tend to cause me plantar fasciitis. Which sucks, as you know. Until now, the best shoe I'd found was the Mizuno Wave Musha, though I also liked the Brooks Racer ST5 though it does have a more substantial heel. In a book about correct form and running shoes I saw a reference to Altra and tried the Instinct 1.5. No more pain. The shoe is very comfortable. It is not heavily padded at all, in fact, it feels kind of like running shoes feel when it's time for a new pair--very little cushioning. But it works, for me. It is not what most would call a "minimal" shoe, you don't get a great deal of ground feel, it's not a Vibram, its far more substantial. P.S. I tried the Torin, another model from Altra, and hated it, felt like I was about to teeter over. The Instinct 1.5 is my new fave.