My first impression was that these shoes were too tight and did not provide me with the extra bounce I like to get with my running shoes. I cannot stress how important that extra cushion is to me as I am very overweight and after an injury I am very protective of my knees. After wearing the GT-1000s for a few days of leisurely walking they became more comfortable, replacing my Brooks Addictions in my shoe rotation. I ran in them for the first time today and they felt good. I look forward to increasing my mileage with these shoes. One more thing: the GT-1000s provide a lot of arch support - probably more than I am use to, however I think that this is a good thing. These are my first pair of ASCICs and I was not disappointed.<br />Four stars, but leaning heavily towards five stars.