The history of running shoes development may start with Mithridates, who ran the first marathon to warn his fellow Greeks of an impending invasion. The fact that he died after delivering his message is a reminder of how debilitating running can be.
Some debate still rages about whether or not it is best to wear shoes at all. The Zulu army was able to run for about eighty kilometres barefoot before fighting a battle, but that was because the soles of their feet had been so toughened that they were effectively built in boots.
While this was happening in Africa a man called Walt Webster thought of sticking a layer of rubber to the bottom of canvas shoes. They were intended for tennis but thieves found them useful for sneaking about, so they were called sneakers. More than a century later this type of shoe was still being used for running long distance marathons.
Nazi Germany hosted the Olympic games in 1936, and it was a man called Adolf Dassler who developed special equipment for the event, initiating what was to become a huge industry. After the War Dassler found himself short of footwear materials and used scraps of canvas and leather gathered from military waste. He put three strips of leather across the tops of uppers to add strength and support.
In the post modern period jogging took off as a leisure activity. It kept the blood moving, and was cheap and easy way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Thousand of feet pounding the ground every day meant that new purchases had to be made not only for new entrants to running clubs, but also for replacements. The demand for leisure footwear created a big new industry.
Plain leather, rubber and canvas gave way to new materials which were lighter and more porous. They allowed air to circulate more freely around the food so that it was cooler and more comfortable. Flexibility meant fewer blisters. The days of 'wearing in a new pair' were over. They could be used right away.
The large numbers of amateur athletes who take to the roads in all shapes and sizes create demand for many designs. There are shoes for people whose ankles turn in, or out; for those who strike the ground with toe first and those who hit the ground heel first. A good salesman will try to choose a product to fit individual needs and characteristics.
To counter the incidence of injuries designs were created to lessen jarring and jolting. These can cause serious hip and knee problems in young and old athletes. One answer is to have gel built into the sole in order to create a sensation of lightness, or bouncing.
Faster personal best performances of women have far exceeded those of men in recent decades. The many thousands of female athletes have created demand for more attractive wear in delicate colours and fashionable designs. Manufacturers follow the needs of their customers, and also do their bit to nudge them towards needs they never knew they had. This too has marked recent trends in the history of running shoe development.
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