About the Kinds of Track Shoes

History

• The origin of the running shoe can first be traced to the era of the ancient Greeks. Originally, during their ancient games, it was customary to run barefoot. Soon, however, some athletes began to wear sandals. Originally, shod athletes were viewed as cheats, but eventually the ancient Greeks and Romans adopted this custom once they saw that sandals gave the athlete better traction and a more efficient stride.
  The development of the spiked shoe occurred in 1852 by the Spalding company. The sole originally had six spikes and was made from kangaroo leather, costing an expensive $6.

Sprinting Shoes

• When competing in a highly competitive sprinting race, a fraction of a second can be equated to a lifetime. Because of this, a sprinting shoe must be lightweight and provide a lot of traction for the runner. Sprinting distances, or 100 meters to 400 meters, necessitate the use of spiked shoes. These spikes can either be screwed into a spike plate by means of a wrench or permanently fixed to the shoe. Generally, sprinter's spikes are made of a very light material such as reinforced mesh and oftentimes have covers for the laces or even zippers to improve the aerodynamics of the stride. The spike plate usually contains five to 11 spikes. The toe of the shoe is generally pointed slightly upward to keep the runner on his or her toes--this is known as the taper.

Middle/Long Distance Shoes

• As the distance of the race increases, the number of spikes in a shoe decreases and heel cushioning increases. Middle and long distance races are considered those longer than 400 meters. Ideal shoes for these races possess a more flexible sole to allow for an easy, uninhibited stride.
  For long distance track, cross country and especially marathon races, a racing flat is used. This type of shoe is much lighter than a typical training shoe and has a flat heel. These shoes are used primarily for racing because of their lack of durability and support for repeated use.

Types of Spikes

• Spikes are metal protrusions that are either screwed or fixed permanently into the sole of the track shoe. These grip into the track surface and give the runner more traction. There are many different types of spikes for track shoes. They range in size of 3/16 of an inch to 1/2 an inch. The length of the spike used depends on the regulations of the track and the surface. For races with rough terrain such as grass, longer spikes are used. There are three varieties of spikes: pyramid, needle and the compression tier (or Christmas tree). Pyramids spikes are coned shaped and taper to a sharp point. Needle spikes are sharper and thinner and have a smaller diameter/length ratio than pyramid spikes. A Christmas tree spike is similar to the pyramid spike, but rather than a pointed tip, it has a flat one to compress the surface beneath it instead of penetrate it. This variety of spike reduces wear and tear on the track, and also reduces the injuries incurred by "spiking," or when one runner accidentally kicks another.

Impact

• During the 20th century, track shoes sparked a revolution in the footwear industry. During the 1960s, for the first time, the world was able to view athletes sporting their various brands via television. Athletic brands such as Adidas and Puma would use athletes to promote their shoe design. For instance, running legend Steve Prefontaine publicly endorsed Nike. As soon as the public saw such sports heroes wearing these shoe designs, comparable styles began to trickle down into the market. Many modern day sneaker styles owe their origin to track shoes.
  Track shoes have also revolutionized the sport of running. They provide comfort, provide for an efficient stride and help cushion the footfall. Humans, with the aid of this kind of equipment, have been able to break seemingly unbeatable records.