Join Oska, Tom, and JC from The Frontrunner Colombo for a seriously nerdy dive into the history of running shoes on this week's Run Spesh! 🎙️ We're not kidding, this episode is for the true shoe aficionados out there. 🤓 If you live and breathe running footwear, buckle up! If not... well, maybe skip this one. 😉

This week, we've got a legend in the house (you know who you are!) sharing incredible stories from the early days of running specialty. JC takes us back to his beginnings in shoe repair in 1982 Christchurch – a time when running shoes were a major investment and fixing them was an art form! 🤯

We then launch into a multi-generational exploration of running shoe evolution, covering:

• The Rad 80s: Think flat, flexible, and maybe not so forgiving! We take a look at some iconic (and well-worn!) examples, including Mary O'Connor's actual racing flats! 😲
• The Nifty 90s: The rise of "biomechanics" (for better or worse!) and the introduction of medial posts and dual-density midsoles.
• The Turn of the Millennium (00s): Molding technology takes center stage, allowing for more anatomically shaped designs. We dissect some classic Asics GEL models!
• The Twenty-Tens: The game-changing arrival of Adidas Boost and the quest for lightweight cushioning, sometimes with interesting structural solutions!
• The Twenty-Twenties (So Far!): Hint: We might just have some cutting-edge tech arriving during the recording! 👀

We discuss the why behind design choices, material innovations (from die-cut EVA to laser-cut PBA!), and how we went from repairing worn-out soles to the mind-blowing technology of today. It's a journey through time that highlights just how far running shoe technology has come! 🚀

Trigger Warning: May induce extreme shoe envy and a sudden urge to raid vintage running shoe archives! 😉

What are your favorite running shoe memories? Share them in the comments below! 👇

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