The Running Shoe Brands
Over the last week we have been working on a special project. For the project we had to find all of the models and color options of performance running shoes from the major running shoe companies. It was great practice because we research these shoes and the runners wearing them every week. It's staggering when you put it all together. There are 212 models from 9 brands. Each of those models is available in 2 to 25 different colors. Runners and their running shoes.
Nike
Nike is at it again! Many years ago I was at a Nike conference in conjunction with the Honolulu Marathon. Nike had invited a number of retailers to Hawaii. We were there to preview some shoes and to offer feedback to Nike on how they could do better. Late one night I was at an outside bar with one of the Nike product managers. He and I were talking about all running shoes. He brought up an idea and before you knew it, we had drawn out on a napkin what would eventually become the Bowerman group of running shoes. I share this story because it was Nike trying to reinvent their line of running shoes. The one staple in the the line was the Pegasus. Today it looks like they are at it again. Now instead of going wide with types of running shoes they are going deep in Neutral cushioning. The one constant is the Pegasus. The shoe above is the Zoom Fly. It's been a fairly in consistent shoe. This version is a good one.
On Running
When On was just getting started I had a great opportunity to spend time with the three founders of the company. I really enjoyed their view of the running business and thought very highly of all three. A couple things one of the founders said to me have stuck. He said about Hoka "Hoka will not last" I laugh now because the #1 shoe for On in all the work I do is a shoe called Monster. It's similar in design and function as the Hoka Clifton. The other shoe that many scoffed at including this founder was the Vapor Fly 4% from Nike when it debuted. It took two years for a brand to come out with shoes that competed with the Vapor Fly. That brand was Saucony. Today On and every brand on the market has a Hoka esque shoe in their line and a racing shoe or shoes like the Nike Vapor Fly. To be fair to the founder I spoke to, his views were not his alone. The product manager at the bar who I worked with on Bowerman had the same views. He's now a top executive at one of the shoe companies and he also didn't think Hoka would survive and was slow to react to the Vapor Fly.
AR City Night
This weekend is the adidas runners City Night 5K and 10K in Berlin. Saturday night racing under the stars. That sounds like great fun. As always there will be fast runners in both races but after three years of covering these two events most of the runners are there for the party. If you happen to be anywhere near Berlin this weekend I suggest you go there and run. (if you can, it might be sold out)
