Some of the brands you wear today have deep roots dating back to the turn of the century. Yes, there are some that started after 2000 but here we are talking post 1900.
Two of your favorite running shoe brands got their start in 1906.
In Boston Massachusetts, the New Balance Arch Support company was started by William J. Riley an Irish Immigrant. In those early days an ethos started that still drives New Balance today. The focus then was to improve shoe fit. You can see aspects of your favorite New Balance that focuses on this very principle. By the 1930's New Balance was satisfying the needs of athletes specifically baseball and track n field.
In Osaka, Japan the Mizuno brothers opened their first retail store focusing on general sundries. By 1913 the company was manufacturing baseballs and baseball gloves. By 1935 they had the largest golf showroom in the world. Today you can see Mizuno well represented in both golf and baseball. They made custom track spikes post World War II but wouldn't be until the running boom in the 1970's that they would turn focus to running.
City 2 Surf
We were in Australia over the weekend for the City2Surf run. A 14 Kilometer run from downtown Sydney to world famous Bondi Beach. There were an estimated 48,000 runners. Of the six podium places overall Asics had all three for men and 2nd and 3rd for women. Only Nike broke up the sweep.
It's a long way to travel but if you have never been to Sydney it's well worth the effort. The above picture was taken from a run. It's one of the most iconic structures in the world and it's right there.
T-100 London
T-100 is a middle distance triathlon that features the best in middle distance athletes.
Earlier this year Hayden Wilde, Silver Medalist last year in Paris and a threat to win in any race he enters, had a crash on his bike. It was thought that the injuries he suffered would keep him out the remainder of the year. Watch his reaction after he wins the race in London on Sunday. It was just great to see him back racing. By the way he raced in the Asics Metaspeed Ray Tokyo.
That's a wrap for this week. Next week we look at the roots of adidas.
