So many shoes but only two feet

I speak to footwear designer Richard Kuchinsky about the confluence of running shoe design and run culture and it's all about Nike

Shoes. They’re the only essential part of every runner’s wardrobe.

They’ve also always been equally crucial in reflecting and dictating the tempo of running culture. From the waffle sole that spearheaded the 1970s running boom, through the cushion and support of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and the minimalism of the new century, whatever the prevailing running shoe technology is, we buy the options available to us.

Since 2018, it’s the super shoe movement with its carbon plates and high-tech foams that has really changed how we interact with running. For instance, the Boston qualification time dropped a few minutes yet again this week, to be almost 14 minutes faster than 2015.

Great ad copy from Nike, making fun of their customers who credit their gear over their own hard work

When Nike told us that the Vaporfly would give fast runners 4% better running economy, it…