Nike Racing Shoes Have a Cool History
In 1960, legendary coach and Nike founder Bill Bowerman took a waffle iron and designed a custom pair of running shoes for one of his athletes competing in the Olympics. A few years later, the Nike brand was born. For decades, Nike dominated the running shoe scene, but eventually other brands edged ahead in popularity and preference for long distance runners. Nike then seemed to focus on other sports where it continues to dominate.
The original Nike waffle “Moon Shoes” designed by Bill Bowerman
In recent times, something changed. Nike enhanced some of their running shoe models, and the running community sat up and took notice.
Carbon-Plated Racing Shoes
In 2019, the Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next% carbon-plated racing shoe became world-famous (although not technically world-record breaking due to the conditions of the race) when Eliud Kipchoge broke the 2-hour barrier and completed a marathon in 1:59:40.
The Alphafly is a lightweight maximalist running shoe, a complete 180 degree shift away from the barefoot craze. This maximal cushioning carbon-plated racing shoe meets a need for those in the long-distance running community who crave more softness underfoot balanced with peak responsiveness while remaining as lightweight as possible.
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- Vaporfly
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- Alphafly
The Nike Vaporfly was introduced in 2017 and has been a staple in the elite field as a lightweight carbon-plated racing shoe. It’s an all-around lean and race-ready model with great propulsion and a disappearing feel in its upper mesh.
Should I Get Nike Running Shoes?
The best advice we can give when it comes to any running shoe brand is to come in to a specialty running store and get your feet inside the shoes. That’s the best way to discover if they will be the right shoes for your goals, your body mechanics, any injuries you’re dealing with, etc. It all starts with a proper shoe fitting where your gait and stride are analyzed.
If you’re in the Tampa Bay area, come into St. Pete Running Company where you’ll receive a complimentary, one-of-a-kind shoe fitting. We take a comprehensive look at your biomechanics, your running form, your gait, and we’re able to evaluate your injury profile in order to help you find just the right shoes for you.
Everyday Nike Trainers
For runners looking for a supportive running or walking shoe, the Nike Structure offers steadiness and midfoot stabilization. In a neutral model, the Zoom Vomero is a maximal cushioning shoe with the same lightweight foam in the Nike Structure called ReactX designed to maximize responsiveness and comfort in both shoes.
Left: Nike Zoom Vomero, Right: Nike Structure
Come into St. Pete Running Company and our expert staff will walk you through our fit process to see what running or walking shoes will be the best fit for you!
Do you still have questions about the Nike running shoes? We can help! Call us at 727-800-5043 or come into the store where our shoe experts are ready to provide the high-quality customer service you expect from a Top 50 Running Store in America.
