Rubber Soles
A resurgence in running led to the further development of the ancient running sandal. In 1832 a new process invented by Wait Webster allowed rubber soles to be attached to shoes. By the 1860s a shoe had been developed that was good for running and was quiet. This was where the term "sneakers" came from.
Spikes
Just as shoes, and then rubber soles, increases traction, it was clear that spikes added even more traction for runners. Spikes for shoes were developed in the 1850s, and by 1890 Spalding Company was offering three versions of spiked shoes in its catalog.
Modern Shoe
Adolf Dassler is credited with creating the modern running shoe. He created his shoe in 1920 and by 1936 his shoes were regarded as the best in the world and were worn by Jessie Owens at the 1936 Olympics. His shoes utilized canvas and rubber, and led to the creation of the Adidas Company. He and his brother Rudi parted company in 1948 and Rudi started Puma.
Modern Times
New Balance created the first scientifically tested and designed shoe starting in 1962. Today, shoes are made of synthetic material and designed for optimal performance. In 1968 a new type of spike replaced the traditional metal spike.
Article Written By James Jordan
James Jordan has been a writer and photographer since 1980. He has worked for newspapers in Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kansas, winning state press association awards for writing, photography and page design. In 1995 he received his master's in Christian education and completed two years of Ancient Greek at the graduate level. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
