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Where did the brand known for its huge, cushy soles come from—and how did they get on the feet of Britney Spears?
With new young stars emerging and world records broken, the World Athletics Championships delivered excitement and action on American soil
With a flat, fast and shady course, the top American marathoners are ready to take on the competition at the World Athletics Championships.
The Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run is back. Here’s what you need to know.
With 10 days of events, 1,900 athletes, and 200 countries represented, the World Championships will, without a doubt, be the most prestigious track meet held in the U.S. since the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta
Are high-end race racing shoes worth the investment? Not every runner will benefit from every shoe - so find the best one for your style.
To make the World Athletics Championships team, American athletes must finish in the top three at one of the most competitive meets ever held
Five years ago, Thomas “Rivs” Puzey competed in the famed marathon’s elite field. This year, he was happy to be among the last to cross the finish line.
The brand took its time entering the super-shoe race, but its new, responsive model for marathoners was worth the wait
How the Knob Creek bourbon distilling company got 100 bartenders fit by invoking the anti-running, retro culture of jogging
The 40-year-old’s stunning performance smashed two world records on Friday
In order to achieve his first UTMB win, the American ultrarunning star is taking a whole new approach: rest
It is believed to be the first death in the 19-year history of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc races in and around Chamonix
Super shoe tech has made its way to the track. Here’s a roundup of the foam-and-plate super spikes for racing 800m and longer that you may have saw on the feet of Olympians in Tokyo.
A look inside the training group of U.S. Olympians Paul Chelimo, Hilary Bor and Benard Keter, plus some of their key workouts on the road to Tokyo.
As those who fell short at the Olympic Trials demonstrate, accepting failure and rekindling dreams is the essence of what we do.
In this excerpt from the book “Kicksology,” Brian Metzler asks at what point will technological advances overshadow human propulsion.
How the 800m final at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials played out reveals tactical lessons for every runner
How the Dathan Ritzenhein-coached On Athletics Club has made huge strides in its first year — and what you can learn from them to apply to your own training.
Michael Krajicek is the visionary behind the outlier Atreyu shoe brand.
Skechers adds a flexible carbon-infused rocker plate to its popular Razor, creating an ultra-light speedster that feels spry and smooth at any pace.
New Balance's long awaited entry into the marathon racer super shoe category, the FuelCell RC Elite, provides an accommodating fit with a bouncy, fast-rolling ride.
In this excerpt from "Kicksology," Brian Metzler takes an in-depth look to try and find the culprit behind the prevalence of injuries in runners.
We wear-tested 12 of the best plate-enhanced racing "super shoes" available this summer and fall to help you find what's best for you when you want to go fast.
The Olympic marathon qualifier will be racing in a pair of Cloudflows this Saturday after securing a sponsorship with the Swiss running brand.
Asics' entry into the carbon-fiber wars is a light, low-to-the-ground, energetic racing flat.
The six most influential patents that have changed running shoe design since the mid-1970s.
Explore where the running shoe industry is going next with this excerpt from “Kicksology.”
The newest version of Nike's Pegasus lives up to the franchise's versatile daily trainer tradition, and delivers a softer, snappier ride.
A “super shoe” with advanced foam and a propulsion plate, the Speed Elite Hyper performs like a close-to-the-ground racing flat.
Seidel, the former NCAA champion from Notre Dame, became the first American woman to earn an Olympic berth in her debut marathon, running the sixth-fastest time in Olympic Trials history.
Jake Riley ran 2:13 in his debut marathon 5 years ago in Chicago. Then the wheels started to fall off. Healthy again, he finished ninth last fall in 2:10:36.
An improved fit and modern aesthetic add to this consistently reliable and affordable everyday trainer.
A half dozen speedy, and slightly supportive, models to get you through your next half marathon.
Sometimes running shoes let you down at the worst possible time. Here's a review of some of the highest profile shoe fails in running history.
What you choose for racing shoes depends on the distance, your fitness—and what you like to feel underfoot.
Today’s trail shoes provide specialized features for a variety of different terrains. Here’s how to sort out what you need.
The engineer from Colorado Springs ran a big PR, qualified for the Olympic Trials—and beat half the elite field.
Details on routes, weather, fuel, and gear for tackling the rim-to-rim-to-rim challenge
Our five favorite gadgets for everything from recording splits to rocking out, including the New Balance Tri-Viz with four built-into-the-brim LEDs that can operate in three different settings; the Timex Ironman Run Trainer With GPS; and the Motorola Motoactv, a lightweight wristwatch that packs music and heart-rate tracking.
Outside reviews the best gear for the 2012 Summer Buyer's Guide, including the Arc'teryx Incendo.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Pearl Izumi Fly In-R-Cool Cap.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Mountain Hardwear Geist Jacket.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Salomon XR Shorts.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the PowerSox APF Lo-Cut Socks.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Hydrapak E-Lite Hydration Vest.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including The North Face Better Than Naked shirt.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Brooks Essential Run Vest.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Mizuno Wave Elixir 6 running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the New Balance 890 running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Brooks Ravenna 2 running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Asics Kayano 17 running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Puma Faas 500 running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Saucony ProGrid Mirage running shoe.
Barefoot-inspired shoes are flying off the shelves, and they're poised to transform the way we run. Here's how to make the most of running with less.
SUPERLIGHT AND SUPER-SECURE The lacing system on this shoe swerves so radically you might think it’s a factory blooper. It’s not. Less than a mile into a training run along the Boulder Creek Path, it was clear that the Concinnity’s off-center lacing system pulls double duty: It helps provide an…
MOTION CONTROL LITE Runners whose mild or moderate heel rolling doesn’t warrant a fat, heavy heel brace will find smooth striding in the new Gel-3000. The wide, stable heel features a moderately cushy foam—offering the softness and sprightliness of a neutral-cushioning shoe at heel strike. But as the shoe rolls…
SMOOTH, CUSHIONED VERSATILITY Lucky number 13? It is if you count a commitment to research as good fortune. The 13th version of this all-purpose favorite is the result of years of accumulated R&D. This Kayano boasts thicker gel cushioning units in the heel than previous models, resulting in an even…
Like a restaurant with an “Under New Management” sign out front, Etonic deserves a fresh look. After licensing out its running-shoe division for several years, the company has brought the brand back inside and created the ultra-comfy Jepara SC. The midsole’s dual-density EVA cushioning and proprietary rubber results in a…
1. The Triumph is like the best hotel mattresses: soft and springy but not mushy. Articulated outsole lugs and a five-layer sandwich of foam, rubber, and thermoplastic in the heel absorb the impact of each foot strike while retaining a remarkable responsiveness. And thanks to its forward-leaning tilt, the…
VERSATILE AND FAST We’re not saying you were the kind of kid who got chased home from school. We’re saying if you were that kid, this shoe could have saved your ass. With a snug fit and low-to-the-ground design, the Zoom inspires high-speed running on everything from hard-packed dirt trails…
CUSTOM FIT We were on high gimmick alert when testing the Paris Trainers, which use a pneumatic pump to create a custom rear-foot fit. Not all testers felt the benefit (those who did liked the snugness), but we downgraded the alert to low when, even without the pump, the shoe…
LOVES LONG RUNS If neutral shoes are sedans and stability shoes are SUVs, then the Infiniti is a minivan. It’s part of Brooks’s new “guidance” line of shoes, which are designed to be a bit less structured than stability shoes but not quite as minimalist as trainers. To wit: The…
1. Most shoes are either racers or trainers. The lightweight SpeedCross 2 manages to be both: Shock-absorbing rubber outsole lugs compensate for the minimal midsole cushioning. And because it’s soft-flexing, with a low-to-the-ground profile, it “hugs” all types of terrain. 2. Salomon designers took inspiration from the legendary…
Motion-control shoes have a rep for feeling big and clunky, but this agile cruiser defies the stereotype. The key component is the detached heel-strike pad, which moves independently of the rest of the midsole. The design isolates shock absorption from the rest of the shoe and stops mild pronation in…
FROZEN GRIP Live in Minnesota, Montana, or Maine? This is the winter training shoe for you. With 16 carbide-tipped spikes protruding from the outsole, these sturdy snowcats provide reliable, no-slip traction on iced-over trails and snowpacked roads. “Amazing,” said one tester, “I’ve never felt so confident going downhill on icy…
SPEEDY BUT GRIPPY Fact: The Italians make great shoes. Lesser known fact: They dominate competitive mountain running. That combined mastery is evident in the Crosslite, which is all about getting through the rough stuff as quickly as possible. A race-ready shoe with a minimalist design, the knobby-lugged Crosslite combines the…
ROAD-TO-TRAIL WONDER Admit it: For most of us, the odds of running wilderness trails 100 percent of the time are about the same as the likelihood we’ll win the Leadville 100. Which is why the Wave Ascend 2 received high marks from testers who ran on a mix of trails,…
LOTS OF CUSHIONING The Testament II was a bit too sluggish for our most gazelle-like testers but well received by our heavier and slower (read: normal) runners. Impact energy is centered by a cushy, concave heel and transferred smoothly down a springy plastic shank to the luxuriously soft forefoot. “It…
STABILITY IN MOTION Ever watch a caterpillar crawl over your knuckles? The weather-resistant, soft-shell Shadow Dragon takes a page from the little bugs: the outsole’s 12 protruding lugs, which gave us a noticeable boost in stability on the small rocks, roots, and other obstacles of Boulder’s Mesa Trail. 11.5 oz;…
Boing, boing, boing . . . I couldn’t quite hear the springs in this shoe as I bounced down Boulder Creek Path, but I could feel their bounce. Spira sneaks metal springs into the EVA midsoles, and it’s no gimmick. The lively two-inch-diameter coil in the heel puts a noticeable…
This Bond-worthy shoe hides a secret weapon in its midsole: A springy thermoplastic plate—or wave—mechanism runs the length of the shoe, yielding consistent rebound and smooth transition at moderate and fast speeds. I cranked out a marathon-pace tempo run and felt like I was running downhill with the wind at…
CAN TAKE THE HEAT The 874 is built like an elite road racer: a slender torso atop a powerful lower body. A weird physique for a shoe? Perhaps, but the combination of an almost lacy, two-layer mesh upper wedded to a thick midsole and luggy tread works extremely well on…
DO YOUR RUNS BECOME CLIMBS? La Sportiva’s heritage is in climbing shoes and mountaineering boots, and you can see the alpine influence in nearly every aspect of the Fireblade: the impeccable fit, the sticky rubber outsole, the double-stitched seams on high-wear areas of the upper, the reinforced toe bumper and…
CAN HANDLE HEAVY STRIKING The Elixir is like a Ferrari with all-terrain tires. It combines the barely there mesh upper of a race shoe with the full-foam midsole of a distance trainer. A snug heel cup and soft forefoot flex promote maximum thrust at toe-off, while a thermoplastic spring mechanism…
SPEED AND SOUND The Pegasus is like your favorite pair of jeans—soft, comfortable, and versatile enough to wear just about anywhere. And by anywhere, we mean both pavement and slushy trails. Like a true road shoe, its narrow shape and flexy construction inspire speed, especially on flat trails, dirt roads,…
Looking to set a new personal best? The Redemption can help with a less-is-more approach reminiscent of a racing flat. Plus midsole thickness descends dramatically from heel to toe—putting you in a forward-leaning position and encouraging quick leg turnover. The effect? I ran the Rock ‘n Roll Arizona Half Marathon…
1. An awkward name may be the J S3’s only weakness. It has a perfect blend of agility and support: An airy top half made from a durable, ultralight mesh nylon keeps weight down—and debris out—while an innovative wraparound tongue provides an exceptionally secure fit. 2. Flexibility is key…
FASTER THAN IT LOOKS “Much livelier than I was expecting” is how one tester described the Manifesto Beater. Sure, this beast features a firm, no-roll heel and rocks-be-damned protection, but it also boasts relatively soft forefoot flexibility, a generously padded tongue, and a responsive fit. “It feels very light given…