To keep the momentum going on Month Two of 2026, whether you’ve merely resolved to increase your step count for the new year or decided to train for a marathon, the situation is the same: you’re going to need some new running shoes. Runners have come a long way since their earliest progenitors emerged in the late 19th century, in the form of spiked shoes developed by the English firm J.W. Foster & Sons. Shoes designed specifically for distance running gained traction with the public after Jesse Owens wore a pair to victory in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and the running shoe as we know it today arrived in 1974 with Nike’s famous waffle sole. The industry has hardly remained static in the half-century since, as innovations in materials such as breathable mesh uppers, cushioning foam midsoles, and lightweight EVA outsoles have made running shoes better performing—and more comfortable—than ever. Whatever..
