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Origins of the Track Spike
In the early 1850s, Joseph William Foster had an idea for a shoe that had metal spikes inserted in the sole of the shoe to help lower his times and give him traction on the dirt tracks. Kangaroo Leather was the material used for the outer sole of the spikes because of its light-weight feeling and durability. The spike blew up in popularity as the shoe began mass producing to meet the demand from athletes for a pair. http://blog.runningwarehouse.com/gear/rs/photo-history-of-track-spikes/ -
The Loss of the Heel
At this point, Dassler began removing the access material attached to the heel of the spike. The design was to help runners run on their toes without having to feel their heel hit the ground every step they took. I found these observations through the pictures found in the link. Every pair of spikes after the first pair show a tremendous cut in heel materials. http://blog.runningwarehouse.com/gear/rs/photo-history-of-track-spikes/ -
Adi Dassler and His Innovation of Joseph Foster's Track Spike
Adi Dassler was the first spike manufacturer to introduce the first innovation of the track spike. Dassler designed and produced spikes for different events other than just running. This allowed athletes of other events to finally have their own designated spike to compete in. Because each spike was designed differently, typically goat skin or different animal leathers were the main materials of the spike. http://www.designboom.com/design/adi-dasslers-first-shoes-an-exhibition-by-adidas/ -
ADIDAS Spike Worn by Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Rudolph was an American tracklete who wore the latest innovation of Adidas' spikes. These spikes were the first known pair of spikes to include a mid-foot shank and a nylon spike plate to give the foot more support. The shoe also came with a heel cup to cushion the heel when it made contact with the track. These spikes were also the first pair to include Adidas's trademark three stripe pattern on the side. http://blog.runningwarehouse.com/gear/rs/photo-history-of-track-spikes/ -
The First Pair of Distance Spikes
Willi Holdorf was the first tracklete to wear Adi Dassler's newest spike design. This shoe featured a raised heel and full mid-sole to make it easier for the distance runners to stay on their toes while they ran longer distances. http://blog.runningwarehouse.com/gear/rs/photo-history-of-track-spikes/ -
Alberto Juantorena and the First Pair of Customizable Spikes
Alberto Juantorena wore ADIDAS' first pair of spikes that featured the option to remove the spikes on the sole of the shoe. This allowed the runner to have complete control of spike configuration and also gave them the ability to replace worn down spikes. http://blog.runningwarehouse.com/gear/rs/photo-history-of-track-spikes/ -
Michael Johnson's Custom Pair of Nike Spikes
Nike produced a spike for world champ Michael Johnson to wear in his events. These spikes featured a new material to the shoe world--Zytel. This material was composed of nylon and fiberglass and created a superlight weight for the spike. Michael went through 6 pairs of these spikes during his time at the 1996 Olympics. This was because the shoe was designed to last for one use. http://blog.runningwarehouse.com/gear/rs/photo-history-of-track-spikes/ -
The Latest Innovation of Track Spikes
Nike has created the world's first spike that featured 3D designed prototypes to create. This shoe features a stronger plate on the sole to give the runner more traction. This plate is composed of hyper-reliable recycled materials. It also features Nike's signature flyknit webbing design for the shoe. This allows for a lighter and more durable shoe that also gives the runner better breathability when wearing them. http://news.nike.com/news/allyson-felix-track-spike
