Racing, cross-country, and track and field

Abstract

In today's sport of running, there is a wide of variety of shoes for every type of race. Whether it is for a cross-country race, the high jump, or even steeple chase, there is a unique shoe to meet the demands of the race. Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian runner, actually made barefoot running popular in 1960 when he won the Olympic Marathon in Rome. Since then, multiple African athletes have run barefoot, forcing many athletes and shoe companies to consider whether shoes are beneficial to running fast. Interestingly enough, Bikila returned in 1964 to set a world record in the Olympic Marathon while wearing shoes, only adding to the confusion of whether shoes are of benefit to racing. © 2010 Springer-Verlag New York.