Converse Est 1908 ---> All Star Converse

Those people who wear converse shoes because they are popular today, might be surprised to learn that company was actually opened in 1908.  The shoes were called the All Stars converse, nine years later, chiefly because the manufacturers were hoping to attract basket ball stars with their rubber shoes. Chuck Taylor, a basket ball player with the Converse All Starts (a team sponsored by converse), loved the shoes and improved on the design. The modifications meant that the shoe provided extra support and flexibility and had patches on the sides for protecting the ankles. By the 1960s around ninety percent of basket ball players, both professional and college teams, were wearing converse.

From the nineteen fifties onwards converse were produced in a large number of styles and colours. The converse company was bought out by Nike in 2003 for more than $300 million. For some time after the buy out the shoes fell out of favour, largely because they were manufactured in Asia and people were concerned over stories about sweat shops. Although the brand belongs to Nike, since they bought the company in 2003 they have kept the converse look and advertisements. Over the years converse shoes have been popular with many different groups of people. Across cultures and groups the shoes are still seen by many as a mark of style.

Getting the Right Running Trainers for Your Feet

If you plan to run in one of the many marathons that now take place around the country then you will want to have the right kind of running trainers.  Modern advertising has led many people to believe that trainers should be judged by their brand, whether or not they are right for a particular individual is not considered. The fact is that we all have different shaped feet and a different way of walking. If you want trainers to be comfortable, especially if you plan on running a marathon, then you need to make sure that you get the right kind of footwear.

Those people who run regularly, either for pleasure and exercise or because they are training to take part sponsored runs or marathons, are quite particular about what running trainers they wear. When you are running on a regular basis having the right kind of trainers can make the difference between finishing a run in one piece, and ending up with a damaged foot. Running puts particular stress on the lower limbs and the ball of the foot, which is why you need to take care that running trainers fit properly and adapt well to the shape of your foot. If, for example your feet tend to slope inwards when you are running then you need stability trainers to help address that tendency. If you have signed up for a marathon then find a pair of trainers that will adapt to or else adjust your running style.