The field of sports has always been an interesting world to explore. Not only because it consists of many outstanding individuals such as Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, but also because sports gameplay has an intriguing background! Did you know that tennis racket strings were first produced using cow intestines? Or that golf balls were once called “feathery balls” because they were made of boiled feathers stuffed in a leather pouch? Knowing their origins, it would not be hard to develop a deeper appreciation of your favourite sport. If you’re a budding runner, you might be looking at your newly bought running shoes right now and thinking how did this pair of shoes first come about? Well, there is a lot to know about the evolution of running shoes!

Running shoe technology has developed significantly over the years. Brands are the biggest contributors to their development because they are continuously working towards creating shoes to give runners the most comfortable ride and an all-important edge. So, thanks to them, you can run and jog comfortably even with the cheapest running shoes you’ve got – Especially since the first running shoes were actually made out of leather!

Running Shoes Design Evolution

As far back as 1920, sprinters were wearing leather shoes when they ran the roads. In fact, Clarence DeMar, the most famous American Olympic athlete at the time, was wearing thin shoes made of crepe rubber and leather uppers when he won first place at the Boston Marathon seven times in a row! Interestingly, these leather shoes were typically custom-made to fit wearers and would only weigh less than 10 ounces. One can observe that even back then, lightweight shoes were highly valued. That’s why running shoes are still made to feel weightless and is a major factor to consider when buying shoes today.

It was not long after, 20 years to be exact, that side stripes were added under running shoes by the Dassler brothers (founders of Adidas). These were specially made for runners who compete in track and cross country races that require stability to withstand running on uneven and difficult terrain.

On the other side of the world, split-toe shoes were an interesting invention by the Japanese trainer company Onitsuka. These were also the shoes that led Japanese long-distance runner, Shigeki Tanaka , to victory in the 1951 Boston Marathon. Nevertheless, it wasn’t long before split-toe shoes fell out of favour when the New Balance Trackster Model was introduced in the 1960s. Thanks to its smart design of the rippled outsole, it allowed for enhanced traction, better shock absorption, and prevented shin splints injuries! As a result, many runners found them to be the most ideal shoes for them.

Now that running store brands understand the function of shoes when it came to running, they started making bright, lightweight, and expensive shoes in the 1970s. It was at this time that wearing running shoes became a status symbol! In 1974, the introduction of Nike’s Waffle Trainer, was the breakthrough model that even wealthy people who only saw running as active leisure, had to get a pair for themselves. In addition, there have been other significant evolutions happening in this decade, such as:

• The making of running shoes for women
• Placing more emphasis on cushioning and motion control
• NASA designing the first air-cushioned athletic shoe

Not to be outdone by the other decades, the 1980s was when companies first attempted to meld technology with running shoes. We’re talking about the Adidas Micropacer that had an electric pedometer stitched into the tongue of the shoes! It’s innovative design was truly iconic back then. Fast forward to today, pedometers have evolved to become small mobile devices that connect your shoes to your Apple device, allowing you to record the distance and pace of your runs. It may be a pricey investment but its potential to tremendously improve running performance is unmatched.

Running Shoes Today

Looking back at the evolution of running shoes, it is evident that competition amongst brands is tight. These days, you will see a wide selection of sneakers that cater to your specific style and needs in most running stores in Singapore. While athletes have long appreciated the care that these brands put in their products, they have become more careful in choosing running shoes. Many of them often consider the following factors when choosing the most suitable running shoes for them:

Stack height

This term refers to the amount of material between your foot and the ground. Stack heights can be labelled as either barefoot, minimally cushioned, maximal, or highly cushioned. For runners who prefer a natural running experience, they often opt for running shoes with minimal cushioning.

Heel-toe offset

Also known as heel-toe drop, offset refers to the numerical difference between the amount of material under the heel and the amount of material under the forefoot. This feature ensures proper shock absorption when landing and even cheap running shoes have them. Different types of runners require different heel-toe drops. For example, if you use a heel-strike when you land, you may prefer a higher heel-toe drop as that means there’s more cushion for your heels. For those who use a mid-foot strike, they may prefer a lower heel-toe drop.

Pronation control

Pronation is defined as the inward movement of the foot as it rolls in order to accurately distribute the force of impact from running. As such, pronation control is often the most important factor when determining the best running shoes as overpronation can lead to running injuries. Luckily, current running shoes are built with many smart designs to decrease such risks. This may come in the form of extra support around the ankles, the heels or the arches. As it is dependent on your running gait, it will be beneficial to consult a running specialist to get a clearer idea of what kind of pronation control you need.

Aside from the technical aspects of running shoes, some wearers also take breathability and aesthetic design into consideration when selecting the right pair. Shoes constructed from polyester knit or nylon mesh often let runners experience the level of comfort that they feel when they run barefoot! Whether neon or minimalist, runners can now choose shoes that fit their aesthetic!

 

Cheap Running Shoes at Decathlon

The evolution to achieving well-designed running shoes may have been long but it has led to a diverse range of shoes being made available to the public. Fortunately, this also means that you can find affordable shoes in most running stores in Singapore!

When you shop at Decathlon, you can get quality shoes at a reasonable price. Check them out today!

 

 

 

When your emotions are out of control and feelings make you sound pure, you have time to express the desire and love for your own, don’t look here and there; flowers are the best friends to be shown. Yes, flowers are the remedy for all problems and desires, whatever, whenever you want to express your feelings; you can use flowers to convey your message. There are lots of fresh and beautiful flowers to tender your regards, caring, and love for your near and dear ones with a lovely note. Make sure that you have selected the most beautiful and fresh flowers for your dear ones. Such as your girlfriend.

Just go online and browse through bouquets that are adequate to be chosen as valentine gifts for Girlfriend. You just have to make payment online, and within hours your wonderful delivery will be delivered to your most loved one, making him feel special.

Besides flowers, you can have gifts for all kinds of occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, parties and other occasions. Not only gifts but flowers are also a great part of your expressions, make sure to express the mood with the right flowers.

Flowers are the most romantic and sensuous gifts for lovers, expressing the desire and passion with a red rose lit up your love life. Each flower has special moments attached to them.

Focusing on the colour

While a dozen red roses signify love and passion, do you know which ones are the very best pick for your girlfriend during different occasions and festivities? Blue flowers, for example, are used while congratulating. So, if your girlfriend has made a successful disposition, blue flowers are a good symbol for appreciating his hard work. The use of a blue ribbon presented as a prize is synonymous to gifting; the concept is that loyalty to something, and this theme is incorporated into flower arrangements. Once you start to uncover these meanings, it becomes very apparent that there is a whole language to flowers.

Flower types to focus on

There are even specific flowers which are chosen for certain anniversaries. For instance, the hydrangea is a blossom we pick when we are celebrating the 4th anniversary of the union, and there is a whole list that shows the meaning of different types of flowers as gifts for anniversaries. Choosing the correct flower type while you are about to gift a bouquet to your long-term girlfriend is also important.

For instance, lilies are chosen to be given to a new relationship as a symbol of purity and innocence. Obviously, the meaning of different types of flowers as gifts can be situational. A florist will be able to explain more of the depth of meanings, but as you can see each flower and even the colour of those flowers, as well as the context in which they are given, all work to give them their own unique power to express our feelings and thoughts. This makes giving flowers so much more appealing than many other gifts that do not offer the same kind of variable powers of expression.

When choosing the right flowers to give your girlfriend as a gift, you want to get the right kind of meaning for them. It can be a bit of effort, but if you do things right then, this will certainly offer you a lot of great results because you are giving a gift that has more than just a pretty appearance. Just choose a compilation of many flowers if you are confused and wrap them up in the most stunning bouquet possible. Your girlfriend will adore it no matter what!

For lovers, every day is Valentine’s Day. They are always riding high on affection and romance. Valentine’s Day is just an excellent excuse to celebrate the special feeling in an extraordinary way. Couples indulge in a lot of activities to celebrate love. Some go for dates, some vacations, and some resort to sweet and simple ways and it is gift-giving. Given below is the list of romantic gift ideas for your partner. Some are handmade; some are store-bought.

1. A box full of love notes and Hershey’s Kisses: A single message is not enough to show your partner your love. So, a box filled with notes will do the trick. It’s simple to make. All you need to do is pour your heart out on the paper.

• Take a coloured paper and write down the feelings.
• Fold the paper into chits.
• Fill the jar and add Hershey’s kisses.
• You can decorate the jar with a ribbon and tag.

2. Personalised Couple Portrait: If you are artistic enough, sketch it yourself with a sweet message. If not; you can avail this service online. You can gift your partner a personalised couple portrait frame. Get it engraved with your initials or a lovely message coming straight out of your heart.
3. Message Jewellery: Personalised jewellery is in trend. For Valentine’s Day; choose to go with a message bracelet or pendant. On the bracelet, get something engraved like “You are Mine,” “I didn’t know you will be this more important to me.” Get the message engraved in your handwriting to make it extra special for him/her. If the bracelet is for a man, selecting leather material and silver/gold/ or rose gold would be appropriate for the female.
4. Chocolate Card: This would be quite interesting as you can make it a bit quirky with your thoughts. You have to write down a message, and in place of certain words, you can stick the chocolates and candies. For example, like I think you are out of this galaxy (Instead of the word galaxy, paste the Galaxy chocolate. You are the gems of my heart (Place a packet of gems instead of writing gems in word.) Likewise, you can create a short message and stick chocolates and candies.
5. Heart-Shaped Cakes and Desserts: Did you know that you can make the person eat love as well? Gift your partner heart-shaped cakes and desserts so that he or she can taste how sweet love feels. You can avail Bakingo cake delivery in Chennai of the heart-shaped cakes and other desserts. Cupcakes with fondant hearts or heart-shaped marshmallows and smores can also be gifted.

8. Personalised Chocolate Box: Chocolates too can be personalised, and it is loved as a gift. It becomes both a sentimental and tasty gift. You can personalise the chocolates with name and message or photo. The box of chocolates is also customisable nowadays. Edible ink is used for printing photos and messages.
9. Long-Distance Touch Lamps: Not necessarily a gift for the couples who live in long distance. It is a gift for everyone who misses their partners when not around. These are Internet aided lamps that glow on the touch signalling the person is being missed. Sounds cool!
10. Kissing Mug: A set of kissing mugs if you and your partner enjoy coffee and tea breaks together. The mugs are cleverly designed in a way when fitted they form a kiss. When your mug kisses, it’s time for you also to share the kiss.

Make your someone special feel all the love in this world with your gifting gesture. Ace up your game with these ideas.