As runners race around the streets of Sapporo this weekend, marathon enthusiasts are likely to check out the runners’ feet a few times during the 42.195-km Olympic races to see what shoes the athletes are sporting.
Interest in runners’ shoes is part of a trend that has grown over the last few years with the emergence of thick-soled sneakers with embedded carbon plates.
The shoes will surely be a factor in the Olympic marathons, which will be held in Sapporo on Saturday and Sunday mornings for the women and men, respectively.