Why don't Pro Runners have their own Pro Model shoes

I was thinking about this same thing not too long ago. It confuses me why Nike doesn't start making Galen Rupp branded running shoes. I feel as if this would be good for the sport and bring more recognition to athletes. I know that New Balance has the Baddley and Barringer 890 but they don't really promote it.

I've often thought the same thing too. Practically every pro skateboarder has their own shoe, i don't see why it wouldn't work in running either.

It would be sick to lsce up some Bekeles before I go for a run and it would promote the sport a lot more. There is nothing for companies to lose hear as all the have to do is put the name of an athlete on a shoe that the already were going to make.

Jim Lahey wrote:

I was thinking about this same thing not too long ago. It confuses me why Nike doesn't start making Galen Rupp branded running shoes. I feel as if this would be good for the sport and bring more recognition to athletes. I know that New Balance has the Baddley and Barringer 890 but they don't really promote it.

Great thread, and great post.

I tried on a pair of NB 890s in the store (didn't like them) and I didn't even know they were branded with Baddeley's name (or that he ran for them) until the shoe was on my foot. Great marketing, NB.

Here in canada the 890 is marketed as the reid coolset or eric gillis shoe. Maybe just cuz I know them, but it seems like it has some notice.

Part of the reason that works for Basketball for example is that those athletes are simply more popular, the name practically sells the shoe. Even people who don't play basketball want them.

It might work as apart of a competition line for "serious runners".

I remember watching a video at the now defunct website, nikespeed.com and it turns out El G helped develop the Nike Zoom Miler, which he won with at the Olympics in 04. That spike should still be in production.

Heck, Nike never even produced a Michael Johnson spike despite marketing his custom golden spikes.

Didn't Nike have Pre Montreal's? They just reissued that shoe.

Kennedys are still the best racing spike I have ever worn, out of production though.

They even made colors for Webb and Ritz when they went to college (Maize and Blue, Black and Gold). They did not (probably couldn't with NCAA rules) market them as such though. Since I grew up in Ohio I only wore the Black and Gold versions...obviously.

I hate that they don't sell Elite apparel at all.... I would pay good money for Nike Oregon project singlet and tracksuit....

Or they could have a pro model for running clubs.

I could see the Nike Zoom OTC XC becoming a popular spike. Just add some ads in catalogs with running photos and do on. There's little risk.

Trouble is that most runners lack charisma and don't look like powerful athletes. Most runners are gaunt and wiry, see Ryan Hall in the ESPN naked issue.

Maybe a runner with the physique of Solinsky or Holman could become more well known. I just do t see Nike Air Rupp's becoming a Christmas wish item in the near future.

Helmut wrote:

Heck, Nike never even produced a Michael Johnson spike despite marketing his custom golden spikes.

False. They had the Nike Zoom JSC at the same time as the Jasari. In fact, the JSC had a modified Jasari plate in the forefoot.

They even had a trainer version of the spike.

Anybody notice that they put 19.23 instead of 19.32 in that ad? That is a pretty big mistake.

Asics is having the Spivey LD coming out in Spring 13 (spike). I asked around and some of the kids who work here have no idea who Spivey is. Maybe now they will learn something.

Anybody else remember these Nike Pre-Montreals? They were spikes in the late 70s. I believe they came out right around the Montreal Olympics ('76), so after Pre died. Obviously with the amatuerism in place at the time, they couldn't have produced them with his name on them when he was alive anc competing--right?

Helmut wrote:

Or they could have a pro model for running clubs.

I could see the Nike Zoom OTC XC becoming a popular spike. Just add some ads in catalogs with running photos and do on. There's little risk.

This is a good idea. I think a lot of runners know who the training groups are, and might buy, say, Brooks Hansons or Mammoth TC marathon racers.

The only thing I remember related to this was Saucony and their "design you own spike" competition.

Hardly noticeable and ended up going away after a year or two.

However,

on to designing Elite shoes.

There is much to be done here. If our higher-ups actually care for the sustainability of the sport (pure definition here, look it up if you have to) this is one great way to take our niche sport and make some shoes that nike could sell everywhere and open up the market.

Galen Rupp life size cutout anyone?

GoldenMVP wrote:

I hate that they don't sell Elite apparel at all.... I would pay good money for Nike Oregon project singlet and tracksuit....

what a waste of money, you couldn't pay me a 100 dollars to wear that crap for 1 race

The vast majority of the people who buy running shoes don't know, or care, who any of the elite runners are. The vast majority of people who buy basketball shoes are keenly aware of who the top professional basketball players are.

Back in the '90s, when it was time to renegotiate his Nike contract, Barry Bonds demanded "Charles Barkley money." Nike flatly told Bonds that "kids don't go to the mall to buy baseball shoes" and refused to meet his monetary demands.

Didn't adidas make an XC spike a few years ago endorsed by Famiglietti? And I think he left for Saucony not long after that, oddly enough.

One reason is that royalties must be paid to the athlete whose name appears on the shoe/model. Why would a shoe company do that if it isn't going to really increase sales? As some of you pointed out, the masses who buy the most shoes don't know who the elites are.

Another reason they don't produce "elite" stuff for sale is that it costs too much to produce and would have to sell for very expensive prices. This was confirmed to me by a Nike rep last year when I asked why they didn't sell the same singlets that the athletes wore. The material is very hard to make and is expensive. However, they could make knockoffs that are regular type singlets with the same design so fans could wear those...like they do with NBA and NFL jerseys.