Nike Genealogy-
Designed alongside the Gold Shoe, the Zoom
Jasari had the same aluminum ceramic spikes sourced from the aerospace industry and only six of them at that, making it the
Gold Shoe for the 10,000 meters. The spikes were permanent. All six of them together weighed the same as one traditional
spike. Using a permanent housing shaved weight off the Zoom Jasari as well. After Kenyan middle-distance runner Daniel Komen
started setting world records in it, the shoe's developer Tony Bignell was pretty excited to show the shoe to Bill Bowerman.
Toney thought he'd be impressed. The Zoom Jasari seemed as close to realizing his principles as you could get with a mass-produced
shoe.
But no. Bowerman wasn't awed. He examined the spike, turned
it over and frowned. "Well, it's good," he said, then went on to list all the things he'd change. He was looking for the
one perfect shoe, made for the one perfect race. Still, the Zoom Jasari became legendary with runners. They even search
for pairs today. The Zoom Jasari was so light it had to be sold with a warning note because the spikes were only designed
for artificial surfaces. The zoom Jasari had to survive high school kids running track. They couldn't simply replace it
after each race, and the spikes weren't made for even running down the steps to the track. They were only made for the track.
Hence the warning.
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