Latest news with #PhiladelphiaRunner
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nike's Running Comeback: Why Retailers Say It's Real
Nike chief executive officer Elliott Hill told investors in the company's fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 conference call last month that the worst is now over. Net income and sales both declined again in the period, but based on Nike's 'Win Now' actions over the prior 90 days, Hill said: 'From here, we expect our business results to improve. It's time to turn the page.' Investors agreed, with Nike shares closing with a 15 percent increase the following day. More from WWD Will Smith Mixes Nostalgia With Modern Flair in Custom Air Force 1s on 'Based on a True Story Tour' Stop in Germany Jannik Sinner Wins Wimbledon in Nike's GP Challenge 1 Premium Tennis Shoes Ja Morant's New Sneaker Is Getting a Glow-in-the-Dark 'Zombie' Update for Halloween One spot where the numbers are already showing improvement is in running. Nike Running grew by 'high single digits' in Q4, and Hill called out the success of the Vomero 18, which has already grown into a $100 million franchise after launching at the end of February. Three specialty retailers who spoke with Footwear News all agreed: the Nike Running comeback is very much on. Chris Farley, owner and president of Pacers Running, said Nike is outpacing all of its other vendors, with a 20 percent growth in sales so far in 2025. With five stores in Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia, Pacers has seen the Vomero 18 become its top-seller. The story is the same for Philadelphia Runner and Heartbreak Hill Running Company, which has locations in Boston, Chicago and Santa Monica, Calif. 'I really liked the [Vomero 17], but we did not sell very many of them,' said Philadelphia Runner co-owner Ross Martinson. 'The new Vomeros are the best-selling Nike right away. The problem has been the men's (sizes), we haven't been able to get enough of them. But that's sort of a good problem.' The Vomero 18 has come in the early days of a streamlined new era for Nike Running focused on three franchises: Pegasus, Structure and Vomero. In order, the franchises are targeted toward responsive cushioning, supportive cushioning and maximum cushioning. Each banner gets three different silhouettes, starting with the numbered baseline model and offering upgrades through the Plus and Premium variants. The Pegasus is the only franchise to see all three of its models come to stores already with the Pegasus 41, Pegasus Plus and Pegasus Premium, the latter of which is Nike's first sneaker to ever feature a curved, full-length Zoom Air unit. Nike will follow up the Vomero 18, which uses a combination of ReactX and ZoomX foams, on August 7 with the Vomero Plus, which is boosted by a full ZoomX midsole. The Vomero Premium will then come October 2 with Air Zoom units at the forefoot and heel taking the max-cushioned proposition to the highest level. Heartbreak Hill Running Co. co-founder Dan Fitzgerald, who's also a Nike Running coach, said the Pegasus franchise has always sold well in his stores and credits the Swoosh with creating the super shoe. But outside of those areas, it's been more hit or miss for Nike Running in recent years. Anecdotally, Fitzgerald points to a personal friend who logs 10 miles a day and runs in On. Having enjoyed the Vomero 18 himself, he was curious what his friend would think of it. 'He put them on and he said, 'Yeah it feels pretty good.' Then I hit up a week later and he said: 'I'm actually blown away. That's my favorite shoe.' With only five of the nine sneakers from the Vomero, Pegasus and Structure lines having launched, it's still too early to tell what effect the relaunch will have on consumers. At the very least, though, the new dividing lines does it make it easier for retailers to explain to customers. 'Our staff really dictate the experience on the floor,' Farley said. 'I think [the shoes' purposes] are more clear. A simpler approach has been much better, so they're more comfortable bringing out, talking about features, benefits and all those things where they may not have been as clear in the past.' The new silos serve to replace the Infinity and Invincible, the purposes of which weren't quite as clear and were easy to conflate with each other because they have 'In' as prefixes. There is still some concern that the difference, for example, between a base and Plus model may not be quite as recognizable. 'The Vomero Plus looks awesome too,' Martinson said. 'I'm curious to see how that affects sales of he regular Vomero because it's kind of a different feel, but they still look fairly similar. So we'll see how that goes.' As promising as this year's returns have been for Nike Running, as well as the positivity of its forecast, it does indeed still have ground to make up in the sport. For runners who may go out just once or twice a week, as well as walkers and broader fitness enthusiasts, Farley said Nike still isn't winning that conversation. With those consumers, Brooks, Asics and Hoka still reign. And because the super shoe race has become so crowded, Martinson believes it will be more important than ever for Nike to win over the more casual runners and offer the best shoes that won't be used on race days. '[Nike has] dominated super shoes and still leads it, but where they were 90 percent of those sales, maybe they're going to be 50 to 60 [percent] going forward,' he said. 'So it feels like good timing for them. It certainly feels like a turnaround for Nike or a vibe shift.' Best of WWD All the Retailers That Nike Left and Then Went Back Mikey Madison's Elegant Red Carpet Shoe Style [PHOTOS] Julia Fox's Sleekest and Boldest Shoe Looks Over the Years [Photos]
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
If You Notice This Sensation When Walking, Your Shoes Are Probably The Wrong Size
If there were a way to avoid foot pain during runs, walks, hikes or a long day on your feet, you'd probably want to know it, right? It's supremely frustrating to go out for a run or walk just to notice tightness or soreness in your feet. And while there are any number of reasons why you may feel pain when you're on your feet, one common, yet avoidable, culprit is too-small shoes. Even if you're in a pair of sneakers that are your regular size, they may not actually be the right size for your runs or walks. 'It's very true that running and prolonged time on your feet, whether that's walking or standing or running, can cause swelling in your feet,' said Dr. Jeffrey Fleming, a sports medicine physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the associate medical director of the Pittsburgh Marathon. 'It's very normal. It happens to lots of people, regardless of their age or activity level,' Fleming added. Gravity pulls fluid to your lower extremities, which contributes to the swelling in your feet, he explained. How much someone's foot swells varies from person to person. You'll know best how much (and if) your feet swell when you're on your feet for a long time. If you commonly deal with swollen feet, you'll want to keep a few things in mind when buying sneakers. Here's what to know: 'If you're somebody that is more prone to swelling, you could consider getting a slightly larger shoe. We usually recommend getting a half-size larger to begin and going from there,' Fleming said. You could also try a shoe in a larger width, said Liz Pagonis, the chief marketing officer of Philadelphia Runner, a running store. Pagonis said in her experience, many folks do need to size up. 'You want to have about a half to full finger [of space] if you're resting your thumb horizontally in front of your toes, just a little bit of a buffer between your feet and shoe, so you're not rubbing,' Pagonis said. If you notice tightness when trying on a sneaker, that is a sign in itself that you should size up, she noted. If you can't buy a new pair of sneakers right now, you can just lace up your sneakers a little looser than usual, Fleming added. 'But if you're somebody that doesn't get a ton of swelling, and you haven't noticed this before, I think it's very OK to just get your normal, true-to-fit shoe size, and you can always change if you do develop swelling in the future,' Fleming noted. Foot swelling can happen whether you're running, walking or just on your feet all day at work, Pagonis said, but it's especially common when it's hot and humid. 'I'm sure people have seen their hands swell [when it's hot], so [foot swelling] kind of happens faster in the summer,' Pagonis said. You're also more likely to have swollen feet if you're on your feet for really long periods of time, like long days at work, lengthy hikes or while running marathons or half marathons, she noted. Those who deal with foot swelling probably know it, but if you're unsure, try to pay attention to how your feet feel in your shoes. If you notice tightness after a long walk or run, that's a sign that you're prone to swelling, said Fleming. 'The other thing is sometimes you can visibly tell that your feet are a little bit more swollen, especially around the ankles, like right where the foot and ankle meet, kind of the top border of the foot is a common place to get post-running swelling,' Fleming said. You can often see the swelling there or feel that it's more swollen than normal, he noted. After a run or walk, you can also take your shoe off and 'press with two of your fingers on the inside bone of your ankle, where you see a little bump there — that's a common place to see the swelling,' Fleming added. 'And if you feel some extra squishiness, that could be a sign that you have some very slight swelling of your ankle, that's usually just the easiest place to check,' said Fleming. When your shoes are too tight, it can cause real problems beyond discomfort. First, 'it can cut off circulation,' said Pagonis. It can also lead to bunions, she added. 'And, when you're restricting the movement of your feet, it can cause other injuries throughout the rest of your body because you're not propelling yourself forward naturally. [You're] overcompensating, it's affecting your gait,' Pagonis said. It can also lead to chafing and some of the common issues you hear about in runners, such as ripped toenails and blisters, she added. If you wear a shoe that accounts for the swelling, though, this won't be a problem. 'Most of the time, swelling of your feet after running is fairly harmless, so I wouldn't let it cause you too much worry,' Fleming said. 'The only time where you want to consider looking into it further or seeking more medical attention is if the swelling persists for more than a few hours after you're running, or if the swelling just continues to increase after you're done running, or if you get any changes in color to the skin,' he added. Additionally, if you have underlying conditions or a medical history that raises concerns about the swelling, Fleming said, you should also consult your doctor. 'But, the vast majority of these cases, they're fairly benign,' he said. To make sure you're prepared for any foot swelling that may happen during your walk or run, consider getting properly fitted for running or walking shoes at your local running store. Or, you can talk to a sports medicine doctor about what you should look for in a sneaker. Is Running Really THAT Bad On Your Knees? The Answer May Surprise You. 'Rucking' Is The Latest Walking Trend You Need To Try. Here's Why. 4 Ways To Make Your Daily Walk More Effective
