Run It Fast®

Reebok has yanked a print advertisement campaign that was appearing in gyms throughout Europe that stated, “Cheat On Your Girlfriend, Not On Your Workout!”

Naturally the ad didn’t sit well with many girlfriends as women united in outrage to protest the poorly thought out campaign by Reebok.

It’s amazing this ad was approved through several channels before being plastered across gyms and workout clubs.

What do you think about it? Offensive or not that big of a deal?

Shoe company Reebok International Ltd. has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a complaint from the Federal Trade Commission for misleading advertising and claims.

The company will give refunds to customers who bought the RunTone running shoes($80-100/pair), EasyTone running shoes, and EasyTone flip flops ($60/pair).

The FTC found that Reebok couldn’t back up the claims they were making about the shoes (and flops):

The FTC said ads for the shoes claimed that a special technology in the sole featured pockets of moving air that created “micro instability” that toned and strengthened muscles as a person walked or ran.

In ads that began appearing in 2009, Reebok said walking in the shoes had been proved to provide 28% more strength and tone in the buttock muscles compared with regular walking shoes, 11% more in the hamstring muscles and 11% more in the calf muscles, the FTC said.

The agency’s investigation found Reebok was unable to back up those claims, Vladeck said.

Customers can apply for a refund on the FTC website. The size of the refund will depend upon how many apply for it.  So if you are the only one to apply for it then you won the lottery. 😉

Reebok has agreed to the settlement but stands by it’s product and will continue to produce it:

“Settling does not mean we agree with the FTC’s allegations; we do not,” Reebok said. “We have received overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback from thousands of EasyTone customers, and we remain committed to the further development of our EasyTone line of products.”

Reebok can’t make any more health claims about the shoes unless they can back it up with scientific data.

Where was the FTC back in the 80’s and 90’s when Nike was claiming that it’s Air Jordan and various Air models would help Joe White-boy be able to jump 5-feet off the ground and be able to dunk?

What do you think? Did you ever own or try out the Reebok RunTone running shoes?

Complex Magazine has published it’s list of ‘The 50 Greatest Running Shoes of All-Time.’

Perhaps a better name would have been ‘The 27 Greatest Nike Shoes of All-Time and 23 Others.’

I don’t know if Nike owns Complex or if the Complex writers were simply trying to remember the 50 most popular pairs of shoes they saw their friends wearing through the halls of junior high school.

The #1 shoe on Complex’s list was the Nike Air Max 1 from 1987.

I’m no shoe snob and have only been running a decade or less so I don’t recognize most of these shoes, but in the past decade MANY really good shoes have been made that should have made this list.

1. Nike Air Max 1 (1987)
2. Nike Air Max 95 (1995)
3. adidas ZX 500 (1984)
4. Nike Air Max 90 (1990)
5. New Balance 1300 (1984)
6. Nike Cortez (1972)
7. Nike Air Huarache (1991)
8. adidas SL 72 (1972)
9. adidas EQT Torsion Support (1991)
10. ASICS GT II (1986)
11. New Balance 1500 (1988)
12. Nike Bermuda (1979)
13. Nike Air Stab (1988)
14. adidas ZX 8000 (1989)
15. Nike Terra T/C (1981)
16. ASICS Tiger X-Caliber (1982)
17. Nike Zoom Preston (2000)
18. ASICS Gel Lyte III (1990)
19. Nike Air Footscape (1995)
20. New Balance 577 (1989)
21. Nike Zoom Talaria (1998)
22. Saucony Jazz (1981)
23. Nike Air Rift (1995)
24. adidas Fire (1986)
25. Nike Waffle Trainer (1975)
26. adidas EQT Running Support (1992)
27. Nike Zoom Spiridon (1997)
28. Nike Air Huarache Light (1993)
29. adidas APS (1986)
30. Nike Epic (1984)
31. Nike Zoom Citizen (1999)
32. Nike Omega Flame (1983)
33. Brooks Chariot (1983)
34. Nike Cram Vendetta (1985)
35. adidas Torsion SP (1995)
36. New Balance 991 (1999)
37. Nike Air Tailwind (1978)
38. Reebok Insta Pump Fury Road (1994)
39. Nike Air Mariah PR (1990)
40. adidas Oregon Ultra Tech (1991)
41. Nike Air Windrunner (1987)
42. Nike Air Pegasus 92 (1992)
43. Etonic Quasar (1984)
44. Nike Free 5.0 (2004)
45. Nike Zoom JST (1998)
46. Reebok ZL6000 (1986)
47. Nike Air Span (1989)
48. Nike Lunar Racer (2008)
49. Mizuno MZ-84 (1983)
50. adidas ZX 930 (1988)

View Complex’s List Complete with Photos and Commentary @ Complex

Most runners agree that Nike makes horrible running shoes. I wore them for my very first marathon and could barely walk for two weeks afterwards.  I haven’t even thought twice about lacing up a pair of them since.

However, those that I know who wear Nike running shoes are usually elite runners and they are often wearing the Nike Lunar Racer.  The only shoe from the 2000’s that made this list.

Others I recognize on this list are the Nike Air Cortez (1972) which created a huge hoopla in the running community in the early 70’s, New Balance 991 (big boys wear), Nike Air Pegasus, and of course the Nike Air Max versions.

The list is laughable in the fact that a Reebok Insta Pump (#38) made the list.

What’s up with a shoe named after Mariah Carey (Nike Air Mariah PR #39) making the Top 50?  Surely that’s not really named after Butterfly Carey is it? Although, she first made it big around that time.

What is your favorite running shoe of all-time?  What do you think about this list?

Hat tip to @katierunsthis