Patent ID: 8166672

Claim:
A shoe sole for a running shoe, comprising: a midsole layer extending a length and width of the shoe sole and comprising an upper surface positionable proximate an insole and a lower surface; a unitary cushioning element positioned below and abutting a midfoot region of the lower surface of the midsole layer on a lateral side of the shoe sole, wherein a width of the unitary cushioning element is no more than half a transverse width of the shoe sole and wherein at least a portion of the cushioning element is positioned within a region between 20% and 90% of the length of said shoe sole as measured from a rearfoot end of said shoe sole; a ground-contacting surface comprising: (a) one or more crash pads positioned below the cushioning element, the width of the one or more crash pads being less than half the transverse width of the shoe sole; and (b) an outsole layer positioned below and abutting the lower surface of the midsole layer over at least a portion of the heel region, the forefoot region, and a medial side of the midfoot region of the shoe sole; and a longitudinal flex groove, the flex groove separating the one or more crash pads from a medial side portion of the outsole layer.