While people have been running or training to run for a very long time, the actual running shoe is a relatively new invention. It is about 200 years old and was brought about by the increased popularity of running during the 18th century. Quite a few attempts were made at fashioning a lightweight shoe that could grip well, but it wasn’t until Walt Webster developed a process where rubber soles could be attached to leather boots in 1832. For a while, these shoes, or Plimsols as they were called, were worn mostly by children. A few other innovations occurred over the century, but it wasn’t until Adolf Dassler started making the modern running shoe in 1920 that the product we came to know hit the market.