A worker at adidas Scheinfeld Factory putting cleats on a shoe

More than 80 years ago in Germany, a young shoemaker made house slippers from old military canvas bags to help food on his family's table. He loved soccer, and soon adapted the slipper to make canvas trainers. Responding to what athletes said they needed, he kept innovating, and today adidas makes over 600 styles of shoes for athletes. Take a look at their 'made-to-measure' program in Germany for professional athletes, a concept that has been adapted for regular consumers with their Mi adidas program.

• adidas comes from the first three syllables in the founder's name, Adi Dassler.
  
• After WWII, adidas introduced a distinctive three-stripe design.
  
• The Mi adidas program was launched in 2000.

Super Runner's Shop
72 & Third Avenue
New York City
Michael Keohane, Manager
212-249-2133
www.superrunnersshop.com

Made-to-Measure athletic shoes:
adidas-Salomon AG
Germany
$300-$800 for top athletes and private sports enthusiasts to have athletic shoes hand -crafted to their exact specifications
Phone: +49 9132 84 0
www.adidas-salomon.com

For Mi adidas:
adidas America
Portland, Oregon
Around $110 for athletic shoes engineered for your foot size and shape, in already available styles; "off the rack" athletic shoes, $55-$100
800-448-1796
www.adidasus.com

Boston Marathon
Boston Athletic Association
617-236-1652
www.bostonmarathon.org