Nike Cortez long distance training shoe

The 1973 Nike Cortez Story

Originally designed in the mid-sixties by Bill Bowerman, the 1972 US Olympic Coach, the Nike Cortex was conceived as the supreme training shoe for the long distance runner. The Nike Cortez combined a thick long-wearing outer sole with a full-length sponge mid-sole cushion to absorb road shock and reduce leg fatigue, simultaneously elevating the heel to reduce Achilles tendon strain. The Nike Cortex was a new concept into a line to meet the varying needs of all runners.