Aspects relate to a portable device that may be used to identify a critical intensity and an anaerobic work capacity of an individual. The device may utilize muscle oxygen sensor data, speed data, or power data. The device may utilize data from multiple exercise sessions, or may utilize data from a single exercise session. The device may additionally estimate a critical intensity from a previous race time input from a user.

A sole structure includes a foam element extending from a forefoot region to a heel region. A bottom surface of the foam element includes a recess formed in the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a cushioning arrangement disposed in the recess of the foam element. The cushioning arrangement has a proximal end adjacent to the bottom surface of the foam element and a distal end formed on an opposite side of the cushioning arrangement than the proximal end, the cushioning arrangement including at least one medial bladder proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and at least one lateral bladder proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure. An outsole includes an anterior outsole and a posterior outsole attached to the bottom surface of the foam element and the distal end of the cushioning arrangement. The anterior outsole is spaced apart from the posterior outsole.

A shock absorber includes a shock absorbing portion having a three-dimensional shape formed by a wall in which an outer shape is defined by a pair of parallel curved surfaces. The shock absorbing portion includes at least one three-dimensional structure body obtained by changing a shape of a unit structure body thickened based on a unit structure of a Schwartz P structure. The shape of the three-dimensional structure body in an unloaded state is a shape obtained by changing the shape of the unit structure so as to follow the shape change of the unit structure body, which is the regular hexahedron shaped space occupied by the unit structure body, into the trapezoidal space.

A shoe sole includes a sole body including a midsole and a shock absorber. The shock absorber is disposed adjacent to the midsole in a direction intersecting a thickness direction of the sole body. The midsole includes a first opposing surface that is opposed to the shock absorber and inclined with respect to the thickness direction, and the shock absorber includes a shock absorbing portion having a three-dimensional shape formed by a wall in which an outer shape is defined by a pair of parallel curved surfaces and a plate-shaped fixing wall including a second opposing surface opposed to the first opposing surface. The fixing wall is inclined with respect to the thickness direction such that the second opposing surface is parallel to the first opposing surface. The shock absorber is fixed to the midsole by bonding the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface through an adhesive layer.

The article of footwear may include an upper, a heel region having a heel core and a heel perimeter, a forefront region, a medial side, a lateral side, an outsole and a midsole. The midsole may be a dual durometer midsole and include a soft durometer positioned between the heel region and the forefoot region and a firm durometer positioned around the heel perimeter.

Disclosed is an insole or footbed for footwear that optimizes the comfort and performance of the footbed via a modified construction to the shoe's upper and midsole to accommodate a preferred footbed construction.

An athletic shoe extending between toe (1) and heel (3) and comprising upper (5) attached to outsole (7) via comfort sole (9). According to the invention, the athletic shoe comprises shell (13) make of plastic or composite material, inserted between upper (5) and comfort sole (9) and to which it is attached at heel (1).

A method of forming a polymeric foam material is provided and includes providing a precursor material having a first thickness, the precursor material being an open-cell foam material and applying a uniaxial compressive force to the precursor material to compress the precursor material to a second thickness, the compressive force causing a cell structure of the precursor material to collapse. The method also includes heating the precursor material at a molding temperature for a first time period while the compressive force is applied, the first time period being sufficient to heat the precursor material to a softening temperature, removing the compressive force from the precursor material, and maintaining the cell structure of the precursor material in a collapsed state.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.

Presented are sole structures with midfoot gaps and cage-reinforced bladders, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A sole structure includes an outsole with a ground-engaging surface, and a midsole with first and second midsole segments. The first midsole segment includes a cushion that attaches to an upper's hindfoot region and to the outsole's upper surface. The second midsole segment, which is spaced from the first midsole segment by a midfoot gap, includes a fluid-filled bladder spaced from another cushion by a forefoot gap. The cushion and bladder attach to the outsole's upper surface and to the upper's forefoot region. A cage, which partially surrounds the second midsole segment, includes a cage plate that attaches to the upper and the fluid-filled bladder. Arcuate cage wings project from opposing medial and lateral sides of the cage plate and insert between the second cushion and outsole.