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Defining the Need:
Triathlon (swim-bike-run) demands lightning quick transitions between disciplines as well as sustained performance. Until now, triathletes typically performed the running leg of a triathlon in traditional running shoes or racing flats. Experienced triathletes had long known of several shortcomings of these shoes, and had often resorted to "tricks of the trade" to make traditional running shoes more serviceable for triathlon. The objective of this project was to design a new shoe for the running leg of a triathlon.

Results:
This project utilized a user centered product development process whereby lead users and the target market are surveyed early in the process to clearly define the product specifications. This process identified three key features needed in a triathlon running shoe: the ability to rapidly enter the shoe on during transition, ability to get moisture and heat away from the foot, and a smooth interior design so that socks are not needed. Focusing on these three key features, over 80 concepts for rapid shoe entry were derived in a brainstorm session. A first prototype of the shoe was constructed for concept illustration. The product was brought to market in 18 months from initial concept to project launch.

Innovation:
The main features of the shoe include an easy-on, strap-back design, light-weight for high performance, attention to detail on the interior design so that the shoe can be comfortably worn without socks, and generous venting to allow for cooling the foot.

Project Details:
This was Chi-An Wang's senior thesis project supervised by Kim B. Blair at MIT, sponsored by New Balance Athletic Shoe Company. Awarded 2nd place in the Popular and Leisure Sports Category at the ispo — Technical University of Munich Academic Challenge, Munich, Germany, February 2004.

For more information, please visit: http://web.mit.edu/aeroastro/www/labs/csi/index.html

The Center for Sports Innovation was launched in August of 1999 in the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department. Part of the department's exciting new Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate syllabus, CSI has extended MIT's expertise in the education of students to the field of sports product development.