Saucony is an American brand of running shoes
and sports apparel
. If you haven't heard of it yet, know that it's older than your grandmother. Saucony was founded in 1898 by four running enthusiasts in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The times were favorable for running then; in 1896, the first Olympic marathon was run in Athens, Greece, and a year later the first Boston Marathon. By 1910, they were already producing 800 pairs of running shoes per year, which was a lot for the time.
Sock-uh-knee
That's how you pronounce the name Saucony. But don't worry, we'll understand you even if you tell us you want those "Sauconys". The unusual, tongue-twisting name has, as is often the case, its own story. The shoe factory stood in the town of Saucony Creek, named after the Native American term "saconk," which means confluence of rivers.
Beginnings can be tough, but not for Saucony
Saucony's first track shoe, the 7446 model, became extremely popular immediately after its introduction in 1958 because it was the first ever to have a spike-studded outsole. Would you believe that until then, many athletes ran barefoot? With the 7446 model, Saucony literally made a breakthrough.