Hoka One One, credited with launching the growing "maximalist" movement of mega-cushioned shoes, has signed 800-meter runner Michael Rutt to a shoe sponsorship contract, even though the company currently doesn't have spikes for Rutt to wear.
Founded in 2009, Hoka is primarily associated with the ultramarathon and trail running communities. Recently it signed 2008 Olympic marathoner Magdalena Lewy Boulet and former Hansons runner Sage Canaday, who, like Lewy Boulet, is now active as a trail runner.
But Hoka has also given a contract to Rutt’s New Jersey-New York Track Club teammate Nicole Schappert, a 1500-meter specialist. The company’s brand president, Jim Van Dine, says, “Having a high-caliber middle-distance runner in addition to our ultramarathon runners proves that the revolutionary Hoka One One design works for every type of runner imaginable."
Rutt, who made the 2012 world indoor championships 800 final, has run 1:45.08 for 800 meters outdoors. Last Friday, he set an indoor personal best of 1:46.71 in a victory at Boston University. The next night, at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, he battled USA All-Stars anchorman Erik Sowinski to the tape in a 4 x 800 relay in which the All-Stars and NJ-NY both broke the former world indoor record, but the All-Stars narrowly won in a new standard of 7:13.11.
Rutt has worked in running stores and says of Hoka, “I knew they had the oversized soles and they were founded by ultrarunners and supported by them.”
But “they are looking to expand the number of products they have,” Rutt told Runner’s World Newswire. "They are in the process of making a track spike for me to wear,” as well as “a lighter weight 8-ounce-or-less shoe for roads.”
Rutt currently wears Hoka’s Stinson model for recovery runs and says, “Early in the outdoor season, I will have a spike from Hoka.”
So what will he wear on Saturday, when he goes up against Nick Symmonds in a 1000-meter race at the Millrose Games in New York?
“I’m going to wear something else for the time being,” says Rutt. “I’ve taken magic markers [to my racing shoes]," Rutt says. “I don’t want anyone getting any free marketing off of me.”
If you're unsure what we mean by "maximalist," see the review of the Hoka One One Conquest below.
