I have about 10 pairs of old, broken-down running shoes taking up space in my closet. Nike recycles old running shoes (and walking, aerobic, tennis, cross trainers, etc.) of any brand by grinding them up and turning them into those nice, squishy, rubbery tracks, basketball courts and playgrounds for kids. You can send them to Nike (at your own cost) or find a drop-off location (any Niketown or Nike Factory Store). I think this is a very cool and responsible business practice!

Check out the link:

http://www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/!http://img1.dev.meetupstatic.com/img/clear.gif!

You can send any number of shoes to Nike at:

Nike Recycling Center

c/o Reuse-A-Shoe

26755 SW 95th Ave.

Wilsonville, OR 97070

(Nike will not accept shoes delivered with postage due)

OR

if you have "gently used" shoes that can still be worn...

One World Running (www.oneworldrunning.com),

Since 1986, a group of runners in Boulder, Colorado, has collected, washed and sent to Third World countries new and "near-new" athletic shoes, T-shirts and shorts, along with medicine and school and art supplies. Shoes for Africa (mentioned in a prior posting I think) was started after sports journalist Mike Sandrock returned from a coaching and racing trip to Cameroon, West Africa, sponsored by the U.S. Information Agency. Many of the runners from Cameroon ran barefoot (and were still able to beat Sandrock), and afterwards, a group of Boulder elite runners including Lorraine Moller, Steve Jones and Arturo Barrios began shipping shoes to West Africa. Since then a group of runners in Boulder has collected, washed, and sent shoes, T-shirts, and shorts to needy athletes and children around the world. The project continues to grow with shoes and athletic equipment being sent in from around the United States.

Now called "One World Running" the group is a 100-percent volunteer organization, and the program has now expanded globally. The West End 3K criterium road race in downtown Boulder was started in August, 2001, as fundraiser for Shoes for Africa. In a recent addition, soccer cleats are now collected, as well as baseball equipment.

Shoes & Other Athletic Gear can be sent to:

One World Running

P.O. Box 2223

Boulder, CO 80306