User:Georgiabeni/sandbox

Figure skating boots are traditionally made by hand from many layers of leather. The design of figure skating boots changed significantly during the 20th century. Old photographs of skaters such as Sonja Heine from the 1920s and 1930s show them wearing thin, supple boots reaching to mid-calf. However, original figure skates did not even have a boot. The consisted of an animal bone (usually from the leg) which was used as the blade. This bone had two holes drilled into each end. Leather straps were then fed through the holes and used to strap the blades (animal bone) onto the skater's shoe. Only in 1865 were boots directly attached to the blades.

Modern skating boots, on the other hand, are extremely rigid to support the foot and ankle in jumps, and are cut much lower—just over ankle height—to allow the foot to flex. Because the stiffness of the boots makes good fit essential, many skaters either order custom boots or have their boots "bumped out" over pressure points by a skate technician.

copied from Figure skate

Racing flats, or simply flats, are lightweight athletic shoes designed for "long distance" track and field, cross country, and most often, road races. They differ from normal training shoes mainly by the lack of a substantial heel (hence the name). 

Flats are more lightweight than regular running sneakers so they do not last as long. In 2014 some racing flats weighed as little at 3 oz as companies competed to generate the lightest racing flat.Their soles get worn down faster and therefore they have shorter natural lives. In 1997 Jim Fixx's Onitsuka Tiger racing flats were seen on the front page of his book entitled "The Complete Book of Running". This book was a #1 best seller.

They are mostly sold as "for use up to 10k", but are used by some runners at any distance, including ultramarathons.

copied from Sneakers

REFLECTION

I learned that Wikipedia is oftentimes flawed or significantly lacking in information. I approached critiquing the Racing Flats article by finding external websites that matched the knowledge that I have from being a runner. Once I found these websites I would use them to formulate additional information to add to Wikipedia. I decided on Racing Flats because I am a runner and so I already have some knowledge around the shoes. Also, out of all the types of running shoes it had some of the least information written about it so I could have the chance to make a bigger contribution. I focused on the introductory part of the Racing Flats wiki page. Therefore, my job was to just bulk up the description outlining what racing flats are and used for. I expanded on the fact that they are light weight and also that due to this they do not last as long as regular running shoes. My article contains a little more detail. I did not receive feedback from other editors therefore did not have to respond. I am actually doing a similar thing in my French class this term so have been exposed to wikipedia a lot. I think that people do not realise how easy it is to get involved in the wikipedia world and how anyone can contribute. I did not know this before this term so in the future I may go edit some sites as now I have the skills.