Running shoes banned in Boston by marathon officials

What with steroids and growth hormone and goodness knows what else athletes are using these days to gain an edge, really the only thing you can be sure you're regulating is what's on the outside.

I'm reminded of a joke from a Woody Allen movie: he looks down at his belly and sees he's bleeding; he says, "Hey, blood — that's supposed to be on the inside!"

Anyhow, Spira Footwear's come up with a new shoe design employing "patented spring technology" to reduce the impact on a runner's feet.

The USA Track & Field Federation took one look at the shoes and immediately banned them because they provide an inordinately high (90%) energy return and use springs to enhance performance.

I think the only real difference between Nike Shox or Air and Spira Springs is an essentially limitless cash pipeline that runs from Nike directly into USA Track & Field's coffers.

Hey — if you're not aiming for a world record explore the Spira website, watch the video, read the reviews, and decide for yourself whether the technology's worth taking a flyer on.

I'll never tell.

[via a reader whose identity escapes me so I'm unable to credit you — my apology]