I began buying Nike trainers in 1971, in Eugene, Or. The sales staff of Nike Store #2(?) were all Oregon track athletes. I was on a local high school track team, so of course I bought Nikes. They had the best shoe for combatting shin splints and achiles tendon problems I knew of; the original Cortez.
I still have a couple of old Nike shoes probably bought when I still wore size 12. They were the first brand I saw which used something like cloth uppers.
Very comfortable.
After that I started wearing New Balance, because they make a 12EEEE.