The year 1979 had its share of highlights, including Red Sox sensation Carl "The Yaz" Yastrzemski hitting his four-hundredth career home run at Fenway, Margaret Thatcher was named Prime Minister of England, and Doctor's Allan MacLeod Cormack and Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield were awarded the Nobel Prize for developing computed axial tomography (what we know as the CAT scan) X-ray technique.

At a time when Disco was still in vogue, and the first class stamp was only $0.15, New Balance Athletic Shoes, Inc. introduced the first $100 running shoe. Three years in the making, the M990 broke all barriers in running shoe technology, ushering in a new era in athletic shoe performance and comfort.

A number of new technologies and techniques were employed in the creation of the M990, not least of which was the use of three layers of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), which increased shock attenuation. In addition, a new SuperFlex outsole, made from a Vibram material called VibramFlex, was introduced, giving the M990 longer wearing ability, and absorbing shock better than any material on the market at the time.

Most notable, however, was the introduction of the Motion Control Device (MCD), an external support feature encapsulating the heel, and designed to increase rearfoot stability. The MCD was the first of its kind, developed specifically to help stabilize the foot through the gait cycle.

These advancements led New Balance in a 1980 advertisement to boldly ask, "At a suggested retail price of $100, [was] the 990 too expensive, or too inexpensive?"

In October of 1985, New Balance released the M995, which updated the M990 in a few key areas. Most significantly, the M995 sported the revolutionary ENCAP® technology. The ENCAP® was designed by New Balance engineers to encapsulate the EVA core with polyurethane, disperse shock, and stabilize the foot. This unsurpassed combination of cushioning and stability made the M995 virtually compression-proof.

The M996 emerged in 1988 with an improved midsole, utilizing the ENCAP® wedge with a C-CAP midsole, producing the best stability and cushioning combo to date. For the first time, New Balance also introduced 3M Scotchlight reflective trim for safer night time running.

In February of 1990, in addition to updating the 996, New Balance revealed the first women's version, the W997. Finally women could lace up the same stable, supportive, and cushioned trainer that men had been wearing for years, only designed with the mechanics of a woman's foot in mind. Among the additions to this updated version was a three-density removable insert, increasing cushioning, along with a three-density outsole made from a blown rubber forefoot, XAR1000™ carbon rubber in the heel, and an exposed C-CAP® for reduced weight compression. In addition, Hytrel Straps were introduced into the upper, which helped lock the midfoot in place for a more secure ride. These enhancements increased the shoe's overall comfort and durability, keeping runners on the road in a single pair longer than any other shoe to date.

In 1993, when New Balance updated the M997 with the M998, the running shoe that had become the standard for stability was being billed as, quite simply, "The Classic." Already a Heritage shoe with more pedigree than any running shoe ever made, the 998 introduced the patented Abzorb™ technology which would deliver unparalleled cushioning. In addition, the New Balance "N" was trimmed with reflective 3M piping, adding a touch of style while making night running even safer.

After a run of over five brilliant years, the 998 yielded an updated 999 series in late 1997, boasting a new look accompanied by the dependable, longstanding functionality that has marked this Heritage shoe for almost twenty years.

New Balance then brought "The Classic" back around to its original name when, in the fall of 1998, they reintroduced the M990GR with Abzorb™ cushioning now in the heel and forefoot. This updated version offered a new combination of pigskin and mesh to create the most stable and comfortable upper yet.

In 1999, the M991 was launched, and has since emerged as the widest-selling New Balance shoe on the market, and today, is New Balance's most popular trainer. This widespread popularity has given the 991 the reputation of being the staple New Balance running shoe. Loaded with an assortment of state-of-the-art features that continue to define excellence in running shoe performance and comfort, the M991 remains "The Classic," a thoroughbred in the world of running shoes.

Defining excellence in running shoe performance for over six years, the 991 was finally updated in late 2005 with more cushioning and a fresh look. The long awaited 992 with Abzorb SBS® in the heel and forefoot is the new "Classic," a thoroughbred in the world of running shoes, and sure to prove as popular as its predecessor among serious runners and casual wearers alike.