sol

And, perhaps above all, run more candidates who’ve gotten dirt under their fingernails, mud on the soles of their boots or grease stains on their coveralls.

High-tech foams, carbon plates and pressurised airbags have combined in the soles of the latest shoes to return more energy to athletes, sparking an arms race among manufacturers.

Their thick rubber soles and low heels combine rugged work wear aesthetics with the convenience of a slipper.

One of those is the desert kit fox, a cat-sized canine with long delicate ears and fur on the soles of its feet to protect them from the hot sand of the Mojave.

It often begins on the face before spreading to other parts of the body, most commonly the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.