THE BROOKS BLOG

"I hope runners and running fans across the country will join me this week in a long, loud salute to Brian Sell. Few American distance stars deserve it more. Ritz and Teg and Meb and Abdi and Alan and Ryan have lifted our spirits in recent years, and we needed that.

"But Sell punched us in the gut, took our breath away, and won our hearts when he achieved the Impossible Dream. In the decades to come, his story will be told, as it should be, to more young American runners than any number of sub-3:50s, sub-13:00s, and 2:06s. For this simple reason: Sell had to scrape his way to the top mile by teeth-gritting mile. You think he’s got an Alter-G in the basement? An altitude tent upstairs? Maybe, but I doubt it."

>>Read Amby Burfoot’s full post on Runner’s World here

One of the questions we frequently get asked is: What’s the real difference between the Brooks Adrenaline™ GTS 10 (the newest version of our best-selling Go To Shoe) and our other shoe in the support category, the Trance 9 ?

Someone who wears the Adrenaline™ GTS 10 could also wear the Trance 9 , as they provide support for the same type of runner: the moderate overpronator. With that said, there are a few key differences between these shoes:

- One of the biggest difference is the fit. The Adrenaline™ GTS 10 has its signature "midfoot wrap." (“Midfoot wrap” is how the upper of the shoe conforms to the middle of the foot. Not just the arch, but also the side of the foot. With a snug midfoot wrap you get a shoe that feels “at one” with the foot.) In comparison, the Trance 9 can feel like it has a roomier, wider toe box.

- The Trance™ 9 provides much more cush in both the heel and the forefoot by using our biggest HydroFlow® XL pad.

- The materials in the upper of the Trance™ are top-of-the-line premium plush and softer, which adds to the cost.

The newest incarnation of the Ghost brings back all the style, speed, and springy toe-off action of the original, but with a few key updates that keep you running happier longer. (See Men’s / Women’s.)

New and Improved:

• Cushioning:  We’ve slightly softened the midsole and increased the thickness in the forefoot for extra protection without added bulk. The result is greater, more even cushioning from heel to toe, stride after stride.
• Overlays: Less is more with the Ghost 2 overlays. We’ve not only reduced the number of overlays, but also made them thinner, more pliable, and more supple. They hold your foot in place, but never get in the way, allowing the Ghost 2 to feel like an extension of your foot in motion.
• Inherent Stability: A more substantial midfoot shank and a wider footprint under the forefoot give the Ghost 2 the perfect blend of flexibility and stability. Your foot will be free to follow its naturally efficient gait without any danger of being overcorrected.
• Sockliner: Our new Profile Sockliner is contoured for more support under your arches and a better cup for your heel. It’s also softer than ever before for an increase in comfort and shock absorption.
• Sustainability:  The Ghost 2 includes Biomogo, our groundbreaking midsole compound that enables quicker decomposition once you’ve put your shoes out to pasture.

Who should wear the Ghost 2?

The Ghost 2 is ideal for the runner with a medium to high arch and a neutral gait cycle who wants a high-mileage shoe for everyday training. Ghost 2 runners like a shoe with balanced and substantial cushioning that supports the efficient work their feet and legs are already doing.

Want a neutral shoe with maximum cushioning? Try the Glycerin for men and women.

Want an even lighter neutral shoe for tempo runs and faster races? Try the Launch for men and women. 

Brooks hosts the NCAA Division I Cross Country Pre-Nationals for the 7th-straight year today. The meet is being held at the LaVern Gibson XC Course, the home course of Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

Brooks partner Flotrack is covering the event. Unfortunately, bad internet connectivity at the course prevents them from streaming the races live. Instead, they’ll post archived videos of the races here:
http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234565-2009-brooks-isu-pre-nationals/204540-2009-prenats-course-preview

More details:

• 94 men’s Division I teams
• 100 women’s Division I teams
• Top 30 in each race will be awarded a Brooks Pre-Nats EZ T!
• Two Brooks photo booths on hand

Good luck to everyone competing!

Woo Hoo! The Adrenaline™ GTS 10, the much-anticipated tenth edition of our best-selling Adrenaline™ running shoe, is here! (See Men’s /Women’s .)

Brooks has diligently worked to evolve the Adrenaline™ line to maintain its signature fit and function runners have come to know and love, while still finding ways to exceed their expectations. In the Adrenaline™ GTS 10, we feel we’ve nailed it. Here’s a quick overview of how it compares to the Adrenaline™ GTS 9.

Improved :
1. Enhanced upper materials and construction to provide maximum comfort and breathability, while maintaining a conforming fit.
2. Asymmetrical upper overlays to create a more secure arch capture.
3. Increased heel bevel to create a smoother transition, a softer lay down, and slower rate of pronation.
4. Caterpillar heel pad;  A more segmented crash pad that customizes the individual’s lay down for the right amount of cushion and stabilization, resulting in a perfect ride for every stride.

Maintained :
1. Signature PDRB® triple-density post on the medial side of the shoe for industry-leading stability.
2. HydroFlow® cushioning in the forefoot and heel.
3. Iconic Adrenaline™ last and shape.

Oh, and did we mention that it’s especially good-looking? We hope you love the new Adrenaline™ GTS 10! We think it will definitely help stability-seeking runners and Adrenaline™ fans Run Happy®!

>>See the full spec sheet here .

Special thanks to Footwear Product Line Manager Carson Caprara for crafting this comparison!

Melissa White

Kudos to Hanson-Brooks runner Melissa White , who finished eighth at 2:32:55 in the 2009 Chicago Marathon on Sunday. White shaved five minutes off her personal record and was the second U.S. woman to cross the finish line.

Hansons teammate Patrick Rizzo finished tenth in the men’s field. He also achieved a PR with a time of 2:15:48.

>>Read the Detroit Free Press story

Frayed Laces, a well-read and respected running-community blogger, had the chance to make a stopover in Chicago to see our B*R*A*S*H (Brooks Running Athlete Support Hospital) Tent at the Expo and hang out with Brooks folks.

Here’s her report , with lots of great photos.

Twitter was all, well, atwitter today with first photos of our awesome M*A*S*H-style expo booth at the Chicago Marathon expo. Brooks is offering free podiatrist consultations and gait analyses to runners and expo attendees who sign up at the booth (#733).

But that’s not all. Everyone who participates receives dog tags worth a chance to win prizes. Simply walk your dog tags over to the retail area of the booth to see if you’ve won! Prizes include 10 head-to-toe Brooks outfits, 50 pairs of shoes, 250+ cotton T-shirts, and 150 water bottles. The odds of winning something? Pretty, pretty good.

The B*R*A*S*H (Brooks Running Athlete Support Hospitality) is open till 8 p.m. tonight, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow. Get there early to snag an appointment!

Check out these awesome Twitpics posted by our pals at Fleet Feet Chicago (@FleetFeetChgo). Click on any image to see the full photo post at Twitpic. Nice shots, guys and gals!

This fall Brooks will be sponsoring the best XC meets from around the country! And Flotrack will be there to cover most of them.

On September 5-6, Flotrack was on hand to cover the start of the season at the 2009 Brooks Memphis Twilight XC Classic. Watch race videos and interviews from the meet.

Here are the remaining Brooks-sponsored XC Events for fall 2009. Visit www.runbrooks.com for video coverage during and after events shown with an asterisk below!

OCTOBER 3
Paul Short Run
Bethlehem, PA

*Cowboy Jamboree
Stillwater, OK

*Sunfair Invite
Yakima, WA

OCTOBER 16-17
*NCAA Pre-Nationals
Terre Haute, IN

OCTOBER 17
Brown XC Invite
Providence, RI

NOVEMBER 7
*Washington State
Pasco, WA

*Maryland State
Hereford, MD