THE BROOKS BLOG

Ghost 2

Launch

The Ghost 2 and the Launch have been getting a lot of attention lately. They’ve both been winning awards and have both been highlighted in running magazines. They’re also both neutral running shoes and both have that nice sprung toe for a great kick. So what’s the difference? Quite a bit actually. Here’s an overview.

The Big Picture:

The Ghost 2 is a "go to" neutral shoe for everyday training of all distances. It’s got enough cushioning and structure to keep you supported while you’re logging the miles without holding you back or getting in your way. The Launch, on the other hand, is a lighter shoe built specifically for speed. It’s ideal for workouts that include tempo runs or intervals, or for races when you want a light shoe but don’t want to go all the way down to a racing flat.

Overlays :

• The overlays on the Ghost 2 are strategically placed for a snug, but flexible arch capture.
• The Launch’s minimal upper gives it a sock-like feel and keeps it light.

Sockliner :

• The Profile sockliner in the Ghost 2 is contoured to contribute to a nice arch fit and is made from environmentally friendly BioMoGo .
• The Launch includes our Engage sockliner, which has some contour but is especially formulated for resiliency and bounce.

• The Launch is a lower profile shoe, meaning there’s less height in the midsole. Unlike our other training shoes, there is no DRB® Accel in the Launch. This keeps you closer to the ground with consistent ground contact from heel to toe.

Weight (for men’s size 9 and women’s size 7):

• The Ghost 2 is 10.8 oz for men and 9.0 oz for women.
• The Launch comes in at 9.3 oz for men and 7.5 oz for women.

For more info on the Ghost 2 click here .

Read more about the Launch here .

Here’s another creative idea for using all your empty Brooks boxes …make your own Bro-bot! This friendly guy has been with us in the customer service department for the last couple of months thanks to our CS reps Maria and Tara. Not only is he incredibly good looking, he’s also quite festive.

Customer Service would like to wish everyone a very merry holiday and a great recovery run this weekend!

Please note: Brooks Customer Service will be out of the office from Dec. 24 through 27. Send us an email or leave us a voice mail and we’ll get back to you asap on Monday, Dec. 28.

At Brooks, the word “party” is spelled R-U-N! Today’s holiday party started off with a fun run, of course.

We did the ugly sweater contest thing.

Brooks Blue Santa showed up to host the raffle.

And somewhere along the line this happened:

Good times!

Name: Angie Mayer

Job: I wear many hats at Brooks My job title is Sales Coordinator. I plan and help support all events and activities for the sales team.

Favorite cross-training activity: I love the elliptical and enjoy running stairs. Also, I’d like to get back into my hip-hop dance classes.

Favorite shoe: Ravenna

Gym or outside in the winter?: GYM!

What makes you Run Happy?: I run happy because I love red wine. Ha.

Your picks: My favorite workout pieces are the Epiphany Stretch Short and Epiphany Tank.

Epiphany Stretch Short

 

Epiphany Tank

Only two weeks left to vote for the charity you’d like to see receive our Brooks For Her Donation.

Since March of this year we’ve been setting aside 6.25% of the suggested retail price from each Brooks For Her apparel item sold. Your vote determines which portion of our donation goes to each of the three deserving charities we’re supporting. No purchase necessary to vote, of course.

Click here to find out more about the Brooks For Her program and to cast your ballot.

Click here to check out the Brooks For Her apparel line.

And finally, a very grateful shout out to our participating charities and the good work that they do.

Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation grants wishes and memory-making events for metastatic breast cancer patients while continuing to support, educate, and increase resource awareness.

The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the premier international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists and humanitarians work together to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases.

Thanks for your vote!

There are few things as beautiful to runners as the weird looks we get while running outside in absurd weather. Clearly the couch potatoes are jealous. Gear up for the winter with Brooks gloves for any temperature. Get an extra couple of pairs for your running friends and take advantage of our FREE shipping for orders $50 and over (see details) .

Pulse Lite Glove

The Pulse Lite Glove is our lightest weight glove, perfect for longer runs when you might need a thin layer of warmth at first but want to be able to stow the gloves for the rest of the run. Updated this year with a retractable MP3 thumb pad for easy access to your tunes. Also available in purple and blue.

Vapor-Dry² Glove

The Vapor-Dry2 Glove is a mid-weight glove that will keep you warmer in cooler conditions. This year we gave this glove a retractable MP3 thumb pad as well as grip strips on the fingers for better handling of a steering wheel (on the way to your run) or hiking/skiing poles (if you must do something besides run). Super-soft terrycloth on the side makes you wonder why you ever used a hanky to wipe your nose before. Magnets at the wrist keep the gloves together for easy storage. Available in all black as well as Nightlife.

HVAC Glove

The HVAC Glove is the thickest of the three gloves, but still thin enough for easy movement. The HVAC has an MP3 thumb cap, finger grip strips, wrist magnets for storage, and the terrycloth (ahem) snot rag features of the Vapor-Dry² , but also gives you a small magnet-closure pouch on the back of the hand for storing a key or a few bucks. Silver fibers in the glove regulate temperature, taking you from moderate to freezing temps with ease.

During the 2009 Running Event in Austin, TX, Sean McKeon from our partner competitor.com got a chance to discuss Brooks Spring 2010 running shoes with Brooks’ own Mike Billish.

The Cascadia 5 for Men and Women is now officially available. Special thanks to Brooks-sponsored ultra runner  Scott Jurek for his insight into the design process and insider’s view on this award-winning trail shoe’s updates.

*******************************************************************************

Trails offer more obstacles and uneven surfaces than roads. How does the Cascadia 5 help keep a runner stable while staying flexible and light?
The low profile design of the midsole and outsole, base of support through footprint surface area, and the independently stabilizing Pivot Posts in the Cascadia 5 create a very stable trail shoe. The spacing in the one-piece outsole lug design, minimized outsole thickness, flexible Ballistic Rock Shield, and light BioMoGo midsole all contribute to a flexible and light ride.