THE BROOKS BLOG

January 22, 2010

An Open Letter to the Running Community ,

For many of us, running is an inseparable part of our lives—we need it. When we run, we improve our health, relieve stress, achieve personal goals, compete, raise money, and have fun. On any given weekend, check out a running event in any city across the globe and you’ll be inspired by runners spanning ages, speeds, motivations, and goals—each with their own stories. At Brooks, inspiring everyone to run and be active is our reason for being.

Given the passion felt about our sport, it’s easy to understand how everything about the run is actively studied, critiqued, debated, and questioned—including shoes. People strive to run faster, longer, healthier, more efficiently, and injury-free mile after mile, and they’ve traditionally looked to their footwear to deliver that. But many people have recently questioned whether running barefoot is better, so we feel it’s time for Brooks to join the public dialogue.

Let’s call a spade a spade. We make running shoes: High-quality, biomechanically mapped, performance running shoes calibrated for runners’ unique needs. We hope runners buy our shoes and we’re confident they’ll enjoy them. But this isn’t about selling shoes. And, quite frankly, this isn’t even about running barefoot.

So what are we talking about here? First and foremost, we’re all talking about running, and that’s a great thing because we believe to our core that running is a positive force in our world. We want everyone to run and be happy. But to get there, whether you should run barefoot is not the great debate. We are all unique. The focus should be on how you run and train, and then finding the right shoe that addresses your unique biomechanical needs. "The Perfect Ride for Every Stride," as we say at Brooks. Let’s look at a snapshot of the running population:

• At one end of the spectrum, we know there are runners who lack foot strength leading to severe pronation. They may strike heavily and need a great deal of support to run injury- and pain-free. We hear repeatedly from them that the Brooks Beast "saved their lives."

• At the other end of the spectrum are the biomechanically blessed (and/or conditioned through training) who have natural healthy gaits and enjoy great efficiency. These gazelles may wear shoes, they may not.

• The vast majority of runners (including this middle-of-the-packer !) fall in between. And for us, we strongly believe most of our mileage should be logged in a performance running shoe, not barefoot . For us, supportive, cushioned footwear is not only beneficial, it also plays an essential role in delivering a comfortable, injury-free running experience.

Elsewhere on our Web site, you’ll find a robust discussion on this topic (or you can view it as a downloadable PDF here ) from our Brooks footwear team. We also asked people we respect in the running industry to chime in with their perspectives on the barefoot running discussion. These experts include accomplished runners, coaches, researchers, doctors, and specialty running retailers, who see more runners (and their feet) each week than many of us see in a lifetime.

Join us in this conversation and be active in your decisions. We were all born to run. But the ultimate goal, of course, is to keep running for the long haul.

Run Happy,

Jim Weber
President & CEO
Brooks Sports, Inc.

How do you follow up being a contestant on OXYGEN’s hit show Dance Your Ass Off ? For Karla Guy, the next challenge is P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona ½ Marathon on Sunday, January 17. Karla is running in the Adrenaline . We’re so excited to be part of Karla’s first ever race.

Have a great race, Karla! You’ve done the training, now enjoy the ride—and Run Happy®!

UPDATE: Karla finished strong. Read about her race strategy here. Congrats, Karla!

>> Follow Karla on Twitter @KarlaGuy .

>> Check out Karla’s sweet dance moves at KarlaGuy.com . Scroll to the bottom and watch the video of her winning the first competition.

We are on a roll! Runner’s World has given the new Glycerin® 8 with Brooks DNA its prestigious "Editor’s Choice" award in the Spring 2010 Shoe Guide in the March issue—on newsstands February 2, 2010.

The award was announced during the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2010 in Salt Lake City, UT, at a Brooks-sponsored industry gathering (i.e. a Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series-themed cocktail party!) on Thursday evening, January 21. Warren Greene from Runner’s World made the announcement. A giant banner was unfurled. And the cover band rocked on!

>> See the Men’s Glycerin® 8
>> See the Women’s Glycerin® 8
>> Learn more about Brooks DNA

Woo hoo! We are thrilled to announce a multi-year partnership with Chrissie Wellington, world-renowned British triathlete and reigning Ironman World Champion, as her official footwear sponsor.

That’s right. Those Brooks T6 Racers Chrissie wore and won in during the last three Ford Ironman® World Championships ? She chose to run in them because she liked the T6 and they worked for her—and boy, did they! In 2009, Wellington set a new women’s world course record of 8 hours, 54:02 minutes in Kona.

“With that trademark smile she flashes even after finishing a grueling race, Chrissie Wellington embodies the strength, passion, and drive to succeed that we look for in brand partners,” said Jim Weber, president and CEO of Brooks. “We’re pleased to welcome her and proud to have such an inspirational athlete representing our brand.”

Wellington is the first triathlete to join Brooks’ strategic group of professional athletes.

>> Read the full press release here .

T6 Racer (6.1 oz, Unisex): Our lightest racing flat is great for the biomechanically efficient runner. Hyperpod construction on the outsole gives this shoe maximum flexibility, while a minimal socklike upper keeps it light. Ford Ironman World Champion and new Brooks-sponsored athlete Chrissie Wellington won her third consecutive world title in Kona last year in Brooks T5s—setting a new course record in the process. Many members of the Hansons-Brooks ODP team, including Brian Sell, sport the T6 when they race. The new 2010 color (shown here) debuts 2/1.

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Green Silence (6.9 oz, Unisex): The Green Silence is our most environmentally sustainable competition shoe. Like the T6, it has flexible hyperpod construction in the forefoot and minimal overlays. A wider based aids stability. Post-consumer recycled materials, BioMoGo midsole, water-based inks, and non-toxic dyes are just part of the package we’ve put together in the Green Silence. Learn more about the Green Silence here .

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Racer ST4 (8.6 oz, Unisex): Light enough for the 5K, but sturdy enough for the marathon, the Racer ST4 is the racing flat for those seeking added support. A Diagonal Roll Bar (DRB®) in the midsole and a rigidity piece (DRB® Accel) on the underside midfoot add stability and encourage correct body alignment. The new 2010 color (shown here) debuts 2/1.

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Launch (Men’s 9.3 oz, Women’s 7.5 oz): The Launch is substantial enough to be included in our neutral training category, but minimal enough to be considered by those who want a light shoe for tempo runs and races. Compared to the other shoes in this list, the Launch offers a greater energy return enhanced by its highly resilient midsole and sockliner. The outsole provides constant ground contact and also includes blown rubber in the forefoot for added grip. The Launch has received kudos from Brooks ID members, elite runners, and was awarded "Best Debut" by Runner’s World in its Winter 2009 Shoe Guide.

>>Unisex and Men’s weights are based on a Men’s size 9. Women’s weights are based on size 7.

>>NOTE : Women ordering Unisex racing shoes should size down 1.5 sizes.

We’ve received a lot of inquiries lately about the heel-to-toe ratios and midsole heights in our racing and running shoes. The difference between a shoe’s heel and toe midsole heights is the offset, also called the heel-to-toe ratio or heel-to-toe drop. Here are the stats:

T6 Racer: heel (20mm) to toe (8mm) = 12mm offset

Racer ST4: heel (22mm) to toe (10mm) = 12mm offset

Green Silence: heel (18mm) to toe (10mm) = 8mm offset

Launch: heel (22mm) to toe (11mm) = 11mm offset

Glycerin® , Ravenna , Adrenaline™ , etc.*: heel (24mm) to toe (12mm) = 12mm offset
* and the rest of our everyday training running shoes

We’re proud and excited to announce the (slightly) early release of the Green Silence . This shoe represents the culmination of years of planning, research, and asking ourselves again, "is there anything more we can do?" The result is a groundbreaking racing shoe that sets a new standard for environmental stewardship.

Innovations include:

• 75% post-consumer recycled materials
• BioMoGo midsole
• Biodegradable biobatch collar foams
• 38% less solvent in glues and overlays
• Water-based adhesives
• Non-toxic dyes and colorants
• About half as many components as a comparable shoe—meaning less energy used in manufacturing

Although the environmental story behind the Green Silence is very important to us, it’s just as important that the Green Silence meets our high standards for performance—and it does. At 6.9 oz, the Green Silence is ideal for road racers looking to tread lightly and swiftly.

With a midsole heel thickness of 18mm and forefoot thickness measuring 10mm, the Green Silence has among the lowest heel-to-toe drops for Brooks at 8mm. That’s compared to 11mm for the Launch and an average heel-to-toe drop of 12mm for most of our regular "trainer" running shoes.

>> Read more about the Green Silence .

>> Take an interactive tour of the Green Silence components .

>> See what wear-testers have to say .

Going through these old photos is a lot like looking through the high school yearbook. You cringe, you laugh, you reminisce—you realize that they were right when they voted you “Most Likely to Succeed.”

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Adrenaline™ GTS 1: 1995

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Adrenaline™ GTS 2: 2000

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Adrenaline™ GTS 3: 2002

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Adrenaline™ GTS 4: 2003

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Adrenaline™ GTS 5: 2004

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Adrenaline™ GTS 6: 2006

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Adrenaline™ GTS 7: 2007

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Adrenaline™ GTS 8: 2008

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Adrenaline™ GTS 9: 2009

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Adrenaline™ GTS 10: 2010

With the recent release of the Glycerin® 8 , Brooks introduces a new cushioning system called Brooks DNA. Materials Engineer Derek Campbell lets us in on this new technology and what we can look forward to in it.

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What motivated you to reinvent the cushioning system?

Several years ago we recognized the need to make our cushioning systems more adaptable to the ever-widening range of body types and training levels of the runners who use our products. Working from the mantra "A Perfect Ride for Every Stride" we searched for technologies and designs that could improve performance and at the same time make the experience of running more enjoyable. We also wanted to find ways to embody the concept of Running Responsibly that guides our design and development. Current cushioning solutions in the running industry were too inefficient in process, materials, and assembly. We wanted to find a better way.

Brooks DNA is a "non-Newtonian liquid." What does that mean and why is it good for running shoes?

Non-Newtonian liquids are simply materials that do not have a linear relationship between stress and response. Many materials in your daily life have a linear response to stress but a surprising number don’t. Examples include ketchup, Silly Putty, quicksand, and concentrated starch solutions. Brooks DNA reacts in a non-linear way by providing a firmer structure at high stress and a more conformable one at low stress. In other words, when you are walking or don’t weigh very much you get soft comfort. When you are running you get the support you need, the proper dispersion of impact energy, and good resilience or energy return.

What kind of underfoot feel can a runner expect from DNA? When DNA responds to a foot strike, is the response firm or soft?

There are two aspects of underfoot feel that Brooks DNA enhances. As mentioned before, a shoe with Brooks DNA will feel comfortable and conformable when standing or walking. When a person begins to add more energy, such as in running, the underfoot feel will be more resilient, returning energy to you, and feel slightly firmer. Soft when you want it and responsive when you need it. We also recognize that different runners have different preferences in underfoot feel and don’t want to have to make manual corrections to get what they want. That’s where the value of a truly adaptable material comes to the fore. The second aspect is transition. This is the smooth movement of the foot between impact and propulsion. Because of the design and structure of Brooks DNA, the transition of shoes using this technology is much more efficient and comfortable.

Does Brooks DNA affect the expected lifespan of a shoe?

Brooks DNA is a highly durable material that does not affect the expected lifespan of a shoe. In fact, it much more closely matches the other materials in the shoe than other cushioning technologies.

Brooks has been making an effort to become more environmentally responsible. How does DNA contribute to that goal?

Brooks DNA was designed from its conception to meet our Design for Environment goals. It cuts the number of different materials in our cushioning system down from four to a single one. It uses less steps in the manufacturing process to make and requires less volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) to bond into our shoes. The material itself is also completely recyclable in our manufacturing process to eliminate waste.

What makes you Run Happy®, Derek?

Getting outside in clean air in a beautiful place and leaving the stress behind without having to worry about what my footwear is doing.

The Wire is our premium distance spike for the competitive athlete. We’ve pulled out all the stops for our newest track spike so this baby is nothing but GO!

Here are some of the features you can expect:

• Extremely light at only 4.8 oz.
• Sock-like upper conforms to your foot for a flexible, snug foot capture
• 5 spikes strategically placed for maximum grip with minimum weight
• Spike plate made from flexible, environmentally friendly Pebax® Rnew

>>Learn more about The Wire.