THE BROOKS BLOG

Wow! I just read through all the comments on Jim’s recent blog post …what an amazing conversation we’re having on running. I love to see all of this passion and energy around our sport and what we care the most about at Brooks: the run.

As a career long R&D guy, this is particularly exciting to me as it gives my team more opportunity to learn, grow, and explore new methods and technologies that will ultimately allow the runner to run farther, faster, more efficiently, and healthier.

Many of you have asked about research (or lack thereof) regarding the benefits of shod vs. unshod running. One way or the other, show me the proof, right?! Well, while no one has been able to prove whether running with or without shoes causes more injury, we at Brooks have been and will continue to develop and conduct prospective and retrospective studies around running injury prevention. We’re dedicated to reducing running injury risk and have aligned ourselves with some of the top researchers and universities from around the world to help us tackle this. These types of research projects take some time, but we’re making progress and we expect to make some big strides forward this year. Be sure to stay tuned for updates and keep us posted on your thoughts, comments and suggestions!

Keep Running,

Pete

Good luck to Brooks athlete Scott Jurek at this year’s Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc: 166 km and 9,400 m of + altitude change! For updates check out Scott’s fan page on Facebook or his Twitter feed. Go Scott!

Desiree Davila of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project finished 11th overall and was the 2nd American at the IAAF World Championships last weekend in Berlin!  With her time 2:27:53, Desi now has the second fastest marathon time for US women in 2009. Check out her interview below and take notice: Desi has cemented her spot as a favorite for the 2012 London team with this performance….Go Desi!

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

Running a fall marathon? Now’s the time to refresh your shoes if you want to be race-ready. And here’s some extra incentive: buy any pair of Brooks shoes on Brooksrunning.com , and you’ll get a free pair of technical socks. (Limited time only - see details .)

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Ready for cooler weather running? Brooks recently launched new fall outerwear for both Women and Men. My two personal favorites: the cozy and super-stylish LSD Thermal Vest and feather-light, highly reflective LSD Lite Jacket — both pictured below. Go check them out before you’re caught in the cold!

Men’s Running Jackets and Vests
Women’s Running Jackets and Vests

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9 and Trance 9

Great question came in from a customer today: what’s the real difference between the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9 (our most popular shoe) and our other shoe in the support category, the Trance 9 ?

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

- One of the biggest difference is the fit. The Adrenaline GTS 9 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 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 plusher and softer, which adds to the cost.

Summer racing season is in full swing … and so we welcome the Launch, a brand new neutral lightweight trainer that provides “just enough shoe” and cushioning. The Launch has one goal in mind: let you run fast and not lose any energy in the shoe. Lace these up for mile repeats or tempo runs, and know this shoe will help you hit your splits.

With a nice midfoot wrap, BioMoGo midsole, and carefully constructed forefoot – the Launch embodies the definitions of resiliency and effort-enabler. And the minimally constructed upper keeps you secure in the shoe, but avoids unnecessary weight or possible areas of irritation.  One early reviewer raves: “like running on a cloud…the miles feel effortless in the Launch.”

Added perk: Fans of the old Brooks Burn can finally clean out their closets!

Hip, hip, hooray! For the second year in a row, the Brooks Cascadia 4 won “Editor’s Choice” Award in Runner’s World’s Spring 2009 Trail Shoe Guide! The Cascadia 4 received best overall marks after rigorous testing by Runner’s World editors and wear-testers, and being flexed, pounded and prodded at their independent Shoe Lab testing facility.

What makes this shoe so great?

The secret sauce is that the Cascadia 4 is a pure trail running shoe designed from the ground up. Neither a stripped-down hiking shoe nor a glorified road shoe, it combines the best attributes of both. Using our “pivot post construction,” the Cascadia 4 adjusts to undulation in terrain which allows the foot to stay neutral on a multitude of surfaces. Runner’s World also summed it up by saying “The Cascadia offers dependable traction for technical trails, yet is cushy enough so that running short distances on roads won’t beat up your legs.”

This latest version of the Cascadia 4 also offers an assymetrical lacing system (which allows the overlays in the forefoot to be relaxed for wider feet, or snugged up tighter for narrower feet), as well as Brooks’ biodegradable midsole BioMoGo.

The Cascadia 4 is geared for neutral runners with biomechanically efficient strides. Stabilty-seeking trail runners should check out the Brooks Adrenaline ASR 5.

Now go hit the trails!

Congratulations to Brooks I.D. athlete Diane Groff, who won two divisions at the competitive 3K Snowshoe race at the Romp to Stomp Breast Cancer event on March 7th in Frisco, Colorado! Diane won both the survivor division, (by several minutes) and the 50+ age division (by three seconds).

Among other accomplishments, Diane is a two-time cancer survivor and a 46 minute 10K runner. She was named “Most Inspirational Colorado Female Athlete” of 2007 by the Sportswomen of Colorado… and overall kicks some major booty.

While on her latest adventure Diane wore the new Brooks Cascadia 4 trail shoes and the Brooks for Her Hat. (A portion of sales from the Brooks for Her Hat goes to support breast-cancer related causes, see www.brooksrunning.com/bfh for more information.)

Great work Diane!

Diane Groff

Caught in their Run Happy onesies, young Natalie and Kate were recently identified as Brooks’ Youngest Fans!

Besides taking care of very cute babies, their moms Dawn and Jenni keep Brooks’ Customer Service department humming by day. No word on how they got their hands on those cool onesies, but apparently they have the inside track.