THE BROOKS BLOG

Monday’s Seattle Times gave us a shout out in an article about how eco-conscious retailers and shoppers are influencing the marketplace. The Green Silence was featured as an example of Brooks’ contribution. Here’s a teaser quote from our CEO, Jim Weber:

“The Green Silence really is a concept shoe in sustainability,” said Weber. “It’s our latest attempt, and every stitch of the shoe has a sustainable story, without compromising the performance or aesthetic appeal. We are going to bring the elements of this shoe into our core shoe line.”

>>Read the full article here.

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 .

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.

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 .

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!

Brooks T6 Racer

Now available for hungry road racers everywhere: the Brooks T6 Racer and Racer ST 4.

Simply put, these two shoes define performance for racing flats on all competitive levels. At the United States’ 2008 Men’s and Women’s Marathon Olympic Trials, roughly 30% of the athletes in the men’s race and 25% of the finishers in the women’s race were sporting Brooks racing flats.  Brian Sell’s shoe at the Olympic Marathon was a special version of the T6 Racer, and Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington captured her second world title in Kona last year in some Brooks T5’s. Now you can get the latest versions of these blazing fast shoes.

So what’s the difference between the T6 Racer and Racer ST4?

The T6 Racer provides an ultra-lightweight (6.1 oz), minimal, unrestricted, neutral ride. It’s designed for runners with an efficient stride who don’t need “a lot of shoe” when competing. The Racer ST 4 offers a bit more substance and stability for those wanting some medial support.

What changed compared to the last versions?

The uppers for both shoes were tweaked. The T6 Racer had the overlays in the toebox eliminated, which aided the flexibility in the forefoot. The updated upper of the Racer ST 4 focuses on even better securing of the foot to the base of the shoe, ensuring there is no wasted motion and that all energy is spent moving forward.

Of course, both shoes have cool new colors too!

Brooks Racer ST 4