BROOKS RUNNING NEWS

The Life Of The Towel

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:55:26 +0200

Did you know that the towel has its very own special day? Yes, it’s true…the 25th May each year is known as the day of the towel!

Some may think that a towels sole purpose is to get you dry after a shower or a hard training session, but it seems these people are seriously mistaken.

In Douglas Adam’s Hitchhicker’s ‘Guide to The Galaxy’ he tells us how many ways a towel can be put to good use. To name a few:

1. It can be wrapped around a person to keep them warm
2. You can lie on it
3. Sleep under it
4. Sail a miniature raft down the river Moth
5. Used as an emergency signal

Please remember not to carelessly throw/ leave your towel on the floor after your next shower. It truly deserves better on this great day.

Share with us on our Facebook page what you use your towel for…

Run Happy

Get your kids walking...and next week they could be in new kicks!

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:30:28 +0200

Walk to School Week (20-25^th May 2013) is designed to encourage parents and children to leave their car at home, take to their feet and walk to and from school.

The week promotes how walking can be fun, healthy and a sustainable method of travel. Emphasis is placed on how walking can help solve problems with road safety, obesity, pollution, and congestion.

At Brooks we LOVE running, and we aim to inspire people to run and be active. We want to make sure your kids are spending as much time as possible, outside on their feet. To ensure there are no lazy feet or excuses, we are giving away 3 pairs of Kids PureFlow shoes.

To enter simply tweet @Brooksrunninguk or email sophia.marks@brooksrunning.co.uk a picture of your kid walking or running to school.

The competition is open from the 22rd May and ends at 16.00 on 24th May. The winners will be announced week commencing 27th May.

Run Happy

Walk To School Week: Why Kids Should be Active

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:56:34 +0200

Sometimes convincing kids to do anything can be hard work. What would your kids say if you said “This week we are walking to school instead of taking the car?”

Whilst the mornings and evenings are light and the weather is on the up, surely there isnt an excuse?! Not only is it great to be outside, there are a plethora of fitness and health benefits associated with walking to school. Here are just a few:

1. Increased energy expenditure
Like many adults, children spend long hours every day sitting at a desk.
Our bodies are not designed to be this inactive and sedentary for such long periods of time, and nearly every system in our body from the hormonal system to the skeletal system becomes weakened and dysfunctional as a result. Although walking a mile to and from school may not sound a lot to many seasoned runners, the accumulation of miles over the course of the week mean that children can easily end up burning in excess of 1000 extra calories - which would not have been expended by being dropped off and picked up by a car. In a nation facing an obesity epidemic – this can only be a good thing!

2. Better concentration
Ask any teacher and they’ll tell you that one of the biggest problems they face with their pupils is the lack of concentration in the classroom. Poor concentration often leads to disruption resulting in a poor teaching environment for both teacher and student.
Regular exercise, especially first thing in the morning, can help to regulate blood sugar levels and increase dopamine levels in the brain, resulting in better concentration and therefore far more attentive pupils :).

3. Increase bone mass density
Although concerns about bone density are more closely related to the elderly, the importance of growing dense and therefore strong bones in children should not be underestimated. Impact exercises, such as walking, help to stimulate the skeletal system to increase bone density which not only makes them far more resilient to fractures but also provides a good foundation on which to develop the muscular system.

4. Oxygenated blood gives more energy
Among the many benefits of physical activity, walking helps to oxygenate the blood, which for children who are stuck inside learning all day, is incredibly beneficial. Even a short 10-15 min walk in the morning will encourage the blood to hold more oxygen, helping to make the child more awake, help improve alertness and therefore concentration.

5. Improve muscle tone and aerobic capacity
For people who are very active, the physical demands of walking for 15-20 minutes is minimal, but for those who exercise very little, walking this short distance can significantly raise the heart rate, overload the leg muscles and make the cardiovascular system work hard. These effects are incredibly good for the body and overtime will help to improve the tone of muscles and improve aerobic capacity – both vital for enjoying a healthy lifestyle.

6. Prevent Vitamin D deficiency
In the UK, there is growing concern that children are not getting enough exposure to sunlight and are therefore increasing the risk of Vitamin D deficiency. Although poor weather, particularly in the winter months, maybe partly to blame, it is spending too long indoors and out of any form of sunlight which is also a major contributor. By encouraging children to walk to school every day, they will be exposed to the essential UV rays of the sun (even through cloud) which will help encourage vitamin D production and help enhance their mood.

Will you walk to school instead of taking the car?

Run Happy!

Time to get on the track...

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:42:13 +0200

Get in the fast lane with Brooks spikes. If you usually keep to the trails and roads, try the track and add some diversity to your training sessions.

You won't miss a beat from the starting gun to the finish tape with smart, lightweight designs and aggressive features.

A good competitor is light on their feet, and bold in their intentions; the Brooks Mach 15 (available July 2013) has both. The Mach 15 can be used for Cross Country as well as track sessions. It is extremely lightweight, good looking and extra comfy; it is sure to bring the traction you need to storm through the finish line.

If you are looking for the most versatile spike for the track the PR MD would be your pick. The PR MD spike is our middle distance shoe.

We have improved the medial side with a built in stretch material to secure the arch-perfect for when your eyes are transfixed on the finish line. New, airy mesh keeps the weight down and increases breathability so your feet will not over heat. The asymmetric design tops off the list of features for this 400 to 1600 meter and hurdle spike.

We are making sure that you Run Happy on the track.

Mach 15 (Mens & Womens)

The Return of The Launch

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:28:48 +0200

The Brooks Launch is back!

Since announcing that the Brooks Launch will be discontinued, Brooks have received many requests to cancel the plans to stop producing the Launch.

Global Director of Footwear Andre Kriwet commented “The Launch is a shoe that resonated very well with experienced runners and athletes. It's tailored fit, lightweight feel, and effortless ride are very unique, and after such an outcry of support we knew we had to keep it around for all the fans. We will introduce new colours in 2013 and we have started thinking about what the Launch 2 will look like!”

The UK will be receiving a new delivery of the Launch in July!

Run Happy

VLM PhotoBox Winner

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:56:21 +0200

The Brooks Team spent most of last week at the London Virgin Marathon Expo at the ExCel Center.

Our stand definitely stood out from the crowd, with a human statue who made the passers- by jump, a photobox that captured the Run Happy moments and a Shoe Amnesty campaign to trade in old shoes and receive £20 off a new pair of Brooks shoes.

The on-stand photobox enabled runners to take photos with their friends and families whilst dressed in some funky disguises. Each runner had the opportunity to enter their picture into a competition to win a Brooks bike.

The winning photo was chosen based on Run Happy spirit, and Phillip Box’s photo (below) with his girlfriend ticked the box!

Congratulations Phillip, we will be in contact via email to arrange the delivery of your brand new Brooks bike!

To view all of the photobox photos from the VLM Expo visit www.brooksrunning.eu/photobox

Brooks Athlete Sonia Samuels Selected for IAAF World Champs

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:19:16 +0200

Brooks athlete, Sonia Samuels has been named in the Great Britain team for the Marathon at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow this August.

Sonia achieved the qualifying standard at the Berlin Marathon last September with a time of 2:30:56. Sonia will be joined by Susan Partridge who sealed her place with a ninth- place finish at Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon in a PB time of 2:30:46.

"I am really pleased to be selected for this summer’s World Championships in Moscow. Gaining selection is also a fantastic reward for all the hard work my coaches in particular my husband have put in and those who have supported and mentored me over the years – I couldn’t have done it without them.

My aim for the last few years is to make a major summer championships. I came so close to gaining selection for the 2010 Commonwealths over 10,000m but agonisingly missed the time by 3 seconds, which isn’t much over that distance! It is a big relief to gain selection early as it means you can focus on preparing for the championships. The marathon takes 3 months of very specific preparation once you reach peak fitness, so there is a lot of work to be done before August but I’m really looking forward to it."

Congratulations Sonia and we wish you the best of luck!

Win a Trip To Rock n Roll Dublin

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:42:39 +0200

To take part in the competition log on to: www.womensrunninguk.co.uk/brookscompetition and answer the question above.

HEROES RUN BRIGHTON: WIN A FREE ENTRY & A PAIR OF PUREPROJECT SHOES

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:30:13 +0200

Brooks is a proud sponsor of the Heroes Run Brighton, which takes place on Sunday 19th May 2013. This event is a unique opportunity for family and friends to come together, dress up as their favourite hero and run!

In celebration of the event and to add some Run Happy spirit we are giving you the chance to win a free entry to the event plus a pair of PureProject shoes.

The competition opens on Monday 29th April and closes on Wednesday 1st May at 16.00. To enter simply share your most heroic running moment with us @Brooksrunninguk via Twitter. We will select 3 winners, based on creativity and Run Happy spirit.

The winners will be announced via @Brooksrunninguk and www.brooksrunning.co.uk .

For more informaiton on Heroes Run events visit www.heroesrun.org.uk .

Brooks to host Track Attack

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:42:37 +0200

This Saturday Brooks are hosting a completely unique kid’s event called Track Attack, where we will be taking over the track at St Marys College, Twickenham.

It’s no secret that we LOVE running, and this event celebrates our passion for running fast.

We have invited 300 local school children to the event, who will take part in 75m, 150m, 300m and 1mile races. The elite student athletes from St Marys College will also showcase their speed in the ‘Elite’ races throughout the day.

The day will start at 10am, with the aim to capture the Run Happy spirit. We will be taking over the 100m straight with temporary seating for spectators; a DJ and inflatables to create an environment of fun.

We will have a trailer packed full of ‘try on’ spikes for runners to get their feet into. We are delighted that Brooks stockist, Sweatshop will also be involved in the event.

The fun doesn’t stop at the track, each participant will take away a goodie bag containing bespoke Brooks items.