Shoe Porn

So...I have a confession to make...I think I'm in love. 

I was a lucky winner of a drawing in March where I received a free pair of Brooks shoes.  I was ecstatic, I never win anything and I got a pair of shoes from a company that only makes shoes for runners.  Double score!

So why did it take so long to get them?  Well that's a long story, I lost the postcard for the shoes, then found it, then yadda yadda yadda.  Nevertheless, I found the card and sent it in. 

I knew exactly what I wanted.  I had scouted the store shelves, checked their inventory online and finally made my choice.  So you could imagine the excitement I had when I saw the box at home from their shipping center.  I literally jumped up and down!

Now I had to savor the moment...this was a process and I was not going to rush it.

Almost there...time for the big reveal!

Ah yes...JACKPOT!



My brand new Brooks Adernaline GTS 12's!  Aren't they pretty!!!  LOVE the color combo!  Gotta sport my purple!

See...HAPPY GIRL!

I was so excited I had to put them on immediately!  Yup, felt just like they did at the store.  Brooks makes their shoes that are PERFECT for my feet.  My ankles taper in the the back and the backs of their shoes cradle my ankle area so nicely.  The ball of my foot is also much wider than the rest of my foot, so I benefit greatly from the wide toebox they provide.  I am a mild pronator on my left foot (my right is completely neutral) so these shoes provide the perfect amount of support for me and my high arches!

I took these babies out for the last Torchlight Training Run and got them nice and dusty, dirty!  My assessment of them after my first full run: still in love. 

The store advised that I order a half size larger than my normal shoe size.  I was skeptical at first, but once I tried on my true size and the half size above (having run around in both), I realized they were right, the half size up is more comfortable.  Now my ankles/achilles usually feel fatigued after a long run, however with the way the shoe is shaped it gives me the perfect support I need in that area.  No fatigue during my training run or during the actual 8K race.  With other running shoes I've had, I've always felt like my foot was encapsuled in plastic and fabric, fit tightly around my feet.  However with the Brooks Adrenaline's, I hardly felt the shoes there!  They were so light and breathable, my feet never felt weighed down or bulky.  It was such a bizarre feeling, but very cool!

I <3 these shoes!  I've been a fan of Brooks for a while but never could afford their shoes, nor understand why they were so expensive.  Yet over the time I've been researching, buying and running in clearance cheapie shoes and now finally have and run in a pair of my own Brooks, I get it.  I understand the difference and I can feel the difference in my own bodies performance.

Lightbulb moment! 

All the time and effort Brooks put into their technology isn't just for good looks, it's for performance and about you getting your best perfromance.  It's amazing what a pair of shoes can do and how they can change your run.  I'm a believer, a fan and now a groupie.  I have plenty of goals to beat, and I'll crush them all with Brooks on my feet!