Rock and Roll After Party - OnlineShoes.com featuring Brooks Running

During my race recap for the Rock and Roll Seattle half marathon I had mentioned that I was able to take part in a Seattle blogger opportunity and that it actually deserved it's own post because it was so great. It was hosted by OnlineShoes.com and featured Brooks Running.

So let me give you a little back story first. Both OnlineShoes.com and Brooks are local businesses to the Seattle area. Brooks sponsors tons of local events and has a HUGE presence in the running community in the greater Seattle area. OnlineShoes.com is an online resource for all types of shoes and has their headquarters in downtown Seattle where they have a gorgeous view and equally lovely offices (I got to stop in there!). This year for the Rock and Roll Seattle marathon races, OnlineShoes.com hosted a blogger after party event that featured Brooks to be held after the race in a location just a block away from the finish line and they invited a number of local bloggers to attend. I was one of the fortunate few that got to take part in this event! I was SO excited.



About two weeks before the race we received an email from the social media rep at OnlineShoes telling us that our shirt and shoes from Brooks had arrived and were at their office location downtown for us to pick up at our convenience. They had them ready for us in advance of the race for us to run in them if we so chose.

My first thought were, "WAH? We are getting a pair of free shoes from Brooks?!? NO WAY!"

If you follow my blog at all, you know that I have only run in Brooks and my shoe of choice has been the Adrenaline GTS. So to hear we were getting shoes completely floored me and humbled me. This was such an unexpected and wonderful surprise.

So I went to the office of OnlineShoes.com and picked up my pre-race surprise! I loved this shirt so much! It is so true.

Then I saw the box and could hardly contain myself. I thanked the lady at the front desk, I was so nervous and stuttering from excitement, she probably thought something was wrong with me. I stood in the elevator clutching my box like I was taking away a shipment from Fort Knox. I was so excited to open the box, as soon as I got into my car I cracked it open.  Behold the Brooks Ghost 6!

Aren't these shoes BEAUTIFUL!?!?!?!

I was immediately intrigued by the color, it just pops! Then looking at the way the shoes were built and how the design works with the technical use of the shoe, my mind was blown! 

Here is what OnlineShoes says about the Ghost 6:

Get ready for a frighteningly smooth, balanced luxurious ride in the Brooks Ghost 6 running shoe, a style that performs as good as it looks. Designed to satisfy a wide range of neutral runners with a medium-to-high arch, this women's athletic shoe builds off the success of the award-winning Ghost 4 and 5 styles. An Element mesh upper and lining keep you breathably cool. With Strobel construction for durability and flex, a biodegradable BioMoGo midsole and S-257 Cushsole for plush comfort and Brooks® DNA for a customized ride, the Brooks Ghost 6 is positioned to be your new favorite workout partner. DRB® Accel lends midfoot support while allowing the heel and forefoot to operate independently; the caterpillar crash pad provides stability and a smooth transition. Rely on the HPR Plus outsole and Omni-Groove technology to provide a secure, motivating foundation that helps carry you farther, faster.

I had always wanted to try running in Ghosts, but was too afraid to give up my Adrenaline's. Now I will have the chance to finally run in some beautiful Ghosts! The only issue is that I don't like to change things up too close to race time, I'm too much of a worry wart to add the unknown into the mix, so these babies would not be making their debut with me during the race.

So finally it was the day of the race and the after party, woohoo! I was excited about the race and even more excited to go to the party, meet with the people of OnlineShoes and hang out with fellow local bloggers! Though when the race was over, I felt so sick, like wanting to throw up sick and was seriously doubting my ability to participate in the after party. I mustered up the strength and headed to the party location...just in time to see everyone packing up to leave. 

I had missed it. I felt SO BAD! My finishing time was at least an hour after almost all the other bloggers, so they had time to head to the party and talk, chow down on some delicious looking pizza, talk with the wonderful reps and just hang out for a bit. By the time I got there I was only able to snap this one pic of some BEAUTIFUL Pure Cadence shoes that were sitting out on one of the tables. Can you tell that I'm IN LOVE with the turquoise color movement that is going on right now? This is seriously an under utilized color!!

However while I was there I did get to chat with the reps a bit and have some laughs and talk about the race. They were so great and so understanding of my showing up late and sympathetic to how I was feeling. They also gave me another surprise that was given to all the bloggers that came to the after party, a grab bag! Inside the bag was some great Brooks gear (a towel, notebook and hat!) and ANOTHER PAIR OF BROOKS SHOES!!!!!!!

Again...mind blown!!! Getting the pair of Ghost 6's was treat enough, but to get another pair of Brooks shoes, was just unbelievable. I literally had my hubby pinch me when I got that bag, I thought I was dreaming!

Behold, the Brooks Glycerin 11!

Another pair of GORGEOUS shoes! I was totally digging on the color scheme! The pink and silver combo brought me back to my childhood and my pink and grey Huffy 10 speed. Man I loved that thing and rode it into the ground! I have a feeling that these shoes will have that same fate! When I picked up these shoes I had to check to see if I was missing something because they are incredibly light. I put them on and it felt, for lack of a better term, fluffy, like I was walking on pillows. 

This is what OnlineShoes says about the Glycerin 11:

Think of the Brooks Glycerin® 11 running shoe as your foot's butler, catering to your every want and need with plush, conformable comfort in every step. This sporty women's shoe delivers a customized ride for runners of all sizes and speeds. Full-length Brooks DNA cushioning responds to your every step, dispersing impact and providing ideal comfort as the pace changes. 3D Fit Print overlays create structure and reduce weight on the lightweight synthetic and mesh upper; Cush Pod™ construction delivers maximum cushioning and flexibility. The abrasion-resistant HPR™ Plus outsole provides long-lasting durability and traction. Finished with fresh colors and hot looks, Mr. Belvedere's got nothing on the Brooks Glycerin® 11 athletic shoe.

I haven't run in these yet, but based on what I felt when I tried them on and the description above, I'm going to love every stride of this shoe!

I wanted to thank OnlineShoes and Brooks for this amazing opportunity to participate in a great gathering of local bloggers to learn about the new offerings from both companies and to get to know the people behind the scenes that make it all happen. Thank you very much for letting me be a part of such a wonderfully generous event and I look forward to continue to "run happy" for a long time.

If you haven't checked out OnlineShoes.com, they have a great variety of running and non-running shoes with free shipping and free exchanges! Who doesn't love free? Check them out as they have great deals and wonderful selection!

Now it's your turn: Do you run in Brooks shoes? What is your brand of choice?

**Products provided for review, however all opinions shared are my own.**