Today I would like to take you on a tour of the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 12 stability running shoe and make some comparisons to it’s sensational predecessors.
While attending the expo the day before the Chicago Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon in 2010, I was one of the fortunate few to win a free pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10′s. Having been a supporter of Asics and New Balance, trying something new was not a concept I looked forward to embracing and my skepticism remained, even after slipping my feet into a pair. Nevertheless, they were free and there was no harm in taking them out for a test drive. After a few miles my assessment was complete and I was very impressed. These shoes were five-star quality. Six pairs later I have graduated to the new GTS 12′s and last weekend was the first outing in my new shoes. They were up to the challenge, with even a few improvements.
The GTS 10 and 11 are very similar shoes with excellent stability and cushion. I don’t rack up as many miles out of a pair of shoes as many of my friends but the GTS series has increased the life expectancy and brought them up to reasonable endurance levels. Getting more miles out of a pair of shoes equals saving money and that’s something we all can use. The durability of this model is beyond compare and the weight is equivalent to other brands in the same class. Coming in at 11.3 ounces for the men and 9.4 ounces for the women, you will not feel as if you strapped on two bricks by the end of your long run.
The 11 and 12 models come with a cushioned sole filled with Brooks DNA. I’m not one to fall for gimmicks but I was truly amazed by the show put on at the Brooks Run Happy® Cavalcade of Curiosities Tour to promote this new technology. There was a small pool of the greenish substance that had the consistency of pancake batter. When the announcer picked up a handful it oozed between his fingers and fell back into the pool. To demonstrate the abilities of this technology a man dressed in a lizard costume (don’t ask why) ran repeatedly across the pool without sinking. Each time his foot would make contact with the material it would solidify to the consistency of soft rubber. When finished, the announcer picked up a handful to show the crowd that it had reverted back to it’s original state. To demonstrate further, the audience was allowed to participate in the same test.
From the moment I put on the new pair of GTS 12′s I knew they were winners. They fit my foot like a glove and were extremely comfortable. But what is a comfortable shoe without excellent traction?. The GTS12 has it all, as I had complete command of each forward motion which translates into less energy expended during the run. The only negative attribute I can state for the record is the cushioning seems to be slightly less than the GTS 11. With that said, it was still more than enough to ride comfortably through my half marathon. For the $110.00 price tag you will not find a better shoe. Cushion, stability and durability work in harmony to provide a great experience for any runner.
And as always, “run for fun, but race to place”.
