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Lead Stories: Sunday, July 20, 2008

Brooks Sports Unveils New Biodegradable Midsole in Running Shoes

Posted November 15th, 2007 at 9:45 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Columns, SPOTLIGHT

TheFinalSprint.com, TFS Media Network and I would like to applaud Brooks on their commitment to environmental sustainability and for the innovation, as described below, of a new biodegradable midsole in running shoes.

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Brooks Sports, Inc., a leading performance running company, today introduced from its sales meeting BioMoGo, the world’s first biodegradable midsole.

Blazing a new trail in the athletic industry by offering runners more environmentally friendly footwear, Brooks designed its new BioMoGo midsole to biodegrade 50 times faster than conventional athletic shoes.

BioMoGo midsoles include a non-toxic, natural additive that exponentially increases the rate of biodegradation by encouraging anaerobic microbes to biodegrade nutrients into reusable byproducts. While Traditional Ethylene Vinyl Acetate™ (EVA) midsoles can last up to 1,000 years in an enclosed landfill, extensive tests have proven that BioMoGo can biodegrade in roughly 20 years when placed in the same environment. By using BioMoGo in its shoes, Brooks will save nearly 30 million pounds of landfill waste over a 20-year period.
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Brooks reaches trademark agreement with Nike

Posted June 15th, 2007 at 10:12 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes

Last month, TheFinalSprint.com reported that Brooks Sports, Inc. filed a lawsuit against Nike, Inc., Exeter Brands Group, LLC and Payless ShoeSource, Inc., citing significant trademark infringement and unfair competition relative to the Tailwind athletic footwear line.

However, the two shoe and apparel manufacturers were able to reach a mutually acceptable agreement and the matter seems resolved, at least for now.

Tamara Hills, Corporate Communications Manager at Brooks, wrote:
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Boston Marathon Video Podcast: KEVIN & KEITH HANSON (Part 1)

Posted April 14th, 2007 at 6:40 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Live Race Coverage

I sat down for a video interview with Kevin and Keith Hanson; owners of Hansons Running Shops and coaches of the Hansons- Brooks Distance Project.

In the interview we discuss this weekend’s Boston Marathon, the USA Women’s Marathon Championship, the Distance Project, the new $100,000 running salaries, being sponsored by Brooks and now Saturn as well, Brian Sell (aka the working man’s hero), and the blue-collar work ethic exhibited by the Hansons and all of their athletes.

Click on the image to watch Part 1 of the interview.

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Boston Marathon Video Podcast: KEVIN & KEITH HANSON (Part 2)

Posted April 14th, 2007 at 6:04 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Live Race Coverage

I sat down for a video interview with Kevin and Keith Hanson; owners of Hansons Running Shops and coaches of the Hansons- Brooks Distance Project.

In the interview we discuss this weekend’s Boston Marathon, the USA Women’s Marathon Championship, the Distance Project, the new $100,000 running salaries, being sponsored by Brooks and now Saturn as well), Brian Sell (aka the working man’s hero), and the blue-collar work ethic exhibited by the Hansons and all of their athletes.

Click on the image to watch Part 2 of the interview.

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Podcast 27: Interview with marathoner Brian Sell (aka the working man’s running hero)

Posted March 14th, 2007 at 9:56 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Today’s podcast features my interview with Brian Sell, an elite American marathoner and the “working man’s” running hero.

Somewhat unknown until the 2004 Olympic Marathon trials, Brian burst onto the scene and shocked everyone by jumping to the lead. Although he ultimately finished 13th, Brian has gone on to make quite a name for himself in the world of distance running. Some of his career highlights include winning the 2006 USA Half Marathon Champs (not 2005 like I mistakenly mention in the interview), finishing fourth at Boston and then sixth at Chicago last fall.

In the interview Brian discusses being disappointed with his performance at this year’s USA Half-Marathon Champs, overcoming a spell of poor health, the 2004 Olympic trials, nearly quitting the sport soon thereafter, and his successful 2006 campaign.

Download the podcast to hear Brian speak about those topics, “running angry”, why he calls himself a “headcase” and a “redneck”, parallels to Steve Prefontaine, being the “working man’s hero”, competing against “superhero runners” like Hall and Ritz, the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, qualifying for the Olympics, still working at Home Depot, and much more!

Listen In
[PLAY] (To Download: Right click and select “save as”)

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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Brian Sell
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 12.2MB
Length: 00:17:46

Interested in featuring The Final Sprint Podcast on your site, blog or My Space page? Click here to learn how!

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Dusen hopes to score one for working man at US 8k Champs

Posted February 27th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Hariz Siddiqui

Section: News & Results

Karl Dusen isn’t much different from the other former Ivy League students who flock here, degrees in hand, to land a job in New York’s giant financial sector.

After earning his economics degree from Columbia in 2005, he found a job as a financial analyst with A.I.G.’s Global Investment Group. Dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and blue patterned tie while lunching in a midtown restaurant today with a few reporters, he certainly looked as if he was ready to take over Wall Street.

But beneath that dark suit beats the heart of an athlete who is still trying to discover how good he really might be. In 2005 he broke the Columbia University record for 10,000m at the Cardinal invitational, clocking 29:00.45, still his personal best. A journeyman’s time or a sign that he has the potential to go faster?

“I’m still running because I’m continuing to get better,” said Dusen over a plate of cannelloni with a sweet red sauce. He added: “Leaving college I didn’t feel I maxed out my potential.”
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Hansons’ women are headed for Boston

Posted February 14th, 2007 at 11:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Although the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project may be best known for their male athletes, like Brian Sell, Chad Johnson and Clint Verran, they also have a women’s program.

Five of them –Desiree Davila, Yolanda Flamino, Dot McMahan, Kelly Stewart, and Melissa White– will be visiting Boston on February 15-17 to train on the traditional Boston Marathon course, and to tour the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials route. The 2007 Boston Marathon will host the U.S. Women’s Marathon Championship on April 16.
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TFS Review: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 6

Posted January 6th, 2007 at 2:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Special Features, TFS Reviews

Through an upgrade of the Adrenaline GTS 5’s, Brooks was actually able to successfully improve upon what was arguably the best stability shoe on the market.

Product: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 6
Price: $90.00
Type: Stability
Fit: True to size and width
Weight: 11.8 oz (Men); 9.75 oz (Women)
Pronation factor: Moderate Over-Pronation
Best for: Runners with a medium build and low to medium arches

This is one of, if not the, best choice for moderate over-pronators who want an amalgamation of stability and cushioning. Although we had some quams regarding breathability, the Adrenalines received exceptional reviews from our wear-testers; all of whom were very impressed.
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TFS’s Winter 2006
Apparel Guide (Part II)

Posted December 18th, 2006 at 2:00 PM by Carolyn Hershler

Section: Gear & Apparel, Apparel, Training Tips, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

Now that you’ve read Part I of TFS’s Winter 2006 Apparel Guide, it’s time to learn how to protect your upper body and create an outer-layer of protection.

The optimal upper-body base layer provides breathable protection against the cold, but is also light enough to fit under a potential outer-layer apparel.
One option, for both men and women, is Underarmour’s close-fitting and moisture-wicking “Cold Gear Long Sleeve Top” (Another of our Editor’s favorites - especially the mock-turtleneck). The “Cold Gear” product line is a solid choice to help you stay both warm and dry. Under Armour’s “Cold Gear” tights and compression shorts are also very effective products.

Now that the base layer has been covered (which could be sufficient in milder, winter weather), you need to focus on outerwear.
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TFS’s Winter 2006
Apparel Guide (Part I)

Posted December 18th, 2006 at 12:00 PM by Carolyn Hershler

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Gear & Apparel, Apparel, Training Tips, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

The mere thought of facing brutally low temperatures, face-burning winds, rain, sleet, snow, and ice is probably enough to make most people decide against that winter run in favor of some eggnog in front of the fireplace.

However, winter running can be invigorating and really enjoyable as long as you use common sense and are properly suited with the right cold-weather running apparel.

While comfort is always a concern, you need to keep the focus on staying warm and protected from the elements. When the body is subjected to extremely low temperatures it loses heat quickly. Therefore, unprepared runners leave themselves at risk and vulnerable to hypothermia, windburn, frostbite and a winter full of injuries.
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