Search

Brooks Running Blog Ambassador Trip

Rectangle 58

Hi, I'm Tina!

I’m the owner of Carrots ‘N’ Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). I use macros and functional nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals.

Fit + Fueled

An in-depth, 4-week reverse dieting course for women who feel like their metabolism has slowed down, think they might have hormonal imbalance and can’t lose weight no matter what they do.
Get all the tools to take your physique into your hands. Over six-months, you’ll transform your life, mindset, and body in this program that’s part-course, part-coaching, and part-community.
Categories

Good morning! Happy Monday!

I had such an amazing weekend with the folks from Brooks and the other blog ambassadors. Guys, it was a blast. I feel like I have so much to tell you! Are you ready for a recap? Sit back and relax. Here’s the best of the weekend!

Visiting Brooks HQ and meeting the team

What a wonderful place with an awesome group of people. The new Brooks headquarters (it’s just about a year old) is absolutely beautiful both inside and out and everyone I met there was friendly, smart, and passionate about what they do. The company also has a bunch of “green” and sustainable practices/initiatives to be proud of. Brooks is definitely a special company.

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

Brooks Running Blog Ambassadors (l-r) with “The Medalist” (she’s made out of race medals):

IMG_3664 (800x800)

SAM_2102 (800x533)

Brooks incorporated some sneaker footprints into a nearby crosswalk as as way to connect with the surrounding community. The brand is very much a part of Seattle. They sponsor all sorts of races and events and, everywhere I looked (even outside of Brooks), I saw people wearing their sneakers and apparel.

SAMSUNG CSC

Lunch with Jim Weber, the CEO of Brooks Running

Can we talk about this view? The Brooks folks have it made!

SAMSUNG CSC

Our weekend officially kicked off with lunch outside at Brooks HQ with CEO, Jim Weber. Our group was actually running a little late (because of flight delays), but he rearranged his schedule just so he could chat with us for awhile. He also told us that he was planning to run the 8k at the Rock ”˜N’ Roll Seattle on Saturday. Brooks is a sponsor of the race, so I thought it was pretty cool he was participating.

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

Learning about new Brooks gear

Brooks has some GREAT stuff coming out in the next few months. Some highlights on the shoe front: All sorts of amazing new styles in the Heritage Collection (old school Brooks originals with a modern twist), a Mother Nature collection inspired by the seasons with seasonal sock liners (super cute), a Letterman jacket line inspired by universities from around the country, a coffee-themed collection (I can’t wait to see this), and so much more.

SAM_2110 (800x533)

Brooks has also made some awesome updates to many of their core running shoes. Jeweled, metallic fade on the Gylcerin? Hello! I love these in a major way.

SAM_2112 (800x533)

On the apparel front, Brooks is doing a lot more with “ath-leisure” gear, which is basically a mesh between performance gear and fashion/lifestyle/looking good aka my everyday wardrobe, so I am especially pumped about it!

SAMSUNG CSC

Some cool features:

  • A fold-up jacket with a build-in armband, so you can fold it up and put away once you’re warm or carry it with you if the weather is suppose to change during your run.
  • Headphone notch on zipper (pictured below), so your headphone wires don’t bounce around when you run.
  • Drop-in pocket on shorts/pants that fit an iPhone 6.
  • New sizes! Brooks will carry size 0 – 20/22.

SAM_2114 (800x533)

And, finally, we heard all about sports bras from Moving Comfort. (Did you know that Brooks owns Moving Comfort? They do indeed!) Moving Comfort carries such a wide variety of styles and sizes (their bands range from 30-44, cups A – F), the majority of women shouldn’t have a problem finding a good fit. Another great thing about Moving Comfort sports bras is their multi-dimensional support, so they don’t just smoosh your breasts into your body, compression-style. Instead they “encapsulate” them, so you have support from all angles. It’s also a much more flattering look. We all know “uni-boob” doesn’t look (or feel) good.

Other things I learned:

  • “No sports bra should celebrate a birthday.” Umm, I have sports bras that are like 10 years old. So that’s why I sometimes have issues with chaffing!
  • Wash sports bras in a garment bag and then line dry for best care. They will last longer.
  • “If you don’t have to think about it [your sports bra], it’s working.” This is great advice.
  • There isn’t a rule of thumb for sizing, but start with your bra size and then figure out what feels good for you. Your breasts shouldn’t spill out of the cups and you should be able to stick two fingers comfortably under the band. The sports bra should be tight, but you should be able to breathe too!

SAM_2118 (533x800)

Friday afternoon shake-out run

After our time at Brooks, we all headed out for a 2-mile shake-out run. After a long day of travel, it felt great to get moving!

brooks_shakeout_run

Eating ridiculous amounts of pizza from Serious Pie

By the end of the day, I was starving and the pizza from Serious Pie was epic, so I ate a like 6 or 7 pieces.

SAM_2126 (800x533)

Pre-race carb-load!

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

Pre-race goodies

The Brooks people thought of everything with regard to race day. They gave us team t-shirts, fuel (GU + Nuun), bottled water + a Brooks water bottle, and even breakfast (bagels with banana and nut butter). It was awesome. They are runners; they get it.

SAM_2153-800x533_thumb

Running the Rock ”˜N’ Roll Seattle Half Marathon

The race was so fun! Full recap coming soon!

IMG_3641-800x600_thumb

IMG_3656-800x800_thumb1

Top Pot Doughnuts

Donuts were a great way to celebrate a half marathon! And Top Pot was a great place to do it!

IMG_3661-600x800_thumb3

Yummmmm!

IMG_3662-800x600_thumb

I went with sprinkles, of course!

IMG_3665-800x800_thumb1

Brunch at Portage Bay Café

The motto at Portage Bay Cafe is “Eat like you give a damn.” Isn’t that awesome? And after running a half marathon, I definitely did. Feed me!

SAM_2155-800x533_thumb

I went with the Farmer’s Hash, which was eggs, veggies, and potatoes with chicken sausage. It was incredible. So fresh, so flavorful. I highly recommend this restaurant for brunch. You will not be disappointed!

IMG_3669-800x800_thumb2

Taking a Duck Tour of the city

It was such a fun way to explore Seattle!

IMG_3671-800x600_thumb1

SAM_2162-800x533_thumb1

SAM_2164-800x533_thumb1

IMG_3674-748x748_thumb2

Dinner at Loulay

Our final meal of the trip was absolutely wonderful… food, wine, friends. It was perfect.

SAM_2165-533x800_thumb1

The meal: Asparagus salad with ricotta and hazelnuts.

SAM_2168-800x533_thumb

Grilled salmon with bok choy and kidney beans.

SAM_2170-800x533_thumb

Earl gray and chocolate mousse torte.

SAM_2172-800x533_thumb

Hanging out with some truly incredible people

I am so fortunate to have met such an amazing group of runners. I can’t say enough wonderful things about the other ambassadors and folks from Brooks. We had such a great time this weekend, and I can’t wait to see everyone again soon.

IMG_3675-800x800_thumb1

THANK YOU, Brooks, for planning such an incredible weekend. It was a wonderful way to experience Seattle and meet the Brooks crew. I am so happy to be part of such a wonderful team!

The end.

You Might Also Like

DON'T MISS A THING

Join the community!

Get recipes, workouts. and discounts straight to your inbox for FREE!

Join The community

Get recipes, workouts. and discounts straight to your inbox for FREE!

@carrotsncake

© 2022 Carrots ‘N’ Cake. All Rights Reserved | An Elite CafeMedia Food Publisher | Funnel Build & Design by: Maria Filipina Co.