A Pretty Epic Brooks Running Adventure in Seattle

The following post is sponsored by Brooks Running. For our sponsored post policy, click here.

Remember how the last couple of years I’ve gotten to go to New York to hang with Brooks Running? Well, this year instead of the Big Apple we hung out in Brooks’ ‘hood: Seattle!

And it was a pretty epic trip. I’ll chronicle the amazing meals I had over on Fit Bottomed Eats tomorrow, but I think this shot of all us Brooks Running blog ambassadors sums it up pretty well.

Seen above (from left to right, top to bottom) is me, Janae, Cori, Jess, Anne and Meghann (special shout-out to Lauren, too, who puts together these trips and makes them awesomesauce)! These girls are amazing. Full of energy, smiles, positivity, and with a hunger for good food and lots of mileage (they can run like the wind!), they rock and are a pleasure to be around. Grateful to call them my blogger buds.

But, back to the trip. I feel like in a very short amount of time, we did everything. And ate everything.

We were there for the weekend of Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle and although my ankle didn’t allow me to run (enter sad face and sad noise here), I still had a blast at the race expo and cheering the other bloggers and other runners on. Ain’t no injury gonna keep me down!

Even injured I got to “cross” the finish line at the expo!

A very appropriate medal for the Seattle race!

According to this, runners are darn goofy.

Brooks Running had the best booth at the expo. (Not that I’m biased or anything … )

I mean, where else can you RIDE A SHOE?!

And then there was this game where you could see who had the fastest feet to “get up the mountain.” Serious competition here.

Besides playing around at the expo and wanting to buy pretty much everything Brooks was selling, we also spent a lot of time at Brooks HQ getting a tour (even of some secret areas we couldn’t take pics of!) and learning about the new apparel and shoes coming out this summer, fall and into next year. Spoiler: they’re awesome.

SO much thought goes into every piece they design.

This henley is a part of the new Pure Project apparel line. Already in love with it. Check out the presentation behind her for a fun look at some trends they’re incorporating.

The shoes didn’t disappoint either. Design tweaks and new colors for a lot of their running shoes!

Digging the two-toned shades on these. Fancy!

The next morning, the other bloggers ran the race, while I cheered and then met up with them after to hear how they did.

Go runners, go!

Two of the ladies — Lauren and Jess — even PRed! The weather was gorgeous!

After that, we had the MOST amazing brunch (see here) and then hit up the Brooks PR Invitational where they invite and fly out the fastest high school runners in the country to compete in a variety of distances. When I say these kids are fast, I mean it. Smokin’ fast. Like incomprehensible fast.

Records were broken.

You don’t see this kind of speed every day. Or, like, ever really.

While we were there we even got a chance to hang with a few of the Brooks Beasts. Talk about some super amazing athletes! So fun to pick their brains about their training and their fave fit foods.

Hashtag We’re not worthy.

Yeah, so a pretty epic trip. It was my first time in Seattle and I absolutely feel in love with the city and its people. Good food, good companies like Brooks, SO many active things to do — I’ll be going back! And hopefully next year. A little birdie told us that Brooks Running is moving its HQ, so clearly we’ll need to go back to see it first-hand! Plus, I still have that darn half marathon to run and that Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll medal to earn!

Ever been to Seattle? Fans of the other Brooks Running blog ambassadors? Love Brooks Running? Let’s chat! —Jenn