Brooks Green Silence observations

I really don't care about your initial observations if the first thing you say is "I haven't run in them." I'll take the fact that several men have chosen to race a marathon in them as positive indication that they are a good shoe.

thanx for the observations: I'll wait before dropping the $$. that mushy midsole is a problem for me - although it looks like the mayfly - which is quite firm. How about a heads-up when you run in them? thanx

I ordered a pair, but have yet to receive them. I totally agree with you on the wider stance of the Nike LunaTrainers and LunarGlides.

I have done 2 workouts in the Green Silence and I also ran a 5k in them. The observation about the grip is spot on! They are great on slick surfaces unlike the t5 and t6 racers from Brooks. Also, the midsole does firm up and there is cushioning (6.8 ounces is the shoe wt) but it is responsive in my opinion. The lacing system is funky but you have to play around with it to find the right fit (took me both workouts).

Overall an excellent flat that is durable and comfortable. It also fits true to size if anyone was wondering.

the width of a shoe does not make it slow.... I doubt ritz blasted his fast times in a shoe even an anonymous poster on letsrun knows is 'slow'.

ding dong wrote:

I really don't care about your initial observations if the first thing you say is "I haven't run in them." I'll take the fact that several men have chosen to race a marathon in them as positive indication that they are a good shoe.

I posted a sizing question before ordering them and people asked me to post about what I thought when I got them. Some people (read light people) can run in a mushy shoe without suffering from lack of responsiveness (given the number of people who claim they can run fast in the Launch, which feels to me like running on a down pillow - a good thing on easy runs, a bad thing racing. A person who is light on their feet and doesn't strike roughly in one spot may well find they are great for racing. But to me they are just marshmallows.

My initial impressions seemed overly negative - they have alot of potential as they fit really nicely and sort of follow the mayfly/lunar racer theory of flat design (like a tight fitting shower shoe with some cushioning - absolutely no outsole structure, which I like as I would prefer to add my own arch support as needed). Brooks does a nice job with the Launch/T6/Green Silence on the upper - best uppers in the business. One thing I really appreciate about the Green Silence is that it fits like an 11.5 should - roomy without being boxy, snug without being tight.

tennis players are HOT wrote:

the width of a shoe does not make it slow.... I doubt ritz blasted his fast times in a shoe even an anonymous poster on letsrun knows is 'slow'.

What shoe are you referring to here? The Lunar Trainer? I think that is the only snoe I commented on having a wide stance and I doubt he raced in that. The Lunar Racer is narrower. Clearly the width of a shoe makes it slower AT SOME POINT. You are trading off cushioning and stability for responsiveness. The proper mix will depend on the individual (their weight and running characteristics.)

And I didn't say that the Green Silence was too wide necessarily, I just said it has a wider heel contact withh the ground than my current preferred flats - the NB RC769 or the Asics Bandito or any of the ASICS flats I have liked in the past (or the Brooks T6). My gut instinct is that the green Silence will either be great for me or it will suck - it all is going to come down to that midsole material. If it runs like the Launch, nothing will salvage it as a racer for me (but might make a nice daily tunning shoe as it is damn comfortable).

Look, I tried doing a tempo once in the Lunar Trainer and in the Launch and I felt like I was running in mud in both and ran 20 sec./mile slower than usual at the same HR and subjective effort. Not fast shoes - weight isn't all there is to a fast shoe. But on the upside, my legs felt great the next day and not pounded at all. They just aren't responsive and the cushioning is too soft - instead of bouncing, they just absorb. I would love to own either shoe, though, right now when I am doing alot of runs in sub 10 degree temps as the midsole will probably firm up to a nice level in the cold.

My observations about the Lunar Trainer or the Brooks Launch are not uncommon.

Look, I tried doing a tempo once in the Lunar Trainer and in the Launch and I felt like I was running in mud in both and ran 20 sec./mile slower than usual at the same HR and subjective effort.

Not for one second do I believe that THE SHOE caused your tempo run pace to be 20 sec/mile slower than normal even if you are gauging by HR. You could go from a Universe to a Brick and not have that kind of influence by a shoe.

Heck, I may have exaggerated. Damn, it was windy that day. Northnorthwesterly at 12.3 MPH (at least when I started--I checked after I got done and the damn weather site had updates only every 10 minutes, so there may have been some variablity). Also that night I had slept horribly, damn mattress has become too compressed over time, but hell if I'm going to Walmart and buy another one yet. My back was frigged up from that damn mattress. When you're my size a back problem can slow you 4.3 seconds a mile on a tempo run.

Brian, I hope you were joking about buying a mattress at Walmart.

Night Runner wrote:

Brian, I hope you were joking about buying a mattress at Walmart.

It is hard to tell the difference between Brian, a registered name at this venerable site since its inception and Brain, my alter ego (and a funny one at that). Indeed, when I do a tempo in 5:45 pace one day in a shoe that from the gun I am cursing myuself for wearing a shoe that feels like I am running in sand and the next week in the same conditions and same course I run 5:23 pace and have the same subjective and objective effort, I know it is the shoe when I had made the same observation on easy runs.

I wouldn't be able to run worth a shit if forced to wear any of these brick training shoes. And I can't run fast in a shoe that is mushy. It makes a nig difference for me as I am, how should we say it, not very graceful and have an awkward foot strike.

You make you slow.

Perfect place to put a tampon.

Great for all your wet spots.

They would poke a big hole in someone like you, for sure.

Brian wrote:

I haven't run in them yet, but my initial observations

I ran 7 easy miles in mine today, my first impression was a real disappointment. This could change but I doubt it. Spent much of the run thinking about whether to Fleabay them or just give them away. Today was admittedly not a good day (cold and windy) and maybe I would have felt like crap no matter what.

They are a strange shoe that feel good walking around the house but felt odd when running. The fit didn't feel uncomfortable, but I just felt like I was struggling to run. The normal slight bit of spring in my stride was missing and I felt awkward when I tried a couple of quicker strides.

I don't think the sole is flexible enough for me. I have worn the T4-5-6 for 7 of 8 marathons and was hoping for a somewhat similar feel. Instead they reminded me of when I tried the Burn 3 (way too stiff) except they are softer and more comfortable. I ran maybe 3 times in the Burn and shelved them.

As for traction, they suck in the snow - but I didn't expect that to be good. there just happened to be a bit of snow left on the sidewalk. There wasn't much liquid water so I can't speak to that.

These will probably end up being a lighter everyday shoe till I toss them. I don't see myself racing in them even though my hope was to use them for the marathon. I will have to try them on at least one tempo on a better day before I decide.

The shoe is just butt ugly.

okay, so you took a racing flat out for a spin during an easy run in the snow.

Seriously, people, test a shoe under the conditions it is intended for, and THEN report your findings.

I've been wearing the T6 since it was the Hyperion Racer and the Racer STs for years now. I like them both, just have not been crazy about the post in the ST. I have worn the Green Silence now for 3 tempo workouts and one track session. I was not overly impressed at first, the shoe felt mushy, but surprisingly it was responsive. The subsequent worktouts were much better. Track session was 1000s and the two other tempos were 4-5 miles. The shoes felt better on the road and track than on the Treadmill (2 tempo runs were done on the TMill)

These shoes really remind me of the Nike Air Mariah, and I think they will be a great longer distance flat for my old fat ass!

google bitch wrote:

okay, so you took a racing flat out for a spin during an easy run in the snow.

Seriously, people, test a shoe under the conditions it is intended for, and THEN report your findings.

No there was very little snow, guess I didn't make that clear.

Seriously, you should learn to read better THEN bitch. These were just my initial, subjective mind you, observations and stated as such.

The shoe might just be the cat's ass for you biotch.

GaryB wrote:

I've been wearing the T6 since it was the Hyperion Racer and the Racer STs for years now. I like them both, just have not been crazy about the post in the ST. I have worn the Green Silence now for 3 tempo workouts and one track session. I was not overly impressed at first, the shoe felt mushy, but surprisingly it was responsive. The subsequent worktouts were much better. Track session was 1000s and the two other tempos were 4-5 miles. The shoes felt better on the road and track than on the Treadmill (2 tempo runs were done on the TMill)

These shoes really remind me of the Nike Air Mariah, and I think they will be a great longer distance flat for my old fat ass!

Thanks GaryB.

Certainly I will give them another shot and see if they grow on me. I never liked the ST2's very much and still have the only (almost new) pair of those I tried.

I'm running the Melbourne Half in them manana, so is Linda. I did a 7 mile tempo in them, she ran a 12 miler last week. Anxious to see how they perform under racing conditions.