Leading running company Brooks Sports, Inc. (www.brooksrunning.com) announced today the launch of The Brooks Lodge, a unique Web site that takes consumers through the creation of the Cascadia 7—a shoe scheduled to hit retail in 2012—in real time. Through videos, blog posts, and more, followers will get a step-by-step, inside look into the design, development, testing, and production of a future version of this award-winning trail running shoe at www.thebrookslodge.com.

“The Brooks Lodge is a new way for us to connect with the runner,” said Jon Teipen, footwear product line manager at Brooks. “We’re pulling back the curtain and providing unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to our footwear team and our footwear creation process. We’re inviting people to interact with the team, provide feedback, and be a part of the Brooks experience.”

At www.thebrookslodge.com, fans of the Cascadia and curious others will be able to read about the shoe’s history, meet the team behind the shoe, plus watch videos and read blog posts detailing every step of the shoe’s development. Brooks will also invite consumers to join in conversation with its footwear team and world-renowned ultra runner Scott Jurek to give feedback and insight on colors and features of first-round samples—allowing runners to influence important design decisions while the shoe is in development.

The Brooks Lodge is just one way Brooks is upping its online presence. In late October, www.brooksrunning.com, the company’s consumer Web site, received a complete overhaul that resulted in a new Run Happy® look and feel. The change allowed Brooks to upgrade its online merchandising capabilities, make it easier for consumers to find product and relevant multimedia content, and more fully integrate the brand’s social media efforts and user-generated content throughout the site.

To check out the Brooks Lodge, visit www.thebrookslodge.com. To experience the new and improved Brooks Web site, and for more information about the current Cascadia 5 and all Brooks performance running footwear, apparel, and accessories, please visit www.brooksrunning.com.

About Brooks
Brooks Sports, Inc. is a leading running company that designs and markets a line of performance footwear, apparel, and accessories in more than 40 countries worldwide. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Brooks was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Bothell, Wash., near Seattle. The company’s mission is to inspire everyone to run and be active by creating innovative gear that keeps them running longer, farther, and faster. Visit www.brooksrunning.com for more information, and follow frequent brand updates on Twitter (@brooksrunning) and Facebook (Brooks Sports).