The Brooks Glycerin FLEX: A Surprisingly Good Multi Functional Running / Training Shoe
A shoutout, a shoe review, and a little family history.
Got a suggestion this week from @Ty5280 — and a fun fact I didn't know: 5280 isn't just the number of feet in a mile, it's also the nickname for Denver, the Mile High City. TY's one of those people you meet and immediately think the world needs more like him — easily one of the most compassionate, friendliest folks I've gotten to know over the past few years. Ty, looking forward to seeing you soon.
He requested me to do a 1 mile run review on the new Brooks Glycerin Flex, and I'm glad he did. Here's what stood out on the treadmill.
The Shoe
- 6mm drop, about 10 oz (men's 11.5)
- Roomy toe box — toes can actually spread out
- Locks in around the arch for a stable, planted ride
- Slightly firmer cushion than you might expect from a daily trainer
That last point is what makes this shoe genuinely interesting. Most running shoes are tuned for running and running only — take them into an F45 or Orange Theory class and they feel mushy under lunges, wobbly on the weight floor. The Glycerin doesn't have that problem. The firmer cushion gives you a balanced, stable platform when you're off the treadmill.
Why This Is the F45 / Orange Theory Shoe You've Been Looking For
Three reasons, and I'm now realizing why my wife reaches for these every time we head to class:
- Weight floor stability. Firmer cushion means you feel rooted during strength work. No squish, no wobble.
- Actually fits the rower. This sounds small until you've tried it — a lot of the newer high-stack running shoes won't fit in the rowing machine straps, especially in men's 11 and up. The Glycerin fits. Sounds dumb. Matters every class.
- Quick and responsive on the treadmill. When the workout flips back to running intervals, the shoe doesn't hold you back. You can actually push.
Most running shoes don't fit the cross-training mold. This one does — without giving up the run-day experience.
About the Name Of Our Store
A few of you have asked where "Radcliffe" comes from. It's a family name — my mom and her brothers all carried it. Mom passed about 24 years ago, and I lost one of my uncles about six months ago. My remaining uncle is still going strong up in New York. Cousins scattered all over the country.
If you're ever in the store, look for the photo by the fitting room — my mom and her two brothers, probably taken in the early '50s, both uncles in their military uniforms. They were veterans, and I'm proud to carry the name forward. Hope I'm doing it proud.
Business is growing month over month — the sunshine is bringing folks back outside, and we're feeling it.
Come See Us
1820 Gun Barrel Road, Chattanooga, TN Online at radcliffsho.com
Drop us a comment with your shoe suggestions and we'll get another one on the treadmill soon.
Transcript
Hal Kernney Radcliff Runwalk. We are taking a suggestion from a TY5280. Um, wait a minute. I'll show you review and a glycerin flex uh 6 millm drop came in at about 10 ounces for a men's 11.5. Really fun fitting shoe. Roomy toe box enough to let your toes spread out. It really grabs around the arch, which I love so it gives you that stable ride. The interesting thing about this shoe is this would be the perfect F45 or Orange Theory shoe. Two or three really key reasons to that. The cushion is a little bit firmer than you'd expect. So on the weight floor, it's going to feel very balanced and very strong. so you feel stable doing some of the lunges and things that a lot of running shoes don't give you in F45 and in Orange Theory classes. The other thing is that these will actually fit in the rowing machine, where some of these new bigger stack shoes don't fit in that rowing machine very well, especially in men's sizes 11 and bigger. So, that's a real plus. And then obviously on a treadmill, it's quick, it's responsive, you can really have some fun in your workouts on the treadmill when one of those classes. Now I really know why my wife likes to use these when we work out because it's actually a lot better training shoe than I was thinking it was going to be. And most running shoes don't really fit that mold. Couple questions that we got last week, first, shout out to @Ty5280. I thought it was, 5280, the the distance in a mile. It's actually the mile high city out in Denver. So, @Ty5280, I got to know him over the past few years. Wonderful person. You won't find a more compassionate,friendly person in your life. I look forward to seeing him soon. The question that comes up often, is where did Radcliffe come from? Radcliffe is a family name. My mom and her brothers carried that name. My mom passed away about 24 years ago. I had an uncle pass away about 6 months ago and I still have one uncle living in New York. doing great, wonderful, wonderful family. I've got cousins all over the country and you guys know how to get a hold of me if you ever needed anything. Hopefully I'm doing the family name proud. Business is going great. We're growing every month. Things are really starting to pick up now that the sunshine is out and people are getting outside and exercising. So, a big shout out to the Radcliffe family. If you're ever in the store, we have a picture of my mom and my two uncles in the back by the fitting room. Probably taken in the early 50s, I would say. My mom in a dres and my Uncles in their military garb. Both of them were veterans. Super proud to to know that they were doing that and it's really fun story about the family. So, come by and see us, 1820 Gunbarrel Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee. If you need to catch us online, it's www.radcliffshos.com. and send us some some comments and some shoe suggestions, and we'll try to get another shoe on the treadmill as soon as we can.