by Larry Eder
Bennett Grimes and Larry Eder, photo by Mike Deering, for The Shoe Addicts
Bennett Grimes is Brooks Running Product manager. We met with Bennett at the 2017 Running Event. At the TRE, RunBlogRun and The Shoe Addicts meet, interview and film key brands, key players and influencers in our running culture.
Bennett Grimes and Larry Eder solving world problems, photo by Mike Deering for The Shoe Addicts
Bennett Grimes is one such influencer and player. Now, for some transparency. I know Bennett’s father, Danny Grimes. Danny Grimes, Bob Lucas and I ran our first 10,000 meters together, in July 1976, as high schoolers. 25 laps on the track was a bit longer than our longest high school track racers, two miles. Danny was a fine runner in the 1980s, with a sub 2:14 marathon and a 28:38 10,000m to his credit.
Bennett Grimes showing off Brooks product, photo by Mike Deering for The Shoe Addicts
I have fond memories of running with Danny Grimes and Robert Lucas (aka Bobby to me), on the many runs around Stevens Creek Dam during 1975-1980. Those trails were full of our footprints, sweat and laughs. Danny had a light stride and a wicked laugh as Bobby and I would tell stories. The runs were fun, varied and I remember them, as if it were yesterday, some 43 years later.
Seeing Danny’s son, Bennett Grimes, at each trade show for the past half dozen years always make me smile. Bennett is his own person, but there is some Grimes DNA there. To appreciate’s Bennett’s ethusiasm, to appreciate his love of his job and developing shoes is fun to observe. It is part of what makes Brooks tick.
Bennett Grimes qualified for the 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon. His enthusiasm in the running culture has helped Bennett develop an approach to design and running product that contributes to Brooks running success. Brooks is successful because it is back to taking chances again. Its new product is hot and selling well, and its market share is continuing to improve at a time when many of its competitors are loosing marketshare.
Watch this video. Bennett Grimes is a natural. You will appreciate the importance of human capital in the top running brands.
