Articles of footwear include an upper and a sole structure having a fluid-filled element in the heel region. The fluid-filled element includes: (a) an upper surface, (b) a lower surface, and (c) an outer peripheral surface extending between the upper surface and lower surface. The fluid-filled element also includes a pair of spaced apart, substantially U-shaped voids that extend through a central region of the fluid-filled element. A first void of the pair of voids is located closer to a forward end of the fluid-filled element than a second void of the pair. Both the first void and the second void have an open portion of its U-shape oriented toward the forward end of the fluid-filled element.