 Trust Your Journey. Three powerful words that have provided comfort, guidance and inspiration in my life. They gave me the courage to battle Lupus head-on, trusting that the experience would leave me stronger and guide my life.
Indeed it did. Ultimately, it gave me the courage to leave my comfortable career as a meteorologist and risk starting my own business so I could help others use exercise and a healthy lifestyle as tools to conquer the challenges life throws at them. To have a job that reflects my personal values with my professional aspirations is a dream come true!
You can imagine how excited I was when I saw a shirt with the phrase "Trust Your Journey" in one of my favorite catalogs. I felt even more connected to the brand when I Googled the company and found that it was started by two women, one a breast cancer survivor and the other a young widowed mother, who were also empowered by the phrase. I thought the shirts would be a great addition to the store so I contacted the company where I was connected with Beth Brownlee, one of the co-founders. Turns out she and Ruth came from the running industry and knew all about Fleet Feet Sports.
Talking to Beth was like talking to an old friend. She agreed to let us be only the second specialty running store in the world to carry their line of clothes. We just received our shipment last week and what beautiful clothes they are! They are all made of super-soft organic cotton and are printed with eco-friendly inks that contain no PVC or Phthalates and do not fade with washing. In addition to their signature "Trust Your Journey' tee, we have their "Peace, Strength, Courage, Love and Gratitude" tee, Trek Bag and the coziest sweatshirt you have ever wrapped yourself in.
The shirts and sweatshirts make a great gift for someone experiencing a difficult journey. I am sending one to my Aunt Gail who has survived chemotherapy and is preparing for a stem cell transplant to drive her cancer into permanent remission. Sometimes, all it takes it three little words to give us super-human strength!
Speaking of journey's, my parents will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary this weekend. Through the good times and the bad, they've always been there for each other. Their love and dedication to each other is as strong today as it was 40 years ago when they walked down the aisle. May you always enjoy each other and the fruits of your love. Cheers to you Mom & Dad!
Live Fit!
Steph |
| Schuyler's Shoe Review |
 XC Spikes & Flats!
With fall fast approaching, high school and college cross-country runners are getting ready for the grass, mud, rocks and roots that accompany the fall racing season. Even adults have their chance to try their hand at cross-country racing with the September 13 all-comers Xtra Scramble at the Hartford Riverfront Cross-Country festival. To help runners handle the rough terrain of the season, there are a number of great new cross-country spikes and flats that have been recently released or updated.  The popular Saucony Kilkenny returns unchanged, in both spiked and spikeless versions for men and women, updated for color. Each pair comes with two sets of shoelaces in different colors to allow you to customize the look. The same feature appears on the new Saucony Shay XC, named in memory of Ryan Shay, who died in the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials and featuring a deep tread for slippery conditions.
The venerable Nike Waffle Racer is back in both a spiked and spikeless version. The 2008 edition of the shoe has a new heel structure that cuts some weight, along with a newly configured tough mesh upper that will handle some serious trauma without tearing. For women, the Nike Jana Star XC combines the same outsole with a snug, track-spike upper.
For runners with wide feet, the New Balance RX505 is the first spike to come in multiple widths. The Mizuno Kaze utilizes Mizuno's Wave Plate technology to provide outstanding cushion and stability for a cross-country shoe. 2008 Olympian Anthony Famiglietti helped to design the new Adidas RLH ("Run Like Hell") spike, which sports his trademark artistic flourishes. Finally, the Asics Dirt-Dog and Dirt-Diva are back with their attachable rubber treads for courses which cannot accommodate spikes.
We're proud to offer what we believe to be the largest selection of spikes in CT this fall: 6 brands, widths and gender-specific models that would please even Cinderella. We also carry a special insole designed for spikes to give runners more stability and shock absorption and make them more biomechanically efficient.
(Note: The XT Wing trail shoe by Salomon that Schuyler was originally planning on covering this issue did not get delivered to the store until this morning which didn't leave him enough time to do a full review of the shoe. He'll review it next time!)
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| The Zoomerangs! |
 Monday's and Wednesday's are easily my favorite days of the week thanks to the Zoomerangs - our kids running team. The kids call themselves Zoomerangs because they zoom around our training loop - always ending where they started! Their motto is "will run for gummy worms" thanks to the special treat they receive at the end of each workout.
The kids, aged 5 to 14, are training to complete their first half-marathon, one mile at a time as part of the Hartford Marathon Foundation's "Run for Something Better" Program. So far they have run 3 miles, and their improvement from practice-to-practice has been amazing! They are so inspiring to watch - even the patrons of the restaurants along LaSalle Ave can't help but cheer as the kids do their laps.
It's not too late to join us. The Zoomerangs practice on Monday and Wednesday's from 6:00-6:30pm. The program is open to all ages and is free. As part of the program, kids get a free entry and special VIP treatment at every Hartford Marathon Foundation running event and will be invited to run their final 1.1 miles on the Hartford Marathon course on the Friday before the marathon (and receive a medal for their accomplishment!). It's a wonderful way to get kids active, meet new friends and do something they didn't think they could do. |
| In Store Now... |
 Foam Rollers: My dad took one look at the foam rollers displayed throughout the store last Sunday and laughed. "Why would anyone want to buy a 3 foot piece of dense foam?" Then he tried it on his sore calves. After 30 seconds of rolling he said, "I need this!" Now I know what I'm getting him for his 62nd birthday next week! Foam rollers may look simple, but they provide amazing relief to sore muscles, increase mobility and improve your strength and performance. Rollers use your body weight to apply pressure to and massage your soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia) breaking adhesions and working through trigger points leading to relaxation. In addition to their prehab and rehab uses, the roller can also be incorporated into your core and balance training - their uses and exercises are endless! If you've never tried foam rolling, come into the store and use our demo roller. Your "ow's" will soon turn into "ooo's"!
  Self-Treatment Center: As good as exercise is for our body and mind, it can also cause aches and pains which is why we have created a "Self Treatment Center" complete with braces/wraps for your knee, IT Band, lower back, Achilles Tendon and shins; treatment and relief for plantar fasciitis; ice packs that stay cold for 8 hours so you can pack them in your duffle and take to race or event; toe flexors to strengthen your toes and toe caps to prevent blisters and black toenails. We also carry mace pepper spray in both a hand-held and bicyclist's model to aid in help you protect yourself from human and animal attacks. Montail Slides:  Customer Request! Many of you loved the idea of Montrail's flip-flop with its thermo-moldable arch support, but hate wearing the "toe thong" of a traditional flip-flop. Enter the Montrail's Maui Slide featuring the same great arch support that gets better once you heat it in the oven. We only received a limited supply, so hurry in to get your size before they're gone! Have an idea for a product we should carry? Email me. |
| Customer Product Reviews |
| Triathlete, ultra runner and now Fleet Feet Staffer, Pam Morrow, had a great idea: product reviews written by our customers!
If you've had a great experience with a product that we carry at the store, email me a short review. If I use it in a newsletter, I'll send you a cool (and moisture-wicking!) Fleet Feet Live Fit shirt. |
| Featured Race: Old Wethersfield 5k |
Take advantage of what is looking to be a gorgeous morning this Sunday and tour the historic streets of Old Wethersfield by foot in the annual Old Wethersfield 5k. The run/walk event benefits the Intercommunity Mental Health Group. The course is both scenic and flat and finishes on the Cove.
Online registration closes on Thursday, August 21 at 8am - but you can register on the morning of the race from 7:00 - 8:00am.
Good luck to Zoomerang Member Andrew and his mom Laurie - run like the wind! |
| Saucony Spike Night - August 26 |
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Attention all high school XC runners! You and your team are invited to a night of fun, food, freebies, camaraderie and inspiration.
The night will begin with a inspirational talk by Eric Blake,1996 CT High School State XC Champion, 2006 & 2008 USA Mountain Running Champion, 2004 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier and Central Connecticut track and cross country coach. Next, our spike guru, Schuyler Schuster, will highlight the latest in spike technology and talk about proper spike selection for various courses and conditions. The rest of the evening will be dedicated to eating, laughing, sizing up the competition and shoe fitting. We will have extra staff on-hand to help fit every runner quickly and correctly.
Each runner will receive a goodie bag, discounts on spikes and trainers, gift-with-purchase and a chance to win a free pair of Saucony Trainers! Also, the team with the highest percentage of runners present will win a season's supply of Gatorade! Join us from 7-9pm on Tuesaday, August 26. RSVP by emailing schuyler@fleetfeethartford.com |
| Join the Nike Human Race 10k |
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On Sunday, August 31, Nike is hosting the World's Largest Running Event and you're invited!
The goal of the event is to celebrate and unite over 1 million athletes around the world by combining the digital running world (via the Nike+ sport chip) with the physicaland to raise money for three charities: Livestrong Foundation, Ninemillion (a UN Refugee Fund) and the World Wildlife Fund. Nike is hosting a formal 10k race in 25 cities, but has partnered with Fleet Feet Sports to help us put on a 10k of our own.
We will meet at the store on Sunday, August 31 at 7:00am for a fun 10k. The runners from the Half Marathon Training Program will join us for the 10k and then show us how strong they are by running an additional 4 miles to complete their first double-digit run.
To fully participate in the Nike+ Human Race 10K, all you need is a Nike+ system (SportKit or SportBand) and a desire to make a positive impact on the world. If you meet those requirements, visit nikeplus.com, register your product if you haven't already done so, and then register (for free) to run the Human Race 10K. Designate the charity you wish to support and Nike will make a donation to that charity for each Nike+ mile you record from now until 8/31. You can also pledge to personally raise additional money for one of the three charities. On race day, everyone who has registered to run the Nike+ Human Race 10K is asked to upload their results to nikeplus.com to become official Human Race finishers. You do not need to have a Nike+ system to participate. Participants can then compare their results with over one million others from around the world! To read more about this unique event, click here
Mark your calendar for this fun run and help us make history! |
| Wednesday Fun Run - 6:30pm |
 Social running at its best! Join Coach Ingrid and the Fleet Feet Dudes and Divas this Wednesday at 6:30pm for a fun, casual run that starts and ends at the store.
Routes range between 3-5 miles, and walkers and runners of all ages (kids too!) and paces are welcome.
BE THERE!! |
| Thursday Track Workout - 6:30pm |
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Beginning this week, Coach Schuyler will lead a "track workout" each Thursday night at 6:30pm. This workout is designed for runners of ALL abilities. The goal is to introduce you to different types of running (intervals, hills, tempo runs) and help you get stronger and faster.
The workouts will vary locations - some will take place at the track at St. Joseph's College and others will start from the store. This is your opportunity to get professional coaching for free - and meet some great fellow runners.
Please join us for our first workout this Thursday at 6:30pm. Meet at the store! | |
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| SALE
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| Store Events |
Zoomerangs (Kids Run)
WED, Aug 20 @ 6:30pm:
Dudes & Divas Fun Run
THUR, Aug 21 @ 6:30pm
Track Workout
MON, Aug 25 @ 6:00pm:
Zoomerangs (Kids Run)
TUES, Aug 26 @ 7-9p:
XC Spike Night
WED, Aug 27 @ 6:00pm: Zoomerangs (Kids Run)
WED, Aug 27 @ 6:30pm:
Dudes & Divas Fun Run
THUR, Aug 28 @ 6:30p:
Track Workout
SUN, Aug 31 @ 8am:
Nike Human Race 10k
* 20% off sale does not include LiveStrong, My Mottoz or Trust Your Journey apparel |
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