It's easy to get caught up in the daily routine of life with our over-booked schedules and varied commitments, going with the flow and following the same schedule day-in, day-out.  Before you know it, weeks or even months have passed.  Life becomes ordinary and routine.
 
That is not how life should be lived.  Every so often, you should strive to be extraordinary.  Go on an adventure.  Make a mistake, and then learn from it.  Embrace the people and experiences in your life that bring you joy.  Do the right thing.  This is what makes life rich and rewarding.    
 
In the past week, I've met several individuals who had the courage to do something extraordinary: Danielle Stone-Mitchell, a trio of Fleet Feet Dudes (Mark Murphy, Johnny LaSpada and Chris Duffy), and Fleet Feet staffer Latasha Jarrett. 
 
Danielle is amazing to me because last Christmas she decided she was going to get in shape, lose weight and do something good.  In the 9 months since, she has lost nearly 70 pounds and is nearing the end of her training for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk in NYC where she will walk 60+ miles in 3 days.  Danielle is also a member of our No Boundaries program training to run her first 5k.  All the walking she has been doing this summer has left her in incredible shape as she was able to run an entire mile without stopping last night!
 
Mark Murphy, Johnny LaSpada and Chris Duffy made the first volunteer activity of the Fleet Feet Dudes a big success.  They chose to spend their Sunday morning in the pouring rain instead of a nice, dry bed, to run the water stop at the transition area of the Hartford Marathon Foundation's Women's Triathlon.  The crew made the best of the soggy conditions by dancing, singing karaoke-style and shouting words of encouragement to the lady triathletes.  Giving back to the sport is a wonderful gift!  Thanks Dudes!
 
Fleet Feet Sports' own, Latasha Jarrett, is extraordinary in my eyes and the eyes of the NCAA as she was chosen as their Sportswoman of the Year!  You can read about her impressive accomplishment in the article below. 
 
Enjoy your week and strive to do something extraordinary this week.  Carpe Diem!
 
Live Fit,
Steph
 
PS  We're just 4 weeks away from the Hartford Marathon.  Now is the time to get a new pair of shoes - especially if you aren't happy with the ones you're wearing now.  Also, wear the outfit and shoes that you plan to wear on race day on one of your last 10+ mile runs so you can be sure it won't cause any chaffing or problems.  Race day is not the time to experiment with new shoes, apparel or nutrition - trust me on this one! 

One of the top reasons customers like you come to Fleet Feet Sports is the knowledgeable, friendly staff.  I may be a bit biased, but I think I've got one of the best staffs in the nation.  They all bring a unique skill to the job and all love the "fit life" and are eager to share it with you. 
 
Latasha Jarrett is one such staffer.  In addition to working 3 days a week at Fleet Feet Sports, she is a graduate student in the University of Hartford's Physical Therapy program.  Tasha ran track at Ellington High School, but late in her college career, realized that she excelled at the heptathlon (a series of seven track and field events including the high jump, long-jump, javelin, shot put, 100m hurdles, 200m run and 800m run).  In her final semester of eligibility last spring, she was the women's heptathlon champion at the America East Outdoor Track Championship - bringing home University of Hartford's first conference championship! 
 
During that meet, Tasha also was competing in the individual high jump.  Moments after racing the final 800m for the heptathlon (a race she not only won, but also achieved a personal best time), Tasha rushed back over to the high jump completion where she realized that a judge had mistakenly marked her as clearing the current bar height. 
 
Instead of keeping quiet about the error and enjoying a 20 minute break before her next scheduled try, Tasha told the judges that she had not cleared that height.  The judges gave her an opportunity to take advantage of the clerical error and delay her next jump, but Tasha knew that wasn't right.  So she jumped right then, despite being exhausted from the 800m race.  While she was able to clear the height on her second jump, the initial miss cost her first-place and a trip to the regional NCAA championship in Florida. 
 
When asked about it by a reporter from the Hartford Courant, Tasha responded, "[The regional] was something I had my eye on.  I was disappointed because it was something I knew I was capable of winning, but if I had taken credit for that, I would have known that I won by cheating."
 
For her honesty and grace in that situation and for her strength as a role-model and leader as a student-athlete over the past four years, the NCAA named Tasha as their Division I Sportswoman of the Year. 

 

Congratulations Tasha - we are so proud of you!

Ryka Moira Walking Shoe

 

Beauty meets comfort.  There are many walking shoes out there that offer a great fit and tons of cushion, but Ryka's new Moira does that while also offering a fashionable look, unparalleled 360 degrees of reflectivity and giving you something in common with Regis & Kelly's Kelly Ripa.  Yes, it's her favorite shoe, and for good reason.
 
The Moira is built on Ryka's women's-specific last, fitting very snugly in the heel while widening in the forefoot to accommodate the unique shape of the female foot.  It also provides plenty of room for bunions.  While a women's medium-width shoe is a "B" and a wide is a "D," Ryka shoes tend to fit like a "C," providing a nice in-between fit.  Their Nitracell cushioning provides a soft feel under the heel for women going for long walks or who are on their feet all day for work.  There is also a removable sock-liner
 
What truly makes the Moira stand out, however, is the pleated-satin finish goes around the entire shoe.  The material is ScotchGuarded so it doesn't get dirty and is reflective - providing visibility at over a mile which ensures that you will be seen when you are out for an early morning walk or a late-night dog walk.  As an added bonus, the ScotchGard strip gives the shoe a traditional yet funky look that has to be seen to be believed.

 

I love these toe stretchers.  They separate and stretch the toes and alleviate the stress to the toe area.  I use them at the end of the day and my feet go to bed very happy.  -- Mary Gustafson

    

  
The event starts and finishes at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.  Participants can choose to run the 5k or walk 1.5 miles.  There is both an individual and team competition. 
 
This year, I am throwing down the gauntlet and challenging my dad, who is an aero-engineer at Pratt & Whitney, to see who can put the faster team together.  My dad will be tapping his co-workers who run with (and ahead!) of him at lunch every day.  I am inviting you to join my team.  No need to be fast, just be willing to wear a cool Fleet Feet shirt and have fun. 
 
To join the Fleet Feet Team, register online at http://www.active.com/donate/runwayrun2008  and choose "Team Member Registration" (not "individual registration").  In addition to receiving your Fleet Feet Team shirt to wear, Fleet Feet Sports will donate an additional $10 for every runner or walker who registers for our team. 
 
Get in one final tune-up race before the Hartford Marathon - and help the Fleet Feet Team reign supreme over my dad and his Pratt & Whitney Team.

Fleet Feet Sports was proud to be able to support two races this weekend: the Hartford Riverfront XC Festival and the Women's Triathlon. 

 

Cross Reigns Supreme at the Hartford Riverfront: The air was thick with humidity and excitement and the mud deep on Saturday as over 20 high school cross-country teams from as far away a Maine came to race at the second annual Hartford Riverfront Cross Country Festival put on by Scott Wojnarowicz and the Capital Preparatory Magnet School with whom Fleet Feet Sports has a special relationship (see below). 
 
Competition was tough, but the lady harriers from Glastonbury High School placed four girls in the top 10 to claim victory in the girls' varsity race.  The Ellington girl's team won the girls varsity open race.  The Glastonbury boy's team placed third in the varsity race, while Bristol Central defeated Newington and Ellington in the boy's varsity open race.   
 
It was great to see all the athletes who came to our Spike Night put their new spikes to the test along the muddy course.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by our table to say hello - we enjoyed seeing you again!
 
With the help of Brooks Running, Fleet Feet Sports was able to donate 30 pairs of new running shoes to the Capital Prep Magnet School's cross country team this season.  We'd like to grow this program next year to allow donations to other schools whose runners cannot afford to buy a good pair of running shoes.  Look for more details on how you can help early next year.  In the meantime, we are collecting gently worn spikes and flats.  If your son or daughter has grown out of their racing shoes, please donate their old pair to us.  We'll find a good home for them!    

Women Triathletes:
Huge congratulations go to the 418 women who toughed wicked wet conditions to complete the women-only sprint triathlon at Winding Trails on Sunday.  The rain did not deter these powerful women from conquering the challenging course which included a mini mud-slide at the finish. 

 

It was great to see so many Fleet Feet customers in the race including Carrie LaSpada (who placed 26th!), first-time triathletes Katie Porter and Brigitte Boltz, coach Renee Kleinman's team and the many others whose faces I know, but names slip my mind.  You women rock!

Thanks to Karen DiGirolamo and Michele Boisvert for inviting Fleet Feet Sports to their state-of-the-art facility to host a shoe clinic for their members this evening.  Turn-out was great as 40 folks of all ages went through our modified gait and foot ananlysis to get a customized shoe prescription.  Tasha and I had a great time - thanks for your wonderful hospitality!

Now you have a choice!  We will be hosting 2 fun run times each Wednesday.  The 5:30pm run is returning and will be led by Coach Ingrid.  Stephanie and other Fleet Feet Staffers including Duncan "Tall Man" Gerrity) will lead the 6:30pm run.  Both runs begin and end at the store and are open to everyone!  

 

Routes range between 3-5 miles, and walkers and runners of all ages (kids too!) and paces are welcome.  

 

Coach Schuyler continues his free weekly "track" workouts at 6:30pm.  Meet at the Saint Joseph College track (off of Asyulm Ave).  

 

These workouts are 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.  This is your opportunity to get professional coaching for free - and meet some great fellow runners.