And just like that the holidays are over and the New Year has begun.  I have to admit that I enjoy returning to my old routine - with a few modifications, of course! 
 
For the past five years, my sister and I have challenged ourselves to make one healthy change to our habits each year.  One year it was to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day; another to limit soda consumption to two cans a week; another to not eat sweets before Noon.  The changes are small, but that is what makes them doable - and sustainable.  I am proud to say that I've been able to continue those healthy habit changes from year to year. 
 
I encourage you to try it this year.  Pick one healthy habit to start (or a bad habit to break) and focus on that.  Experts say that it takes 21 days to make a new behavior routine.  If you are up for a real challenge, you can choose another habit once you conquer the first, but don't try to make too many changes too quickly.  Just like in running, doing too much, too fast, too soon usually spells disaster. 
 
My goal this year?  To run at least three days a week, every week.  I know that sounds funny coming from the owner of a running store, but I have had a hard time making time to run since moving to CT.  There is always something else that needs to be done (like hitting the snooze button in the morning).  But, for my sanity and health and the sanity of those around me, not to mention my desire to finish the Boston Marathon this year, I need to make running a bigger priority in my life.  I know three days out of seven is reasonable even with a busy schedule. 
 
I've got one run in this week.  Just two more to go.  I can do this.
 
Live Fit!
Steph

Fans of the New Balance 768 and 1062 will find something new in these shoes' recently released updates.  While most New Balance running shoes have traditionally been built on a foot-shaped last called SL-1 or SL-2, which was rather boxy and wide, both the 769 and 1063 introduce the new PL-1 last.  This new last is designed to better fit the foot with a deeper heel to prevent slippage.  The toebox has been made less deep to avoid the sloppy feel that many runners without wide feet felt in the previous models. 

The most significant change from the old lasts to the new PL-1 last is also a change that many other companies have introduced in the past year.  The 769 and 1063, as well as other PL-1 lasted shoes to follow, are now gender-specific.  The angle of the heel is slightly different to accommodate the Q-angle of women's hips.  Women's PL-1 arches are now shorter and higher, while men's are lower and longer, to better match the shape of the average man's and woman's foot.
 
The one downside of these upgrades, for some runners, is that the shoes fit much snugger than the older versions.  While some feet that measure in between a medium and a wide could previously fit in a medium New Balance shoe, they will now likely have to go with a wide instead.  As long as this sizing change is taken into account, runners will likely be very pleased with the great new fit of these two classics.

 
Limited Run Shirts:  Our own staffers, Schuyler Schuster and Duncan Gerrity, have started their own line of running shirts called Limited Run because they only make a limited run of each shirt design.  Shirts are numbered and when they are sold out, the design is retired.  The designs are hand-drawn by Duncan who holds an art degree from Fairfield University and are screen-printed onto a high-tech, moisture wicking shirts making them perfect for working out.  Even if I didn't know Schuyler and Duncan, I'd still say that the shirts are wicked cool!