Last week I was invited to attend Superfeet University in Ferndale, WA (about a stone's throw from the Canadian border).  Superfeet is the home of the leading over-the-counter insole available on the market today.  They began back in the mid 70's as the sports division of the Northwest Podiatric Laboratory, which is regarded as one of the best custom orthotic manufacturers in the world.  Comedian Jerry Seinfeld only trusts his feet to this lab. 
 
Unlike many vendor-sponsored trainings, Superfeet University is more than basic product training; it was an entire year of anatomy and biomechanics rolled into two very intense days of class.  Not only did I walk away with a better understanding of biomechanics, anatomy of the foot and insoles, I walked away inspired.
 
I was inspired by the technology behind a product that looks so simple, by a manufacturing process that is far ahead of its time and by the employees who average 20+ years on the job because they CHOOSE to work there.  They work with hundreds of plaster foot casts each week, but still see each as somebody's "sole" and is treated with tender, loving care and respect.
 
Most inspiring, though, was talking to founder, Dennis Brown - one of the smartest, yet most humble people, I have ever met.  Dennis was turned out onto the streets of London when he was 11 years old.  Through persistence and ingenuity, he created his own luck and became a successful business owner and inventor.  He has over 50 patents yet, he officially only has a 6th grade education.  Almost everything in the lab has been touched by Dennis' genius to make it work more efficiently and be easier on the employees.  Even today, at a sprightly 82 years old, Dennis is still developing ways to make a better product.
 
What hit home for me as a business owner was Dennis' "nothing is impossible" attitude and the trust and faith his employees have in him to lead them.  At the heart of his leadership is a set of core values: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Honesty and Fairness.  These same core values are shared by every employee and are written above everyone's workspace.  If an idea, solution or deal doesn't meet all 5 core values, it isn't done.  Simple as that. 
 
I have read many books on how to manage a business, but none made as much sense as Dennis' five core values.  It is my goal that every time you come into the store that you see the passion in our hearts for what we do and that you feel like you were treated with honesty and fairness.  I want everyone to enjoy being in the store as much as I do!  
 

Be Fit,
Steph

Congratulations to our winter No Boundaries class on a great race at the O'Hartford 5k Sunday!  I think the sun was outdone by the radiant smiles on everyone's face at the finish line (the beer and corn beef on rye helped).  It was so much fun to witness your journey from the couch to a 5k in just 10 weeks.  You are now runners (yes, even you Greg & Dave)! 
 
Special thanks to our coaches: Renee, Charleen, Danielle, Jen, Kathy, Nicole and Susan for your never-ending energy, spirit and motivation.  You are amazing!

The Asics Gel-Kayano has long been a favorite of runners who need moderate stability and a lot of responsive cushioning.  The newest version maintains the series' great cushioning with Gel in the heel and forefoot to provide maximum shock absorption. 

 

With this year's move from the Kayano 14 to the Kayano 15, the fit changed substantially.  Moving to asymmetrical-lacing, the fit has changed to take pressure off the top of the foot.  At the same time, the shoe is more curved and snugger than in previous years.  The new Kayano tends to fit narrower feet very well, and is great for runners with a high-volume foot or who experience pain across the top of their feet.  For runners who enjoyed the spacious forefoot and midfoot of previous Kayanos, however, the new shoe may be a tight squeeze.
 
For those runners, however, Asics has a new shoe on the market that will fit like a glove.  The Gel-3000, designed to fit between the GT-2140 and Kayano in terms of cushion, also provides the same great stability through medial posting and Asics' Space-Trussic system.  The fit, however, is almost identical to the luxuriously spacious Gel-Kayano 13.  While the stability is designed to help late-stage pronators, those who roll in substantially immediately before toeing off, it still provides plenty of stability for regular pronators as well.  By introducing this shoe, Asics has managed to please runners with a wide range of foot-shapes, as long as they all like substantial cushion in a stable shoe.

If you have successfully run a 5k in the last 6 months and are ready for your next challenge, join our 10k training group.  This 10-week program will help you increase your speed and endurance as you train for the Iron Horse 10k on Sunday, May 31.  Practices begin on Saturday, March 28 at 8:00am.  

 

No Boundaries/Running 201 5k Program:

Our next No Boundaries/Running 201 Groups begin the week of April 6 and will culminate with the Celebrate! West Hartford 5k on Sunday, June 14.  Participants can choose between an evening training group (Tuesday's at 6:30pm - begins April 7) and a morning training group where baby joggers are welcome (Wednesday's at 9:30am - begins April 8).  Cost is $75

 

To learn more, come to our No Boundaries Open House on Wednesday, April 1 at 7:00pm or email Coach Renee.  Cost is $75.

The Road Runner Club of America offers one of the most comprehensive coaching certification courses available.  The two day course consists of about 16 hours of class lecture and practical group exercises over 2 days. 
 
A colleague of mine from the Washington, DC area is a RRCA Instructor and is willing to come to the Hartford area this fall to host a 2-day coaches certification course if there is at least 15 individuals interested.  Cost for the training is $250.
 
If you are interested, please email me (steph@fleetfeethartford).  This does not commit you to attend - but I will keep you up-to-date on the exact days, location and time of the course if enough interest is there.
 
If you have a friend who may be interested in earning their coaches certification, please pass this info along to them.  Thanks!

For more events at the store and around CT, visit our online Calendar.  For details on any event, call the store at 860-233-8077.
  

Wed: Mar 18 @ 6-7pm: Injury Assessments by Select Physical Therapy: 

Have a nagging injury that you aren't sure what it is, how to treat it or when you can start working out again?  Stop by the store to meet with the athletic trainers from Select Physical Therapy and get a free injury assessment.  No appointment is necessary.  These free clinics will be offered every other Wednesday through the year (next clinic will be Wed, March 18 at 6pm).

  

 

 

Joel Matalon, the northeast's only certified Chi Running instructor, will be driving through Hartford on Friday, March 20 on his way to the New England Multi-Sport Expo in Boston.  He has agreed to stop long enough to host a 1-hr mini Chi Clinic at Fleet Feet Sports - a perfect refresher for those who have taken a full Chi Running course in the past.  Cost is $10 per person.   
 
You must RSVP to Joel (jmatalon321@gmail.com or 917-860-1450) by Noon on Thursday if you would like to attend.

April 5 - Coach Al's "Run Easier, Run Faster" Workshop
Learn the secrets to running easier and faster!  The February clinic sold out quickly so don't delay if you want to attend one of Coach Al's most popular clinics.  The 3-hour comprehensive clinic costs $49 and includes an in-depth video analysis, introduction to Runner Core, handouts, tips, tricks and more.  Click here to register(click on the Fleet Feet Run Clinic on April 5).  

 

Tues, April 14; 7-9pm - Foam Rolling, Stretching and Core Training for Injury Prevention 
Join experienced personal trainer and strength coach Jonathan Durham, Owner of Able Body Conditioning, LLC, for another talk at Fleet Feet Sports.
 
This talk will focus on the use of different training techniques to help lower your risks of getting injured while running, either acutely (e.g. pulled hamstring, sprained ankle, etc.) or chronically (e.g. I.T. band syndrome, low-back pain, "spring knee", etc.).  Jon will address the importance of foam rolling, stretching and core training as they apply to injury prevention and will show you some the most effective techniques he knows for helping you run your healthiest and fastest this upcoming season.

 

There will be opportunity for attendees to try some of the techniques first hand, so come dressed to work out.  To RSVP, email Sean or call the store.  For more information about Jon, you can call him at 860-997-7706 or check out his website at www.FitnessCT.com.

Terry Walters, author of Clean Food and certified holistic health counselor will speak about nutrition for runners and how to maintain health and balance with whole, clean foods.  Topics include health benefits, purchasing tips, storing, cooking ideas and ways to maximize the nutritional value of food.  Bring your cookbook to have it signed!

 

Fleet Feet Sports is proud to sponsor the Winding Trails Summer Triathlon Series which hosts a fun sprint triathlon consisting of a � mile swim in Dunning Lake, an 8k trail bike ride and a 5k trail run every Tuesday from June 16 through August 18. 
 
To jump-start the series, we will be hosting a Tri Demo Day on Tuesday, June 9 from 5-7:30pm.  We will have tri-gear available at great prices and try-before-you-buy demo wetsuits from Zoot and trail running shoes from Mizuno, Brooks and Salomon.  You will also have the opportunity to preview the new bike and running courses

 

Joel Matalon will be back on Sunday, June 28 to host another full introductory course on Chi Running & Walking Workshop.  The workshop runs from 1-6pm and will meet at Fleet Feet Sports.  For more details or to RSVP, contact Joel at jmatalon321@gmail.com or 917-860-1450.