The Right Stride

One of my goals as a local business owner is to find ways to give back to the community and help others experience the joy of running, walking and good health.  Fortunately, I have met so many others who feel the same way including Dr. Marc Lederman (a podiatric sports medicine specialist in West Hartford), Coach Al Lyman and the team at Select Physical Therapy. 
 
Together we have formed a partnership called The Right Stride.  Our goal is to help communities one step at a time by offering a Stride Clinic that provides participants with health and fitness advice and a comprehensive evaluation from hip to toe by a team of experts who donate their time and expertise so that funds raised from the clinic can be donated to local charities. 
 
After months of planning and work to set-up this charitable organization, I am so excited to announce our inaugural Right Stride Clinic on Sunday, June 14 from 12pm - 5pm at Fleet Feet Sports.  Each participant will visit each of the four evaluation stations including a podiatrist, running coach, physical therapist/athletic trainer and the FIT Experts at Fleet Feet Sports.  There will also be fun for the whole family including Harry's Pizza, sno-cones, kids' activities and more.
 
The complete evaluation will take approximately 40 minutes.  The fee is $50, but thanks to our partnership with New Balance, your entire $50 will be donated to charity.  This month's charity recipient is the Hartford chapter of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 
 
There are only 27 slots available so RSVP early by emailing info@therightstride.org.  Our next clinic will be on Sunday, August 30 from 12-5pm.  Visit our web site for more details.
 
Be Fit,
Steph
 
PS We have lots of great (and FREE) events coming up including a triathlon demo day at Winding Trails, a visit by the Saucony Sprinter truck and a Road Racing Night for "big kids".  Check out our calendar at right for all the details.

The Brooks Trance 8:  Despite making a shoe (the Adrenaline) that regularly vies for the spot of top-selling running shoe at many stores, Many Brooks shoes are viewed as relatively firm.  This is due in part to their midsole material, MoGo, being a little firmer at the start in order to be more durable later.  While trying them on, a Brooks shoe might feel a little firmer than its competition. Two hundred miles into its life, however, it may be the opposite as the other shoe has lost more cushion over its life-span.

Retaining this durability, Brooks has managed to make a pillowy-soft stability shoe in the Trance 8.  The midsole is tweaked to BioMoGo, a material that will biodegrade quickly in landfills.  With the stability of an Adrenaline, it provides cushion at least as soft as an Asics Kayano or Saucony Hurricane.  The fit of the upper has also been improved from previous versions, cradling the foot with lush padding.  For runners used to the Adrenaline who want a cushier ride, or for users of other high-cushion stability shoes who want a change, well... I will respect you enough not to make a painful "entrancing" pun.  But I will say that it's a shoe you'll love.

 

Also, if you need a distance spike, we have just received a limited shipment of some of the hottest spikes in the world: the Adidas Adizero Avanti and Cadence distance spikes in the elite color.  Only ~100 of these spikes were made, mainly for the pro athletes during the Beijing Olympics.  They have never been available to the public before.  This is one spike every other kid on the track won't be wearing!

Tifosi Sunglasses:  Tifosi makes great sunglasses for athletes of all types - including the ones who like to sit on the beach!  They are nearly indestructible (I've taken a hammer to my lens without scratching it and the frame is flexible so even twisting or sitting on it won't break it), look great, and at $39-69 are a bargain for the quality. 

 

Most styles come with interchangeable lenses for different weather conditions and some feature polarized and/or FototecTM technology that darken the lens when they are exposed to UV rays.  Many also feature slits that enhance air flow so they don't fog up when you are on the run.  Plus, the frame and nosepiece are adjustable so you get the perfect fit!

 

Foam Roller Covers: As many of you know, foam rolling is an awesome way to strengthen, lengthen, and massage muscles and soft tissue.  Foam rolling immediately after a run can provide amazing relief to sore muscles, but it can lead to a sweaty, smelly foam roller!  Back in stock just in time for the summer are foam roller covers that easily slip on and off allowing you to toss them into the wash machine when necessary.  Covers fit any 36" x 6" roller.

 

More Skorts! The customer-favorite Bonita skirt from New Balance is now available in vivid new colors like magenta (15% of the cost is donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure) and a purple-y "Spectrum" blue.  These skorts feature an inner compression short with a music-friendly pocket on the right leg and a tennis ball dimple on the left.  Side slits enhance mobility in the skirt and make it look even more feminine.  And the Lightning Dry fabric will wick away moisture and keep you dry on even the most humid days!

 

Adidas!: There were a lot of ooo's and ahhh's from both the male and female staffers when we unpacked our latest shipment of shorts and shirts from Adidas.  The clothes have rich colors, stylish designs and feel silky soft.  Strategically placed mesh and "burn-out" designs help keep you cool and dry even during a muggy afternoon run.  Choose from a selection of spilt and baggy shorts, singlets and short-sleeve tees.  Great prices too! 

 

 

 

 

We are putting together a few local teams to travel together to the Washington, DC area to participate in the Ragnar Relay DC on September 25 & 16th.  The relay starts in the Western Maryland city of Cumberland and proceeds through scenic Maryland to Washington, DC. 
 
If you haven't heard of the Ragnar Relay series you are missing out!  The Ragnar Relays are 24 hour, 12 person relays.  Teams of 12 run day and night relay style for about 200 miles.  Each team member runs three legs with each leg averaging about 5 miles.  Legs vary in difficulty so everyone from the very fast to the very slow can enjoy the event and have a great time with their team.  
 
Run with Us and get Rock Star Treatment:

Our famous Spike Night event is growing up!  On Thursday, June 11 from 7-9pm, we will be hosting our first annual Road Racing Night sponsored by Nike! 

 

We'll help you get psyched for the upcoming road racing season and show you the latest in racing shoes and apparel.  There will be gifts, discounts and treats too!  You are never too old to race so plan on joining us for a night of fun!

RSVP by emailing Schuyler or calling the store at 860-233-8077. 

Running to Make a Difference

Fleet Feet peep Katrin Moskowitz is an ER nurse that took up running last April as a way to get healthy and raise money for a disease called A-T (Ataxia-Telangiectasia).  In January she completed her first marathon ever and had such a heart-warming experience that she wanted to do it again at the 2010 Disney Marathon with three new goals: cut one hour off her time to achieve a sub-6 hour marathon, lose 50 pounds and double the amount of money she raised for the A-T Children's Project from $600 to $1,200. 
 
To learn more or donate to Katrin's fund, click here or email Katrin at Katrinmos@aol.com for a paper donor form.

More about A-T:
Imagine a disease that combines the worst symptoms of muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, immune deficiencies, and cancer. Children with A-T are usually confined to wheelchairs by age 10 and often do not survive their teens. Because A-T is a multi-system disease, scientists believe that A-T research will help more prevalent diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, AIDS, and cancer.

If you or someone you know is making a difference through running, let me know so I can feature them in an upcoming newsletter!

A BIG thanks to everyone who brought their old sneakers to be recylced.  Nearly 2,000 pairs were collected and are now are their way to the Nike Reuse a Shoe facility in OR. 

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: May 27; 6:00-7:00pm: Injury Assessments by Select Physical Therapy: 

Injured?  Don't know whether you can run or should really see a doctor? Come to our free injury assessment clinic.  No appointment is necessary.  

 

These free clinics will be offered every other Wednesday through the year (next clinic will be Wed, June 10 at 6pm).

Gait Analysis, Product Try-on's, "Roll the Dice/Win a Prize", Giveaways.  FUN!! 

 

Jessica from Pilates Defined is offering a special 5-week group map class just for runners.  The class will build your strength and flexibility in the right areas to maximize running performance.  Special focus will be made on better breath control which is critical for long distance runs. 

 

Class begins June 2 and continues each Tuesday through June 30.  Cost is $65 for the series or $15 drop-in.  For more information, email Jessica at pilatesdefined@gmail.com or call 860-899-1515.

Fleet Feet Sports is proud to sponsor the Winding Trails Summer Triathlon Series which hosts a fun sprint triathlon consisting of a ¼ 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 1-4pm and will meet first at Fleet Feet Sports then move to the West Hartford Resavoir.  Cost is $125 (continuing education credits available).  To register, go to http://www.ChiRunning.com
- or contact Joel at jmatalon321@gmail.com or 917-860-1450.

Coach Al is back!  Join expert running and multisport coach Al Lyman as he hosts 2comprehensive 3-hour running workshops at Fleet Feet Sports on Sunday, June 21.
 
The first workshop (9am-12pm) will video everyone's running form for an in-workshop "form review" then will teach everyone the specific core and functional strength and flexibility exercises that will help you avoid injury and improve your running form.
 
Later in the day (1-4pm), Coach Al will offer  his popular "Run Easier-Run Faster" workshop which also includes a free video gait analysis and information on how to approach daily training especially as it relates to what is happening through your legs and core.  Key core strength and flexibility exercises will be demonstrated.
 
Cost for either workshop is $75.00 or $99.95 for the workshop plus a copy of Coach Al's Runner-Core DVD (regularly $39.99).  For more information on both clinics or to register, click here.

 

This walking shoe has tons of support, plus a sleek athletic styling.  The mesh upper will keep your feet cooler during hot summer walks and the heel cushioning will put a spring in your step.