Get the whole family together and kick-off the spring racing season with the 9^th Annual Shamrock Run & Walk on Saturday, March 19.  The morning of fun kicks off with a non-competitive Kids Run at 9:30am (prizes to all the kids who participate), followed by a 2 Mile Run & Fitness walk at 9:40am, and finally the 5 Mile Run at 10:30am.  Strollers are welcome!

If you register (either online here or via the mail-in registration form here by March 12, the fee is just $22 for the 5 and 2 mile events and just $5 for the Kids Fun Run.  Registered runners and walkers will receive a goody bag, t-shirt, secure baggage check and entrance to the post-race party with music and tasty grilled burgers and dogs.  After March 12, the fee increases to $25

Carb load for the event with the "All You Can Eat" Pasta Dinner catered by Emily's Catering Group on March 18th from 4:30- 7:30 at St. Gregory CCD Center (1043 Stafford Ave in Bristol).  Tickets are just $8.00 per adult; $6.00 for children 6- 12; free for children age 5 and under - tickets are sold at the door.  You can also register and pick-up your packet during dinner as well.  

All proceeds from the race and pasta dinner are donated to the Saint Vincent DePaul Society which provides shelter, food, counseling and referral services for people in our community who are in need.  Last year, thanks to the over 1,800 runners and walkers who participated, a $12,000 check was presented to the Society!   

At the event, there will also be a shoe drive for Soles4Souls so bring your gently worn running shoes to the race.  If you can't make the race, you may drop off your gently used shoes at the UPS Store on 123 Farmington Ave in Bristol from March 1 to March 18. 

Good news, the groundhog says that winter is almost over!  That means it is time to leave the stuffy indoors and head outside where the air is fresh and the Vitamin D free.  We've got a full schedule of training programs starting in mid-March and early April.  Something for everyone - including those who are just looking for running or walking buddies and don't want to join a formal training program.  Let's get movin'!

HALF MARATHONG PROGRAM:

Go the distance at the Iron Horse Half Marathon this spring!  Whether you want to run your first half marathon or you are going for your PR, this program will accommodate everyone and will be a great time!  Participants should be able to run/walk 4 miles at an 11:00 mile pace before the first practice. 

This 12-week training program will begin on Saturday, March 19 at 8am and culminates with the Iron Horse Half Marathon on Sunday June 5.  In addition to the group run on Saturday mornings, you will be encouraged to join us at the store on Wednesdays for a training run and participate in specially-designed speed workouts on Thursday evenings. 

Registration fee is $125 and includes the training, a Brooks tech-tee, discounts and little surprises along the way to keep you going. The program will be led by the amazing Coach Chris McKee and his trusty assistants Sarah Miner and Tara Dillon.  They have been working hard to put together an incredible program that will keep you motivated and laughing throughout the 12 weeks. 

Learn more at our "Meet the Coaches Open House" on Wednesday, March 16 at 7pm (at the store) or visit our web site.   

You can register online here or print out the paper application here and bring it into the store. 

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10K Training Program:

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 is designed for our No Boundaries graduates and anyone who can currently run/walk 2-3 miles comfortably.  We will help you over the "4-mile barrier" and into distances that require two hands to count as you train for the Iron Horse 10k on Sunday, June 5. 

This is a great program to help you increase your speed and endurance AND prepare you to run a half marathon in the fall. 

Coach Amy Kubisek will be returning as your trusty leader with the help of experienced coaches Shannon and Randy who know just when to push you - and when you just need a little TLC on the run.

Practices begin on Saturday, April 2 at 8:30am.  Fee is $100 and includes a Brooks tech-tee, training plan/coaching, discounts and fun treats along the way.

Learn more at our "Meet the Coaches Open House" on Thursday, March 31 at 7pm (at the store) or visit our web site.  Register online here or print out the paper application hereand bring it into the store.    

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 "Learn to Run" Program-Sponsored by New Balance

Sessions Start Sat, April 2 (West Hartford)

and Mon, April 4 (Downtown)

Info Meeting - Thurs, March 31 at 7:00pm

Have you always wanted to run or walk a 5k but didn't know how to begin training?  Maybe you are nervous or don't want to do it alone?  Maybe you have had a hard time sticking to a training program in the past.  If you answered "Yes" to any (or all!) of the above, this is the program for you! 

In just 10 weeks, you'll go from the couch to crossing the finish line of a local 5k (choices include the Koman Race for the Cure, Iron Horse 5k, BlumShaprio 5k at the Travelers Championship and the Celebrate! West Hartford 5k).  Our goal is to introduce you to the lifetime fitness activities of running/walking and encourage you to live a healthier lifestyle in a fun and supportive environment.  We use the "Galloway Method" which includes run/walk intervals and slowly ramps-up the time spent running and distance covered. 

Our next No Boundaries programs begin the first week of April.  We will have two sessions including a Saturday morning session from the store (begins April 2 at 9am) and a Monday evening session under the Arch in Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford (begins Monday, April 4 at 5:30pm).  Both sessions will offer both beginner and advanced groups. 

You can register online (Saturday mornings & Monday Evenings) or at the store.  Program fee is $95 and includes your training plan, coaching, a tech-tee, coupon booklet and lots of great tips and tricks to keep you going. 

Not ready to run?  We invite walkers to join our free Saturday morning Meet-Up at the store at 8am for a 3 mile walk through the neighborhoods of West Hartford (begins March 26).  Make new friends and watch the beautiful gardens of West Hartford come alive!  Then join us for the Walk-!t 5k we are planning with the RRCA and Weight Watchers on May 22 at Riverfront Recapture.   

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"BARE IT ALL" Training:

Curious about the barefoot/minimalist running movement? Read Born to Run? Want to try barefoot running but don't know where to start? Our Run Bare training program is a 12-week coached group to get you ready to run the Celebrate! West Hartford 5k on Sunday, June 12 barefoot or in minimalist shoes like Vibram FiveFingers, Sacucony Kinvara, New Balance Minimus, Adidas Adios or Nike Free's.

The group will meet every Saturday at 9:00am, beginning on March 26.  Practices will last between 30-60min and will include barefoot running, drills, and education.  The program is open to anyone who has completed a 5k run, regardless of your speed.

Registration for the program is $50, which includes 12 weeks of coaching, a moisture-wicking t-shirt, weekly e-mails with your full training plan and a coupon book for great savings. It is recommended that you have three types of footwear to participate: a pair of properly fitted running shoes, a pair of minimalist trainers, and your bare feet! 

Register online here or contact Schuyler for more information.

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Zoomerang Kids Running Programs:

Our popular Zoomerang Kids Program is back this spring, but this time we're expanding to offer a 10-week structured program to train kids to run a 5k.  We will also be offering our original non-competitive "Fun Run" program that gives kids the opportunity to experience running in a fun, friendly atmosphere where the motto is "will run for worms." Gummy worms that is!

Both programs will occur at the same time and place: Sunday afternoons from 4:30-5:30pm at the Saint Joseph College Track beginning on Sunday, April 3 and will culminate with a graduation run at either the BlumShapiro 5k at the Travelers Championship (June 11) or at Celebrate! West Hartford (June 12) - as well as be honored before the start of the Rock Cats game on June 11.  We will be partnering with the Travelers Championship to raise money for Hartford's Camp Courant and hope to have some of the disadvantaged youth who go to Camp Courant join us on the run. 

The "ZoomK" 5k Training Program is designed for kids 7 years of age or older who love running and want to challenge themselves by completing the 5k distance (3.1 miles).  We will use a proven training plan and lots of wonderful coaches, to safely train your child over a 10 week period.  Just like our No Boundaries program for adults, we will use run/walk intervals and slowly increase the distance of our runs each week, as well as include running form drills, tips and games.  Kids in this program will need to run twice a week outside of practice (unless they play other sports) so parents plan on lacing up your running shoes as well!  

The fee for the ZoomK Program is $75 and includes a technical t-shirt, coaching, training plan, race entry fee and $25 donation to Camp Courant (enough money to send a kid to camp for one day!).  To learn more or sign your child up, click here.

If your child is not old enough or doesn't have an interest in running that far, I encourage you to sign them up for our original Zoomerang Fun Run Program which focuses on having fun, making friends and building their strength and endurance.

The fee for this program is just $15 and includes a t-shirt and fun at the track (including a gummy worm post-run and "lap rewards").  Click here to learn more or sign-up.

Questions? Email Coach Lisa.

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 $39-89 are a bargain for the quality. 

Most styles come with interchangeable lenses for different weather conditions or environment (trail, golf course, road) 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.  Add to it an adjustable frame and nosepiece and the perfect fit is yours!  I've been wearing mine to shade my eyes from the sun's glare off the snow (plus, wearing them makes me feel like it's warmer outside)

March is Tofosi month at Fleet Feet Sports.  Everyone who buys a pair between now and March 31, 2011 is automatically entered to win a free second pair of your choice!  Of course, you can be nice and give the pair to your training partner, but we won't tell if you want to keep the spare for yourself.

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Speaking of contests, congratulations to Ron Cipriano on winning our limited edition Asics Gel Kayano contest (winner of a $100 Asics apparel gift certificate) and to Robyn Sondak on winning our Moving Comfort "Love Your Girls" contest (Robyn won a Moving Comfort laptop bag, tech hat and compression socks).  Thanks to all who played!

Fleet Feet Staffer, Jenn Lewis, needs your help with her thesis project exploring what people think about while they are running in conjunction with the Psychology Department at Mount Holyoke College. 

To participate you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Run at least once a week
• Have access to a computer with Internet access within 12 hours of completing a run.
• Be willing to complete two series of questionnaires that will require approximately
• 40 minutes of your time for each

For participation you will be entered into a raffle for a Fleet Feet Gift Card in the amount of $100.00 - and you would be helping a grateful graduate student! 

For more information about this study please contact the research team at MHCRunningStudy@gmail.com.