Greetings!
Do you remember working out as a little kid? It was called play back then, and we never lacked motivation or time to fit it in. Play enabled us to use our bodies in the ways we were designed to be used: chasing, climbing, laughing, swimming, pursuing adventure all by ourselves and with friends. We shouldn't forget that--ever. Your fitness today should be fun, and you can and should always look forward to it! Whenever you can, just look for ways to make your workouts more play-like. At FITniche, we've seen a lot of you who make fitness look really fun over the years! We think it should be too, and that's why our mission is to Help all people get fit and have fun doing it! Read on to learn about some of fun lessons we've picked up from you over the years. And may your best miles be those you traveled by foot!
Yours in FITness and in Health,
Rich and the Crew at FITniche
|
Get fit! Have fun!
Habit 1: Do it with friends....
This is a actually a primary key to success in most human endeavors. Even though some of us are loners and some of us are social butterflies, we all possess a need to belong to a greater community--to be engaged with friends. As kids, most of us didn't just play in the woods by ourselves or run through the sprinklers alone. Whenever we could, we played with our friends because humans have a universal need to be involved with each other. So, whatever your chosen fitness pursuit, running, walking, lifting weights, Pilates or inline skating, find or make friends to do it with. Seek community and friendship in your workouts, and you'll enjoy them more and stick with them longer!
Here's how to make community and friendships a part of your fitness pursuits: - Join a group by taking a yoga, spin, or aerobics class, or try out a masters swim team, or a running club--whatever--and either make some new friends or take some old ones along with you. Either way, focus on the fun you have with those friends as much as you do on the activity itself.
- Try different classes at your gym to find the instructor and classmates that you connect with most. Then get to know them and start having fun with them!
- If you exercise at home on your own, purchase a second piece of equipment (If you own a treadmill, for example, get an elliptical too.) and get your spouse or a buddy to go at it with you. This will allow you to add both a little variety and some camaraderie to your fitness pursuits. Again, the key is to focus on the relationship and the interactions with other people as much as you do the exercise.
- Try using a trainer. Many people say that, in addition to benefiting from the knowledge and instruction of a personal trainer, they are also motivated by their relationships with their trainers. It's a little like being a kid and promising to meet your buddy down the road for a game of tag-except the trainer's always it, and you usually just get chased from one machine to the next.
- Keep in mind that the people with whom we surround ourselves often bend us in directions we're not even aware of. Seeking out and surrounding yourself with other people who value their fitness and wellbeing ensures that at least a portion of your environment is filled with people trying to bend you in the same direction you want to go!
|
|
Valentines Day Sale!
Buy a couple, save a lot!
We've got a special deal in stock for you the weekend before V-day!
<3 Buy any 1 pair of the following shoes at your regular price and get a 2nd pair of the previous model 25% off (while supplies last)!
- Saucony Guide
- Mizuno Wave Rider
- Mizuno Inspire
- Brooks Ravena
<3 Buy any sock, get 25% off a second pair!
<3 Buy any bra or apparel top, get 25% off a second piece!
It's a sale designed for for couples and it only lasts a couple of days! <3 FITniche
|
|
Don't chance it! 
Avoid the Injury Sideline
This year, almost 65 out of every 100 of runners will suffer an injury or pain significant enough to cause them to miss 10% of their intended workouts or more. About 15 out of every 100 walkers will suffer an injury this year as well. But doing just 3 things can prevent almost all of these injuries.
1. Wear the right type of shoes for your gait and replace them every 300-500 miles or 6-months-whichever comes first.
- Walkers & runners generate impact and torque forces of 2-5 X's their body weight per step.
- These impact and torque forces travel with lightning speed through arches, shins, knees & back.
- The correct blend of cushion and control in a shoe redirects and minimizes these forces.
- But shoe midsoles only survive 300-500 miles.
- Replace your shoes at FITniche before they're 8-months old and receive a discount as well.
2. Follow the 10% rule.
Never increase weekly time or distance more than 10%.
- Start with ultra-short sessions: 5-15 minutes, max.
- Why? Heart & muscles adapt to exercise stresses quickly; bones & ligaments more slowly.
- Small increases allow enough adaptation time--keeping you strong and healthy.
3. Shorten and quicken your stride.
- A long or plodding stride magnifies impact force; a shorter, quicker stride reduces impact force up to 40%.
- And ideal stride rate is 30 footsteps on one leg (right or left) every 20 seconds. Count several times during each run.
- Every time your foot hits the ground, lift it right back up. You'll develop a lighter, quicker cadence; you'll push off less, and gravity will actually assist you forward as you simply fall into each next footstep.
- Allow several weeks for your new stride to become habit.
|
|
10% Off Shoes + 20% Off Any 1 Apparel Item
when you come back within 8-months for your next pair of kicks
|
Your 10% + 20% Reward Program
Simple and Sweet...
Look for an email from us once your shoes are 7-months old. Replace your shoes before their 8-month Birthday, and receive 10% OFF the replacement pair and 20% OFF any single item of apparel too!
Looking for someplace to donate your old shoes? Leave 'em with us, and we'll get them to a local homeless shelter for you. They may be dead to you, but they still probably have a lot of life for someone who doesn't own a pair!
|
|
|
|
Functional Movement Screening--Lakeland Only!
February 8th at the Lakeland Pub Run at 6:00 PM
Chris Kelly, owner of Peak Fitness in Lakeland and a certified Functional Movement Screen(FMS) coach will conduct a free Functional Movement Screen for participants of next weeks' Pub Run. FMS basically tests for movement asymmetries which can lead to injuries in activities such as running. Based upon this screen, participants can be perscribed simple exercises and stretches to prevent injuries before they occur.
|
3 Years In A Row!
FITniche is one of the...
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Products!
 | |
Asics Noosa! The DS Trainer gets a make- over and gets its groove on!
|
 | |
New Brooks and Nike, just in and on the wall!
|
|
|
Get FIT! Have FUN!
11 Keys to FITness Success!
FITniche has spent years watching and analyzing people who consistently enjoy and stick with their running, walking and fitness programs. Most practice the following 11 successful habits, and you should too! Each newsletter, we'll devote 1 story to a key habit. So get out ther, get fit, and have fun!
- Work out with friends.
- Set goals and seek adventure.
- Find fluidity and grace.
- Get fit for others.
- Do what you enjoy.
- Embrace some suffering.
- Do important things first.
- Fall off the wagon.
- Keep it simple.
- Find balance.
- Have fun!
|
|
For a Good Time...
Try a little treadmill humor
(click the links below)
1. Do NOT try this with YOUR cats!
2. YIKES! These things can be dangerous.
3. OK GO! Ultimate Treadmill Music Video!
(Go ahead and try this at GOLD'S....we dare you!)
In the market to buy or sell a treadmill? Check out our good friends at Play It Again Sports!
<3 FITniche
|
 | |
Welcome, Lee Stephens, to the FITniche family! Lee Stephens will be the new Clearwater store manager, starting sometime this February! And congrats to Lee Strawbridge, who leaves FITniche to take a position with Newton Running Company at the end of the month, as well!
|
 | |
Pre-Christmas Pub Run in New Tampa: These folks know how to get fit AND have fun!
|
get fit have fun!
|
| Upcoming Events
Additional Info and
Entries at FITniche
Good Form
Running Clinics Drills Start at 6:00 PM at store!
Lakeland, 1st Wed of Month New Tampa, 2nd Wed of Month Clearwater, 3rd Wed of Month
Pub Runs Lakeland, Every Tues, 6PM, Red Door
Clearwater, Every Wed, 6PM, Tap House
New Tampa, Every Thurs, 6:30pm, FITniche
Rotary Twilight 5K Packet Pick-up Wed & Thur, Lakeland Store!!! Lake Hollingsworth
Friday, 2/4 7:00PM
Dances with Dirt Relays & Various Distances
Green Swamp
2/12 7:30AM
Suncoast Classic 5K & 10K
Downtown St Pete
2/12 8:00AM
Strawberry Stampede 5K
Lake Hollingsworth
2/12 8:00AM
Chilly Willy Duathlon Fort Desoto
2/13/2011 8:00AM
Belleair Sunset 5K Town of Belleair
2/19 5:30PM
Achievement Academy 5K Bartow, Summerlin Park
2/19/2011 9:00AM
Gasparilla 5K, 15K and Half Marathon
Tampa Convention Center 2/25-2/26
Bloomin 5K
Downtown Bartow
3/5/2011 8:00AM
Spring Sprint for Autism 5K Land O Lakes, Sun Lake
High School
3/5/2011 7:30AM
Shamrock Walk Run & Jog 5K (with Your Dog!)
Winter Haven
3/12/2011 1:00PM
|
|
