* 20% Off Winter Apparel

 * $100 Off Garmin Forerunner

                   610 GPS Watch

 * 60+% Off Sale Apparel &

                          Select Shoes 

 * Buy 3 Socks, Get the 4th Free 

   (Lowest price sock is free)

 * FREE Brooks "Run Happy" Fleece Hat with

   purchase of $100+ gift card

 * FREE Arm Warmers with $100+ purchase of

   Saucony Shoes, Apparel or Accessories

Valid November 23-25, 2012.  May not be combined with other coupons or discounts or on previous purchases.  All discounts are limited to in-stock items - no special orders.

In a runner's life, there is a time and place for speed. Racing the Mitten Run? Yes. Running the Manchester Road Race? Depends on whether you have a seed card or are wearing a costume. Rushing the holidays? No.

I wish that every retailer would follow Nordstrom's lead of "taking one season at a time" and refuse to decorate for the holidays or offer Black Friday Door-Busting Deals until after Thanksgiving. Give everyone a chance to take a deep breath and celebrate the goodness in our lives before the chaos and stress of the holidays goes into over-drive.  

As I drove home the other night, my mind was stressing over holiday preparations, shopping strategies and how I was going to get everything done, when a truck towing a big boat zoomed past. As I settled in behind it, the boat's name caught my eye: "Take Time II". I think somebody was trying to tell me something.

So many of us are focused on the next event in our life that we forget to enjoy and be thankful for the good around us now - which can leave us with sadness and regret when things go wrong. Life is too short to wallow in regrets. This Thanksgiving we should all take a step back from the holiday hype and hurry. Instead, we should slow down, take time, savor the journey and appreciate those important to us. Even if just for a day.

In that light, I want to take a moment to thank my wonderful, patient family and friends, incredible staffers and generous folks like you for being an important part of my life. You make my dream of owning a running store (that won't decorate for the holidays until next week) and being part of a community a reality. Life is good!

Be Fit!

Steph

If you are thinking of transitioning to a minimal shoe, or want to incorporate some barefoot training into your running routine, focusing on the Achilles tendon can help prevent pain and injury from occurring.

Why is the Achilles tendon so much more of a focus of a minimal runner versus someone wearing a traditional shoe? A traditional shoe has a 12mm height difference (or "drop") from the heel to the toe while a minimal shoe typically has a 4mm or less drop. This decreased heel to toe drop places additional strain on the Achilles tendon. If it is not strong enough or flexible enough to handle this, problems can occur.

Click here to read more and learn a few simple exercises that can make a big difference in your running.

Turkey Trot Running Socks: Whether you are running or walking at a turkey day event or just enjoying your holiday feast, celebrate in style with these limited-edition socks from Sock Guy!   These fun socks also high-tech and sweat-worthy with five channels of padded cushioning and four channels of mesh for increased air flow. Gobble, gobble!

Infinity Windblocking Jacket (Men & Women): If you're looking for a high-quality shell to wear during chilly outdoor workouts and adventures, this one from Pearl Izumi will not disappoint! It combines a wind and water resistant Softshell Fabric with thermal fleece to keep you warm and comfortable. I particularly like how this non-bulky jacket breathes so your base layer doesn't get soaked. I also love its clever features like a full length internal draft flap with zipper garage, internal fist mitts, two handed pockets, rear zippered pocket and reflective piping. This is sure to be your "Go-To" jacket for the long haul.

Thermal � Zip (Men & Women): I wear-tested a sample of this top last year and absolutely loved it! It is the ideal mid-weight thermal pullover for many different weather scenarios. During cool mornings, I wear it next-to-skin as a stand-alone top, but when it gets cold, I pair it with a base-layer to keep me warm. On really cold mornings, I use it as an insulating mid-layer topped with a wind-resistant jacket so I'm really toasty.

I appreciate the tops thoughtful features like a back zipper pocket and a 10" front zipper so I can better regulate my body temp as I warm-up. Plus, the thermal fleece is so soft and comfy, the semi-form fit is flattering and the style is just plain sharp! The women's top comes in two fun, bright colors (purple and turquoise) which is sure to brighten up a cold, gray morning while the men's features sleek black with pops of color and reflectivity for added safety.

Icebreaker Wool Tech (Men & Women): Wool-tech gear is an investment...but it will pay dividends both in terms of comfort and durability. This is not your scratchy wool of your youth, it is super smooth pure merino from the finest sheep in the New Zealand Alps. It will keep you warm when it's cold, comfortable when it's warm, doesn't stink even after 2 weeks of workouts without washing (making it perfect for travel) and looks as good as it performs. In fact, many of us staffers wear it in the store when we want to look really good!

Our winter shipment has arrived and we are fully stocked with underwear, base layers, mid-layers, pants, the most scrumptious wool-fleece outer layers and wonderful accessories like hats, gloves, earbands, balaclavas and last year's best-selling Flexi Chute: a neck gaiter, hat, headband and balaclava all in one! Layer up and embrace the cold during your next winter running/skiing/climbing/hockey/sled-riding adventure!

This is one of our favorite races of the year thanks to a great course, awesome race organization and because it's the graduation race for our final No Boundaries Training Program of the year. The 5k race will be held rain, snow or shine (we're hoping for the shine)

The course begins near Town Hall and winds through the wide avenues of West Hartford, past festive shop windows and neighborhoods decorated for the season.  It finishes in the center of Blue Back Square in the open area between Cheesecake Factory and the library. 

The race is expected to have nearly 2,000 runners so plan on leaving early for the race so you can find parking. If you like a little warm-up before your run, plan to park at Fleet Feet - then join us for some post-run treats after the race.

Registration fee is $28 for the 5k and $10 for the kids run if you register by Sunday, November 25 and includes a fun long-sleeve cotton t-shirt.  You can upgrade your shirt to a long-sleeve tech tee for an additional $25. 

The race also collects NEW mittens, gloves, hats and scarves that are donated to the less fortunate through the "Town That Cares Fund".  A collection box is set-up at Fleet Feet Sports to drop off your donations - and boxes will be available on race day too. 

For more information or to register, click the logo above.

You may not have time to devote an hour to a yoga class, but you can always find a few minutes to sneak in a pose. Spending time stretching and focusing on key areas will help you gain more flexibility, strength and balance. You can benefit by adding a few yoga poses to your training. Your next workout is only as good as your last recovery.
 

The Lying Spinal Twist is a great BACK RELEASE pose:

Try holding this pose for 1 minute. Breathe and don't force it. Avoid stretching at your maximum as you move into a pose. This will only further stress your muscles. As you loosen up and relax, your body will naturally fall deeper into the pose.

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Bring your arms out to the side for support. On exhalation, allow your knees to drop to the left while keeping the right side of your shoulder and upper back on the floor. Feel free to adjust your arms so that you are comfortable. If you would like an extra stretch in your chest and upper arms, you can place your arms at 90-degree angles at shoulder height in a goal-post position. If your shoulders aren't comfortably resting on the floor, lower your arm(s) to avoid shoulder stress. Breathe. Repeat on the opposite side.

Meghan is a certified yoga instructor and a certifiably crazy ultra-runner. Catch up via her web site, blog, Facebook page, Twitter (@MegColFanning) or email: endurancenow@gmail.com

Just $10/class - A portion of the proceeds will go to FoodShare. Please bring a Yoga mat, blanket or towel, and wear comfortable clothes.

I imagine your household has its traditional foods that make a yearly appearance on the Thanksgiving table. This dish has been a staple at the Fleszar household for at least 10 years. I no longer remember where I got this recipe. It's scribbled down on a sheet of blank white paper, now stained with remnants of squash. If you are looking for something new, I encourage you to try this recipe featuring classic autumnal foods. Peel and cut the squash and set it aside. It comes together very easily in the last 20 minutes before the turkey is served.

Butternut Squash with Apples and Cranberries

Ingredients:

• Butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
• 2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• Olive oil

Directions:

1. Place squash in a steamer basket over boiling water. Cover saucepan and steam 15 minutes or until tender. Remove from steamer basket and set aside in a bowl covered with aluminum foil to retain heat.
2. Cook apples over medium heat for 8 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Stir in cranberries and cook 4-5 minutes or until the fruit is tender and liquid is evaporated.
4. Add the apples and cranberries to the squash. Finish with the olive oil and gently stir to combine.

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Aubrey Schulz is a certified nutrition and triathlon coach with Get Out N Play .  She works with clients to help them reach their nutritional and athletic goals, both in the kitchen and out on the road.   This winter she is teaming up with Lake Terramuggus Triathlon Director Bill Honeck for a destination marathon training program. The group training program begins in November and culminates with a March marathon. 

STORE HOURS:

Did you know that the experts at Fleet Feet Sports offer free presentations and workshops that are perfect for corporate wellness Lunch-and-Learn series?

Choose from a variety of topics including Injuries & Proper Footwear Selection, Core Health, Minimal Running, Intro to Triathlons and an on-site Fit Clinic. We can also assist with starting a Running and/or Walking Program to help you and your co-workers live fit!

For more information and to schedule a lecture, check out the Community Section of our web site.

 We now have a Sports Medicine Director & Certified Athletic Trainer in the store! Stacy will be available during the below hours to offer free injury assessments and help fit customers with medical issues and injuries. Appointments are encouraged, but not necessary.

To contact Stacy, call 860-233-8077 or email her at stacy@fleetfeethartford.com.

Learn about common injuries and treatments in Stacy's Sports Medicine section on our web site.

Mon: 2-7pm

Wed: 2-7pm

Thurs: 10am-2pm

Fri: 10am-2pm

Sat: 9am-Noon

(every other Saturday when Select PT is not present)