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Greetings!!
I may very well be the dumbest person you'll get to meet. Why do I say that? Well Ellen and I just got back from France where I ran a 66 kilometer trail run (Course de Templiers) with 11,000+ feet of climbing. Now ultras are not dumb but running one on no training certainly is. I think I have run 12 times this year due to work and too many injuries. But I said I was doing it so I had to toe the line. In my racing past I've had to go to what I call a dark place many times. It is that spot where you either quit or finish. It's going to hurt and you'll have to use your mind way more then anything else because your body will abandon you. On the plus side you do learn a lot in a dark place. Here's the story. The first 35k .... 
Regards, Boots
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Join the Toy Drive |
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This Friday, November 9th, with be our first in- store Toy Drive for the Pirate Toy Fund. This Friday at Fleet Feet from 10-7PM we have 2 packet pickups: The Pirate Toy Fund 5K AND the Mendon Trail Runs. All day we will be hosting a Toy Drive. Bring in a new, unused Toy (and preferably in its original packaging) and you will receive 10% OFF your purchase of non sale items.
This toy drive is open to anyone and no need to purchase anything either. Simply bring in a new toy and you'll make the upcoming holidays a very special time for a young one. This Toy Drive is in support of the Pirate Toy Fund, an organization that provides toys to children in need throughout the year.
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Packet Pickup for Mendon Trail Race |
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Packet Pickup for the Mendon 5, 10, 20 or 50K Trail Race is Friday, November 9th from 10-7PM at Fleet Feet. Deemed as one of the oldest trail races in Rochester, the event takes place on Saturday, November 10th in Mendon Ponds Park for the Mendon Ponds 5K, 10K, 20K or 50K Trail Race to benefit the Rochester Orienteering Club. You can register through the Orienteering Website or download an app and mail it in or online at Active. New this year - chip timing by YellowJacket Racing.
During Packet Pickup, Fleet Feet is also hosting a toy drive to benefit the Pirate Toy Fund. Bring in an unused new toy for a little one and in return for your support, you will receive 10% OFF that days purchase of any non sale item.
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Packet Pickup for Pirate Toy Fund 5K |
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Packet Pickup for the Pirate Toy Fund 5K is Friday, November 9th at Fleet Feet from 10-7PM. This 5K will be held Saturday, November 10th at the Pirate Toy Fund 5K in Powder Mills Park.
This years event boasts a new certified course, $350 to overall Male and Female, post race hard cider tasting with fresh donuts and an opportunity to help support the Pirate Toy Fund, who provides toys to children in need throughout the year.
Bring a new toy on Friday too fore Fleet Feet Sports will also be hosting a Toy Drive of new unused toys during packet pickup to help the Pirate Toy Fund.
In return for your support, you will receive 10% OFF that days purchase of a non sale item. The current fee is $18 and you can register online at Active or download an app and drop it off at Fleet Feet.
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What to Wear when Cold, Colder, Coldest? |
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Join us Tuesday, November 13th at 7:15PM at Fleet Feet Sports after the Hill Workout for this FREE indepth workshop on "What to wear when it's cold outside". We'll serve hot cocoa and cookies. All are welcome and it's completely REE.
This workshop will help you figure out how you can still be active outdoors, but stay warm too. It will answer such questions as "why not cotton?", "what's the deal with wool?", "why polyester works great?". Don't let the coldness stop you from going outdoors, join us Tuesday, November 13th at 7:15PM to keep you going through the winter. Please RSVP to patriciawebercpa@aol.com if interested in attending.
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Testing at Les Templiers (by Boots) |
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People ask me a lot how we decide what to sell. Well we are very tough on what we bring in. We have to believe in it 100% if we are going to sell it. I used the race mentioned in the Intro, Course de Templier ultra (see my race review here) as a huge testing day for current and future product. Some of the products I used we already sell but I needed to give them a hard test. Since the race started at 5:30 am I wore a Black Diamond Gizmo headlamp. I originally tested this lamp back in February at a snowshoe race and have used it for course set up on race day all summer. This thing rocks. Super bright, really light and only $25.
Since I would be testing some new shoes I needed to take up a little space in the toe box so I went with Darn Tough wool socks. I've never been a thick sock guy but Fleet Feet employee Big Matt wore these at Ironman for us earlier this summer and I got to say I loved them. The extra cushion came in real handy and they never moved on my foot.
For apparel I went with some not available in the US tights but I needed to test the brand. K-Robb (Rob Ganey) also wore these and the style was new for him and we both loved them. You'll be seeing the brand and a similar style in the store in the spring.
For hydration K-Robb and I each wore a different style of backpack. He has used his all summer in training and since I didn't train I used mine for the second time. Both passed with flying colors and will be stocked next spring.
For shirts I went with a limited edition Fleet Feet camouflage short sleeve from Nike. I knew it would work and it did. Robb went with a Mizuno short sleeve half zip that we currently sell and the entire staff loves.
We both went with arm warmers from Descente so we could regulate temperature as the day went on. I've used arm warmers for 15+ years and seeing 1st and 2nd at the Marathon Trials on Saturday wearing them validated that what I've done in the past makes sense.
We both had a new jacket ready but luckily we didn't need it. Trust me though that it is very cool.
I decided to test a new body lubricant on race day. It worked nice but I had to reapply mid way. We'll stick with Body Glide for now as it is a proven winner.
Now for the shoes. This was the ultimate test. I had planned to test three new brands of trail shoes all fall to see what I want to stock next season. Since I didn't train I didn't get miles on anything other then during race directing. One brand I already eliminated as they were not concerned with giving me a half size too big. Our vendors are our partners and they need to care as much as we do. The second I was on the fence about but they have since passed my test. Probably 20-25% of the field wore this brands shoes in the race. The third was the one I was most excited about. These shoes are off the chart with technology. Really cool and I haven't been excited about a shoe in a few years. The problem was the shoes appeared at the store just a few days before we left. While I would never recommend wearing a shoe for the first time in a race I know some customers will so I got to do the same. I took them for a short jog on Thursday and then put 66k on them on Sunday. Ellen had my backup Pearl Izumi Syncro Seeks in her bag but I never asked for them. The test shoes rocked. Not a single blister. Great traction. They felt great even on this course which was almost entirely loose rock. I took notes on what I would change and compared that to what they already planned to change for 2008. Spot on. You will be seeing these next spring.
So there you go, that is how we decide what to sell in the store. We test stuff like crazy. We are lucky to get to work very closely with many great companies and they listen to our feedback. You can trust that if we have it we believe in it and chances are we have already beaten it up pretty hard. Our standards are high because we want to be sure your experience is the best possible. Enjoy 
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Join our FREE Group Training |
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Join us for our FREE GROUP TRAINING Opportunities
Tuesdays at 6PM - Hill Workouts These are coached group hill workouts. All speeds are welcome (we swear). They start at Fleet Feet, warm up to Cobbs Hill Park, do a few hill repeats then cool down back to Fleet Feet. You can run anywhere from 3 to 8 miles depending on your speed and ability. It's your choice how much you want to run.
Fridays at 6PM - Happy Hour Run. Join us at Fleet Feet for this 4.3 Mile jaunt around Brighton. The pace is between 8 and 11 minute miles.
Saturdays at 8AM this week for Distance Training. Join us at Fleet Feet for your distance run. You can run as little as 6 miles or as much as you want. Course maps will be provided. Each week the loop changes and we do run ALL around Rochester. ALL SPEEDS WELCOME.
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This week in Rochester |
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This Saturday, November 10th there are 2 options for runners: The Mendon Trail Runs - at 8AM is the 50K and at 9:30AM is the 5K, 10K, or 20K option. Contact: Larry Zygo Lzygo@aim.com , 585-225-0733. http://roc.us.orienteering.org. Race Location: East Lodge, Mendon Ponds Park.
At 9AM on Saturday morning is the Pirate Toy Run 5K, Contact: Gary Smith 585-271-5519 info@piratetoyfund.org, www.piratetoyfund.org. Race Location: Powder Mill Park, Perinton - Rand Lodge.
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