A Run For The Hills

I just returned from spending five exciting days at the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco, and what an amazing and unique experience it was! The course for this 13.1 miles was not for the faint of heart, but the beautiful scenery and festive spirit that Nike provided made it easy to rise to the challenge and embrace those big hills that San Fran is famous for.

The festivities began as early as three days before the race at the Nike Women’s Half Marathon Expotique in Union Square. This is where you needed to pick up your race number and packet, although the fun didn’t stop there. Once you had your golden ticket, you were welcome to explore the rest of the Expotique, where there were lots treats and surprises to pump you up for your big race. From cupcakes to Nike themed spray-on tattoos, these folks didn’t miss a beat in making us ladies (and gents!) feel special. Just when you thought you had seen it all, you arrived in the area where the Paul Mitchell station was located, and to really put the icing on the cake, they were offering a free hair braiding service, by their professional staff. Nothing quite as great as getting your hair styled for conquering the terrain that would make your hair curl otherwise!

As if all that wasn’t enough, my favorite part was yet to come. There happened to be two very special guests present- Shalane Flanagan and Joan Benoit-Samuelson. They gave a nice pep talk, and spent some time discussing what inspires them to run, what it has taught them about themselves, and they finished up by giving some advice to everyone in the crowd. 

Now onto THE race itself! The gun went off at 6:30 AM, so it was still dark out for the first few miles, but us runners slowly got to see the city wake up. It didn’t take long to discover that this journey towards the acclaimed Tiffany necklace was going to be a challenge. We were directed up a massive hill as soon as the second mile, and I immediately became thankful that I had the steep inclines of Mahwah to train on. Shortly after that, we were rewarded with some sprawling downhills as we made our way through various neighborhoods in the city. We eventually entered Golden Gate National Park, where the majority of the second half of the race took place. While it was probably the most beautiful part of the course, it was also the hardest. Mile 7 introduced a steep, gradual incline, followed by another major hill at mile 8. But the mother of all hills came around mile 10, and we experienced a 300 ft. change in elevation on a cone shaped hill that just kept spiraling upward. However, as the saying goes, what goes up must come down, so we were greeted by a nice slope downwards at the top of the hill, and the last two miles provided a nice flat finish along the water.

And then for the moment we had all been waiting for…the finish! As exciting and enjoyable as the race and the course was, I’m pretty sure I can say that I’m speaking for everyone when I say that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the grand finisher’s prize, that Tiffany necklace! As soon as I crossed the finish line, I was handed a nice chocolate milk as well as a swag bag filled with all sorts of tasty treats to refuel. And then I was guided to a separate line where I was handed (yes, you guessed it) that little blue box. I finally opened it to find a beautiful necklace of the San Francisco skyline, and the date and the name of the race was engraved on the back. The finisher’s village was bopping, and there was tent where you could roll your muscles out or get a massage. There was also a Fleet Feet finisher’s boutique, and I immediately made my way into there to stock up on some post-race gear.

All in all, Nike went above and beyond from start to finish, and I honestly could not have enjoyed myself any more than I did. Everything that was offered totally exceeded my expectations, and I’m thankful that I was able to take part in the excitement.

Thanks for a great memory, NWHM San Fran! See you next year J   

Jackie Glotzbier        

Calling all FITNATICS!

Fitnatics are a different breed. This October, we want to hear from and see all of you

Fitnatics– and the people who love you - on Facebook!

DETAILS: Each Tuesday and Friday in October, we’ll post a topic. Tuesday’s topics will beabout Fitnatics; Friday’s topics will be about the people who love ‘em.

YOUR MISSION: Respond to that topic with an explanation (and a picture if possible!) thatshows your Fitnatic behavior!

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU: Besides the glory of our Fitnatic fandom?  We’ll select two responses for each topic. Those two people will receive a cool prize related to running.-Anything from gear to Fleet Feet gift cards.  The prize will be drawn randomly. We’ll post the winners the next day, and you can then come to claim your prize.

MAKE SURE: Tag the Fitnatics in your life, and use the hashtags #ILoveAFitnatic (if you’retalking about someone in your life) or #ImAFitnatic (if you’re talking about yourself).

EXAMPLE: If Tuesday’s Topic is “Pre-Race Ritual,” a response might look like this: I have to lace and relace my shoes three times exactly before any race. #ImAFitnatic

If Friday’s Topic is “Most Committed Spectator,” a response might like look this: I woke up at3 a.m. to camp out at the finish line of the Chicago Marathon to see my girlfriend finish her first race. #ILoveAFitnatic

GOOD LUCK: You’ll have 8 chances to respond throughout the month, so make sure you check Facebook every Tuesday and Friday this month! And while we want to keep hearing from all of you throughout the month, we can only allow a person to win once during the contest!

See you all tomorrow for our first topic!

Don't Let Winter Stop You From Running or Walking Outdoors!

We've had a hurricane, nor'easter and a snowfall and it's not even December yet.  When we ask our customers at Fleet Feet Mahwah, where they plan to run, we typically hear, "Now that it's cold, on the treadmill."
A treadmill can offer a good alternative to outdoor running, but there's really no reason to stay indoors the entire winter season if you follow some basic tips.

Resign Mary!

Thankfully, NYC and the New York Road Runners Club cancelled last Sundays 2012 NYC Marathon. The cancellation resulted after the outcry of  throngs of New Yorkers, non New Yorkers  runners and non-runners alike. United, they felt that the holding the race would divert very much needed resources away from those suffering in the aftermath of hurricane Sandy, that struck the area on the Monday and Tuesday before the race. Staten Island, the start of the famed race, was especially hard hit, and the devastation and loss of life continues with each passing day.

Proper Seasonal Running Gear

We're a few short weeks into the autumn and it's starting to get chilly out. Does that mean you're banished to the indoors if you run or walk because the weather continues to get colder? Of course not!

At Fleet Feet Mahwah,  we see a variety of runners ranging from high school athletes, and everyday fitness runners, to marathoners.  They come to us and plead, "help me, I froze out there today?"  Helping them is easy because most aren't wearing the proper attire.
So, what does a runner, who wants to enjoy the outdoors during the colder months, need to run comfortably?

No More Baggage?

As a running specialty store, it should come as no surprise to anyone that we here at Fleet Feet Sports Mahwah are big fans of marathons. Located in northern NJ, a suburb of Manhattan, we love the NYC Marathon. We, along with our customers who've run the NYC marathon, have always admired the outstanding job that the New York Road Runner's club has done to make the NYC Marathon the greatest marathon in the world, staged in the greatest city in the world.  It was a run that always had the best interests of the runners in mind. Sadly,  a decision made by them, that was communicated this week to the 2012 participants, tarnished that admiration.

Night Time Running Safety

We're only a week or so into EST and I'm already wondering if we'll ever see the light of day again. The temperatures can be ideal for running, but if you live a busy and hectic lifestyle (who doesn't these days?) that means running in the dark.  In this area, that puts you at risk especially if you run alone and run on busy roads.