Find the PERFECT Sports Bra!

Have you ever wondered what goes into a bra fitting (guys, you can skip to the next post now). We thought we would answer those questions and educate you ladies out there about why no sports bra is created equal (any why some of you wear several at once). Here are a few facts:

1. Fleet Feet Sports carries sports bras from the 32A to the 52DD –yes that’s right, the 52DD-there is a sports bra for you!
2. The weight of your breasts by size ranges from a B cup adding 1-3lbs to a DD cup adding 9-12lbs! That’s why a good fitting bra is so important!
3. A sports bra should be fitted based on cup size, torso size, and body tissue-that’s why the one you bought right off the rack without trying on doesn’t feel right or rubs the wrong way!

At Fleet Feet, we have a science to finding the right size then many different styles to make sure you have the right fit. We measure in your everyday bra-your rib cage then loose cup determines your size and then based on body type we choose several different styles to try on! Yes, we know sports bras can be expensive-that’s why with our measurement system we make sure you buy what fits so you’ll get use out of that investment. Make sure you have the time for a proper fitting, we’ll record your size and style choice so you’re in and out the next time you need a new sports bra.

You don’t have to know your ABC’s and DD’s, we’ll take care of that for you.

Why is Heartbreak Hill called Heartbreak Hill?

More Boston Marathon Facts for Stacie’s Run:

The race starts at 10am this morning.

The marathon capped at 25,000 runners from every state in the nation and 50 countries. The race record is 38,708 during their 100th anniversary year.

Over half a million spectators expected to line the course – that’s a lot of cheering!

The Boston Marathon is the second biggest single day sporting coverage behind the Super Bowl.

In 1975, Boston became the first marathon to include a Wheelchair Division.

Last year, the top three elite women’s runners were separated by on nine hundredths of a second at the finish line.

In 2007, Boston initiated a wave start with the first wave starting at 10am then the second 30 minutes later.

1972 was the year women were allowed to enter the race.

Heartbreak Hill is called that because in 1936, on this hill defending champ John Kelley caught race leader Ellison Brown, giving him a pat on the shoulder as he passed. This lit a fire in Brown who then passed Kelley and win effectively “breaking his heart.”

Most runners know Heartbreak Hill for it’s testing of runners who “hit the wall” on the hills of Newtown and this is the last climb at miles 20 and 21. 88 foot vertical climb. So muscle stores of glycogen are likely depleted at this point.

Beautiful day for a race, think of all the runners at 10am this morning as they run the “race of their life.”

Run, Stacie, Run

In honor of our run coach traveling to Boston for the BOSTON MARATHON, we thought you'd enjoy these interesting facts about the Boston Marathon:

1. The Boston Marathon is held on Patriots Day - the third Monday in April celebrating the battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.

2. $806,000 PRIZE PURSE AT STAKE: The total prize money distributed among the winners of the 114th Boston Marathon will be $806,000. How much are you gonna win Stacie?

3. 4 Olympic Champions have won Boston - Fatuma Roba (ETH), Joan Benoit Samuelson (USA), Rosa Mota (POR), Gelindo Bordin (ITA)

4. Legendary John A. Kelley started a record 61 Boston Marathons and finished 58, his last one at the age of 84.

5. The Boston Marathon was first run on April 19, 1897, its original distance was 24.5 miles and had a "field" of 15 runners.

Now, lace up your shoes Stacie and get those Fleet Feet Running!!

That Day For No Reason In Particular......

I decided to go for a run. - Forest Gump

Have you had one of those days, when everything worked against you when it came to getting in your run? Something in the house broke, someone forgot their lunch and required a run to school, that extra project that just "showed up" at work when you were planning a lunch run?

Make that conscious decision to fit it in, push aside those little things and decide to go for a run. By committing to the run, we are committing to be fit. We are taking time for ourselves and will be better as a result.

How do you feel when you have that type of day AND you actually fit the run in? Not just the endorphin rush when you are finished, we ALL love that. That feeling that you beat the odds and put a few more miles on the books. That great feeling after a run is the result of "clarifying the thinking process as well as purifies the body" according to Amby Burfoot in the The Runner's Guide To The Meaning Of Life. That great feeling is the result of connecting with the Earth in rhythmic footfalls, getting away from everything to "broaden our thoughts." A Yale professor once said that we think so well on the run because it's an activity that doesn't require any skill, you're not caught up in holding the bat just right, or planning where the golf ball is going, you're just running. Without all this technical thinking, our clear mind has a chance to THINK.

That is why you carve out that time no matter what. You lace up your shoes and hit the road, the trail, the treadmill, because when you come back you'll feel better about yourself AND have clear thoughts about the tasks ahead. Getting that run in also makes that lunchbox, that project, that meeting that much more pleasant. You're ready to get back at it again because you feel refreshed.

Have you ever had to overcome obstacles to get out and run? Have you ever had a day where for no reason in particular you decided to run? What were your results?

Letter from Coach Stacie to North Carolina Marathoners

Enjoy today! You are a marathon runner!

I hope that your family and co workers are showering you with praise over your fabulous weekend of running. They should be. You all did great. Enjoy their praise and soak it up. Don't diminish what you have done -because every person who says "congratulations" isn't just congratulating you on your race this weekend.. They are congratulating you on the countless miles of training that you have done to get to this point. So whether the weekend's race went better than expected or was more challenging than expected. whether you flew through the finish or hobbled through the finish. you have done something amazing. And if for one moment you question just how amazing the 26.2 distance is, then check this out:

The modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield at the site of the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C., bringing news of a Greek victory over the Persians. Legend has it that Pheidippides delivered the momentous message "Niki!" ("victory"), then collapsed and died, thereby setting a precedent for dramatic conclusions to the marathon.

So enjoy today and being showered with praise. And don't be the person who shrugs it off and says "oh - it wasn't that great". or "oh - it wasn't as fast as I wanted". or "oh - it was no big deal." It was a big deal. You ran further than most people are willing to drive for a commute to work. And you had the dedication to train long enough and hard enough to do it right.

I'll stop babbling now so you can look up from your computer to listen to your next coworker, friend, or family member tell you how great you are. Just smile and say thanks - cuz you really are!
Coach Stacie O'Battjes

A Few Lucky Charms!

We celebrated the end of our marathon training program with a 2.62 run from the store on Wednesday night! 100 people came out to celebrate our marathon runners as they finish training and get ready for the North Carolina Marathon, March 20th! The get together featured FREE shoulder massages of all the marathoners by family and friends, great door prizes and a few boxes of Lucky Charms! The Shamrock Run was done in typical Fleet Feet Style including rubbing a rabbit’s foot for good luck (Nancy in a costume), touching our good luck shoe, and a free piece of Double Bubble, “the best piece of gum you’ll ever get,” says Stacie! Keith brought out our turtle, a powerful symbol for participants in all of our No Boundaries programs – it’s about the journey, the turtle always finishes!

Our event featured not only marathon runners, but runners of all types and ages-our No Boundaries group was there getting ready for their first 5K. Family and friends were there for fun and support! We are proud all the runners who turned out on cold Wednesday night sharing a love of running-26.2, 10K, 5K, 1 mile fun run, as the turtle says it’s all about the journey! Wish our marathoners a little Luck and whole lot of endurance on March 20th. Missed this Social Event at Fleet Feet? Join us Wednesday, March 17th at 6pm for a little leprechaun chasing at the store! RSVP at our websitehttp://www.fleetfeetwinston-salem.com/leprechaun-run-march-17th-6PM.