To allow our staff time to share the holidays with family and friends, both near and far, Fleet Feet Sports will have special hours around the Christmas holiday and New Year’s.

The week of Christmas:

• Thursday, December 24th – 10am until 3pm
• Friday, December 25th – Closed
• Saturday, December 26th – 10am until 6pm (regular hours)

The week of the New Year:

• Thursday, December 31st – 10am until 5pm
• Friday, January 1st – Closed
• Saturday, January 2nd – 10am until 6pm (regular hours)

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

If today and tomorrow have you running around trying to check gifts off of your list (or if you haven’t a list, and need some ideas) here are some items to consider:

Stocking stuffers:

• Brighten their shoes with a reflective Smart Id shoe tag ($3.50)
• Decorate their car with a running lifestyle license plate cover ($6) or window stickers ($1.50)
• Pamper their feet with merino wool running socks from Smartwool ($16), a staff favorite!
• Running lights for visibility in the dark or headlamps to light their way ($13-16)
• Nike Sportband to track their speed/distance/calories ($60)
• Timex TapScreen watch with touch screen features to keep their time without breaking stride ($90)
• Gift card to cover their next pair of shoes ($100-150)
• Many more!

Under the tree:

• For the early morning or late evening runner – Saucony Optech LX running shirt in high-viz orange with an included light for running in the dark($60)
• For the running reader – cult classic Once a Runner, by John L. Parker ($24)
• For the runner who gets cold – Sugoi Speedster hoody ($100)
• For the versatile runner – Nike jacket that converts to a vest on the go ($100)
• For the runner with “everything” – Garmin Forerunner 405 or 405CX ($300-360)
• For the triathlete – Garmin Forerunner 310XT ($300-350 after $50 rebate good until 12-31-09)
• Need more ideas? Drop in and ask anyone for help!

Next to the tree:

• BOB Revolution ($389) or Sport Utility/Ironman ($349) strollers to take the little one along
• BOB Revolution Duallie ($569) stroller to take them both along!

No need to panic… We’re here to help. Drop by to browse and shop, and, while you’re here, have a cookie and some coffee, listen to some Christmas tunes, and enjoy the spirit of the season!

A round of applause greeted long-time Fleet Feet Sports employee Ben Knoernschild at the store today for running today’s St. Jude Memphis Marathon in 2:35:02.  Aside from the great finish time, he also won the award for First Shelby County finisher!  Not a bad way to spend the morning, huh?

Congratulations, Ben!  We’re downright proud of you.

We will be opening at 1 pm on Saturday, December 5th, so that out staff may participate in or provide support for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon events.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Go Feb!

Just a quick note about our Thanksgiving Holiday hours…

• We will be closing on Wednesday, November 25th at 3pm.
• We will be closed on Thanksgiving, November 26th.
• We will resume regular hours on Friday, November 27th.

Please accept our apologies in advance for any inconvenience that this may cause.

Through the end of the year, Garmin is offering a $50 rebate on 310XT purchases.   The time window for the rebate is from 10/09/09 through 12/31/09.  To download a form, click here:  Forerunner 310XT Rebate. 

The all-in-one multi-sport features of the 310XT and its ability to get wet (yes, you can swim in it!) are the reasons it has become the triathlete’s go-to Garmin, and ultra-distance athletes are excited about its 20 hour battery life.  With a suggested retail price of $350 ($400 for the 310XT bundled with a heart-rate monitor strap), getting 50 bucks back is a nice feature, too!

For a complete list of specs on this incredible training and racing tool, click here or drop by the store to check it out!

What a great clinic last night!

In case you missed it, Lucia Colbert and Susan Ruch spoke to a packed house of eager runners here at the store on the topic of strengthening, core stability, and flexibility as they relate to your ability to become a better runner:  you shouldn’t just run to strengthen your body, you should strengthen your body to become a stronger runner!

With the overwhelming attendance last night, the handout listing their Post Run Walking Stretches ran out quickly.  With their permission, we have posted the list here: Post Run Walking Stretches.

A huge “Thank You” goes to Lisa Pollock of the Los Locos Triathlon Team for organizing the event and to Panera Bread and Grateful Palate for providing food and drinks.

To keep in the loop about events like this, become a fan of Fleet Feet Sports on Facebook or keep checking back here.

The new Timex Sleek 150 with TapScreen technology has released, and we are one of the first places on the planet to have it in stock!

Timex Sleek 150-Lap with TapScreen Technology

It seems that touch screen technology is popping up everywhere these days, and your wrist is next.  Timex’s first introduction of touch, called TapScreen, arrives with the new Sleek 150-lap.  Do you feel like your pace slows a bit while you find the “lap” button on your watch?  The whole face of this watch, which also happens to be Timex’s largest display, is a TapScreen which allows you to easily record your laps without breaking your stride.  The sensitivity of the screen can even be adjusted depending on the ferocity of the user!  Also of note are its bank of interval timers:  use as few as two timers to alternate separate run/walk intervals or use up to 16 separate, labeled, interval timers and design a complete workout.  The Sleek 150 also boasts hydration (DRINK) and nutrition (EAT) reminder alarms that can countdown and repeat concurrently with the chronograph.

Pictured here is the full-size, but it comes in a mid-size, too, for smaller wrists.  ($90)

The updated Nike+ Sportband has arrived!

Nike+ First Generation

Last year, Nike introduced the first Sportband to accompany the popular iPod-linked systems, and, although it was an initial success, time proved that the device had some flaws.   The black backgroud and gold digits were difficult to read.  The seal around the face wasn’t effectively “sealed” and moisture eventually wreaked havoc with the display and its ability to download the information it had recorded.  Nike ultimately pulled the product from shelves and participation in its planned 08-08-08 worldwide race was somewhat diminished.

Nike+ SportBand 2009

This summer, the improved Nike+ Sportband finally arrived, and it has some vast improvements.  The face is now a more easily read LCD which is fully sealed, and it comes in two colors (with more expected later).  So far, none of our experience with this new version leads us to believe that the bugs from the first generation will occur with the second (but is it too early to tell?).  Rumor has it that Nike will eventually add a heart-rate monitoring version of the SportBand system since their previous speed/distance/HR systems are no longer in production.

At $60, it is a much more affordable means to track your speed and distance when compared with GPS units which typically run $300-350.  The kit includes a sensor that fits into the midsole of most Nike running shoes or it can be attached to the laces of non-Nike shoes with a small pouch.  With technology similar to that used in a Wii handheld device, the sensor determines your speed and transmits it to the Sportband which is keeping track of your time.  While your running or walking, the user can scroll through the screen and see his/her current pace, total time, total distance, and calories burned.

After the workout, the face of the Sportband pops off of the wristband and plugs into the USB port of your computer allowing you to download your workout to a free Nike Plus account which is accessed through iTunes.  Your NikePlus account can be used to simply keep track of your personal history, or, if you like, you can compete in contests with other Nike+ users around the world.  Another Human Race 10K is scheduled for 10-24-09!

Release of the new Nike+ SportBand has been limited, but we have plenty of them in stock.  Drop by and check ‘em out soon – if you wait until the holidays, they may be difficult to find.

We are excited to post that the Commercial Appeal Reader’s Poll, Memphis Most, has named your Fleet Feet Sports “WINNER” in the “Best Athletic Shoe Store” category!

In case you missed it, here’s what CA had to say:

“Fleet Feet Sports is about shoes, but not all about shoes.  It’s a place for the running enthusiast, and you’ll find shoes, yes, but also books and bras, as well as strollers and watches.  It’s part of a franchise, but is locally owned and operated by runners who know what you mean when you holler, “My foot!”  The store also offers Monday night runs through East Memphis TN as well as a Thursday evening speed workout.  Readers said Fleet Feet is the place to run to when you need a good fit.”

A huge “Thank you!” to all of the CA readers who voted for us, we are proud to serve you.