FRS Blog

So I am back

2010-05-20T22:09:02Z

Ok I have been gone a while and neglecting this blog. But hopefully I will get on the stick here and stay fairly current in the weeks to come.

So most recently Amy and I went out to Ironman Florida 70.3 to encourage and cheer on friends that were competing. I have raced this event twice, and it has become a bit of a tradition now for Amy and I to be out at this event cheering for others now if we are not racing. So as we watch this event I am reminded what triathlon, and specifically Ironman is all about. Its about pushing yourself to a challenge that you at one time or another thought was a bit out of reach. Whether its a sprint triathlon or full Ironman, everyone out there is chasing a goal.

We talk to alot of folks about triathlon when they come into the store. It's interesting that so many people want to do one but so many have a fear of one of the 3 sports. Particularly swimming. I will always encourage those that want to do a triathlon to branch out and give it a try (no pun intended). But the most important aspect to all of this is that we recognize that people by and large want the challenge. Its encouraging because you hear so much about different generations and how one is better than the other. But at the end of the day more times than not the human spirit desires a challenge, no matter your generation. Keep the fires burning for that and keep the finish line in sight, and let us know if we can help you take that first step.

Kristine's Comments: Firsts

2009-12-07T15:29:40Z

FIRSTS!! We all have them. Think about it, the first time you took a step, the first time you rode a bike, drove a car, or how about the first time you laced up your sneakers and decided to give running a try. We have ALL been there and we have ALL had firsts.

So let's talk about running firsts. Some may have found a passion for running at a young age, maybe in high school track or college. For others, like myself, that love of running may have come much later. For me it didn't come until I won my first 5k 2 years ago. Okay, so there was only 5 women in my age group but that still counts, right? Not too shabby for a middle aged mother of three with no real knowledge of how to run properly, no clue as to the kind of shoe I should be wearing and don't get me started on nutrition... I had NO CLUE! (now of course, thankfully, I do!) But like I said, it was all about firsts. We all have to have a first to get a second, a third and before you know it , it is a lifestyle.

Running for me now is my lifeline. It is my therapist when I have had a bad day, it is my anger management when I am steaming about something, or sometimes it is just my relaxation when I am stressed. Whatever it is for you or for me... it would be nothing if we wouldnt have taken that FIRST step...

Kristine

Kristine Williams is the Marketing Director for Front Running Sports. Front Running Sports is Central Florida's stop for Running, Walking, and Triathlon. Think Central Florida Running, think Front Running Sports.

Running Stealth

2009-08-20T19:15:50Z

So a few days ago, I was up late doing some work and had a lot on my mind. I went to bed and tried to fall asleep but I could not. Felt like I still had a ton of energy and was very restless. Sometimes I get that way and the usual fix is just get up, go turn the TV on and that will start to put me to sleep. But this night was different. The energy I had was almost like adrenaline pumping and I knew sitting around watching TV was not the answer. So I decided to do something I had not done in years. Go for a late night run.

Normally if I run, I do it in the morning like most others out there, take the shower, go to work. But I figured what the heck. Thankfully Amy was sleeping like a log, so she didn't hear me fumbling around in the drawers looking for running shorts and socks in the dark. I also decided, no point in a watch or a shirt because I am not timing or care about pace, just need to work off some energy, so the decision was made to go native,,,just the bare essentials, shirt, shoes, socks.

So at 11:45pm, I quietly walked out the front door and headed out for a run. I was surprised at how nice out it was. The heat from the day had subsided and it was pretty quiet out. I guess most normal people were already in bed or at least at home. I only saw one car while I was out. It was in many was therapeutic to clear my head and not have any distractions. It was a short run, and I am really not sure how far it was, other than to say it was enough for the night. I guess my point to all of this is don't get too caught up in running times like morning, afternoon, evening. Just run when you feel like it. At our very core and historically we ran out of necessity not for sport or recreation. That part came later. Oh yeah, when I got home, I slept better.

Front Running Sports is a specialty running, walking, and triathlon store located in Lake Mary part of the Greater Orlando, Central Florida area. We are experts in the fitting process utilizing the most advanced video gait analysis tool in the marketplace.

Orlando Running in the Summer

2009-05-31T18:47:19Z

As an Orlando Running Store, or for the more local folks Lake Mary Running Store, we are officially into the Summer running season. For most areas of the country this is when the racing season is getting into full swing. However Orlando Running in the Summer is when it begins to slow down a bit. There has always been the theory that Central Florida Running isnt as prevalent in the Summer because of the heat. I say that is a myth. People are still out running but runners typically start a little earlier in the morning, or a little later in the evening to beat the heat. If everyone took the Summer off we would all be starting from scratch every Fall.

As a result look for Front Running Sports to be there for Summer runners. We will be working on a July 5K (there is nothing that says there shouldnt be races in the Summer), and we will also look for creative ways to keep the Summer runs fun. So don't listen to the nay-sayers about Summer running in Florida. Just remember to get out there at the right time of day and be sure to hydrate. All is well for Summer running!

New Video Gait Analysis Technology

2009-04-30T20:10:33Z

Front Running Sports is never happy with the status quo. We always want to be working to do more for you the customer. In that regard FRS has now brought in a new advanced video gait analysis tool. We have partnered with a top rated organization to bring in more advanced software analysis technology. This technology allows us to take closer looks at your gait, as well as closer comparisons from one shoe to the next.

You will not find this technology anywhere else in Central Florida, and based on our current searches the greater part of the entire State of Florida. FRS is committed to being the best at what we do and what we offer our customers. Although many have asked us what we charge for this service, it continues to be FREE to our customers when you get fitted for a pair of shoes. In today's market you should always get the best for your dollars, and you will only find that at Front Running Sports.

Front Running Sports is a specialty running, walking, and triathlon store located in Lake Mary part of the Greater Orlando, Central Florida area. We are experts in the fitting process utilizing the most advanced video gait analysis tool in the marketplace.

Coaches...good or bad

2009-03-16T17:51:26Z

I just recently went to the certification course for USA Triathlon Level 1 coaching. Some really great presenters, and met some very good people that are on their way to being good coaches. It got me to thinking about some good and bad qualities in a coach. The best quality in my opinion and experience is a coach that is willing to allow you access to him or her. Fields questions, and doesn't set parameters of how much you are allowed to contact them. To clarify though I do think its ok to put stipulations on how you contact your coach....i.e. you cant call me anytime you want day or night,,,,but you can email me as much as you want. There are of course other good qualities too such as, Experience, Background, Education, etc..

But this also got me to thinking about a very prevalent negative quality of coaches that is out there. For me this is the coach that only wants to train and race and coaching is more of a side thing. If I am going to pay my hard earned dollars to a coach then I deserve their focus and attention to my needs as an athlete. As I looked around the room of future coaches I was sizing up who I thought would be an average coach and who would be a great one. To me the great coaches will emerge as the ones that put their own racing goals aside in the interest of the athletes they coach. Coaching is about someone else, not yourself as a coach. You have to put your ego aside and look out for others. Does this mean your racing career is over if you coach, absolutely not, but it does mean perhaps you will no longer race at the same level you did once before.

So what's the bottom line. When you look for a coach, besides the obvious of experience, education, and background make sure you feel you are compatible with the coaches personality, after all many coaches are competitive as well and may not like being challenged. And make sure that you feel you as the athlete come first over the coaches own training, since you are paying him or her to help you accomplish your goals.

Post Script - for my past coaches out there, I was always happy with your work. This is based on recent observations.

Front Running Sports is a specialty running, walking and triathlon store in the greater Orlando, Central Florida area. We specialize in a fitting process utilizing video gait analysis.

Warmer weather is on the way

2009-02-27T07:46:33Z

Although it seems that this Winter has lasted a little longer for us Floridians, it seems warmer weather is just around the corner. What this means for the runner in you is that its time to adjust. What I mean is we have enjoyed a lot of cool weather running and many of us have not hydrated as much because we didn't feel it necessary. Start thinking about how the warmer weather will affect your body and performance. Perhaps if you have had that heart rate monitor sitting on the shelf, or have been leaving that water bottle at home time to get used to using those items again. Take care of yourself with warmer weather coming, it will make your running journey more enjoyable.

Front Running Sports is a specialty running, walking and triathlon store in the greater Orlando, Central Florida area. We specialize in a fitting process utilizing video gait analysis.

Sports is more important than ever to promote interpersonal skills

2009-01-21T18:45:53Z

Something I have noticed more and more over the years, especially in business is the severe lack of interpersonal communications skills among people anymore. Email, text messaging and other online forms of communication has replaced the courtesy of a phone call or a personal meeting, online services create a world where people can hide and really don't have to deal with things as they would in years past. In fact not too long ago I was at a trade show and noticed some of the reps from different companies really didn't seem to know how to interact effectively with their accounts face to face.

Growing up playing sports, we were always taught that one of the benefits is the value of learning to work with others, teamwork. This is still true today, but to add to that I think more than ever sports brings a new element in that it teaches valuable social skills. It always did, but I think the value of this has gone up given how we are such a tech world now and ultimately we can do our jobs and live our lives and never really have that much human interaction if we choose not to.

To quote Kip from Napoleon Dynamite "I love technology...." and I do. We can be more productive than ever and in less time.....but are we being just as effective. We have a customer that comes into our store and his job is centered around the internet and email. The reason he runs and participates in local 5k's is because it gets him out and around others that he can get to know and talk to. In my book, that human value that sports brings far outweighs technology.

Learn from injuries

2009-01-05T17:43:46Z

Everybody gets dinged up every now and again. Now seems to be my time. After training weeks for a half marathon just 3 weeks out I am diagnosed with tendinitis in both my knees. Pain was pretty bad and I am now sitting out the race and playing a supporting role for my wife and friends as they run. But thanks to modern medicine I am already on the mend and targeting my next race.

I see many folks just pack it in when they get banged up. Say well obviously this sport isnt for them. Central Florida Running doesnt always lend to the easiest surfaces on our legs. Our trails are asphalt not hard packed dirt so sometimes we will feel the result. But it is more productive to learn from the injury than just pack it up and go home. For example, I was reminded of the benefits of cross training. I need to spend more time on the bike and doing some weight training to strengthen my legs. This will help strengthen my knees thus avoiding this problem again, but I need to be diligent.

So don't just take your ball and go home, learn from your injuries and get back out there.

Orlando Running in "Winter"

2008-12-03T07:21:33Z

Believe it or not we do actually have Winter in Orlando. Albeit not as cold as many places in the country it does come. However this year it seems we are getting colder weather earlier than normal. Those of us that typically are still our running in Orlando in sleeveless tops and shorts have already dawned the hat and gloves to stay warm. Don't mistake this for any sort of complaining. On the contrary most of us have been enjoying the change and we hope to actually have some cooler weather here instead of our normal 3 to 4 weeks of Winter and then thrust into Spring/Summer.

So for those a bit timid to get out in the "cold" to run, just look at those folks up North out running in snow and ice, and enjoy the fact that running in Orlando this time of year is the best running weather around. So lace up and get out on the roads!

Walking is OK.

2008-11-21T11:00:00Z

Its seems that there are "runners" out there that think if you ever walk during a run you are not a real runner. I find that this could not be further from the truth. As I was out running with our Half Marathon training group last Saturday, I noted to myself that my body was just not feeling up to it and not really responding for whatever reason that day. Although on long runs I typically do take 1 minute walk breaks this was a 7 miler and supposed to be a short run, but I found that I needed to take multiple walk breaks just to get through it.

What I always find interesting when I take walk breaks is that it doesn't affect my time all that bad. Now if I am going out trying to qualify for Boston then I may need to re-think this, however when I am taking walk breaks and my finish time only suffers by 3 or 4 minutes, I can live with that, especially if I am having a bad day. Also as I get older (and I am not that old) I am adding to my running longevity by taking walk breaks because its easier on my legs to offer them a bit of recovery during runs.

I have never been a speed merchant while running. Don't know that I ever will be. But I do know that I have found much more enjoyment in my long runs when I am able to take a short walk break and enjoy my surroundings that much more. And yes, I still consider myself a runner.

What is the best running shoe??

2008-11-14T18:22:31Z

This is a question we get at least once a week if not more. What is the best running shoe out there? The million dollar question. And the answer is.....its up to you to decide. As many of you know that have come into our store, we go through a very thorough fitting process. We look at your arches, watch you walk, and use video gait analysis to further narrow down what would be the best shoe for you. However once we get down to the final choices it really becomes about what shoe fits your foot the best and performs best for you. Some customers will come in and swear to the grave one brand over the other, but the fact is there is alot of good technology out there these days and most of the reputable shoe companies are doing good work in their research and development to put out high quality products. This is why we bring you more than one brand choice instead of just bringing one shoe out and telling you this is the one for you.

There are some stores out there that may advertise they will tell you the best shoe for you, but take that with a grain of salt. What they should be doing is putting you in the right category of shoe, but letting you choose which one you like the best on your foot. That is not to discount any input the seller has, because after all we look at alot of feet in shoes, so there is cause to listen if we watch you run or walk in a shoe and see it may not be working well for you.

The important thing to remember is first get fitted properly. But when you stand in front of the shoe wall keep an open mind to the different technologies each brand brings to the table and try on at least 3 to compare. As I said before, there are alot of really good products out there these days, more than even 5 years ago. So again, what is the best shoe out there.........you fill in the blank.

Red Zone of Training

2008-11-07T18:03:34Z

In the sport of football once the offense gets within their opponents 20 yard line driving to the end zone its referred to as the team being in the red zone. This is because you are almost there but its about to get tougher because the defense is going to step it up to stop you,,,so the question becomes can the offense get to the end.

Over the years I have notice a red zone of training. Training is relative to each person. Some people consider training for their first 5k to be difficult, while others feel the same about a marathon. Regardless I think most people enter the red zone of training. When you begin training, especially if you begin with a group of people, there is this excitement. You have set a goal, you are working with others to achieve a common goal, everything is fresh. A few weeks into training you start to see some improvement in your performance, you are feeling good about yourself. Then you enter the red zone. The red zone is that point you reach a few weeks out of the event and you are sick of training and ready to get to the start line.

This is the real test. Its time to test your mental toughness. Can you push through the red zone to get to the race. Many people will opt to quit. They get tired, think they can't do it and their done. You have to keep a positive mental attitude during this time. Think about all you have invested in yourself, your time, your efforts, and sometimes even money. Think about how far you have come and how little you have left to go.

In Ironman training, a common thought is that the training is harder than the race. I have found this to be true. If you stay committed and get through the training, race day will take care of itself. So next time you enter the red zone of training, tighten your belt, stay positive and get yourself to the race.

Ironman Couple

2008-11-04T04:09:56Z

Ok, as many of you know Amy and I spent the better part of our engagement training for an Ironman while at the same time getting our store up and running. And for the most part our only honeymoon was going to race at Ironman Coeur d'Alene in Idaho. Well it was a bit of a surprise when Lake Mary Life Magazine called us wanting to do a short interview with us about the whole experience. Now most of the time Amy and I are pretty laid back about the whole thing, we enjoy talking about the experience but don't want to cross a line of talking about it too much.

So when Lake Mary Life called I wondered how they found out, and I learned it was a phone call from a family member who shall remain nameless - - (MOM) - - that wanted to brag on us. So at the risk of boasting I thought why not enjoy a little attention afforded us for all of our hard work. So here it is if you are so inclined.

http://www.lakemarylifemagazine.com/viewArticle.php?articleId=1495

Holiday Races

2008-10-25T19:37:50Z

As we get closer to the holidays we will find multiple holiday races popping up everywhere you look. This is a good thing as it brings many people out that would not normally come out to do a 5k event. The best part is there are many choices and distances to choose from. Typically you are always going to find a 5K event (3.1 miles), but some may be fun run type events that are not timed other than the clock at the finish line and the Timex Watch on your wrist, while others may have timing elements to them that allow for age group awards. Either way you cannot go wrong. Central Florida Running season offers some great choices all throughout the December Race time.

So as the holidays approach, look at your local race calendar and choose a race that you and some friends and family can participate. Its a great way to feel better about all the extra food you are eating during all of those holiday parties!