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Your Child's Shoes Do Matter
Maintaining and caring for a child’s feet will benefit their health, mobility and wellbeing throughout their entire lives. It is important to remember that children are not small adults. They are physically and emotionally different and, most importantly, they grow.
The human foot is a highly complex structure, composed of 26 bones working together to allow the foot to adapt to uneven walking surfaces, and acting as a shock absorber with each step. These bones are usually fully hardened by the age of 18.
During a child’s development, the foot can be at risk from injury and deformity due to ill-fitting footwear and great care should be taken with shoe types and shoe fitting. It should be remembered that the foot can not be considered in isolation to the rest of the leg or body. Any postural foot abnormality could have an effect further up the body, altering posture and walking style. This is similar to the way that poor foundations can cause general structural problems and instability to a house.
Fleet Feet Sports provides footwear fittings for youth sizes 1.5-6. Through their biomechanics and gait analysis they will ensure your child is wearing footwear that is proper for their biomechanical needs.
Compression Socks for Restless Legs
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that is characterized by the irresistible urge to move the legs. While the name may sound funny, it is a very real disorder.
These five features must be present for a diagnosis of restless legs syndrome:
- There is an urge to move the legs, usually accompanied by or caused by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs
- The urge to move the legs and any accompanying unpleasant sensations begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity such as lying or sitting
- The urge to move or the legs and any accompanying unpleasant sensations are partially or totally relieved by movement, such as walking or stretching, at least as long as the activity continues
- The urge to move the legs and any accompanying or unpleasant sensations are worse in the evening or night than during the day or only occur in the evening or night
- The urge to move the legs and any accompanying unpleasant sensations are not solely accounted for by another condition, such as leg cramps, positional discomfort, leg swelling, or arthritis.
Compression socks can aid in reducing the feeling of restless legs by applying pressure to the legs.
We carry CEP Compression Socks for both men and women- and whether you are walking, running, recovering from a race, or have restless legs...they work!
Corporate Wellness Program
Does your business have a corporate wellness initiative or an employee benefits team? The staff at Fleet Feet Sports offer free seminars to just about anyone. We often speak during "lunch and learns," to gym classes, YMCAs, health fairs, corporate offices, and medical clinics. Topics can be tailored to your group's specific interests, but often include:Shoe Fit and Comfort during exercise, A Guide to well-FIT Sports Bras, Tips for beginning an exercise program, etc. Please contact Chris Loignon at chris@fleetfeetwinston-salem.com for more information or schedule a clinic at your workplace.
5K..10K..even Triathlons!
Spring training is here for all of your favorite programs!
Want to run or walk your first 5K? Sign up today for our reward winning No Boundaries program. You can register online or in the store!
Have you ever thought of doing more then a 5K? The 10K (6.2 miles) training program is designed to further runners and walkers towards their fitness and running goals beyond the 5K distance. Sign up online or in the store today!
Ready to challenge yourself? Our Tri 101 and Tri4 Women programs will reinvigorate your workouts and you! The sport of triathlon combines swimming, cycling, and running into one complete race of various distances. Sign up online or in the store today!
Lives are Changing through Training Programs!
We've seen it happen time and time again.....one life after another being changed through training programs.
Meet a few of our past participants and read their inspiring stories!
We are Award-Winning!
Just announced! We just won the following 2011 awards for the Triad community, as awarded by Endurance Magazine! Thank you to all our customers and supporters that voted for us!
* Best Customer Service
* Best Running Store
* Best Place to Buy Men's & Women's Apparel
* Best Place to Buy Trail Shoes
We love serving our community! Thank you for recognizing us!
Getting Started In Triathlon
How long is a triathlon?
The sport of triathlon involves swimming, biking, and running. Much like running events, triathlons exist in different distances:
- Sprint: This length of race varies based on race course. The swim is often in a pool (typically 300-500 meters), bike is usually in the neighborhood of 9-12 miles, and run is a 5K.
- Olympic/International Distance: This distance is essentially double a sprint. The swim length can vary based on race course (anywhere from 600-800 meters), and swims are typically in open water. The bike is usually 24 miles, and the run is a 10K.
- Half Ironman: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run.
- Full Ironman: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run.
How much do I have to train to prepare for my first triathlon?
Just like anything, the more you put into it….the more you get out of it. Many people training for their first triathlon are concerned about the number of training hours required to cover three different sports. While it sometimes can be challenging to fit in training for three disciplines, sprint and Olympic distance triathlons can be achieved with just one workout a day. Two-workout days aren’t really necessary until you start training for longer races.
I wish their wasn’t a swim portion. How hard is the swim?
For many of us, we haven’t done ‘laps’ since we were young. Believe it or, for many people, the swim ends up being the easiest part. It is the shortest distance, it’s over first, and goes by faster than you think. With just a little practice, the learning curve on swimming efficiency can be huge. While your first swim workout after 20 years might feel horrendous, if you stick with a consistent swim workout schedule, you will notice big differences rather quickly. Consider that a 300 meter swim takes most people 5-7 minutes. That’s not very long….but still requires some practice before hand. Most people train for the swim portion at their local YMCA.
What kind of gear do I need to compete in a triathlon?
For most races in the area, the gear list below will be sufficient to get you to the finish line successfully! Fleet Feet Sports Winston-Salem can help out with everything but the bike. Our staff is also a great resource to help you choose the right products for your needs.
The Swim:
- Triathlon apparel is your best bet. Triathlon apparel includes tri shorts and a tri top and are designed to be worn the entire race. The shorts are chlorine-safe and have a thinner chamois than bike shorts. It is not recommended that you try to swim in a pair of bike shorts- it will make for a soggy bike ride and run. For guys, in many races it is a race requirement that you wear a top. Also, tri apparel saves you from having to race in a bathing suit and once you get dressed for the race that morning….you never have to change.
- Goggles
- Cap is provided by the race
The Bike:
- A Bicycle: You have a couple of options here. Buy a new bike (entry-level used bikes start around $650), buy a used bike (various costs), or borrow a bike (free!). For your first race, any bike with gears will be fine. It is important, however, to have a bike that fits your body; regardless of the bike you use, you should try it out several times before the race to ensure you are comfortable riding it on the road.
- Bike Helmet: It’s a race rule, gotta have it!
The Run:
- Good pair of running shoes and socks
Other Important Stuff:
- Body Glide: This silicone substance will help prevent chafing during the race. You’d be surprised what a wet pair of shorts can do to your thighs without the right lubrication.
- Race Belt: This saves you from having to pin your race number on your shirt after the swim (afterall, it’s made of paper and you can’t swim in it). The race belt holds your number and you clip it on after you get out of the swim.
- Nutrition: Your body needs some fuel after 1 hour of physical activity! Gels, SportBeans, drinks…you have lots of options.
- Waterproof sunscreen
How do I find other beginners to train with?
The easiest way to find a training buddy is to recruit one of your friends! You can also check out the Triathlon Club of Winston-Salem’s website at www.tricows.com. There are many beginners in the club that would serve as a great resource for you.
Which races are good for beginners?
There are three great races in Winston-Salem that are perfect for beginners:
Ramblin Rose Women-Only Triathlon
Don’t wait too long to sign up! These races are popular with beginners and fill-up fast!
A complete listing of triathlons in the area is available at www.setupevents.com. Set-Up Inc. is the company that times and organizes many of the triathlons in NC/SC/VA.
Why We Don't Use a Foot Scanner
Written by: Stephanie Blozey, Fleet Feet Sports West Hartford, CT
Many people wonder why we don't use a "foot scanner" that you can step on to determine what shoe or insole is right for you. These computerized scanners, which are being installed in drug stores and superstores, show your foot's pressure points and arch type. It's a fancy way of doing the "Wet Test": wet your feet and stand on a surface, like a brown paper bag, that leaves a visible footprint. The wider the band that connects your heel and ball, the lower the arch you have.
Your arch type effects your biomechanics and is an important component of choosing the right shoe for your foot, but it is only part of the FIT story since at least 20% of people's arches act differently than they "should". Here at Fleet Feet Sports, our FIT Process has three main components that help us define your foot and make the best shoe recommendations for you: foot morphology, biomechanical assessment and "other".
Foot morphology is a fancy way of saying that we analyze your foot size, shape and arch type. This is done by visually looking at the foot statically and dynamically (important since you are in motion when you run!) and taking multiple measurements with an old-fashioned Brannock device. This helps us to choose the right size shoe and shoe brand since each shoe company fits a certain shaped foot better. That is why your friend may swear by his Asics shoes, but they cause you pain.
Next, we examine your biomechanics by determining your arch flexibility and doing a gait analysis (either watching you walk barefoot or with our video gait analysis software). This tells us if you overpronate, supinate or are naturally efficient which in turn, governs what type of shoe (neutral, stability or motion control) you need, as well as the curvature of your shoe's last. Key here is arch flexibility since a rigid arch needs extra cushioning to help attenuate the shock produced when the foot hits the ground at forces of 2-4 times body weight. Whereas, a flexible arch disperses shock better, but all that flexibility in the mid and fore foot can cause overpronation which stresses and torques your feet, shins, knees, hips and back causing its own host of problems.
Finally, we take other special considerations into account like your gender, weight, training surface, weekly mileage, injury status, orthotics and structural deviations in the foot like bunions and extra bones. We put all this data together and bring out 2-3 pairs of shoes that we think will fit you best. Don't be surprised if one of those first shoes feels amazing - it means that we did our job right!
When you think about it, the foot is a marvelous structure. It has 28 bones (including the sesmoids), 33 joints, 112 ligaments, plus tendons, nerves and blood vessels that work in unison to support, balance and propel your body. No two feet are exactly the same nor do they always fit into a specific category. Don't cheat your feet and let a computer scan recommend an orthotic or running shoe for you. An injury is going to cost you a lot more, monetarily and mentally, than a good pair of shoes. Invest in your feet. Let our Fit Professionals teach you about your feet and help you find the perfect fit. We guaranteed it!