Bend Blogs » Foot Zone Blog

Foot Zone Blog

• December 12, 2011
• 22:56

  Beware the Offset

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Or at least be aware of the offset. Offsets are the buzz in the world of running shoes. This isn’t new but you’ll soon hear a lot about it. You’ll also see many more options added to the current offerings from Inov-8, Saucony, Altra and Brooks. First, a little context; the offset is the difference in height from heel to toe of a shoe measured in millimeters. Traditionally (at least for the past 30 years) running shoes have been 10mm or 12mm. There have been exceptions in the form of racing flats and in the past decade from the UK brand Inov-8. Now there is an ever expanding selection of 8mm, 4mm, and zero drop (even from heel to toe) shoes.

  So what gives, and why should you care? First of all, you don’t have to care. Many people don’t get injured and are happy with their shoes. Assuming that’s the case, it would be difficult to make a compelling argument that you should change anything. Fortunately, you don’t have to. Most companies have shown no sign that they will change the offset in their franchise shoes. You’ll be able to stick with them and run your brains out.

  Saucony, most notably, is choosing a different path. With the tagline “a new angle on running” they will come down to an 8mm (or less) offset on all new shoes that come out going forward. This will take some time as many of their shoes won’t update until Fall 2012 or even Spring 2013 but within the next 18 months they plan for all their shoes to be either an 8mm, 4mm, or no offset. Even in a time of ample change in running shoes, this is a gutsy move by Saucony. Other major shoe companies are on board. We saw Brooks make a splash in October with the introduction of their Pure project shoes (all 4mm offset) but Saucony’s willingness to move ALL their shoes shows some serious commitment.

  Our take at FootZone is a positive one. This is a lot of hubbub over 2-4mm (if you take the difference from 10 or 12 to 8mm). Look on a ruler, that’s not very much. Saucony feels confident after testing that moving to 8mm will not require break in for the average runner and will improve the ride and stability while allowing for a less emphasized heel strike and encouraging a more natural stride. They would advise that switching to a 4mm or zero drop shoe may require a more gradual transition to avoid calf strain and injury. Based on personal experience and watching many runners experiment with different shoes, we would have to agree. The 8mm offset will not even be noticed by many runners and if they choose, the 4mm offset will also be an option. The zero drop shoes require a bit more patience and practice and for some runners simply feel too strange.

  Of course, the frustrating part of all of this is that there is no science supporting any of it. The idea of natural running makes some inherent sense and appeals to many but has already proven that it’s not simple for most runners. Many are calling for a more definitive study and surely there will be many on that task in labs across the country. Given all the variables of different runners with different histories, foot types, biomechanics, and efficiencies, I struggle to think that we will come up with anything TOO definitive. Regardless, I trust that runners will do as they always have and buy the best running shoes available that work for them. Whatever the slope from heel to toe will be interesting to talk about but will ultimately mean less than our ability to go out and enjoy our run. Cheers-Teague

  
• December 10, 2011
• 21:35

  Back to Bend

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Rob, Melanie, Max and I are just back from Austin, Texas where we attended the Running Event. This is an annual conference and product expo for the specialty running industry. It is primarily a gathering for independent running stores (like FootZone) and the vendors that we buy our product from. This was our third year attending and it is always an opportunity to not only see product for upcoming seasons, but to meet other great people in the industry, learn new things, and share ideas. There are some great running stores out there and many that I greatly admire. As you might expect, all stores share similarities but are surprisingly diverse at the same time. It's not really surprising since running can be really different depending on where you are. Some of that is simply geography and climate. Where there are lots of trails, people run on the dirt and ­runners want trail shoes that don't sell in big cities, while in Florida, warm tights and Yaktrax aren't much of a contemplation. In Bend, it’s difficult to overemphasize how fortunate we are to have so many trails and beauty around us to be explored.

  Perhaps the most interesting thing is that stores really do seem to have a personality. I had another store owner from back East tell me that he had been in FootZone last year while visiting Bend and how impressed he was with our selection but mostly what a great “feel” the shop has. It’s not the first time I’ve had customers and folks in the industry compliment the comfortable “feeling” of FootZone. Of course I beam with a bit of pride when I hear such things but I’m also trying to put my finger on what exactly that “feel” is. Not sure I’ll ever know entirely but I think we have two advantages that I don’t see everywhere.

  First, we live in an amazing community with a very sophisticated customer who places value in something different. Many have chosen Central Oregon over someplace else for a reason and they appreciate what makes this community different from every other place in America. We hope that FootZone is a tiny part of that or at least that the person who is drawn to Central Oregon is also drawn to a local, healthy, fun running store.

  Second, we work to treat our customers with the respect they deserve. Even as I type it, that comes off as a very generic and benign statement but I’m speaking from the perspective of creating a culture at the FootZone where that respect is constantly at the forefront. Sounds easy and in some ways it is but the longer we’re in business and I note all the examples around me, I realize what a complicated thing that “culture” is. First of all, you can’t fake it-- people are smart. Secondly, it is obviously all about the people who work at FootZone and the fact they are good people and very much valued in this equation. I wish I could say that they are all incredibly well-paid and will eventually live well on their FootZone retirement plans. That would be a stretch, but working at FootZone provides a livable wage which is shockingly rare. A decent wage is an important start, but it’s only a start. The essential part is not taking for granted the modest success that we have. Thinking of each customer as an individual deserving our time and respect. We often joke that it would be so much easier to get things done at FootZone if we didn’t have all these customers interrupting us. That ironic twist is what reminds us that the customer is the ONLY thing that matters. Everything else we do is meaningless by comparison. On every level at FootZone, we believe in that idea. We certainly make mistakes but at our collective core is the understanding that we have a simple job to do. If we get people in great products that will help them enjoy their running, walking and fitness, they will keep coming to see us. That gives us the opportunity to work in an environment with fun people supporting the activity we love. Plus, we get to live in a place we want to be. Hopefully, somewhere in there is that “feeling” that we often hear about. Of course, it could just be a great downtown space with brick walls and wood floors. Either way, we’re grateful for the opportunity. Cheers-Teague

  
• September 28, 2011
• 10:29

  Brooks Pure Project

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Brooks launches their Pure Project this week. Marketing blitzes like this can be a bit much and I often meet them with eyes rolled and minimal enthusiasm. However, I'll argue that the Pure Project is a little different, and here's why:
  I've been selling running shoes for the past 20 years, buying running shoes for 15, and owned FootZone for 13 years. I've seen a few things come and go in this industry and always looked to cut the crap and get to what actually means something to my customers. But honestly, in that 10 years the running industry has followed a fairly consistent course. The objective has been to make better fitting shoes that offer cushion and support. Honestly, especially as I look back. there hasn't been much variety. Most of the shoes have been the same offset from heel to toe (10-12 mm) in either stability, neutral, or motion control categories.
  When Born to Run and Vibram Fivefingers came along they introduced many to at least the concept of less is more when it comes to shoes. This got a lot of play in the media and it made sense to people so they started asking for new options. Meanwhile, runners, running stores and vendors started challenging what they've always thought and realized that this isn't just a fad. Minimalism works for many runners. The challenge has been defining what minimalism means to runners and what is sustainable and what isn't when it comes to shoes. I'm well aware that many will argue for purity when it comes to minimalism. I've also watched many ride that bandwagon only to end up back in what allows them to get out for their daily run (minimalism be damned). Seems the holy grail is footwear that borrows from lessons of minimalism but will allow people to log their miles without getting injured. Runners want smooth, simple shoes with a de-emphasized heel but most still want some cush.
  So... Fivefingers made a huge splash and they make great product but it's not most runner's new pair of everyday runners. The Nike Free has been around for years and fits into this conversation (they almost bailed on the whole thing before the minimalist craze boosted it back into the limelight). The shoes are great and have been a valid option despite still being pretty high in the heel. New Balance nailed it with the Minimus Trail as a great piece of footwear that some folks can run in. However most still utilize them as a workout shoe or everyday footwear. I'd argue that Saucony has led the way for shoes that most runners can actually log daily miles in with the Kinvara and Mirage. These are both shoes with a 4mm offset from heel to toe, a de-emphasized heel, plenty of cushion and a very smooth ride. Saucony doesn't get enough credit for being the first to bring to market viable running product that realistically addresses the minimalist ideal for runners in an everyday running shoe.
  Now comes the Brooks launch of the Pure Project. It's relevant because they have a shoe for every type of need (stability wise) all with a 4mm offset and enough underfoot for everyday running. It's also relevant because it's Brooks. They're the strongest brand in specialty running these days and they execute product incredibly well. The whole company oozes the running vibe that most runners relate to and they back it up with consistent product that works for real people.
  We're anxious to see what it means and excited to be included in the launch. Please come and let us know what you think.
  Cheers-Teague
  
  
  
• August 02, 2011
• 19:03

  What's the FZ crew up to?

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Summer is in full swing and the FootZone Crew (Zoners) have been doing the juggling act like all the rest of you. We're fortunate to have a busy shop to take up many of our days but we're also balancing all our active pursuits with family, friends, travel and all the expectations of summer. Specifically, here's what's going on:
  Colleen - Just ran the Speedgoat 50K in Utah with her husband Jason (they rocked it). Now she's planning to just enjoy her running for the rest of the year focusing more on adventures than events. Current Favorite Shoe- Mizuno Ascend
  Rob - Recently moved into a new house. Running, skiing(!) biking and going to South Dakota for his annual “working vacation” on his family’s farm; pouring concrete, building grain dryers, repairing miles of fence following spring flooding, and spending time with his niece and nephews. Current Favorite Shoe- Scott T2C
  Dave-Building a fort for a four year old. Planning a 5k and a trail festival. Hoping to get some miles in so he can run "fast" at some races this fall.
  Chris - Mtn. biking and running pretty regularly and using his new Panini maker a lot. Umm...Oh yeah, he and Tracey got married on July 14th....He's planning to run The Twilight Run and possibly the Dirty 2nd Half. Current Favorite Shoe - NB 101
  Tonya- Recent trip to South Africa for the Comrades Marathon with her husband was the highlight. 56 miles of fun. She continues to be inspired daily by BendFit, the marathon training group she organizes. Next on the schedule is Cascade Lakes Relay and Flagline!
  Nancy- likes to point out while Max is preparing for the Olympics and Colleen is finishing yet another ultra, she's preparing for her colonoscopy (it is what the elderly do!) and sending her last child off to college. She just got back from a great time in Minnesota with the family. I continue to run with her morning running group more days than not. Current Favorite Shoe- Brooks Glycerin
  Max- Just back from a week at Steen's Mtn Running camp where he's inspired every year by what cross country athletes can put themselves through. While up there he was also able to teach Good Form Running to 350 high school runners. Just helping spread the good word. Next it's off to Switzerland for the 19 mile Sierre-Zinal mountain race. Should be a doozy of a climb. 6000ft in 10 miles then it's all downhill after that. Current Favorite shoe - Montrail Rogue Racer
  Jenny- Currently training to be able to push a baby out of her body and eventually two children up Pilot Butte. She and Owen (son) have been on the constant lookout for the BEST playground in Bend (pretty sure we’ve found some of the best ones) current favorites include a park where fresh fat worms are available in abundance and another park where Owen can fly anywhere in the world in a matter of moments. Their locations are top secret however. Current Favorite Shoe- Brooks Ravenna
  Melanie-Training to feel healthy and to really enjoy running by going to the "core". She's realizing that building some true core strength is essential and finding that Pilates is giving her that missing element. Current Favorite Shoe - Saucony Mirage
  Kristy- Watching the snow line religiously....awaiting the opening of Flagline and trying to stay upright on her mountain bike when she's not massaging folks or teaching yoga.
  Kristen- Recently ran the SOB 50k in Ashland. The summer has been lots of camping, pool time, and bike riding. The girls (Kristen and her daughters) roll without Dad as he is very busy training for Ironman Canada- Go Todd! She can't get enough our of the stand up paddle board mania!
  Ryan- Lots of cross training on the road bike and Mt bike to get stronger for running. Looking forward to running CLR for the first time (he's got the costume leg)!
  Marybel- Running Haulin Aspen race this Sunday and maybe the Half at flagline. Current Favorite Shoe- Brooks Adrenaline
  Katie- Chasing around her 2 and 4 year old boys. She's loving helping out with the Women's running group and meeting new people along the way. Otherwise just making time for running whenever she can. Current Favorite Shoe (s) Brooks Ravenna and Cascadia
  Teague- Keeping up with the family and enjoying the trails as much as possible. Summer bustle has made for some inconsistent training but no complaints... too many fun summer activities. Mt. biking has been offering up some great cross training. Twilight 5k, Flagline and Mac Forest are all on the radar. Current Favorite Shoe - N.B Minimus Road
  
• June 07, 2011
• 14:49

  10 Years of the FootZone Dirty Half

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  A little Dirty history... the Dirty Half started in 2002 primarily because there weren't any trail running events at the time in Central Oregon. That seemed borderline criminal in our trail rich community so at FootZone we decided to change that. SuperDave is full of good ideas and he was willing to take the lead on this one. A half marathon seemed like the perfect distance (not too long, but long enough) and there really weren't many mid distance trail runs anywhere in the West. So it began, Dave pulled together a course, got the permits and the first year had about 150 runners.
  The focus was always (and still is) to make this a super cool event for the participants. So many events were really focused on the cause and we thought it would be fun to do one focused on the participant. We always asked ourselves what we would want and tried to make that happen. First, it had to be an interesting, fun course on the dirt (we knew this wouldn't work for all but would really work for some). Second, we wanted awesome technical race shirts with cool logos. Sure, nowadays every event has a tech tee but Dirty Half was the first in Central Oregon. At the time, none of us had done an event anywhere that used a tech tee. The logo was and continues to be the work of Jeff Browning aka Bronco Billy, local ultra runner and graphic designer extraordinaire. Some years we have to pry it out of him with several beers and some logos have been stronger than others but Jeff has always come through. He'll be quick to point out that it was his idea to change the logo every year. It has been a fun part of the event and job security for Jeff. Third, we've always worked to have a cool finisher’s prize, something you could ideally drink a beverage from at the finish line. Some years we've done socks but generally it's been able to hold liquid. Last year was especially cool as we brought in the very first order of SILIPINTS to Central Oregon.
  As far as food, Nancy P's was and is our sought after choice to make copious amounts of finish line treats that aren't skimpy on butter and sugar (two things people seem to like). Deschutes Brewery stepped up in 2006 and started brewing us the Down and Dirty IPA. We almost stopped putting on the race after that because we felt like it could get no better but then we added Taco Stand burritos and Pizza Mondo.
  How about the money? Events are good business these days (and we don’t have a problem with that) but Dirty Half is a bit of a kick back. For the first 4 years we simply put every $ back into the event itself and did our best to spoil all participants rotten. At some point we realized that it was big enough and there was an opportunity to raise some funds for a cool local organization without taking anything away from the runners. Thus, since 2006 all the proceeds have gone to the Deschutes Land Trust. Dave is paid a modest race directing fee for all his work. Up until last year, FootZone paid Dave's race directing fee separately but now 1/2 comes from the Dirty Half and 1/2 comes from FootZone. We hope this all creates a reasonably priced event where you get more than what you pay for and truly support a great cause. We hope the Dirty Half is a little less hype and a little more fun.
  This year the Dirty Half turns 10. We’re like parents who can’t believe how it has grown and even matured a little. The race is still full with 800 + runners like it has been for the past several years (although the Happy Girls Half took some pressure off this year). This 10th year brings a new course. We weren’t especially excited to change the course but through it all, we ended up with a positive relationship with the Forest Service. Change is hard but this is honestly a better course to spread runners out and provide a start/finish that is much more accessible.
  That’s the story; we love this event and appreciate that so many of you do too. It’s great every year to see people getting excited about their first Dirty Half or their 6th. We love it that the fastest runners in town turn out most years while others see completing the Dirty Half as their ultimate running goal. We’ll keep trying to make it great so you can keep coming out and getting Dirty! Cheers-Teague
• April 14, 2011
• 6:30

  Reco-Fit Leg Compressors

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Two weeks ago we were shipped a sample of a full leg compression sleeve and I knew immediately I had to try it out. They were the RecoFit Leg Compressors and I was fortunate enough to get a pair a day before traveling to London for the London Marathon to check out. Well, the verdict (or part of it) is in. They are great.
  
  The reason I liked the concept of the full length sleeve is because I don't like wearing a full pair of tights while traveling. One, they slip down and I feel like I'm sagging like a 17yr old wannabe skater. I just need a flat brimmed hat to wear backward and an over sized T-shirt down to my knees. Two, they're too hot on an airplane while traveling. You never know what the temps going to be. I've used calf sleeves and socks and they're fine but I figured having full leg compression would be more beneficial. So when I saw these, I had to try them.
  I've always had pretty bad swelling in my ankles when I fly and thus my legs feel pretty heavy when I get off the plane. Trying to prevent that I've tried socks and calf sleeves. The socks worked the best as they had compression on my feet and ankles as well as my calves. The RecoFit Leg Compressors certainly helped more than the normal calf sleeves but I did still have ankle and feet swelling since they end at the ankles but it definitely wasn't as bad as not having anything.
  On the size chart I was right between a medium and a small-long. I decided to go with the smaller as I've noticed the RecoFit calf sleeves tend to stretch out a bit after wearing them. They were tight (as they should be) but not constraining. I still felt I could move pretty well in them as opposed to some tights. I was a bit worried about having a muffin top where the elastic band is around the thigh that holds them up but it really wasn't an issue and wasn't uncomfortable either. It did take some getting used to however. Getting them to stay up was a challenge until I figured out that I needed to pull up some fabric at the knee rather than just pull from the top. After that I had no issues with them staying up and they stayed up way better than other compression tights I've tried.
  The thing I like about RecoFit over other compression components is the fabric. It's cool, thin and like a second skin. It has compression zones where compression is needed and allows movement in areas where compression is not needed, such as the back of the knee. And it looks great too. Others I've tried have just been too warm depending on conditions or too movement constrictive to be comfortable.
  One issue I did have with these was that the sticky rubber around the upper elastic band did become somewhat irritating toward the end of the 15hrs of travel. It wasn't bad but I was certainly aware of having to sit on the band for that long. But hey, it was 15hrs of sitting, anything is going to get irritating after that. Moving it around a little bit fixed the problem for a while.
  The legs never feel great after going for a shake out run after a trip like that and more than not, they just feel heavy and terrible. I kept the leg sleeves on for the shake out run and I have to say, this is where I felt the difference. This was the first time I had a full length compression on, usually I'll just have calf compression, and it made a big difference. My legs felt almost normal on the run and much better than usual after an intercontinental flight. They didn't have the normal stiff, heavy feeling the legs usually have.
  The Leg Compressors will definitely be back on for the trip home and I'm betting the legs will be thanking me. These will replace a few other compression pieces in my arsenal just because it's full leg compression but doesn't have the issues of a full tight.
  I can see just slipping these on after races instead of just a calf sleeve and for long travel days for full length compression.
• April 13, 2011
• 12:27

  Pear Blossom Weekend in the Rogue Valley

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  This last weekend a horde of Central Oregonians traveled over the pass to the Rogue Valley to compete in the 35^th running of the Pear Blossom 10 miler held annually in Medford. For me, this race has become a special homecoming each year that I’m lucky enough to run it. It’s got a great following among the community in the Valley that very few races have aside from the major marathons. I love that it gets a front of the sports page preview article in the Mail Tribune the day before the race and a huge front of the sports page photo and two or three individual articles on the event winners the day after. In the Rogue Valley it’s become one of the premiere sporting events of the year.
  

  
  

  As a graduate of Crater High School in Central Point I always followed “The Pear” winners each year and hoped that one day I could return and become one of the lucky few, following in the footsteps of greats like Frank Shorter and Rick Sayre (both “Pear” winners). Now I return each year to see my old teachers, classmates and friends I had growing up there. My old athletic director is the RD and has been for the last 20 years or so. My middle school principal yells out the one mile splits the same as he always has since I first ran back in 1997, and countless others that have been volunteering since I was just a wee lad. I was also fortunate enough to be the recipient of the Pear Blossom Scholarship in 1998 as I went off to college, a fund that goes to four area prep athletes involved in cross country each year. It’s been a great way for the community to be involved and give back to the Valley’s youth runners.
  

  
  

  It’s an important race for me and it’s great to see that it continues to grow and meet the needs of the running community across the state. A testament to this is the number of Central Oregonians that made the trek including this year’s women’s champion Marci Klimek of Bend and graduate of Phoenix HS in Southern Oregon. There was a great group of Footzone Learn to Run Alumni including Jenniffer Smith, Stacy Case, Valerie Walkley, Patti Brown, and Pam Bicart with a few supportive husbands in tow. One of our CORK youth runners, Jessica Cornett, ran a 1:14. How amazing is that for a 13 yr old? And Frans Alajoki, a regular TPGer (Tuesday Performance Grouper) ran a 59:17 for 17^th overall out of 1584 people. And there was still another half dozen or so Central Oregonians that ran that I haven’t mentioned. It was great to see so many familiar faces from the High Desert down in the valley for one of the biggest event of the year.

  
  

  I made the trip over for my 6^th and toughest “Pear” victory. Little did I know that Mike Reneau, a friend and sponsored runner from Corvallis, would show up to give me a great challenge. At 5 miles he had opened up a gap of 1:05 on me and I had to start reeling him in. Picking up the pace I pushed hard to catch him with only a mile to go. I was starting to get pretty nervous with 3 to go and Mike still a good 100m in front of me. With his help we ran the two fastest times in the “Pear” history as a 10 mile race. It was one of the sweetest “Pears” I’ve had the pleasure of running. (pun intended)

  

  -Max

  
• April 04, 2011
• 21:59

  Horse Butte 2011

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  Sunday April 3rd was the 6th running of the Horse Butte 10 miler held on the sweet singletrack Southeast of Bend. The race has built a reputation of a challenging run with a low key atmosphere and some seriously foul weather. Sunday's event had such amazing weather that enough people hung out afterward to eat all the Oregon Country beef hotdogs and drink all the Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale. Wouldn't mind this becoming a tradition.
  I have to call out a serious oversight on my part from Sunday. In my astonishment of the nice weather and all the other stuff that goes with organizing an event I overlooked a course record being smashed. The ladies obviously ate their Wheaties before toeing the line. Overall winner and new course record holder Kami Semick ran a 1:06:26 which seemed fast as I read it at the awards but after things settled down I looked it up and it beat the old mark by almost four minutes. Second overall female Katie Caba also bested the old record with a blistering 1:08:53. Nice job ladies.
  Also want to thank the volunteers who graciously donated their time to the event. Rodger Rudolph who cooked all the dogs. Josh Davis who parked cars, course marshal, and official beer tester/server. Andy Barram and the Boneyard cycling team for parking folks and sweeping the course. Nicole Lang and the Central Oregon Youth running club for organizing and running the aid station and the finish chute. All races would suffer greatly with out the generous donation of time by volunteers.
  Thanks to all the everyone who came out to be part of the race.
  dave
• March 31, 2011
• 20:50

  Summity Track and Field Community Events

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  @font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }.MsoChpDefault { font-family: Cambria; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }

  With a great new track at Summit High School come great new opportunities for Central Oregon runners. Keeping in the spirit of a community track complex, Dave Turnbull (Summit Head Track Coach), is holding a community track event at each of their home meets this season. Next Wednesday, April 6^th Summit will be hosting a community 2 mile race. If you haven’t had a chance to see the new Summit track this is a great way to get an 8 lap tour of the facility. It’s one of the nicest high school track and field facilities in the nation. So come on out. Participation is free and every once in a while its fun to get on the track and see what you got under the hood, so to speak.

  The meet starts at 3:30pm and the community 2 mile will begin at 3:45. Please email Summit coaches Joe Padilla or Dave Turnbull at joe.padilla@bend.k12.or.us or david.turnbull@bend.k12.or.us to enter.

  

  They are also looking for volunteers to help at the track meets, so if you’re there for the race, they would love it if you could stick around and help with an event after.

  We’ll try to keep you posted on the next meet and the next community event. Who knows, for something completely different maybe they’ll even have a steeplechase at one meet.

  Other home meets will be on:

  Wednesday, April 13

  Saturday, April 23

  Wednesday, April 27

  Thursday, May 5

  Saturday, May 14

  
• March 14, 2011
• 14:58

  Merrell and Minimalist March

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  In a post last summer I explained how excited I was when Merrell busted out with the first shot at more "conventional minimalist product". You can read that post HERE (it's at the end). Well, we've had these shoes in the store for more than a month now and I can confidently say, they have not disappointed. There are flashier options out there but relative to most other minimalist shoes, the Merrell Barefoot shoes don't lift the heel relative to the forefoot. Some won't think this is a big deal while others will. Even if that doesn't matter to you, you might appreciate that the Trail Glove and Tough Glove for men and the Pace Glove and Pure Glove for women are as understated as they are comfortable.
  Let's face it, some of you want to try minimalist shoes but don't necessarily want to draw attention to your feet. I'm happy that Merrell has addressed this need. Merrell also recognizes the lifestyle appeal of this footwear and you'll see that in the solid leather Tough Glove and the mary jane style women's Pure Glove. If this is strictly to run or walk or hike in, you'll be happy with the simplicity and function. Buy a pair this month and get entered in our Minimalist March Giveaway. -Teague
• March 02, 2011
• 11:45

  Minimalist March - Going on NOW!!!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  @font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "ＭＳ 明朝"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; }.MsoChpDefault { font-family: Cambria; }div.WordSection1 { page: WordSection1; }

  Welcome to March. Minimalist March. It’s gonna be awesome. In case you haven’t heard, March is minimalist centric down here at the Footzone with minimalist clinics, give-a-ways, and cool new shoes that have arrived just in time to try out in March.

  We, the folks at the Footzone, always say that moderation is the key staying healthy, injury free, and keeping things fun and this is our approach to minimalist running as well. While running barefoot might work for some, we’re well aware that the majority of runners out there won’t need to or even want to. There is a lot more to this minimalist “fad” than running barefoot though. For some it might be getting into a little less of a shoe, something with slightly less structure to it, or lowering the heel height to get a more balanced feel, but not necessarily separating the toes and taking out all the cushion that shoes can offer. For many of us it becomes a tool that we use to strengthen our feet and extra muscles we don’t always think about strengthening, kind of like a workout we do twice a week or so. Maybe most of the time we stick to the shoes we’re comfortable in but for a few minutes a day or 30min twice a week we slip on our new minimal shoes and go out for a quick run focusing on good form, quick turnover, and a light, smooth, efficient foot strike. For some of us still, it just becomes a new approach to daily living. We still want running to be fun and we see this as a good way to keep things interesting. It certainly has here at the shop.

  
  

  We’re kicking off with the Moderate Approach to Minimalism Clinic on Thursday March 3^rd at 6:30 pm with Max King. We will focus on what, why, and how minimalism should be approached.

  Next up are the New Balance Demo Days with the new Minimus line that just came in. These are shoes designed with a less is more attitude with a stripped down upper, midsole, and outsole that allows the shoe to move with your foot naturally as you run. What’s different about this line is that minimal doesn’t necessarily mean less cushion, just a different approach.
  

  
  

  
  

  Throughout March, with every pair of qualifying minimalist shoes purchased, your name with go in the hat for a drawing at the end of the month for some cool prizes. Six pairs of shoes, an iPod Nano, training sessions with Max King, iTunes Gift Certs, just to name a few. Just a little incentive to try out something new.

  And if you haven’t had a chance to get into one of our Good Form Running Classes yet, what are you waiting for. This is the perfect time. The running season is upon us. It’s time to rejuvenate your running with something new to get you out the door. We’ve had great success with these few simple techniques and it’s a great way to get motivated.
  

  

  
• February 19, 2011
• 14:12

  Introducing Max

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Our newest employee here at FootZone is someone you're likely familiar with. His name is Max King and he just so happens to be fast (ok, REALLY fast). Obviously, being speedy doesn't make someone a good FZ employee, in fact it could just make them intimidating. Fortunately, Max is really bright, a great community member, and just an all around good guy. He knows a lot about running and shoes and we're lucky that he wants to work here while he's training hard for the seasons ahead.
  We know Max pretty well around the shop. He's run the Tuesday workout for us and generally likes to come hang out at the Zone. It's only been a couple weeks but we have learned a couple new things about Max since he started: 1. He eats a lot, it must be hard to fuel all those miles. 2. He's not afraid to work hard (not surprising considering his running accolades). 3. He can laugh at himself (pretty much a prerequisite to working at FZ).
  Max will be helping Teague with the footwear buying, doing inventory managment, working on the floor, and helping out with Good Form Running and other community stuff. It's a part time gig so that he can continue to train and race like a madman. We're pretty sure that Max, like many Zoners before him, will make the FootZone a better place. Hopefully we won't ruin him (or slow him down) along the way.
• January 29, 2011
• 12:45

  New Shoes from Montrail, Vibram Five Fingers and Saucony

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  January is sure lively at the FootZone especially with the addition of lot of fun new shoes! The following shoes came in this week and are waiting on the shelves for you to come and try them on.
  
  Montrail- Many of you know that Montrail was purchased years ago by Columbia. This was a frustrating move for many as the Montrail styles of old have slowly disappeared. Honestly, Montrail is one of those lines that always had more aura than they actually had great shoes so, with the exception of the Hardrock (that beefy ole shoe had a very loyal following and a great fit), I can't say the move really broke my heart. The reality is that creating great footwear is an expensive endeavor and I hoped that Columbia could infuse some cash into things and move them forward. Well, the first couple years were tough and didn't produce a single style that really stood out.
  Fortunately, with the new Rogue Racer and Fairhaven, I think we've got some worthy options. The Rogue Racer is a relatively low profile, light shoe that will work really well for efficient runners who want a typical heel to toe drop but generally less shoe underfoot. The fit is snug but opens up in the toe box. Compared to similar shoes on the market, the Rogue Racer has enough protection under foot that it should hold up well to mileage and longer races. Fun as the Rogue Racer is, the Fairhaven* is the shoe that might really gain some traction. This is a supportive trail shoe with a great fit that holds the heel and midfoot but has room in the toebox. This shoe will be great for the runner or walker who needs some added support with a nice fluid right. I expect it to offer another fit option to some of our best selling shoes like the Brooks Adrenaline ASR and 2160 Trail. The Fairhaven has plenty of bounce and isn't stiff enough to be a problem on the roads. All in all, these are both good shoes and great to see that Montrail's best footwear isn't necessarily a flip flop anymore (although we have those too).
  
  From Vibram Five Fingers, we have a couple new shoes and some new colors in current favorites. New are the Komodo and the Bikila LS which are both great additions to the Five Finger collection. The Komodo is directed at fitness and cross-fit type workouts. It has a little substance under foot (comparable to the Bikila) and is secure moving side to side. It's equally appealing for those who want to do a little running in their Vibrams. The Bikila LS is putting a big smile on all of our faces down at FootZone. This running VFF has a lace that makes getting in and out much easier for those with higher insteps. The upper is secure and the laces offer enough flexibility that its going to fit most feet. All we can say is "thank you" to Vibram for this wonderful new fit option that will only enhance the minimalist experience.
  
  Finally, from Saucony, check out the cool color updates in the Kinvara. We had great feedback to this shoe all Fall (even before it was listed as Oprah's favorite). It's great as a second shoe for someone wanting a lighter, more flexible option or a good everyday trainer for the efficient runner.
  Enjoy-Teague
  
  
  
  * Fairhaven is a little neighborhood/ferry terminal in the South part of Bellingham, Washington and is where I first worked at a running store while in College at WWU. So, I have a positive affiliation, but I promise that's not tainting my view of this shoe.
• November 19, 2010
• 12:19

  Dirty Half Course preview

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Right now it looks like the weather will be permitting a course preview on the new Dirty Half course this Sunday morning at 9am. It will also permit you to wear your warm gloves, hat and jacket since it's going to be cold. We will meet at BreedLove Guitar which is the building directly south of the Summit High School track.
  Two options on distance. Either do the whole course, or if you'd rather, there is a simple way to make it 10 miles instead of 13.1 (we'll share that on Sunday morning). We hope some of you will brave the cold and join us. If we do by chance get a lot of snow, check this blog for updates. See you there.
  Cheers-Teague
• October 27, 2010
• 22:05

  Dirty Half Going Forward

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  As most of you have heard the Footzone Dirty Half as we know it is done, over, never to return. After a few really good meetings with the Forest Service we think we have come up with a great alternative. If this has perked your curiosity come join us for a preview of the new digs on Sunday the 21st of November. Meet at Breedlove guitars at 8am. If there is buttloads of snow we will not go so keep checking with the FZ if is going for sure. No aid on this one so bring your water, gels, left over Halloween candy. Or if your running is like mine and you don't have the miles get a last mountain bike ride in before the snow piles up. I will get a map up ASAP so if you can't make the preview you can head out on your own.
  
  Thanks,
  dave
• October 21, 2010
• 16:45

  Learn to Run - Wrapping Up and Starting Again

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Last night was great watching this latest Learn to Run group finish a 5K. Drake Park was spectacular with leaves all changing and some great light. To say that this program has exceeded all expectations would be an understatement. Perhaps even more impressive is the community of running buddies and friends that has developed and continues to build. Yes, this is a program we should have done a decade ago but sometimes you just don't know what you don't know. The groups we're huge in the beginning (probably too big) but have become much more manageable going forward. Certainly the program provides support and motivation but it also offers up the appropriate tangible info to get people going. Connie leads the group through running form and helps create the body awareness that will help make running comfortable and less prone to injury. The "running manual" alone is filled with worlds of running info Huge kudos to Connie for making this program what it is. Her energy and passion for getting folks started is contagious and helps keep everyone going.
  So, what happens now? Well the next program starts up on Saturday at 9am right here at FootZone. It's a 6 week program to get folks ready for the Jingle Bell Run. The Wednesday group run will continue. This group meets at 5:30 for a run every Wednesday that an LTR session isn't in session. All are welcome. Since there won't be another evening LTR session until Spring, you can count on seeing some Learn to Runners at FootZone for all foreseeable Wednesdays. This is a great way to get in an after work run with a group during the darker months.
  
  
  
• October 13, 2010
• 20:50

  Comfort Sale

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  The Annual Comfort Sale is here. This is a yearly sale on all the footwear we carry other than running and walking shoes. Why do we carry those, some might ask? There are a few reasons. Originally it was because we needed something to help carry us through the winter months when we don't sell as many running shoes (back when Bend was only 30,000 people) Anymore, it's because Teague just can't help himself and it's fun to have some perspective on "other" shoes. The two sides actually complement each other quite well and now lots of running specialty stores have branched out into the casual shoe world. We have great lines including Dansko, Merrell, Vibram FiveFingers, Keen, Terra Plana, Bogs, and Chaco. Some are just for fun but others meet the rigors of standing on your feet all day or traveling the world. Running and walking shoes are still where our heart is but great footwear is great footwear and there's a lot of options for 20% off over the next 4 days.
• September 26, 2010
• 11:25

  Flagline 50K Wrap-up

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Results are here
  
  I think if you asked the participants at the inaugural Flagline 50K, most all would say it was a great success. The weather was perfect, not too cold at the start, pleasant on the course, and warm at the finish. The course itself was pretty spectacular highlighted by some extensive time on Flagline and Metolius but even FS road 370 was nice. The course was all runable (doesn't mean we ran it all) but plenty challenging with some good climbs up Flagline and out of Happy Valley on Metolius Windigo. Colleen from FZ took over the aid stations and did it in style. She rallied an amazing group of volunteers and had a full spread of food and essentials to keep all the runners fueled (see cowgirl aid station picture)
  There was a course issue for the first 12 runners near the end as a volunteer thought the course was marked wrong and sent them down toward Todd Lake instead of back up to the Flagline connector. Obviously, a very unfortunate turn of events, but it was an honest mistake. Fortunately, the runners were very gracious and basically worked out the finishing results along with the folks at USATF. SuperDave did his best to make it right by refunding those were led off course and comping their entry for next year. Fortunately, 80% of the runners (myself included) weren't effected since they got it figured out.
  Overall, I come away very appreciative for the time that Dave and all the volunteers put in to make this possible. It's a huge undertaking and lots of hours out there waiting so a bunch of us can go out and test ourselves. 50K is a long way and I'm impressed with everyone out there. Good fun. Thank you and Congrats -Teague
  
• September 23, 2010
• 10:21

  Conservation Alliance - Bend Backyard Collective

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  FootZone is a proud member of the Conservation Alliance and next Tuesday (Sept. 28th) is the Bend Backyard Collective. It's a work party out in Skyline Forest followed by lunch at Shevlin Park.
  
  If you want to join in, please email teague@footzonebend.com asap and we'll make sure they have lunch for you. Should be a good time!
  
  Here's the schedule
  
  8:30am: meet at Shevlin Park (south side of Shevlin Park Road)
  9-12:30: work party at Skyline Forest
  1pm: lunch is served at Aspen Meadow, Shevlin Park
  1-2pm: Conservation Alliance Grantee Fair/raffle/announcements
  
  What to bring: Sturdy footwear, long pants, raingear, sunscreen, warm layers, work gloves, loppers or hand saw (if you have them), water.
  
  
  FootZone (via the Dirty Half, supported by the local running community) has raised $100,000 for the Deschutes Land Trust as they try to create a community forest on much of the forest between Bend and Sisters. This is a good opportunity to get out there and see all of the potential. h
• September 13, 2010
• 11:01

  Flagline 50K

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Map is out for Flagline 50K. You can read Dave's message. Of course it would have been nice to have the map sooner but don't give Dave too much grief. He had a course a month ago but once he was able to get out on it (after Flagline opened) he wasn't happy with it. He kept trying til he got it right and now it's a sweet 50k course that Central Oregon can be proud of. Colleen from FZ has stepped in to take over the aid stations. She's a veteran of 18 ultras herself and is putting together a group to make sure everyone is well taken care of. So, a little late, but this is all shaping up to be a great 50K. If you've got those miles in your legs, come and join the fun!
• September 10, 2010
• 9:05

  Just get out the door

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  This morning I get to steal a few hours for a long run up in the mountains. Part last long run before the Flagline 50K, part just taking the opportunity before the snow flies. The summer came late and feels like it's leaving early but that's how it usually goes in our High Desert home. I love fall and have no problem with the cold mornings and unsettled weather but it does make it a little harder to motivate. This is that time of year where I'm happy to have years of running in my body so I know to just get out the door. Just get out the door and you'll be happy you did, you'll remember there's no bad weather, just wrong clothes. Just get out the door... and have fun. Cheers-Teague
• August 09, 2010
• 9:00

  Haulin Aspen Race Results

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Are here!
• July 31, 2010
• 16:31

  Cascade Lakes Relay

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  We're happy to report that both FootZone teams in the Cascade Lakes Relay had a great time (relatively speaking) and were all smiles at the finish line.
  The FootZone/Rebound/MountainHardwear team rocked it. They're a fast crew and won the relay for the 3rd straight year. We're proud to have this crowd wearing the FootZone name. Partially because they're fast. but mostly because they are such a quality group. They're real people in the community raising kids, teaching kids, working in the medical field, banking, researching, etc. They're so fun Jill Gozdowski came all the way back from teaching in Italy so she wouldn't miss out. Just so happens that they're fast and willing to work at it... Very stong work!
  The "In the Zone" team is headlined by Melanie and Tonya here at FootZone. Sure, they might have organized this just to get out of the bulk of the sidewalk sale but we won't hold that against them. Actually, this is their second year and they ran great and had lots of fun (despite the expected hurdles). Again, just a great group of people out there running through the night. Oh yeah, they're super fast too. They finished a more than respectable 27th overall and looked pretty fresh at the finish sitting under a shade tree eating pizza and drinking beer.
  
  Great job by all and thanks for helping to give the FootZone a good name. We've received lots of thanks from these folks for supporing their teams but I'd say "Thank You" to all of them for being so worthy (not to mention all the support they've given us over the years). Cheers-Teague
• July 27, 2010
• 17:56

  Green Lakes Trail is (almost) clear of snow!!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  The word on the trail is that with exception to a few patches of snow, a couple of mildly-swift creek crossings, and "don't worry you can outrun them" mosquitos, the Fall Creek to Soda Creek (AKA Green Lakes Loop) is OPEN!!! It's one of our favorite trail runs, encompassing 12-ish miles of some of the most beautiful scenery with expansive views of Broken Top and South Sister. Enjoy!
  
  
• June 28, 2010
• 13:46

  Dirty Half Pics

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Check it out if you're interested in some Great Dirty Half Pics
• June 24, 2010
• 21:24

  Montrail and Merrell

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  I just spent a couple days in Portland seeing some lines and attending a buying show. My trip started off with a beautful run in Forest Park. If I had to live in a heavily populated area again, I think being close to those trails would sure ease the pain.
  
  Next was a visit with the product crew at Montrail. This brand has been a bit of an enigma for me ever since they were acquired by Columbia (OK, even before they were acquired by Columbia). Montrail to this day has some cache as a trail brand despite the fact that they really haven't put out anything all that spectacular for some time. Some would say they never have, but shoes like the Vitesse, Leona Divide and Hardrock were at least so unique and loved enough by some to make Montrail legitimate. The thing Montrail always did was sponsor trail runs and ultra runners before that was popular, thus they will forever be dear to some hearts. So, we've carried Montrail for 14 years but the last 3 have been mighty lean. They're starting to have a little success with a couple shoes but generally, they suffer by comparison to the other trail shoes out there. I wanted to go and meet with them for a couple reasons: 1. They have a tremendous product team in place with lots of guys who really understand the running market and have been involved in executing some great shoes with other companies. 2. So far, I haven't seen that team putting out the caliber of product I would expect.
  
  Well, I found out that there are some shoes coming. Those hoping this will be the Montrail of old can forget about it. These guys don't plan to make any ultra stout, borderline bricks anymore. However, they do have some pretty runable shoes coming for Spring 2011. The new Fairhaven isn't necessarily going to wow anyone but is probably the best fitting, most approachable product from Montrail in years. The upper fits extremely well and the ride is simple and good. This is a fairly typical stability shoe but the ride is really balanced and they didn't mess too much with the midsole/outsole so it seems to transition really well. The Rogue Racer is a shoe they've been working pretty closely with Max King on and it's good (not great). It fits like a track spike and has a simple, fairly low profile platform that again, transitions pretty well. My only complaint is that the platform doesn't marry the upper all that well. It probably should be a little more flexible and pliable. Still, this is a worthy addition. All in all, I'm encouraged that Montrail is heading in the right direction. I'd love to think they could be a viable brand for us again.
  
  Moving on to the show wasn't quite as much fun. It was less running product and more casual brands. Little did I realize I was in for a surprise. I've been wondering who would take a more conventional approach to what Fivefingers has started (ie. make a regular looking shoe that is ultra minimalist). I know Inov-8 has some great product for Spring 2011 but was surpised to find that Merrell is right in the mix. There's a backstory here. Merrell is one of the brands that Vibram approached to manage/distribute FiveFingers but they said no (along with several other companies). Well, Vibram has gone back to them and contributed their minimalist expertise to help Merrell execute some great looking product for Spring 2011. The key product is a seriously minimalist active/running shoe with a great fit and decent look. This product just makes a lot of sense and I can't wait to have it in the shop (See Photo of Men's and Women's style). They're also making a Men's casual/leather style and a women's Mary Jane that are great in different ways. They'll be a nice option for those seeking that minimalist lifestyle who don't want to have to talk about their shoes everytime they go to the grocery store. It was a good trip, I love new product and am glad to see that some new (old) players might soon be in the mix. Cheers-Teague
• June 21, 2010
• 9:57

  Weekend Wrap-Up!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  A few shout outs this Monday morning--
  
  First off, nice work to all who participated in the Redmond's Dry Canyon run! It sounds like it was a fun event. The results are posted at www.time2race.com
  
  We also wanted to congratulate Max King for his performance this past weekend in Gorham, New Hampshire for the USA Mountain Running Championships. Max came in 5th overall in a challenging course which ran 7.6 miles from the base of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, up an "unrelenting 12 percent grade to the 6,288-foot summit!" [www.usatf.org]
  
  Finally, a great job to Bendites Jeff Browning and Ashley Nordell in completing Wyoming's Bighorn 100 mile race. Jeff was 3rd overall with a time of 20hrs. 34 mins, and Ashley was the 1st female with a time of 23hrs 49 mins. Wow! It gives me a sideache and blisters on my feet just thinking about it!
• June 14, 2010
• 6:37

  DH 2010

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Just wanted to take a second and thank some folks for helping pull off another great Dirty Half yesterday. Yes the day is for the runners and there were many great accomplishments that were made along side some blistering records set. But everyone who ran yesterday should be aware so some great efforts behind the scenes by very kind and hard working folks that make the day a success.
  
  Lea Hart with her daughter Denali pulled off a great registration process and packet pick up. Lea puts a ton of work into the DH and has made the race better by keeping me largely out of the registration process. She kept everyone in right spots and kept track of over 90 transfers which isn’t easy.
  
  Jason Mattox aka Assbag. For the past 6 years he has been my right hand set up man. Loads the van, unloads the van, marks course, sets up PA, pre rides course, and everything in between. He had some 10+ hour days and never complains.
  
  Lisa Bagwell and her husband Gary from the Deschutes Land Trust did a great job organizing all the volunteers. This is a very important job that made my job easier and the race better since the Land Trust has taken it on.
  
  Drew Holmes the guy has followed all the runners on his bike and picked up course markings for the past two years.
  
  Curt Ringstad and Tonya Littlehales have done stellar jobs organizing aid stations over the years.
  
  My mom and dad for organizing the food tables every year.
  
  Mitch Thompson and his wife Janelle for meeting me out at the start at 5am to help with set up and course pre ride.
  
  Mike Smith who donated his time and sweet 83 Toyota truck to get all the garbage and recycling to the Knott transfer station.
  
  And to all the folks who names I can’t remember but took care of the following jobs
  Parking, shuttles start line, finish line, aid stations, bike corral, and beer garden, finish area water, bag drop, clean up, and prize distribution.
  
  Without these people donating time the Dirty Half would not be what it is.
  
  Thank you,
  Dave
• June 09, 2010
• 20:42

  Good Form

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  It was a late night at FootZone last night. That's not uncommon for the second Tuesday of the month when Steve Leary is at the shop. He and I often find ourselves chatting long after the last customer has left talking about biomechanics, running form, shoes, injuries, etc. Last night, Steve did a clinic for USAFITBend. A couple months ago, he did a great running form clinic for the entire FootZone staff. We appreciate his knowledge and his time.
  
  I think its fair to say there has been a shift in how runners think about form in the past few years. The pursuit of better form has generally been associated with getting faster. Nowadays, there is unbelievable interest in improved form to reduce injury, increase enjoyment and hopefully allow us more longevity as runners. Surprisingly, there aren't that many resources out there to help improve form. There's lots to read and take in online but as far as nuts and bolts help with making form more efficient, not that many people feel qualified. Coaches know some drills and certainly understand principles of training and how to apply those but generally that's for people who are already pretty efficient in their running. So the question: should you try to mess with a runner's form? There's plenty of debate on this but the convential wisdom has shifted form "probably not" to "probably". You can't take everyone and just make them a midfoot/forefoot striker. However, you can probably apply some very basic ideas and create improvement for most runners.
  
  This is something I'm pretty engaged with these days. People want to run for health and fitness and they want to get better at it. Lot's of folks across the nation have come into running who didn't grow up with it. Some of them didn't grow up with activity at all. The struggle is that to truly improve form you really have to be balanced and have enough strength to engage the core. That can be a struggle for the decades long runner and the new runner alike. Like so many things, there is no magic pill. However, I do think there are some opportunities to improve the information that's available. Stay tuned...Teague
• May 24, 2010
• 11:16

  Dirty Half Info

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Here is a link to the Dirty Half website. It has important race information regarding the race such as corse map, participant list, and lots of other stuff.
  
  DIRTY HALF LINK
• May 22, 2010
• 10:00

  Chi Running Chi Walking Clinic Postponed

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I just received a call from Keith McConnell and we are going to have to postpone the Chi Running/Chi Walking clinic for another weekend. Unfortunately, Keith is under the weather and not able to make it over from Eugene. Keep an eye on our events calendar [www.footzonebend.com] for the rescheduled date. In the meantime, here's a link to his website to offer you more info: [www.drkeithcoach.com]
• May 21, 2010
• 11:32

  Wild Canyon Games June 4~6

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  If anyone has ever been interested in participating in a geocaching event the WILD CANYON GAMES will be help on JUNE 4-6. It's a 7 member team event and they are looking for key athletes that can represent Bend and that will bring back the word to the community how AWESOME this event is!!
  
  There are over 400 athletes from the Northwest signed up, but not very many from Bend and they have a free spot for a runner ($400 VALUE- ROOM, BOARD, EVENT & CONCERT on Saturday Night). If you're interested the local team needs to fill the spot ASAP- so if you know of anyone that would be great, or even runners that know how to geocache, they need 2 more geocachers/runners too!!
  
  If you're intertested please call or email Nancy at the contact info below. She emailed me this morning and needs to fill the spot immediately. Here's the website for more info:
  www.wildcanyongames.org Check out the video too... Uff dah!! Good times.
  
  
  Nancy's contact information is:
  Nancy J. Hackbarth
  nancyjohack@yahoo.com
  2514 NW Goodwillie Ct
  Bend, OR 97701
  (541) 390-8379
• May 20, 2010
• 10:46

  Strengthen Your Feet!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  We had a great clinic at our employee meeting last month from Deb Bowen at Rebound Pilates. She's had a lot of issues with her feet and has great exercises to help strengthen the feet, reduce injury, and improve balance. We understand that most aren't thinking about stronger feet for your running, but you probably should be. If your feet are functioning and firing your going to be a more efficient runner. Anyway, we all loved her clinic and she's kind enough to come and do one for all of you! This Saturday, May 22nd at 9am join Deb here at FootZone for a free foot strengthening clinic. Staying healthy long-term as an active person is a bit of a puzzle and this is one of the pieces. Come and check it out!
• May 17, 2010
• 19:38

  INOV-8 Wear Testing Tomorrow

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  If you're interested in trying out some Inov-8’s tomorrow night, here’s the skinny:
  
  This is for folks who are interested in purchasing a pair of Inov-8’s. The whole idea is that Inov-8’s really are a little different than other shoes so this will give you that chance to try them out before you buy. If you try them and don’t like them, we get to send them off to Inov-8 for wear testing. If you try them and do like them, you buy them and enjoy your new shoes. We want everyone to try the shoes but out of respect for Inov-8, we ask that you do so in good faith.
  
  If you are interested, try to be at FootZone around 5:15 to get sized up and ready to go. Stock is limited so first come, first serve. We're doing this in conjunction with the Tuesday workout but you don't have to do the workout in order to try the shoes. You can just go for a run if you'd rather.
  
  Plus… We’ll have some Inov-8 goodies and a pair of shoes to raffle off. YeeHaw!!!
  
  
  We have several different styles including…
  
  Talon 212 – This thing is super light with great traction and a surprising amount of cushioning (for how light it is). Great minimalist trail shoe, trail racing shoe or TPG Drake Park shoe. Built on the Inov-8 2 arrow midsole which is the lowest, lightest one they offer. This is Teague’s favorite and gaining traction as possibly the premier minimalist trail shoe out there.
  
  Roclite 295 - You get a touch more shoe here (83 grams more to be exact). The 295 is built on the 3 arrow midsole giving it a little more protection under foot. It has the sticky rubber outsole and a more accommodating fit in the forefoot. Lots of folks could use the 295 as a lighter trail option, an everyday trail runner, or a racing shoe.
  
  Roclite 268- This is the women’s fit of the shoe above. Most of Inov-8’s shoes are unisex so it’s good that they came out with a women’s specific option.
  
  Terroc 330 – Our beefiest Inov-8, the 330 is still pretty low to the ground and nimble but has a lot of protection underfoot. This is a great running shoe for many and doubles as a solid hiker for the low profile, nimble crowd.
  
  F-Lite 220 - This is basically the same as the 212 but with a different outsole. Unfortunately, Inov-8 is out of stock in this shoe so our sizes are a little spotty but it’s one to keep in mind if you want a minimalist offering without aggressive tread or a great low profile workout shoe.
  
  If anyone has any questions feel free to contact teague@footzonebend.com
• May 14, 2010
• 18:39

  Brooks Symposium

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Sorry for the pitiful blogging of late. Busy Spring which is great... but that's no excuse. Colleen and I are in Seattle right now for the Brooks Symposium. They bring about 50 specialty running stores up for the weekend to learn and have some fun. We just spent the day at the Brooks HQ and had a ball seeing new product (for Spring 11), learning more about biomechanics, seeing all our friends at Brooks and drinking some of the kool aid.
  
  Brooks is a cool company in many ways. Great work place, good people but most importantly, they make great shoes. The new product looks great and it's fun to see some of their development process. It's very involved and shows why they consistently execute such great product. Lot's of great product but I'm most excited about a new Cascadia that's a full ounce lighter with a phenomenal fit. I hear it's beautful in Bend, hope you're enjoying it.
  
  Run Happy! (Brooks catch phrase)-Teague
• April 04, 2010
• 16:48

  Horse Butte 2010- Kickin it Eastside

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  It all looked pretty shaky on Friday when the snow was falling and it looked more wintery than most of Winter. Fortunately, despite our collective trepidation, Saturday was pretty nice out at the ole Horse Butte 10 miler. Many of you know that we hold HB in the highest esteem. It's not flashy, you have to pass the dump to get there, and the area probably gets more traffic to shoot guns than it does to run or ride. Oh, and there really hasn't been a single pleasant spring morning for this event in all it's years. Even so, it brings out a hearty crew for some great single track and a fun early season trail run. Several years ago we introduced the Oregon Country Beef hot dogs and are proud to have converted a few vegetarians (not that there's anything wrong with that) and generally increased the caloric and fat intake of the local running community. Sidenote: if you ever go purchase these on your own, DO NOT look at the nutritional info.
  
  As for the run, this had to be the best year yet. The weather was decent, the course was perfect, the finisher prizes were homemade by Kathy Harshburger, and the hot dogs and beer were good as ever. Oh, and the race was pretty interesting to boot. The long awaited Max King/Andy Martin race finally took place. Max came out on top, got a course record, and had a great get up (or is that gitty up). Obviously no shame in any of that. Max is fast, Andy is fast, but still fun to see them go head to head. Paul Parsons was third overall and fourth place Masters which earned him a custom embroidered Horse Butte Snuggie (got to love SuperDave). Kudos to Jeff Browning for taking 4th and for riding his bike out there.
  
  On the ladies side it was quite the finish with Kristen Riley taking first only seconds ahead of Amy Freeman. Both of these women have pretty strong FZ links since Kristen works at the shop occasionally and Amy is Rob's fiancee. Ahna Jura had a strong 3rd place finish and Connie Austin took the honors in Master's (complete w/snuggie). The snuggies we're great but Max and Kristen did both walk away with embroidered western shirts (more great SD touches)
  Of course, those are just the fast folks and there are great stories all around. Everybody seemed to be smiling at the finish (or at least a few minutes after they finished).
  Check out our Facebook page for more pics. Thanks to all the volunteers, to SuperDaveand Superfit Productions for an awesome event. We're proud to be a part at FootZone and excited to have that first trail run of the year under our belts. Bring on the Rumble. -Teague
• March 12, 2010
• 21:49

  Claudia Williams ...

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Claudia Williams is a member of the Winter Learn to Run program and running her first 5K tomorrow at Grin and Bear IT! As if that's not enough, her daughter, Emily Rideout left her three young kids with her hubby in Virginia and flew out to support her mom (and run with her) in her first 5K. Way to go Claudia and Emily, we'll be cheering you on tomorrow.
• March 07, 2010
• 19:37

  Barefoot/Minimalist Training Panel Discussionbv

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
• March 02, 2010
• 14:25

  Dirty Half Sign Up Party!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Wednesday Night at 6pm swing by the FootZone for our Dirty Half Sign Up Party. You can sign up for the DH, have a beverage, enter the raffle and share in the excitement. Registration started yesterday and its off to a strong start. Will it last through the end of the month? We'll see. Hope to see you tomorrow - Cheers - Teague
• February 22, 2010
• 13:25

  Running Sale this Wed-Sunday

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  We only do this once every year!
  
• 10:26

  Horse Butte 10 miler online

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  For those who haven't heard or were wondering where the registration forms for Horse Butte are here you go. We are using signmeup for this years race. There will also be a printable form on www.foootzonebend.com soon. Use this link to get signed up online.
  
  Peace out,
  dave
• February 18, 2010
• 9:50

  Strength Workout at WRP

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Just a reminder that the FootZone Functional Fitness workout will be a Kyle's studio (WRP) for at least the next several months. It's Thursday evenings at 6 pm. The move is simply because the group has gotten big enough that we just don't have enough space in the shop. We'll likely move it back once the weather turns and we can get outside. This workout will kick your butt but after a few weeks, you'll start to get in the groove. I really do believe that this, or something like it, is very important for runners. That's why we offer it up. Enjoy-Teague
• February 15, 2010
• 19:48

  Minimalist/Barefoot link

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  For any of you out there fascinated as I am with Minimalist/Barefoot information, here's a good new link. It's not really new info but it puts the lingo from the Liebermann study (the one that's gotten so much press) into a little simpler format.
  
  Now that we've got almost 18 months of selling fivefingers under our belts, we suggest more than ever that if this interests you, please proceed with caution. Most folks seem to underestimate how much time it takes to transition to less of a shoe (or fivefingers, or going barefoot). For many it just doesn't seem to work very well regardless of the time they take and for others it can be a fairly smooth transition. We're all different and all the situations are different (and running shoes work really well for lots of folks). Thus, enjoy the info but be sure to trust what works for you. Whatever your level of interest, know that we're here to help. Cheers-Teague
• February 11, 2010
• 22:06

  Recovery

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  In the past few weeks I've been reminded just how important recovery is and how few take advantage of the opportunities to improve it. I've watched some good friends and VERY active people sample their first recovery drinks. Inevitably, they are amazed at how well they work and I am amazed that they've never used a recovery drink before. You've probably heard how important it is to hydrate, replenish some carbs, and get some protein within 30 minutes after a workout. The question is: do you do it? There are lots of reasons that we don't. Often, I think it's simply because we don't feel like it. When you get done with a hard workout the last thing you want to do is drink a shake or eat some food. I understand, but highly encourage you to keep experimenting until you find something that works for you.
  Several of us at the shop are addicted to Hammer Recoverite but there lots of options both in the powdered and real food form. I like something liquid simply because my body can absorb it so effectively and quickly. We have lots of conversations about why this works so well and we know that it's the carbs and protein but are equally convinced that it's just so important to get something into your body during that crucial window. That jump start on recovery makes it so much easier to continue hydrating and you'll feel a difference both immediately and the next morning. Despite being likened to drug dealers, we've been known to offer up a sample so come on by and test it out for yourself after your next challenging workout. Cheers-Teague
• February 04, 2010
• 20:08

  Horsey Butt

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Well Dave finally got of his #%$ and put Horse Butte on signmeup so you can use the world wide web to register while saving at least part of a tree that has already been cut down and made into paper. We will also have a PDF on the zone website as soon as dave recovers from his sudden bout of motivation. Go to this Link to be directed to the registration site. This years race will be great as always with the post race BBQ, Good beer (Deschutes), bad beer (some really expensive macrobrew), and a special surprise for anyone who crosses the finish line.
  

  Keep your eyes open for a course preview sometime before the race. Barring terrible weather Dave says he will organize one sometime in March and 60% of the time he comes through 100% of the time.

  Peace out!'

  FZ

  
• January 18, 2010
• 9:39

  LEARN TO RUN SOCIAL --- TUESDAY 1/19

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  This is a reminder that our Learn to Run Social and Fitness Open House is tomorrow, Tuesday, January 19th beginning at 6pm at the FootZone.

  We continue to receive kudos from the first two sessions of Learn to Run and we're thrilled to have the next session starting soon! The social will offer you the opportunity to learn more about:

  • The Learn to Run program at the FootZone
  • The Learn to Run Dirty Half Training Group (NEW)
  • Several other fitness programs designed to compliment your running/walking routine (NEW)
  • And most of all..
    Provide camaraderie, encouragement, and FUN!!

  We will have complimentary wine and snacks, store discounts and a raffle!
  6pm - 6:30 Social
  6:30 - 6:50 Program Descriptions
  6:50 - 7:30 Social and Q and A
  
  Sign up for the next session of the Learn to Run class starting Saturday, January 30th .
  Please RSVP to Connie Austin conzaustin@gmail.com
  Questions? Contact Connie 728-7120 or call us at the FootZone 317-3568

  
• January 12, 2010
• 13:59

  Garmin FR60

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Interested in knowing how far you run? Don't want to spend the money on a GPS enabled system? Garmin has you covered with the FR60. It does everything the 405 does except map your activity and give you elevation. Other than that you get all the bells and whistles at a very reasonable $199.00. The footpod from the FR60 will fit in Nike + enabled shoes as well as Adidas MyCoach. Next time you are downtown come in and check it out.
• January 07, 2010
• 18:00

  Cascadia 5

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  The Brooks Cascadia 5 in in the house. Still a great fitting shoe built for trail from the ground up. Come check them out and let us know what you think.
• January 02, 2010
• 12:22

  SALE!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  It's ON! Come check out our winter sale with savings up to 40% off.
• December 30, 2009
• 18:18

  Winner!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  The December drawing for a $100 gift card to FootZone was won by William Johnson who will from here on be known as "Lucky Bastard". Not only did he win this contest but he also won a free slot into the Dirty Half at the party last March. Way to go Will....Lucky Bastard!
• December 21, 2009
• 13:53

  Queen Bee Bags

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Faux leather, cute styles, and it's the bag that all the Footzone ladies have on their list.
• 12:21

  'Tis the Season!!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  It's that time of year when the 2010 models are arriving. We've had the Asics 2150 and Kayano 16 for a little over month and the consensus is that both are even better than last year. From Brooks; the Adrenaline 10 has been here for a couple of weeks and customers who've worn previous models are loving it! The updated Glycerin and Trance came in last week-- good stuff!! C'mon in and try'em. Here's photos of the Trance 9 and Glycerin 8.
  Keep running,
  Rob
• December 08, 2009
• 9:18

  California International Marathon & Xterra Worlds!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Congratulations to Liz Fancher and Dave Webster on great runs this past weekend at the California International Marathon. Both Dave and Liz have been putting in a lot of hard work and it's nice to see it paid off; Dave was 2nd place in his age division completing the race in 2:57:27 and Liz ran a 3:58:26!! All the results are here: [runcim09.flashresults.com]
  
  And, although the weather must have been shocking for his return to Oregon and he'd much rather be running on a beach in Hawai'i, way to go Max King for being the XTERRA world trail running champion for two years straight. Max ran the 21K (half marathon course) in 1:14:26! The results are here: [jtltiming.com]
  
  

  Congrats to all of you!

  Keep running, Rob
  

  
• December 07, 2009
• 12:52

  Brrrrrrrrrrr! (but you can still run)

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Here's a link to a Runner's World article on running in the cold. It's a good read and will remind you that you can still get your run in on these bitter cold days. Be sure to stay hydrated, dress appropriately, use Yaktrax and carry a cell phone in case something does happen (bad fall, etc). Generally, just be prepared and enjoy the adventure. This is why we live here, right? Cheers-Teague
• December 03, 2009
• 18:12

  I LIKE PIE SHIRTS

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The shirts are here! If you ordered a shirt come on down and pick it up.
• November 30, 2009
• 19:54

  Fast Local Elvis Impersonator

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The exerpt below is from an article about the Seattle Marathon last weekend. This is the same Ian who's been a mainstay at the Wed Noon Run and Tuesday workout for the past few months. Who knows what else we'll learn about him. Nice work!
  
  The men's sixth-place finisher, Ian Sharman of Bend, Ore. (2:42:53), crossed the finish line wearing a high-rise pompadour wig and lightweight white jumpsuit. His time allowed him to reclaim, he says, the Guinness world record for the fastest marathon by a runner dressed as Elvis.
  "I won't do an impression, though," Sharman, 29, said with a laugh.
  Sharman, a London native, had previously held the Elvis-marathoner record but lost it to another runner. Sharman needed to break 2:49 to reclaim the mark. "I'm really happy," said Sharman, who has previously run as Elvis in London and Rome. "The wig makes it a little more difficult; it catches the wind when it picks up,"
• November 29, 2009
• 9:16

  Scientific Study on Something You Probably Know

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Check out this NY Times article. It's a good reminder for all on how exercise makes us less anxious. Cheers
• November 28, 2009
• 13:45

  Pie Run Mania

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Wow! Thanks to all who ran, walked, made pie and helped out with the I LIKE PIE run. The stats: ~ 550 runners and walkers, 73 pies, more than $3000 and 3000lbs of food donated to NeighborImpact. It gave us all the warm fuzzies to see the community come together for some exercise, pie, and a great cause. This is our third year for I LIKE PIE and it has more than doubled each year.
  
  Special thanks to Gerry Lopez (surfing legend, husband of Toni), Priscilla Welch (winner of the 87 NY marathon and amazing masters runner) , Linsey Corbin (grew up in Bend, just finished second at IronMan Arizona where she ran a 3:04 marathon after all that swimming and biking) and Bob Woodward (Local and outdoor industry icon, former mayor of Bend).
  
  We know we can improve the Pie Baking Contest and hope to enlist the COCC culinary school to lend it some credibility. I had the pleasure of dishing pie for about 90 minutes and let's just say there were some over-the-top good pies. Cheers-Teague
• November 24, 2009
• 9:33

  Coneheads!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  With the recent blanketing of snow and an itch to get out of the routine we decided it was time to work off those pre-Thanksgiving calories and make some turns on the Cone. We hiked on both Sunday and Monday; both days reminding me how much of a contrast the weather at Mt Bachelor can be. Sunday there was almost no visibility (wind gusts exceeding 50mph) and on Monday we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! I bootpacked and Amy skinned (she's a little less stubborn than me.. and/or just smarter). Either way, we both earned our turns leaving us smiling hiking up and skiing down!
  
  
  
  This year Mt Bachelor has changed it's policy on uphill travel so check out the link at the bottom of this page before you go.
  
  Have a Happy Thanksgiving and keep running...and skiing, and biking!Rob
  
  
  [www.mtbachelor.com]
  
  
  
  
• November 23, 2009
• 11:44

  Ironman Arizona

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Here at the FZ we have had a few folks training relentlessly for a really long triathlon down in Arizona. Tonya her husband Geof and FZ customer Richard Arnold have been gunning for this event all summer. For those who don't know what an Ironman triathlon consists of here is the run down. Start off with a 2.4 mile swim, follow that with a 112 mile bike ride, and finish of the day with a 26.2 mile run. Whew.
  I hope they had fun and judging by the times it looks like they were cookin' with gas. Here are the results.
  Tonya Littlehales 12:14:59
  Geof Hasegawa 11:46:04
  Richard Arnold 15:49:47
  
  Congratulations on finishing strong at Ironman AZ!
• November 17, 2009
• 10:56

  I Like Pie update

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  This Thursday, Nov. 19th is the last day to sign-up if you want a tee shirt. Entry fee is a recommended $5 donation to NeighborImpact and 5 cans of food. You don't have to sign up in advance, but it helps us plan if you can. Shirts are $10. So far we have over 100 registered, 16 pies and Gerry Lopez (yes, that Gerry Lopez) and Priscilla Welch (87 NY marathon winner, etc.etc) as celebrity pie judges. Yes, we are enthused.
• November 15, 2009
• 20:23

  Last Week (and most weeks)

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  This past week sure felt like a pre-cursor to winter and made us happy for all we had going on here at the FZ. This is part recap and part reminder to pay attention because every week there are fun opportunities to get some activity with others. With the exception the the PF Clinic, these all happen every week.
  
  Tuesday-
  TPG workout -The Tuesday workout with Max King still draws a great crowd despite the dark and plummeting temps. If your goal is to get faster, this can sure help.
  Ask the Experts- People are often surprised to hear that we have someone in the shop almost every week to help them with their ailments. We think this is a great service for the community and are very appreciative that Mark DeJohn (ART), Steve Leary (PT), Chris Vergona (PT) and Michael Dennis (PA) are all good enough to offer their time.
  PF Clinic Why do we have a Plantar Fasciitis Clinic? Several reasons: 1. people ask us to 2. Steve Leary is kind enough to do it and offers a broad perspective instead of the magic pill 3. We really see the need. Many people seek us out for the first time when they are dealing with PF and while we can help them, we want to offer them more. Thus, we encourage them to seek out medical help but like to have an accessible intoduction at the shop.
  
  Wednesday-
  Taco Stand noon run- The group is growing and diversifying and the burritos are really good.
  Learn to Run group- Nancy at the FZ is leading this out. It's a comfortable setting for all (you didn't have to be part of the FZ Learn to Run program). We have extra headlamps if you need one.
  
  Thursday-
  Functional Fitness workout- Kyle Will comes around every Thursday Night to kick our butts. At the shop we all love this workout and have realized that stuff like this is what keeps you strong and balanced enough to enjoy your running (or whatever activity) more. It cost $5 and there were 14 people last week- join in.
  
  Saturday-
  Learn to Run group- at 10:30 for the next several Saturdays, Connie Austin (our Learn to Run coach) is leading out a group. Again, you didn't have to participate in the FZ Learn to Run program to join in. Just a fun, inviting group for ALL paces.
  
  Sunday-
  Women's Running Group- Jenny from the FZ is back leading this group and it is thriving (two dozen were out this morning).
  
  I know, I know, we take Mondays and Fridays and only open the doors to fit everyone in shoes and clothes and such. What can i say, there is always room for improvement. Seriously, we're proud of the offerings we have and hope everyone can find something that's fun, challenging, and/or helpful. If you want more info on any of these call us, email teague@footzonebend.com or check out our website. Cheers-Teague
• November 09, 2009
• 15:12

  Congratulations High School XC Runners!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  We wanted to offer a big applause to all the cross country teams and individuals that competed this past Saturday at the state cross country meet in Eugene. Kudo's to the Summit girls for their 2nd straight state title---which included one of our very own FootZoners--- Kellie Schueler.
  
  Again, great job to everybody from all the area teams that competed.
• November 07, 2009
• 13:48

  Gun Warmers

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Come check out our awesome selection of arm warmers from Moeben and Sugoi! It's a really great way to minimize layers for race day, or add some fun to your running attire for fall.
• November 02, 2009
• 17:14

  Winter Running Favorites from the FootZone staff

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Although it's not feeling like Winter on a gorgeous November day like today; we all know that the snow will be flying soon and with the days getting shorter, the frigid Cascade winds blowing down the mountains we all could succumb to the seasons changing as an excuse to stay inside….BUT, with a little help from all of us at the shop we've compiled a list of our much loved-let the snow fly, may blizzards beware, laugh at the shorter days and grin in the cold, stay cozy winter attire that we believe will keep you active all winter long.
  
  Enjoy and we all hope this helps!
  
  
  Teague
  180’s running Gloves- I chuckled at these when I first saw them 4 years ago. When we brought them in the store the following winter and I started running and bike commuting in them I became a huge fan of the retractable little windproof mitten. I’ve got lots of running gloves but these are my favorite and most versatile pair.
  Petzl Tikka XP Headlamp- They make a lot of fancy lighting options but this little headlamp lights my way without bouncing around or hurting my head.
  
  Colleen
  Sugoi Subzero Zap Knicker- so warm on the quad muscles, but not to hot. Tights are too warm for me and I like to free the calves.
  
  Icebreaker for the top: The Chase zip 200 weight- I know a little light but for me it is perfect. I will wear this up till it gets below 35 degrees then on to my Sugoi speedster another one of my favorites.
  Chris Sporting the Sugoi Tatu armwarmers, Brooks running beanie and mmm, mmm GU Chomps.
  Jenny
  Sugoi Sensia pant- It's brushed interior keeps me warm while running in Central Oregon's colder winter temps. Plus, when I don't have time to change out of it, it functions as a comfortable and attractive pant throughout the day. Icebreaker top- I love this product because not only does it keep me nice and toasty, but it also keeps the stink away.
  RobWhen life in Central Oregon is frigid, the marriage of my Asics Transitive Boxers and Sugoi Subzero Zap tights treat me right! The Asics boxer has the “gotta love seamless design”, not to mention, the compression technology, this all sport undergarment offers some support and the best part--- lots of warmth! Complimenting the boxers is the Sugoi Subzero Zap Tight. It’s a thermal regulator for the entire leg. They’re coated with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) for those snowy and rainy days, they have 3M Scotchlite reflective accents help keep me seen when it’s dark. In addition to being ideal for running, they’re just the right baselayer for downhill skiing and do not comprise chamois comfort for winter mountain and road biking. Dave
  For winter, I like lots of things. But here is what really makes me happy on those cold days: Sporthill Northwind Unders, aka peter heater. Without these Clay would have never seen the light of day. I like them because they are soft and the legs are snug and don't ride up while I run. Unlike other windbriefs the Sporthill don't squeeze everything so tight that halfway through your run you can't wait to get home so you can take your underwear off. Second item: I really like weather it is cold or not is 4" cuffs on my Sock Guy socks. When it is cold they keep your ankles covered and you nice and toasty. When it is warm they look really neeto with shorts.
  
  Tonya Sugoi speedster- when it’s really cold, I love having a hood. For the first 20 min. I run with the hood on over my hat. Then flip it off when I warm up without having to lose a layer. Super easy. It’s nice to have if the wind kicks up, starts to snow, etc.
  Patagonia alpine beanie- I always run with a light weight hat in winter this one works well for me.
  Smartwool liner gloves- light, comfortable.
  
  Kristen*Chocolate Outrage GU... No ifs ands or buts... It is the stuff that warms you up and keeps you smiling... or running!
  
  *My fun-new girly Smartwool running hat... Life is short~make a statement!... It keeps me cozy and stylish!
  
  
  Ryan
  Northwind Underwear by Sporthill - When the wind picks up and the mercury drops the beans and frank like to stay warm. Seriously, the underwear has a special barrier that is windproof and it really works and makes winter running better.
  Skull Cap - Brooks new one is cool because it has holes on top. Just enough to let some air our but keeps in most of the heat so your body can stay warm and it protects your ears.
  Gloves - All of them. I have about 4 different pairs for different conditions. My 180's with the wind and water resistant mitten cover are nice but they are only for really cold days.
  Sugoi Tights - don't remember which ones they are but bought them last year at the FZ. They have zippers on the bottom and a back pocket. They are warm and easy to get on and off with the ankle zippers. The pocket is just enough for a key, money, gel or mp3. They also have light fuzzy inside.
  Smartwool socks - nothing is better, not much more to say.
  (Not pictured)Nancy1. Yak Trax I truly LOVE them because they allow me to be out on my favorite trails all winter. Some of my most memorable runs have been after a big snowfall, and I meet my “little friends” out on the river, and we have an amazing time. (And no slipping!!) I love that I can get out with the dog any day, in any weather, and not have to worry about falling.
  2. Nike Soft hand L/S shirt. It is soooooooooo cozy and warm and the color we have in the shop is BEAUTIFUL. (Even on me!) It has some reflective detailing, and that will keep me safe and sound when I run with the LTR group IN THE DARK this winter.
  Thank you for the opportunity to tell you about some of my favorite things (sung in the tune of “theas are a few of my favorite things” from “The Sound of Music”.)
  Melanie
  1. The 180 Convertible running gloves that turn into mittens are great. Warm without being confining and versatile without being cumbersome!
  2. Sugoi’s Sensia Pant is just right; because it’s the right something on the bottom half! It changes with the weather of course, but whatever I choose has to be comfortable and flexible have little pockets.
  
• November 01, 2009
• 16:54

  Kari Wins RLH

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  Congrats to Kari Strange for her win at the Run Like Hell half marathon. Kari had some tough injuries early in the year and was always out cheering us on at the Tuesday workout even when she couldn't run herself. Now it's great to see her back running strong. Good work, Kari and don't waste your breath on "I only won because...". Just enjoy it!
• 9:26

  New York Marathon

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Max King was 18th overall and 11th American! 2:19:11 and a 5:19 pace
  
  
  Below are the top US men:
  
  Place Bib Name Time State Country Citizenship
  
  1 8 Meb Keflezighi 02:09:15 CA USA USA
  
  4 5 Ryan Hall 02:10:36 CA USA USA
  
  7 15 Jorge Torres 02:13:00 CO USA USA
  
  8 19 Nick Arciniaga 02:13:46 MI USA USA
  
  9 10 Abdi Abdirahman 02:14:00 AZ USA USA
  
  10 16 Jason Lehmkuhle 02:14:39 MN USA USA
  
  12 21 Peter Gilmore 02:15:22 CA USA USA
  
  14 29 Mike Sayenko 02:16:38 WA USA USA
  
  15 28 Mike Reneau 02:16:45 WI USA USA
  
  17 34 Allen Wagner 02:17:49 PA USA USA
  
  18 24 Max King 02:19:11 OR USA USA
• October 31, 2009
• 17:48

  Spoooky

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Ok, maybe not so spooky but definetly fun. Great costumes and great fun had at the Footzone Freaky Fun Run on Thursday. Great job to all on the costumes and thanks to Rob for organizing.
  
  Happy Halloween!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• October 28, 2009
• 15:09

  NB feet on head ad

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  While a little more foot evaluation and weighted measurement is probably a good idea, Click Here for a funny take on getting in the appropriate shoe.
• October 25, 2009
• 22:00

  Mac Forest 15K Trail Run

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Trail running is fun and Mac Forest over in Corvallis is always a treat. This is 6years running that we've closed down the shop on the last Sunday in Oct. to head over the hill for a stout climb and some fun trails. The crew was diminished this year with some injuries (SD and Rob), a baby (Jenny), dedicated Ironman training (Tonya), sickness (Kristen) and I'm not sure what the other excuses are but... all that did go ran a PR. Something about running a little faster than last year makes that post run pizza and beer even better. Nice work Colleen, Melanie, Ryan and Jason. Good to see William Johnson and Isaiah running hard along with rippin fast Matt Lieto (he won). Mickey, Tawnie and Piper McDonald (she's the sweet little blond girl who runs sooo fast) made the drive for their first Mac Forest. Great to see Bendites Kelsey Garbutt, Heather Lynch and Jeanette Groesz (who set a course record for her age group). Results are here. Cheers to all-Teague
• October 16, 2009
• 10:25

  Trail Conditions

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I was mountain biking at Phil's trailhead earlier this morning...and wow! That's the teaser, get out and enjoy!
  Keep running, walking and riding.
  Rob
• October 11, 2009
• 21:23

  Dirty 2nd Half

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The inaugural running of the D2H was good fun for all. Sure it was cold and hilly but everyone seemed to be smiling by the finish (even before they got food and beer in their hands). Great job SuperDave and thanks to everyone for coming out and helping out. Results are here.
  
  Cheers-Teague
• October 08, 2009
• 12:17

  FootZone’s Freaky Fun Costume Run October 29th

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Hey everybody-- We're doing it again this year! Last year there were families, dressed up superdogs, and some pretty hilarious costumes(check out the photos below). If you have questions feel free to email me: rob@footzonebend.com or call us at the shop (317-3568).
  Keep running,
  
  Rob
  
  
  FootZone’s Freaky
  Fun Costume Run
  
  
  The Details:
  
  Meet at the FootZone Thursday, October 29th at 5:30pm
  
  

  The run will be 3 miles or less (probably less) with a trick or treat stopover along the way

  A FootZone prize will be offered to the person with the best costume

  We’ll end at Jackson’s Corner for post-run refreshment

  Safety First! Bring a light, a jack o’ lantern, or something reflective (it’s getting dark)

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
• October 06, 2009
• 16:47

  Locals at Twin Cities

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Check out this link on Jeff Caba's blog for results from some fast Central Oregonians at the Twin Cities marathon and 10 miler last weekend.
  
  Great races for all, Congrats--Teague
• October 04, 2009
• 13:11

  Snow on Oct 4th!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Ummm... Wow! Something about a good snow on Oct. 4th really is a little disorienting. I can't say that building a snowman with the kids was on my list of possible activities for the day. Ah well, it sure was fun. Never know what you'll get here in the High Desert. Sounds like we're back to some relative warmth by mid week so don't put those running shorts away just yet. We're happy this isn't Dirty 2nd Half weekend. All the moisture should get those trails in awfully good shape. Sure hope all those Portland marathoners are fairing well!...Cheers-Teague
• September 25, 2009
• 13:35

  Dirty 2nd Half

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Hey folks, despite some conflicting reports the Footzone Dirty 2nd Half is NOT FULL! We are over half way to our 500 limit and the race is happening in just over a couple of weeks. Sof if you were considering running but heard the false rumor come on down and sign up to be part of a great new race. For those of you from out of town the Seventh Moutain Resort is offering a special rate for lodging. $89.00 per night for racers you however must be registered to get the sweet hookup. How cool would that be to roll out of bed with a two minute walk to the start line? Contact the resort at (541) 382-8711 to get hooked up.
  
  Thanks for reading,
  SD
• September 23, 2009
• 9:36

  Icebreaker merino & other techie fun...

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Well, I rarely get too fired up about clothing; however, my dorkiness will be completely revealed in this entry. I remain so impressed by the Icebreaker merino wool t-shirt that I'm showing great restraint in my praises for this fabric. Amy and I were in Hood River last weekend exploring, mountain biking, and enjoying an abundace of fruit and vegetable stands . We opted to camp (Tollbridge County Park is awesome by the way) and wakened each morning with the sudden chill of fall approaching. We packed minimally and by the end of the weekend I was clearly the minimalist victor. My winning piece of 'gear,' the 4 year old Icebreaker merino T. I wore it for nearly 3 of 4 days in some fashion; as a driving shirt (although soft it didn't quite match up to the softness of my deerskin driving gloves), as a baselayer beneath my cycling jersey(Amy tries to avoid close encounters w/ me after cycling), as a post mtn. bike T, and to culminate its impressiveness, I even slept in it one night... Now, I'm not certain what the reader's impression will be by all this... But, I'd like to think that I'm a little bit of a clean freak and more than hygienic so when a t-shirt doesn't even hint at a stink after wearing to that extent (and Amy is still willing to sit next to me) I'll give it my two thumbs up.
  On a quick sidenote, the days are getting shorter and you need a little light that packs a punch! Check out the e+Lite by Petzl.
  Until next time-- keep running. Rob
  
• September 22, 2009
• 8:18

  Ask The Experts

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Today there will be no ask the experts at the FootZone due to an unavoidable conflict. We apologize for the inconvenience and will resume the normal schedule next month.
• September 11, 2009
• 15:32

  Max King article on runnersworld.com

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Go Here for an article on Bend's own Max King and the upcoming XTerra. Good to see Max getting a little press. Good luck to all the local folks at XTerra this weekend. We'll see you tomorrow for packet pick up from 9-4. Cheers-Teague
• September 03, 2009
• 9:22

  Stength Workout Tonight at Kyle's studio

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  It's the first Thursday of the month so the Strength workout is at Kyle's tonight. His studio is a great place to do this workout so come on over and join us. Take Galveston past the Mt. Washington roundabout. Take the first right, then the first left and it's on your left (next to snap fitness). 6pm. $5
• September 01, 2009
• 16:59

  Learn to Run Starting Up!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  The next session of Learn to Run and Fitness Walk starts tomorrow and once again, we're overwhelmed with all the enthusiasm. Several members of the Spring LTR have been out recruiting heavily. It's great to see their exitement for the program. We're already just shy of 100 participants with more coming in all the time. There were so many positive stories from the last session and I can't wait to meet another group. Cheers-Teague
• August 29, 2009
• 8:55

  Scavenger Hunt Round 2

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Great crowd for the Scavenger Hunt on Thursday night. About 70 folks total and all ages and paces out there. We'll do it again late in Sept. so you'll have another chance. Lots of fun out there. Thanks-Teague
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• August 26, 2009
• 9:37

  COTA Work Party---TONIGHT!! Wednesday, August 26

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Just a quick reminder that tonight is your chance to get down and dirty building and clearing trails with COTA and the FootZone. We'll be meeting at 5:30pm at the old Mt. Bachelor park and ride on Simpson Ave. and carpool to the worksite.
  
  Be sure and bring a snack for out on the trail and plenty of drinking water. Wear: sturdy shoes (boots are preferred), gloves and eye protection. You’ll want to wear pants to work in the brush and dress in layers to accommodate whatever the weather may bring. Tools and expertise will be provided by COTA. Beer and post-trail building refreshments provided by the FootZone.
  
  If you have any questions give us a holler here at the shop ---317-3568 or see you there!!
  Rob
• August 18, 2009
• 22:42

  Running Hills and eating good food w/TPG

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Turns out this tpg crowd can fire up some good grub and Max cooked up enough burgers, dogs, and gardenburgers to send all home happy and full. It was a great turnout (40 for the workout, and a few more for the bbq), a solid hill workout, and really nice to hang a bit with this good group of people. Thanks to Max for coordinating and cooking, Bart at Rebound Perfomance Lab for hosting, and everyone else for bringing all the good food. Seems like we'll have to do that again sometime! Cheers-Teague
  
• August 17, 2009
• 22:44

  Born To Run

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I just finished reading Born To Run by Christopher McDougall. I actually met Christopher in Salt Lake a couple weeks ago and got the chance to talk to him a little about the book and footwear and Vibram Fivefingers. He's an interesting guy and its a great book. I'd even call it a bit of a page turner. Much of the book focuses on the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico and some unlikely interactions with ultra running characters including Scott Jurek, Jenn Shelton and Billy Barnett. Jenn and Billy spent a year or so in Bend not too long ago. Jenn actually still owes me a half rack of beer (she bet me on one of our noon runs that Obama would select Clinton as his running mate). I'm pretty sure she'll never pay up.
  
  Born To Run isn't especially flattering of the specialty running business but it raises some great questions. I really enjoyed all the talk of over-supportive shoes and barefoot running and the like. These are ideas we've batted around at the FootZone for years now so it doesn't feel very challenging. Many of these concepts have influenced the way shoes are made, and the way we sell shoes, for several years. It's also part of the reason we play with minimalist shoes like Inov-8 and ultimately, 5 fingers. I'm convinced that we will all benefit from strengthing our feet, but equally sure that it requires baby steps. I'd even say that the running industry (or at least some of the larger shoe manufacturers) have known for years that you can't just lock people up in the most stable shoe without eventually creating other problems. But we also see on a daily basis that stability will help runners avoid many common overuse injuries. Like so many things, there's a balance. At the shop we know our job is to meet people where they are at, provide them with good information, and get them into footwear that will work. I do think the running industry will continue to evolve. Shoe heights will continue to come down and shoes will focus less on stability and more on balance. I'd also bet that almost all of us will still wear running shoes. I've run some in my Five Fingers and I don't see them replacing my running shoes.
  
  Regardless, for a shoe geek like me who's spent the last 20 years fascinated by running shoes and what works best for people, I love the conversation. It will hopefully all just make us healthier. Cheers-Teague
• August 12, 2009
• 20:25

  Dirty 2nd Half Course Map

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Here is a link to the course map of the Dirty Second Half... or at least most of it. I will make it 13.1 by raceday so don't think you are getting a free half mile suckas!
  If you do go run it please be respectful of the fact the the Seventh Mountain Resort is trying to run a business and they do own some of the land the course is on so if they are using if for any reason just try to minimize our impact on their daily operations. My suggestion is if it is packed park at the Road 41 entrance and link up with the course from the south side of the resort.
  I am working on some preview training runs so keep an eye out on this blog for details.
  
  Thanks,
  dave
  Course Map
• 9:45

  Chance to be part of American Record bid.

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Rare opportunity tonight to help out Suzi MacLeod AND be part of her bid for an American Record in the 800 for 75-79 age group. She just needs some folks to show up and at least start to give it legitimacy (preferably women). Nothing fancy here, just show up for the all comers meet at 5:30 at Summit High School. Run any and all events you want but at least toe the line with Suzi in the 800. Good Luck Suzi! Cheers-Teague
• August 10, 2009
• 22:29

  Doubling up at Crater Lake and Haulin A.

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Several folks doubled up this past weekend with runs at two tough events over the weekend. I caught this foursome as they we're testing a new recovery drink from Starbucks, resting up from various distances at Crater Lake in the morning, and picking up their packets for the Haulin Aspen Half. This wasn't the first time I've felt like a bit of a slacker just running around the FZ fitting shoes. Left to Right: Mark Koopman, Jennefer Lloyd, Tonya Koopman, Tonya Koopman and Kathy Lein. Nice work-Teague
• August 09, 2009
• 21:51

  The big V for Jeff C

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  That would be V as in Victory. Congrats to Jeff Caba for his win at Haulin A Marathon today. Beautiful morning for running and looks like he made the most of it. Santi took honors in another local half marathon and Andy Martin was close on his heels. I think Santi's getting all his speed from the Tuesday night workout (actually, he was really fast before he started coming out to those). But at least it's not slowing him down any. Good job to all those who took on that beautiful but challenging course. Marathon Results Half Marathon Results
• August 05, 2009
• 21:55

  Cascade Lakes Relay

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  We we're fortunate enough here at the FootZone to be involved in a couple teams at the Cascade Lakes Relay this past weekend. Melanie and Tonya ran on the "In the Zone" team and I ran with the FootZone/Rebound team. I'm trying to get Melanie or Tonya to post about there experience so hopefully you'll see that soon.
  In all fairness, the team I ran with is really Jeff and Katie's team with a bunch of really good people and friends who just so happen to be exceptional runners (a few of us on the team wouldn't include ourselves in that e.r. category, but loved being involved anyway). On the ladies side (and in van #2) was Katie Caba, Jill Gozdowski, Ahna Jura, Laura Fritz, Jen Sventek and Cindy Brennan. Van #1 included Jeff Caba, Andy Martin, Michael Dennis, Ryan Rein (Katie's Brother), James Nelson and myself. Most of the team ran together last year but injury or other commitments added James, Cindy and myself this year.
  The boys ran first starting at 11:30am and Friday was hot. We were thankful for some great comic relief along the way. First was a 62 yr old retired nurse who developed a persistant fondness for one of our runners. Second were some exceptional volunteers who immediately upon our arrival at one of the exchanges began fanning James and Andy with huge paddles and followed them around with umbrellas to provide shade. Everybody ran great, but there was some suffering going on between Diamond Lake and Beaver Marsh. The lasting image for me was patting James on the back after his ultra exposed, 7ish mile leg and realized that he was so cooked that he was no longer sweating. I actually had a couple drops of moisture and some shade on my leg 2+ hrs later, and it still might have been the least fun 5.5 miles I've ever run. We weren't sad to hand off to the more than capable ladies van to run the road on into Silver Lake. The middle of the night legs were wonderful if for no other reason than it was so cool by comparison. Things get a little blurry the farther we went into the night but it was spectacular to watch the guys clicking off such fast legs. We handed off to the gals again around 1:30 in the morning and got to catch up with the ladies a bit before driving off to the next van exchange and hopefully some sleep. The first 7 miles of that drive was the leg Jill just started running and it was uphill and lookeded like it might never end. We found out later that she rocked it (no suprise). We managed a whopping 1:15 of sleep before the call came at 4 am that we'd be moving again. The unquestionable highlight of our 3rd round in the boys van (other than Andy and Jeff continuely churning out 6 minute miles) was Michael in the costume leg. If anyone thinks they saw an under-clothed, caped figure on the Cascade Lakes Highway in the early hours Saturday, it wasn't a dream. James gutted out a tough uphill leg with a bum hamstring for his third leg and by 8am on Saturday we'd handed off to the women. That left us to follow along and watch them roll back into Bend. That was a treat since we hadn't really seen them much the rest of the run. Jen was amazing climbing the Sparks Lake grade and all the way to Dutchman. Laura hammered down from Dutchman then back up to the gravel pit (ouch) then down to Swampy. Katie Caba, in case you didn't know, is fast, even after no sleep and 2 other runs in the past 15 hours. Cindy looked smooth and strong down to the INN and Ahna smoked a hot leg to the finish. This was humbling, exhausting and incredibly fun. What really makes the event is the comraderie you can only get after more than 24 hours in a smelly van with your sleep deprived cohorts. It was an honor to run with these guys and gals and kind of them to fly the FZ colors!Cheers-Teague
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• August 03, 2009
• 15:36

  Congrats Sean!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Looks like Sean Meissner won the Canadian Death Race. About an hour ahead of media darling Dean Karnazes. Congrats Sean! Results
• July 20, 2009
• 13:32

  FootZone Cycling Jerseys: Part Deux!!!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The FootZone jerseys have been such a grand slam that I'll be placing another order this Wednesday 7-22. We'll also be ordering some short sleeve tees and singlets. If you're interested in ordering please email me. rob@footzonebend.com
  
  Keep running and riding,
  Rob
• July 18, 2009
• 21:15

  SOON

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Well I just recieved a proof for the Dirty 2nd so after all the t's are dotted and the i's crossed it is off to the printer. Look for it by Wednesday. YEEHAW!
  
  dave
• July 10, 2009
• 11:10

  Update

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  As of this morning the Dirty 2nd half is on for October 11th. Walked the areas in question with the Forest Service and everything got a thumbs up. Now I have to get the forms out which I hope to do by the end of next week. Keep checking the website for updates.
  
  dave
• July 06, 2009
• 13:03

  Holi-day Weekend

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Well, there's no such thing in retail but we did revel in all the festivities this weekend to celebrate our independence had to offer. Friday was hopping with Spark your Heart packet pick up. Melanie and Teague both got to participate in the 5k on Sat. Spark your Heart might the perfect 4th of July community 5k. The highlight for me was getting to talk with so many from our Learn to Run group who we're completing another 5k (something they might not have though possible just a few months ago). The Pet parade continues to be hilarious and a tribute to civilization that you can bring that many people and animals together on a hot day with relative calm. Sunday the 5th brought a first, Dave, Rob and I began our training for the Cascade Classic this year with a road ride on Sunday. Then off to a day fitting shoes at FootZone and the day ended with a baby shower for Jenny, Shane and baby Owen. All the FootZoners came together for an evening of merriment, horseshoes and good food. Nice to have a few non-work moments hanging out on a beautiful evening. Cheers-Teague
• July 01, 2009
• 22:08

  Spark Your Heart

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Packet pick up will be at FootZone from 2-7 instead of 4-7 this Friday the 3rd. There is no day of race registration so Friday from 2-7 will also be your last chance to sign up. You can register until 6pm on Thursday at FootZone as well. Should be a big event again this year. There were more than 400 last year and looks like it will grow a bit. See you there-Teague
• June 29, 2009
• 20:25

  New Brooks Ravenna and Launch!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  A couple new Brooks shoes are now in the fold at the FootZone and both are exciting in different ways. First is the new Brooks Launch. This is a fun, lightweight neutral shoe that will work for some as a trainer and others as a racing shoe. There seems to be plenty of cush and a smooth ride to complement a spectacular heel fit and comfortable upper. The Launch will grab attention first for its flashy looks but I expect this shoe to find a niche for the way it performs. The second shoe, the Ravenna, is one I've been anxiously anticipating ever since i saw the sample back in December. This is a stability/guidance shoe geared toward mild to moderate overpronation. There's plenty of cush but the platform is well grounded and balanced underfoot. The overall profile and smooth heel transition should make this shoe equally appealing to runners and walkers. Overall, the fit is very secure, grabbing the midfoot and heel pretty aggressively while opening up nicely in the forefoot. I'll be very surprised if this doesn't end up a winner for many active fz customers. Good to start the week with a busy Monday and some fun new shoes. Cheers-Teague
• June 26, 2009
• 20:21

  Dirty 2nd Half

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  Ever since Footzone Customer Liz Fancher came up with the name Dirty 2nd Half I have been working to make the new race come to fruition. I have scouted out a potential course and secured a possible venue so now we wait. For what you ask? The course needs to be approved by the forest service before anything can be set in motion. The estimated timeline for yay or nay is the second week of July. Needless to say I am really ready to go on this one and from the buzz around the shop so are lots of you. Please keep checking the website because as soon as the word is cast down I am going to be on the gas making this race happen.
  Here is what I know about the race so far:Date- Sunday October 11th 9:00It will take place somewhere in the Deschutes National ForestIt will be 13.1 miles of dirtinessI know this ain't much but it is all I got until I get an approved course. The pics are from the potential course that is currently awaiting a ruling.More info to follow,dave
  
  
  
  
  
  
• June 23, 2009
• 15:29

  Commute Options

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Just finished up Commute Options Week here in Bend and I'm proud to say the FootZone had 100% participation. We're pretty avid alternative commuters throughout the year and even have a "green wage" that earns an extra 25 cents an hour if you get to work other than driving a car. We know it won't necessarily change the world but it will buy a coffee or two. For Commute options week I have to call out Nancy A. and Melanie. Nancy walked to work everyday and did so with almost NO complaining. Melanie (in the pic) didn't come to work much but when she did she rode in her mt. bike. She's our bookkeeper so she can get away with that. Cheers-Teague
• June 17, 2009
• 9:04

  Dirty Half Video

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Just in the 2009 Dirty Half Video! Thanks Chris.
• June 15, 2009
• 12:48

  Heaven Can Wait Video

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Check out this link for the latest Chris Maley creation (yeah, its Chris here at FootZone). You'll notice some new filming techniques. Seems to capture the feel of this great Central Oregon event.
  Cheers-Teague
• June 14, 2009
• 17:24

  yeehaw

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I know I'm biased, but I sure like that Dirty Half trail run. Great job SuperDave and a hearty thank you to all the volunteers who helped out this year. The band was sweet, the food was delicious (thanks Nancy P's, Taco Stand, and Pizza Mondo), and the beer was the only thing that could keep folks around once the appropriately timed rain moved in. Here's some results. Look for a Dirty Half video in the days ahead. If anyone wants another pair of those finishers socks they're at the FootZone and $5 a pair while they last. I think there are a few more sweatshirts and they're $40. Thank you all and hope you had fun, cheers-Teague
• June 12, 2009
• 22:01

  Dirty Half well within sight

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Dirty Half is almost here. All these storms are getting those trails West of town awfully prime for the Dirty Half on Sunday. The preparation is going well and we can't wait for a great day. Nancy P's and Taco Stand will be out there once again along with some of the freshly brewed Down and Dirty IPA from Deschutes Brewery (bring your ID if you care for a beer). There will be a few new twists this year, not the least of which is a sweet new finisher prize waiting for when you cross that line. SuperDave seems less stressed than ever 2 days out and dare I say, the ducks may all be lining up. See you for packet pick up tomorrow (12-6) and Sunday out at Phils. Cheers-Teague
• June 08, 2009
• 22:55

  Good Weekend

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Heaven Can Wait weekend has once again come and gone. The 10th offering was better than ever. This event never ceases to amaze me. Packet Pick up at the shop was smooth and well run and we thank all the organizers and volunteers for their efficiency and good nature. As you can imagine, we're excited for the opportunity to host packet pick up since year one. Every year it's a lot of energy, mildly overwhelming, and ultimately really fun and rewarding. There is so much energy in that event and to watch it all come together is truly impressive. Charlene and all the organizers deserve a lot of credit. Sunday morning was beautiful. I helped organized the finish line again this year and thank all who came out to help. It's a great place to see everyone finish, dole out high fives and repeat "stay in order and keep moving!" about 500 times.
  This year was clearly my favorite year since I got to watch so many of the Learn to Run group finish. The pic is a few of them who gathered at the FZ before hcw. Roberta (the impetus for the group) who said she couldn't run 2 minutes back in January, ran the whole thing and finished in under 40 minutes! My new friends Nikki and (different) Roberta who I previewed the course with on Wednesday both finished in under 47 minutes. There were too many accompishments for one post but needless to say the enthusiasm was high. Great to see people accomplishing great things. Look for a HCW video in the next day or two.
  This summary of the weekend wouldn't be complete with bragging on our own Melanie and Colleen. Melanie is the new TPG poster girl since she took 4 minutes off her last years HCW time and took second in her age group (we're not sure she's actually missed a Tuesday Perf Group yet, really). Colleen wasn't around this weekend (we'll never make that mistake again) because she was off in Utah running the Squaw Creek 50 miler. She went into it with severe trepidation because her calf had been giving her much grief for the past week+. Somehow, however, she pushed through and finished well ahead of her goal. We'd all be astonished if we didn't already know how tough Colleen is. Whew, sorry for the rambling post but there's a lot to say. And we haven't even hit Dirty Half weekend yet. Rest up-Teague
  
• June 04, 2009
• 21:39

  Learn to Run Wrap Up and Moving Forward

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Last night was the end of the 8 week Learn to Run session but it will live on in a couple forms. First, there will continue to be a 5:30 weekly run from the FootZone for those in the program or anyone else interested. This will simply be a group run. Second, we'll start a new Learn to Run session on September 2nd.
  
  Reading through all the evaluations from the course last night was pretty exciting. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. So many people met their goals and feel like they're building that foundation to keep running or running and walking and just building that fitness routine. Connie and Alison were wonderful leaders and the 10 assistants helped to make sure everyone got attention and no one was left behind. We're sure it wasn't what everyone was after, but without question this struck a cord with many who wanted a reason to gather, learn more about running and improve. I just look forward to seeing their future success. Like we kept reminding everyone, this is only the beginning.
• 8:26

  Workout at Kyle's studio tonight

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The Thursday strength workout is at Kyle's tonight. Lucky for us with all this rain. The workout will be there the first Thursday of each month and at the Footzone every other Thursday. Click here for directions to Kyle's
  
  See you there-Teague
• May 31, 2009
• 21:02

  Course Preview- Thanks SD

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  This years Dirty Half training runs were better attended than ever. Thanks to Dave for putting these on and getting out there every weekend to flag the course and feed us coffee and granola bars. Today he even brought us an aid station about the six mile mark. Between 60 and 100 people showed up each week in weather that ranged from snow to warm sunshine to build their long run on the Dirty Half course. I was able to run all of them this year and it was great to see so many folks from the running community of all paces coming together on Sunday mornings. Hanging out after the run this morning, I talked to 4 runners who ran farther today than they ever have before. Congratulations, thank you, and looking forward to the FootZone Dirty Half in a couple weeks. Cheers-Teague
• 13:20

  Another one down

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Well people are jumping for joy after another successful FootZone Dirty Half training group. Today was the culmination of 5 week long run series. The day greeted us with cool temps and overcast skies which was welcome after the cooker we had on Saturday. We had a small raffle and some people walked away with some cool prizes thanks to the FZ. Post run thanks to Thump coffee we all were able to have a cup of great coffee and some conversation about this mornings run.
  Thank you to all who participated and made sure we all had a running partner for our Sunday long run.
  
  See you all in a couple of weeks,
  dave
• May 30, 2009
• 16:45

  One Less Excuse

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  We often joke that if you need an excuse we have a whole list handy. However, if you're looking to do the Dirty Half but thought you couldn't get in... here's your chance. We're auctioning off 5 spots to help raise a little cash for the Land Trust. All you have to do is stop by, email, or call and place your bid along with a phone #. On June 5th at 6 pm the bidding is done and the 5 highest bids get those spots (with race tee). We don't expect this to get too heated and could even go for less than the going rate. Dirty Half transfers are also accepted through June 5th and there are folks out there who are registered but can't run. So, if you want to run the Dirty...No excuses. Cheers-Teague
• May 26, 2009
• 21:45

  Trail Work Tomorrow

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Don't forget about the FootZone/COTA trail work tomorrow night(Wednesday, May 27th). Meet at FootZone at 5:15 or Bachelor Park and Ride at 5:30. Call us at the shop tomorrow with any questions 317-3568 or email teague@footzonebend.com thanks-Teague
• May 25, 2009
• 8:49

  Steve at the Dirty Half

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• May 21, 2009
• 18:53

  Steve's Memorial and ways to help out

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  There will be a memorial service this Saturday at 1:00 pm at the Les Schwab Amphitheater (actually behind the stage). A group will be leaving from Drake Park at 12:30 on bike or foot to do a memorial parade of sorts to the service. Feel free to gather at the FootZone if you'd like. Tami and I will leave there around 12:20 to join the parade. All are welcome.
  
  A memorial fund for Steve's family has been set up at:
  
  Steve Larsen Memorial Fund
  Umpqua Bank
  390 SW Century Drive Suite 100
  Bend OR 97702
  
  Or, deposits can be made at any Umpqua Bank.
  
  and...
  We're collecting donations at the shop to get some certificates for food for his family. We'll be buying gift cards at Pizza Mondo, Tate and Tate Catering, Newport Market, Kebaba, Nancy P's...stuff they can use whenever. Thanks to Katie Caba and Laura Fritz for organizing this effort.
• May 20, 2009
• 21:14

  I'm sure most have heard at this ...

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I'm sure most have heard at this point about the untimely death of a friend and a great member of this community. Steve Larsen was at the Tuesday workout last night and collapsed a little more than 400 meters into the first 800 of the workout. He was not able to be revived despite constant CPR, and the efforts of the medics when they arrived and took him to St. Charles. This was a traumatic experience for all of us there on Tuesday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. I hope they will not mind this perspective.
  
  Steve has athletic accolades basically beyond compare. More importantly, Steve was easy to admire in how he lived his life. I was always amazed and appreciative to watch this legendary endurance athlete buy his shoes just like anyone else. Accepting of advice, never asking for special treatment, or acting as though he were any more significant than the next person. This is a man who'd had real sponsors forever, yet he'd occasionally sport a footzone shirt at races without request or recognition. Whether at the shop, getting coffee, on a run or with his family, Steve was always energetic, calm, well put together, and kind. When I'd see he and Carrie over the years with 1,2,3 then 5 children, they always seemed to carry themselves with grace and goodness. They are parents I admire, seeming to pursue their own interests and their family with great passion. I'm sure it was not so easy and my image may be an unrealistic one, but I also never saw anything to change it. Over the years, all that I have witnessed shows me what a good man Steve was, what a strong, caring woman that Carrie is, and what bright, beautiful children they have. Other than the Tuesday workouts, my past few encounters with Steve have been him bringing his children in for running shoes and track spikes. It is perhaps hardest now to think of those interactions and the kind of respect that his kids showed for him and the love, respect, and enthusiasm he clearly had for them. It is something I will try to emulate in my own life. Steve Larsen was in fact the whole package. He was often "the" athlete in a community that prizes its athletes, but will be remembered for so many reasons. I thank him for all that he brought to this town, to the fz, and for the example that he showed to all that he came in contact with.
  
  After we'd all warmed up last night, Steve wandered my way as instructions were going out for the workout. I was asking if we we're going to do some strides and Steve was good naturedly ribbing me saying "come on man, we warmed up, lets just go!" We did a couple strides, we went, and he will be missed- Teague
• May 18, 2009
• 22:35

  Jungle Run

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Oh e oh e oh...
  
  Don't miss out this Thursday at 5:30 at COCC. Gather at the track and get ready for some fun. This run typically offers mud and climbing and general goofiness. That said, it will still get you breathing hard and it's a great mid week offering. We've got entries down at the shop. Cheers-Teague
• May 17, 2009
• 11:39

  McDonald Forest 50K

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Although this post is a week later than we would have liked...We want to congratulate all the local runners who charged up and down for a total of 6700 feet of elevation gain last Saturday at McDonald Forest outside of Corvallis. And, dear to all of us here at the shop; the everso humble Colleen who PR'd this year by over 10 minutes (and was back to work on Sunday with with her glowing smile)!!
  
  Again, way to go everybody and thanks for the inspiration! Here's the link to the results: [www.oregontrailseries.org]
• May 10, 2009
• 13:14

  Word to the Mother

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Today was the latest installment of the Dirty Half Training Group. A whole bunch of us enjoyed the refreshing sunshine as we took our 11 mile jaunt through the woods in preparation for the big day. Not only was the weather beautiful and the trail in great shape, but it was also Mother's Day (the first pic above shows some of the Mom's out there this morning). So to show some respect to the Moms we pulled out some stops. Thump Coffee came through with some free coffee coupons, Footzone donated $5.00 giftcards. Pair that with some chocolate and we have 40 or so really happy moms. One mom used the chocolate on the run rather than a gel which she said really gave her a good boost to finish strong.
  Thank you to all the moms and everybody else who came out to enjoy a great morning run.
  
  dave
• May 06, 2009
• 20:58

  TPG - Cinco de Mayo

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  I know it's hard to believe but the Tuesday Perf. Group is pretty much always good. Bring on good and bad weather, hills, track, tempo etc. Ask anyone who goes (there's about 40 regulars) and they'll tell you that you get a great group with some good comraderie and the satisfaction that comes from a challenging workout. There are many paces out there and everyone's working hard and getting results. Last night was especially fun hearing some specific results from Dave Webster and Mary Primrose from the Eugene Half. They both PR'd and both seem to think that TPG was part of the reason. There's a little buzz in the group as everyone's sensing that these workouts are really helping their running. We're feeling lucky that we have such a great group and Max to lead the way. Cheers-Teague
• 20:41

  Strength Workout Tomorrow Night

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Tomorrow nights strength workout will be at Kyle's Studio. You can start 6pm as usual or, if you want a little extra, go for 90 minutes and start at 5:30 (there's a class that starts then and Kyle invited us to join in). $5 as usual. Thanks to Kyle, it's fun to be at his studio for a change. To get there, take Galveston/Skyliner Road West past the Mt. Washington Roundabout. Take the first right, then the first left and it's on the left (WillRacePerformance Studio). See you there. -Teague
• May 04, 2009
• 11:18

  Eugene Half

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  There were many Central Oregonians running the Half Marathon over in Eugene yesterday. Great to see the Tuesday Performance Group paying off so well for Dave Webster. He PR'd with a ripping fast 1:24:08. Mary Primrose also seems to be reaping rewards from the TPG and ran a 1:31:57. Results are here. So many great runs by Central Oregonians. A few to look for are Steve Jenevein, Andy Young, Dan(o) Montoya, Stephanie HackBarth, Jamie Tuchscherer, and Betsy Skovborg (Congrats Betsy on your fist half marathon). Cheers to all- sorry for the names I missed--Teague
• 7:51

  Good Reading

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  If you're interested in how the Dirty Half might shake out near the front this year, here's a great read courtesy of local speedster Jeff Caba. Thanks Jeff-Teague
• 7:35

  A couple Eugene results

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  There were many great performances in the valley this weekend at the Eugene Marathon and Half-Marathon. Ryan Schaffer and Michael Dennis, both friends and Michael of our "Ask the Experts" series, ran some great marathons yesterday. Ryan pushed himself to a sub-3 hour (2:59:34) finish while Michael pr'd by about 5 minutes (!) with a 2:50:58. Rene Scott blazed through the course in 3:30:50. Fast times, Great job. Sounds like the weather held out ok. Ryan said it was raining hard when he woke up but just steady by race time. He said for the bulk of the marathon, the rain actually stopped! Lot's of Central Oregonians in Eugene this weekend the results are here. Cheers-Teague
• May 03, 2009
• 11:50

  Gut Check

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The 60 or so that came out for the Dirty Half Training Group were no doubt questioning their sanity on starting a 9 mile run in less that perfect conditions. Despite some wet snow falling and some cold temps the forest was down right spectacular with the snow cover. The group was in good spirits by the end and afterwards everybody enjoyed some granola bars and camaraderie on persevering through some sloppy conditions. Hopefully the weather will improve slightly for next weeks 11 miler. See you there next Sunday same Bat time same Bat place.
  
  dave
• April 30, 2009
• 13:29

  DHTG #2

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I know no picture is lame but it's hard to take them when you leave both of your cameras by the door. Anyway this Sunday will be the second Dirty Half Training Group run. This one is going to be 9ish miles and will take off at 8am. For those who have never been this is a great way to get a long run in with lots of potential running partners. Last week we had around 100 runners varying in paces from quite speedy to slow and steady. To get to the run head west on Skyliners road and about 3/4 of a mile past Summit High take a left on the beat up forest service road to Phil's trail head. Don't park in the trailhead parking lot as we will be leaving from the big dirt area just below the official parking area. Just keep on the road through the gate and park in the field to your right. Get there a little early to sign in and get the pre run info. Please leave your four legged friends at home.
  Any questions email superdave at superdave@footzonebend.com or call the zone at 317-3568.
  
  See you Sunday!
  dave
• April 28, 2009
• 8:55

  Trail Work w/FZ and COTA

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Thank You, Thank You to the 18 folks who came out for trail work on Saturday. We were fortunate to be tucked out of the wind under the cliff band across Century Drive from the Entrada Lodge**. It was a fun crew and I think everybody had a great time digging in the dirt, moving rocks, trying to fit them together. It was certainly fun to drink a beer after and learn a little about everyone. Thanks to Woody, Paul and Chris from COTA for leading us. Tentatively, the next FootZone/ COTA work party will be Thursday evening, May 21st at 5:30 pm. Don't miss out! Cheers-Teague
  
  **Entrada Lodge- have you ever met anyone who's stayed there? It looks like a perfectly fine place but there's never anyone there! How many times have you run/driven past that place with an empty parking lot. What's the deal? Is is sinister, rodent infested, or just a hidden gem? Great access to the trails, the mountains, the start of the Dirty Half. Maybe someone in the know reads this and can educate me.
• April 26, 2009
• 21:26

  Larkspur Lollipop

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The first running of the Larkspur Lollipop ended up being a great event for all. Laura Fritz was a trooper in her first go at race directing. This was Laura and my brainchild and I can't deny that we we're completely unsure of what to expect in the weeks leading up to the event. Would anyone show up to do this crazy 10K that included a climb up Pilot Butte? Would kids rally for a 1.2 miler? The numbers weren't overwhelming, but we're happy to have 80 finishers in the 10K and more than 40 in the kids run. By the time it was over, we could tell from all the smiles that this will stick.
  First of all, the kids run was better than we could have expected. We scheduled it 15 minutes in front of the 10k in hopes that the kids would have the adults there to cheer them on. The kids did 2 loops through Larkspur Park at the Senior Center so we got a couple opportunities to see some youngsters running strong. Every kid received a huge lollipop from Goody's as they crossed the finish line and everyone seemed to agree that the kid's event was something special. The 10K was tough but the kind of challenge that seemed to have folks smirking a bit (after they caught their breath). The weather was perfect and the novelty of the Butte in the middle gave everyone something to talk about. If you were there, you'll always be able to say you were at the first running. If you missed it, start getting ready for next year. Cheers-Teague
• 21:17

  Awesome Weekend!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Awesome is my 5 yr old's favorite word right now and seemed appropriate. The weekend started big on Friday with the arrival of Jenny's little boy, Owen Sawyer. Saturday brought the first inaugural Larkspur Lollipop 1.2mile kids run and 10k in the morning and a trail work party with FootZone and Cota in the afternoon. This morning was the capper with about 100 folks turning out for the first Dirty Half training run. Thanks to all who contributed to an active weekend. Cheers-Teague
• April 24, 2009
• 22:12

  New Baby!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Jenny had her baby! It's a little boy and his name is Owen. Sounds like everyone's doing well. Congratulations to Jenny and Shane. Cheers-Teague
• April 23, 2009
• 14:42

  Time to ...

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Time to get in shape? If so this Sunday will be the first installment of the Footzone Dirty Half Training group so if you need some extra motivation or just want to do a longish run with some folks meet at the dirt parking area below Phil's Trailhead this Sunday at 8am. The trail will be marked and the cost to you is nothing except time and energy. For those of you who have never been to one it is a pretty big group so please leave the four legged friends home. We will do our best to leave right at 8 so get there 10-15 minutes early to sign in and get the pre run briefing.If anyone is interested in helping us get organized show up 15 minutes early and I can put you to work. Any questions about this or the run itself email me at superdave@footzonebend.com See you Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! dave
• April 21, 2009
• 22:14

  Warm Tuesday Performance Group???

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Finally, a warm Tuesday evening and the TPG took full advantage. We we're just shy of 40 out there to run ladders at the Cascade Middle school track. Some new faces and lots of folks putting in great efforts and getting a little faster. I can't count how many said they would never have motivated to do this workout on their own. Thanks for coming out-Cheers-Teague
• April 20, 2009
• 21:31

  Some Boston Results

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Well my first contact from a Boston finisher was an email from Ryan Altman and he sounded like he had a great experience. Like many a Boston Marathon, not quite the time he was thinking of, but great nonetheless. Jeanine Faria seemed to have a strong Marathon. I can't wait to hear how she feels about it. Tim and Dru Carpenter may have had diametrically opposed experiences in their marathons. Dru seemed to tough it out and finish a hard day (I'm guessing there's more to that story) and Tim looks like everything was clicking. At the FZ today, we we're a little astounded as Tonya ran a 3:43 and change. We know that Tonya's more than capable, but she was just so broken before she left. We really thought she was just going to go jog it and soak up the experience but instead she busted it out and seems to have run her last 5k as fast as her first 5k. Congrats Tonya, now get ready for a nice break. Speedy recoveries to all and looking forward to hearing the stories.
  
  Cheers-Teague
• 9:05

  Boston Marathon

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  They're running as I write this. There's a really cool way to see how your friends are doing. Go to [www.bostonmarathon.org] and you can track individual athletes. We're following Tonya Littlehales (from FZ), Ryan Altman, Jeanine Faria, and Tim and Dru Carpenter (you can follow five). Good luck to all of them. They're looking great.
  
  Cheers-Teague
• April 18, 2009
• 12:20

  2009 Dirty Half Full!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  As of today 4-18-09 the Footzone Dirty Half is Full! For those who didn't get in there is only one way and that is to transfer an existing entry from someone who can't make it to the race. They must be in by June 5th and have to be done through Dave via email superdave@footzonebend.com . So for those of you who got a spot is definitely time to start training. To help you with this the FZ has training groups starting next Sunday at the big dirt parking area below Phil's Trailhead. Runs start at 8:00 am and this one will be a seven miler. For a full schedule check out the zone website [www.footzonebend.com]
  
  Peace out,
  dave
• April 16, 2009
• 22:05

  First Night of Learn to Run

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Last night brought out some sunshine, 2 leaders, 11 assistants and 120+ participants for the first night of Learn to Run. We're so excited about the turnout for this program. It's great to see so many folks out their learning and motivating each other. There was lots of smiles, laughter and enthusiasm to be had. It was Connie's B-day so she got to wear the tiara. I'm already looking forward to next week. Cheers-Teague
• 21:36

  TPG- biting wind edition

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  I'd like to say this was the last cold week for the Tuesday Performance Group but only time will tell. As you see in the pic it didn't keep folks away from some great tempo work in Drake Park. Fun to hear a little about Max's epic last several weeks. He had that great race in Jordan (yes the country) at XC Worlds. Followed that up a week later with a win at the American River 50 miler and then one week later came within seconds of his course record while winning Pear Blossom. It's funny because he looks so human but I'm really starting to wonder. Nice work Max. You deserve a few weeks off. Cheers-Teague
• April 14, 2009
• 9:59

  Crunch Time

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  If you haven't signed up for the Footzone Dirty Half and want to participate you should motivate ASAP! As of this blog we have 40 spots left for the 2009 race. To sign up go to the Footzone and fill out a form. You can also print a form from the website [dirtyhalf.footzonebend.com] and send it in. Once we reach 800 it's over no waiting list so don't miss it.
  
  dave
• April 09, 2009
• 22:21

  Big Night at the Zone

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  After 14 years, I often learn from, am entertained by, or pleased with something that happens at the FootZone. But almost never am I completely bowled over like I was last night at the shop. First, at 5:30 was the info meeting for the Learn to Run program (see pic). The turnout was overwhelming and subsequent registration (at 95 people now) has Connie, Allison, myself and the rest of the LTR helpers completely energized.
  Second, at 6:30 was the latest rendition of Girls Night Out where more than 100 women turned out to do what they do (I wasn't invited so I can't really comment). Jenny organized this wonderfully successful affair once again despite being two weeks from her due date. With the help of Colleen, Melanie, Nancy, Tonya, Kristen, Jill, Melissa and Tami (my bride) it sounds like it was a hit. I'd be hard pressed to argue considering the 100 dirty wine glasses I returned to Tabletops this morning. This event happens a couple times a year so look for the next one. Cheers-Teague
• April 08, 2009
• 8:20

  Shoes for Soles for Soles

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Here's Luke Hinz with 52 pairs of shoes he collected in a community project for Soles for Souls. Thanks Luke.
• April 06, 2009
• 21:28

  What a Weekend

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  As if the turn in the weather weren't enough, there was lot's of great things happening in the world of Central Oregon running over the weekend. For starters, USAFITBEND, got the season started with their first round of sign-ups. Tonya from the FZ and her husband Geof are leading things this year and they had a huge turnout. You can sign up next weekend as well.
  
  Sunday was the Peterson Ridge Rumble 30k and 60k. Here's the results There are so many great local finishes in this one so check it out. Andy Martin's run was pretty impressive in his first ever ultra. Nice work, Andy (side note, there's a good Andy interview at the end of the Horse Butte Video from the last post). Chad Sage and Renee Scott (both mainstays at the Tuesday Performance Group) rocked the 30k course. Dan Harshburger ran the 60k despite having the flu all week and Barb Ringstad managed to run the whole thing even though she said she was going to drop after 15. Jeff Browning ran fast only a few weeks removed from a bum knee and lots of water running. Colleen down here at the shop had a great run and somehow managed to not only survive all 34 miles but then came in and worked a 9 hour shift today at the FZ. She's a gamer. Kudos to Sean for putting this great event on. He puts lots of heart into this run and it always shows. It's been fun to watch it grow and we're lucky to have it so close to home.
  
  Saturday was the American River 50 Miler down South and Max King and Kami Semick took top honors in that race. The results are here. I don't know what to say, so I'll just say wow. Some fast one's in this town. That was Max's first 50 miler (I'm pretty sure). Congratulations to both.
  
  So, in summary: a beautiful weekend, beginning of BendFIT, and some really long runs (super fast for some, slower for others, hopefully fun for all). And, lest all you runners forget, today was opening day (of the baseball season). Mariners won! Hope Springs eternal. Cheers-Teague
• April 05, 2009
• 15:44

  Horse Butte Video

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Click for a fun Horse Butte 10 Miler video courtesy of Chris down here at the FootZone.
• April 02, 2009
• 22:32

  Blustery but Active Week

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The unsettled weather didn't hinder the fun at all the FZ activities this week.
  
  Monday night brought 18 out for the Women's Running Group. Jenny's about to give birth to her first child (due in two weeks) but still put in a few miles. She's the energy that's made this such a great group for so many years. Email her jenny@footzonebend.com for details.
  
  Tuesday night there were more than two dozen taking part in a blustery 2 mile time trial for the Tuesday Performance Group. It was challenging but great to be out there with everyone and setting that baseline to see if we improve over the months ahead. If you haven't already, you really should check out this group. I really look forward to it every week and I'm not alone. The group keeps growing in numbers and paces so come try it out. Kudos to Max for his efforts and willingness to share his knowledge (if not his speed). Max had a big week last week travelling to Annan, Jordan for XC Worlds. He had a great race coming in as 3rd American and 40th overall. Check out his website for the details [www.runnerspace.com] Yes, it is a little hard to believe that this is the same nice, humble guy who will craft a workout for the group and cheer you on every Tuesday Night. Its free, all you have to do is send Max your email and he'll email each week with the details mking@reboundspl.com
  
  Wednesdays noon run is also booming a bit. This is never huge but 16 rallied yesterday for a lunchtime run and several enjoyed the Taco Stand waiting for them at the FZ when they got back. If it works in your schedule it always feels good to sneak a great run into the middle of your day. This one leaves from the FZ Wednesdays at noon. We all start out together and then it splits up with options of between 3 and 7 miles depending on what works for you.
  
  Last but not least, the Functional Fitness workout had 15 on hand tonight. We did a "dirty dozen" workout that pleasantly kicked our butts just like every week. Kyle's good at making you hurt with a friendly smile on his face. He'll be hosting the Thursday workout at his studio on April 16th. Its over in NW Crossing just to SouthEast of that new Summit High Track. Check out their website for a map [www.willraceperformance.com] This is one of those workouts that we all know we should do but usually don't. Believe me, I can relate, but it's tough to stay injury free if you only run (or bike, or ski). It's only $5 and you just might like it!
  
  So, lots of great things to take advantage of. You'll see several of us FootZoners at all of them. We hope there's a little something for everyone to enjoy. Cheers-Teague
• March 29, 2009
• 20:36

  Horse Butte 2009

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  This morning was brisk SE of town for the first official FootZone event of the year. Thanks to SuperDave for another year of "kicking it Eastside". The Horse Butte 10 Miler evolved from "SuperDave's Horse Ridge 10 1/2 Miler". That run happened only once, back in probably 2000 or 2001, and climbed Golden Butte out East of town. Some permit hassles encouraged SD to let it go for a few years and then came back with an Eastside run in the Horse Butte 10 Miler. This has remained a low key, fun run and Oregon Natural Desert Association benefit. Hopefully everyone knows that along with all FZ events, this is not a money making endeavor for us. Every cent that doesn't go to timing, porta potties, Oregon Country beef hot dogs or beer goes directly to ONDA. It's fun and we hope everyone enjoyed themselves despite that biting wind. Special thanks to Gary, Mary, Justin, Roger, Amy, Tracy, Jodi and Andy Barram and family for all their volunteer help and to Kathy Harshburger for the really cool custom hats that she made. Click HERE for results.
  Side notes
  1) Oregon Country Beef hot dogs are really good. These are my son's favorite and not your typical nasty hot dogs folks. I convinced at least a couple people to try these today who hadn't eaten beef in a while and they were both a little smitten. I know you can get them at Newport Market but not sure where else. Don't look at the nutritional information on them as it might scare you away. Remember, that extra fat is just stored energy. Roger, good luck with the cholesteral test tomorrow.
  2) Thanks for all the kind words of thanks out there today. Not every event is for every person and Horse Butte has a character all it's own. Glad so many like it for what it is.
  3) Will we ever have a settled weather day for Horse Butte? It might almost be a disappointment if we do. Another year with a little white. 4) Exciting news for us all this week with the Congressional Bill that includes the Badlands and Spring Basin Wilderness Designation finally making it through both Houses of Congress. Thank you and congratulations to ONDA and all who have spent so much time making this happen. 5) Look for a Horse Butte video from our co-worker Chris soon. He was out there taking shots today and it will be fun to see what he came up withCheers-Teague
• March 27, 2009
• 21:57

  Horse Butte 09

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  Just a last minute update on the 2009 Horse Butte 10 miler. If the weather man is right it could be the best weather we have ever had for the race (Jinx). The trail is in prime shape, completely dry and ice free. There are some logs down but I think we can all channel our inner steeplechaser and get over them without pulling a hammy.
  
  Some specifics-Packet pick up is at the Footzone Saturday from 2-6
  As of this post there is about 50 spots left Packets will be available Sunday morning at the race start See you all Sunday,dave
• March 19, 2009
• 12:12

  Learn to Run Sign Up

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  There's a link the entry form for Learn to Run here. You can also access it via the learn to run page on the website. The feedback so far has been great. I'm really happy that Connie and Allison have stepped forward to head up this group. They are the perfect leaders and we're fortunate to have them. Thank you also to the customers who specifically asked us for this. We appreciate that you want a program like this from the shop and can't wait to watch it thrive. Cheers-Teague
• March 17, 2009
• 22:24

  St. Patty's Day Fun

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  To celebrate the St. Patrick's Day holiday Footzone and Cascade Lakes Brewing Company hosted a fun run. There we're about 70 in all shades of green between the fun run and Tuesday Perf group. After the run we all gathered at CLBS to hoist one for the Irish in all of us. Thanks to all that came out.
  
  
  
  
  
  dave
• 12:12

  Kami on the cover

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  It was fun to open our stack of UltraRunning mag this month and see Bend's very own ultrarunning superstar Kami Semick on the cover. She continues to put up amazing runs. She's about as unassuming as they get and fun to help with shoes. It's great to see her get the recognition. Nice Work, Kami.
  
  Cheers-Teague
• March 16, 2009
• 20:22

  Shamrock Run

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Well, Max must have a little Irish in him if for no other reasons than the picture to the right and his impressive run at the Portland Shamrock Run yesterday. Also turning in great showings from this side of the mnts were Ryan Altman, Jill Gozdowski and Kari Strang (fresh off race directing Grin and Bear It!). Results are here: [www.accustatsportstiming.com]
• 19:36

  Grin and Bear It

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The 2009 Grin and Bear It managed to live up to its name this year as the relative warmth gave way to a brisk wind. Pretty comfortable running and cool spectating. Congratulations to Kari (the 1st year race director) and Holly Remer for another great year putting this event on. It was a record turnout and exciting that they've grown this event so steadily over the years. I got to mark the course this year (with SD's help), cheer von the runners at the finish, and run the family 1k with my kiddos. Good times all around. Click for results.
• March 10, 2009
• 20:20

  TPG - Hills

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Here's a little trivia for you. What's the most utilized State Park in Oregon? It's our very own Pilot Butte State Park. This eve the Tuesday Performance Group was 22 strong as Max helped us utilize (and get abused by) the Butte. What a great turnout for the first hill workout and I'm happy to say there are a good variety of paces out there. We hope that will only build as we get into Spring and the weather warms up a bit. It's always challenging to do a workout, but it is rewarding and easier to do in a group. Email Max at mking@reboundspl.com to get his weekly email telling what the workout will be and where. Or email me teague@footzonebend.com with any questions. See you next Tuesday! Cheers-Teague
• 16:41

  No Ask the Experts Tonight!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Very sorry for the late notice but Steve Leary is sick and won't be able to make if for "Ask the Experts" tonight. Chris Vergona will be here next Tuesday.
• March 08, 2009
• 22:26

  Whew! For those of you who saw ...

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Whew! For those of you who saw us running around the FZ this weekend, you know that the Zoners are a tired bunch. Our entire goal was to make sure that despite the craziness, we would get everyone in the best fit and best possible shoe and hopefully show them a little of what makes the FZ special. Its exciting to help so many with shoes and enjoy some entertaining tidbits from many of our favorite people in the community. This was the 13th year of the runsale. It's a blast but I worry every year because if we don't take great care of people and get them in the right shoe, then the whole event is counterproductive. I'm proud of how we handled it this year. There was great energy and many happy customers. People love a deal and some obviously like the atmosphere. Others would rather have a little more attention so, we'll be there in the morning, ready to go. The weekend wore me out but it also fires me up and reminds me how much I enjoy this community. Thank you for the kindness. Cheers-Teague
• March 07, 2009
• 12:23

  WRS #3 Finale

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Today was a great day for the final installment of the Footzone Winter Race Series. We were treated to sunny skies and temperatures that were great once you got running. The race took place at a new venue for us here at the FZ and that venue is the Pine Nursery. The park is still in the construction phase but you can tell it is going to be a great place once it is done.
  Today's race decided the overall standings for the series. There wasn't much deciding to do as both Andy Martin and Mary Primrose were locked in as long as they finished. Both earned a free pair of running shoes courtesy of the FZ. Great job Mary and Andy. As for the race today we had 15 racers. Mary Primrose one the women's field and Steve Larsen took top honors for the men. Ryan Altman, Mary Primrose, Andy Martin, Michael Dennis, Jim Rantala all earned a sweet pair of running socks for completing all three races. A side note Michael Dennis wanted it pointed out that he was ahead of Andy Martin in a race. I don't think he wanted it known that Andy is a week out from running a fast marathon down in California.
  Thanks for coming out,dave
• March 04, 2009
• 21:47

  Dirty Half Kick Off/ Pre Run Sale

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  It was a wonderfully hectic day and night here at the FZ as we prep for the Run Sale this weekend and hosted the Dirty Half Kick Off Party. Luckily, Colleen did in fact make her return from her marathon in Napa where she ran a PR with a time of 4:39:10. She's stoked and should be. Congrats also to Andy Martin who made his return to marathoning with an impressive 2nd place finish at the same Napa Marathon. The Dirty Half Kick off Party was a blast tonight. Beer from Deschutes, food from Kebaba and a big fun crowd to kick off Dirty Half season. We had a great raffle, Andy and Steve Larson were kind enough to represent as past winners, and a bunch more people signed up to run and volunteer. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. It was a nice way to end my Wednesday. Cheers-Teague
• March 03, 2009
• 22:23

  Rockin Napa

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Colleen (from the FZ), Shana and Stacey all had awesome races at the Napa Marathon on Sunday. We'll hear the stories when Colleen gets back to the shop tomorrow but it sounds like everybody ran well and all that winter training paid off. Congrats-
• February 28, 2009
• 13:39

  WRS #3

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Well it is all coming down to this coming Saturday, yes Saturday. Since CORK is doing a hot chocolate run Sunday the last Footzone Winter Race Series will take place on Saturday March 7th. That's Saturday March 7th at 9am. The location will however be different. Yes, I know you all will miss Farewell park but I think if you do any races in town this spring and summer you will see it again. For the last race I decided to roll east side and run around the new Pine Nursery. Ryan Altman told me they have some sweet paths out there and he wasn't lying'. I did a scouting trip last weekend and right now there are some great gravel paths to run around on. So with that said we will start and finish at Ponderosa Elementary School. To get there head east on Butler Market road and take a LEFT on Purcell. The school will be on your right in about a half a mile or so.
  
  Questions? superdave@footzonebend.com
  
  Hope to see you out there,
  
  sd
• February 25, 2009
• 14:02

  Fine Tuning

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Just back from a blustery, rainy, but somewhat invigorating noon run and wanted to share some new shoe info. I really enjoy this time of year as the shoe buyer here at the FootZone. Most of the new shoes have been in for a few months now so we're truly getting a read on what the strengths are. This allows me to build and trim and tweak our inventory in hopes of having all the options you want and need. The crew here at the shop gets re-aquainted with what a shoe geek I am as I constantly pepper them with questions about how they feel about shoes, how they're fitting, what we need and what we don't. I want to have everything since shoes are just fun but my job is to make sure the shoes we carry have merit and will work for the end user. Then there are shoes like the Mizuno Ronin (the orange one pictured above). This replaces the red version from last year with a re-worked the upper and a better, more adaptable fit. This is a $100, 7.5 oz racing flat so obviously not for everyone. but I think its important that we carry shoes like this. Why? Because they're fun and fast and more versatile than you might think. Believe it or not, we probably sell as many racing flats to serious walkers as runners. It's fun to have a pair of go fast shoes for racing, speed work or just a minimalist training shoe. Plus, when it glitters orange and looks really cool thats just a bonus. Everyone tries to categorize what distance a racing flat is good up to but I think that depends much more on the person than the shoe. Some fleet of foot individual will be able to wear this shoe for a marathon whereas most of us would have to keep it for the 5k/10k or half marathon.
  Just yesterday we got a new shoe that I initially have a hard time believing is from La Sportiva. It's a trail shoe called the Wildcat and so far all who have put it on seem to find it interesting in one way or another. It's a neutral, relatively beefy platform with a smooth, meshy, but solid fitting upper. Looks are deceiving on this one because all the mesh makes you think it wouldn't hold the foot but it actually locks it down really nicely over the midsole. Despite the substantial platform the ride is smooth and initially at least, really impressive. We'll report back as we get some miles on it but so far, I'm impressed. I'd guess it will end up being an option/complement to the Brooks Cascadia. That's good company to keep if it can live up to it. Cheers-Teague
• February 22, 2009
• 10:52

  WRS #2 Recap

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Today was the second Footzone Winter Race series 5k and winter did not disappoint. I felt like I was transported back in time to Eugene growing up with the grey skies and freezing rain. Despite the less than perfect conditions we still had 17 folks finish the race in stellar fashion. Perhaps the best part of the event was all the Tofookies. Women's winner and baking superstar Mary Primrose made 4 batches of really good vegan cookies. Despite my skepticism of everything vegan they were quite tasty. Thanks Mary! Great job to all who came out and gave it the old pancake bacon on a very wintry day.As per the rules top ten male and female receive points for the overall series and all participants who complete all three races get a free pair of running socks. The next race is on March 7th. This is a Saturday event as to not conflict with the CORK hot chocolate run. I will announce the location one week before the race via this blog.
  See ya and thanks,sd
  RESULTSAndy MartinSteve LarsenMicheal DennisJoel VergonaKevin BlairRyan AltmanMary Primrose #1 femaleJim RantalaErica Luckel #2 femaleCarisa Thomason #3 femaleMassimo Larsen #1 kidWendy Heath #4 femaleJodi Barram #5 femaleJeff TimmTom HealyEric Healy
• February 17, 2009
• 22:15

  Ten Years

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Today is ten years to the day that I've owned the FootZone. Tonight I got to share a drink with a bunch of kind folks who gathered to celebrate. I opened the FootZone for my old boss in 1995 and managed it for a few years before buying it in 1999. It had been a part of a small (8 stores) regional chain that was dissolving. When the purchase was done we became entirely independent with no ties to the other stores (a few others were sold off and a couple still exist in the Seattle area). The store really wasn't healthy, but I hoped that by becoming a better running store (not to mention paying our bills) we could make it work and pay off that fresh new SBA loan. Honestly, I was scared out of my head, but somehow managed to sign those loan papers.
  
  Well, a decade later I'm happy to say we're healthy and happy, despite a whole new set of economic hurdles that you're all too aware of. I feel very fortunate for the timing and the opportunity to grow up with the running community in Central Oregon. As a person or two pointed out this evening, I bought this store when I was 27 and no one would have been surprised if it had been gone in a couple years. Lucky for Tami and I, that didn't happen. Instead, the FZ has been embraced by this community and worked hard to return the love. The ride continues to be humbling and a lot of fun. Thank you to the running community and all of Central Oregon for the opportunity. Thank you especially to all who work and have worked at the shop. Everyone knows that the energy at the FootZone comes from those who work there. I look forward to the decade ahead and appreciate the FZ more than ever. We'll keep showing up every day, having great shoes and gear, fitting your feet, and working to be a positive part of this community. Cheers-Teague
• February 16, 2009
• 12:31

  WRS #2 2009

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Well next Sunday March 22nd is the second instllment of the Footzone Winter Race Series. Farewell Park was great last time and with a week of uncertain weather I think it is wise to stay put. Not to mention this will give all the folks who did the first race a little progress report on how the training is progressing. Remember just get there a little early to sign the waiver and write your name on a number so I can keep track of results.
  
  See you Sunday at Farewell Park,
  
  dave
• February 15, 2009
• 9:29

  Couples Classic Relay

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  We lucked out with a cold, beautiful morning and a little new snow on the ground for the Couples Classic on Saturday Morning. There was a good turn out and smiles all around. Check out the pics and results. Cheers-Teague
  1. Scott/Sage 40:25 2. 3kidsand stillrunning 41:48 3. Melanie Made Me 44:10 4. Team Boardshorts 45:28 5. Carisa/Dave 46:25 6. Spaghetti Love 46:27 7. The Love Train 46:29 8. Brennans 46.43 9. Smack Mack 47:07 10. Team No Name 47:40 11.Team Dopey 48:48 12. Bennetts 50:13 13. Isis/Drew 52:50 14. Team Dairy 53:13 15. 3boys and a girl 55:10
  
• February 11, 2009
• 17:16

  Back to Winter

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I'm guessing you all noticed the little change in the weather. Some would say we've had our few weeks of Spring and now it will be Winter again until Summer comes. Hopefully not, but we'll find out. It hasn't dampened the enthusiasm for the FZ activities. We did have perhaps the smallest turnout last night of any Tuesday Perfomance Group, but I thought 11 on a snowy night was great. Max modified the workout to tempo in hopes that no one would hurt themselves. The Plantar Fasciitis Clinic with Steve Leary was really well attended (see pic). Very informative and everyone left very appreciative for his time and full of practical information. We do this clinic a couple times a year so look for the next one if you're interested. Lastly, the noon run today was great. The snow was gone and the burritos were tasty. Cheers-Teague
  
  
• February 09, 2009
• 12:46

  On behalf of (perhaps in spite of) Colleen

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  You know how some runners like to tell you about their every run and every new training method they try, whereas others you have to pry the information out of if they'll give it up at all. Well, our dear Colleen here at the FootZone certainly falls to the latter . She's more than happy to talk about YOUR running, just less likely to talk about HER running. Let's put it this way, you will NEVER see a Colleen Moyer running blog. We respect that. We actually think it's kinda cool. She is as avid as the next fitness geek but doesn't choose to tell us all about it. Well, occasionally I have to share something because she does cool stuff and we like to live vicariously. Saturday, Colleen took Stacy and Shana (her training buddies for the Napa Marathon) to do a 22 mile run in the splendor of Smith Rock State Park. There's no easy way to do 22 miles at Smith. Colleen does lots of runs out there but Stacey and Shana were newbies. Sounds like it was an eye opener not only for all the beauty but for all the hills. A run like that might just make the marathon seem easy. Nice work, Ladies. No pictures of them, just some cool shots of the Mnts from the Park.
• February 08, 2009
• 20:36

  Hot Chocolate and First Turns

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I hope you enjoyed this great Central Oregon weekend. As Doug Williams pointed out at the Hot Chocolate Run this morning, we're entering that time of year where you really have to choose your fun on any given day that you have the time. The running is great, the mountain is getting more snow and it should be good on the downhill and nordic side for a few months. Someday the gravel will be swept from the roadways to make road biking more appealing and soon enough the mud will leave the trails so mnt. biking is yet another option. We won't even get into you climbers out there. This beautiful morning many of you chose the running option for the HCR. It was a great turnout. The few spots of ice on that East side of the river just South of Farewell Bend park aren't bad right now. After the run I went home and picked up my anxious 5 year old for a trip to Mt. B. Low and behold he made his first real turns on skis. Pretty exciting day for the 5 year old and this Dad. Just a good Central Oregon day. Cheers-Teague
• February 06, 2009
• 20:35

  Thursday eve not only ...

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Thursday eve not only brought another Kyle Will Strength Workout but Geof Hasegawa's Birthday (Tonya's husband). Luckily, Geof has the good to sense to celebrate with a great workout at the FZ and Tonya was kind enough to bring a chocolate cake to share. We all got to share in the workout (there were actually 12 of us) AND eat cake afterward. Great workout, great cake! Cheers-Teague
  
  
• February 04, 2009
• 21:54

  Really Good Days

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Hopefully you had the opportunity to get outside a little and enjoy the past couple days. A little warm and sunshine has kept things hoping around the ole' FZ as folks get inspired and seek out new shoes. The Tuesday Performance Group was exciting last night. We not only had another great turnout to run 700's but there was still light as the workout was getting started and even at 6pm the sky had some brightness. It's a promise of things to come. Today's Noon Run was borderline spectacular and my first shorts and a tee shirt run in a while. More than a dozen turned up to take advantage of a their lunch hour and some Taco Stand. Enjoy the weather while it lasts. Cheers-Teague
• February 03, 2009
• 13:51

  Keeping the facts straight

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Here is the scoop on the 2009 Dirty Half Training group(s). There are in fact two versions for your running pleasure. We will have the FREE training group just like in years past. New for this year is a 12 week training group led by 2 time winner Max King and 8 time race director Dave Thomason. They are charging for the 12 week training plan but Max and Dave are confident that with some structured training they can get you in shape to have the best race possible.
  
  FREE run schedule
  April 26 7miles
  May 3 9miles
  May 10 11miles
  May 17 NO RUN- PPP
  May 24 12 miles
  May 31 13.1 Course Preview
  
  
  For more information on either of the Footzone Dirty Half training groups feel free to contact Dave @ superdave@footzonebend.com
• February 02, 2009
• 22:31

  Couples Classic Relay

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  What can I say, I'm just a sucker for heart images. I only wish I had an "i" in my name so I could dot it with a heart. OK, maybe not, but I do think it's time to bring back the Couples Classic Relay. Harry Kittleman, former CORK treasurer, currently of Montana, convinced me to revive this CORK run about 11 years ago. We held it out at Shevlin Park for a couple years. 2009 seems like a great time to bring it back in a new form. I've sorted out a 1.4 mile loop around Drake and Harmon Parks that starts and finishes right behind the FZ. The relay will be 4 loops split up anyway you want. Show up with a partner or we'll match you up when you get there. We'll have hot cocoa and cookies and some of those nasty little heart candies with all the weird proclamations. Plus some great raffle goodies. We're hoping this will be a good one to do with kids. Either they're old enough to participate or, for the younger ones, only one parent will be running at a time, so the other can be with child. Come on out and join us- Cheers-Teague
• 10:06

  The next generation of runners...

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  And a photo can speak a thousand words.
  Keep running, Rob
• January 30, 2009
• 13:47

  2009 Footzone Horse Butte 10 miler

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Entries are out for the 2009 Horse Butte 10 miler. The first 200 people to get signed up will get to enjoy this sweet 10 mile singletrack loop east of town. The course is the same as last year but the date is different. Since Easter is the second weekend in April we moved it to March 29th so the Petersen Ridge Rumble could be the first Sunday in April. Also different for this year is women's specific shirts. They will be the Brooks Podium shirt and will be available in small through large for the ladies. A printable entry will be available from [www.footzonebend.com] as soon as possible so check that out in the next couple of days.
  Feel free to contact me or the Footzone with any questions. superdave@footzonebend.com or call 317-3568.
  
  Thanks for reading,
  dave
• January 27, 2009
• 22:26

  Support Grooming at V. Meissner

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  There's a fundraiser this Friday at 5:30 in hopes of raising money for grooming at Virginia Meissner snow park. We're talking nordic skiing here. We're lucky to have the nordic trails to cross train on and and keep some fitness and diversity in the winter. If this speaks to you, consider heading to Aspen Hall on Friday. Tickets are $10 and include food from the Taco Stand and music from the Sweet Harlots. See you there. Call Erin at 350-3790 for more info. Cheers-Teague
• January 25, 2009
• 14:47

  Times a Changing

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I’m in the Salt Lake airport getting ready to head home from the Outdoor Retailer show. I’ve gone to this show twice a year since 1997 and watched it grow and evolve. It used to apply most to the lifestyle side of the FZ but anymore several of our major running brands are there and it’s always a good place to see what’s interesting (vs. only marketing hype) in the world of trail running. As good as the running industry is, I think it occasionally categorizes runners as boring, slow to change, and lacking any sense of style. So I like to see what else is out there that applies to runners. My experience shows runners to be pretty sophisticated and expecting the absolute best in product performance and aesthetics. Plus, Bend is an outdoor lifestyle hub so what folks are looking for in Texas or Florida (oddly, both strong influences in the running industry) might not apply to us.
  
  Anyway, that’s why I was there, but on to the Changes. I found out in the first hours of the show that Chaco was purchased by Wolverine (aka Merrell, Patagonia footwear). I had the opportunity to talk with my friend and the (former) owner of Chaco, Mark Paigan and he was relieved. It turned out that he had to seek out a buyer as the cash flow was in a bad way and no lenders on the horizon. My emotions are as mixed as can be. I’m happy for Mark and Chaco that things will continue and of the possible suitors, Merrell constantly executes product well. I’d hope they will do their best to maintain the uniqueness of Chaco while giving it the new life that it needs. That said, I was profoundly sad at the news Mark was delivering. I feel like I grew up in retail with Chaco. I’ve always loved and admired the company and become friends with many of its employees. There is tremendous consolidation happening in the outdoor industry as small vendors struggle and get swallowed up by bigger brands. But there is hope, even during these tough times some new brands were showing for the first time. All in all, it motivates me to keep the FootZone strong and independent. We’re certainly modest by comparison but being a small business is getting more unique by the hour. Cheers-Teague
• January 23, 2009
• 11:09

  Making good shoes

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The past couple days have found me meeting with some of the fine folks that make the great running shoes we all love to run in. Wednesday I met with some of the shoe guys from Mizuno and yesterday I spent time with some of the product line managers from Adidas. I've met lots of these folks over the years and I always learn something about shoe design, execution and how complex the whole process is. They are some of the people I respect most in the running industry and it's always fun when they seek out my opinion. These are the folks who battle with high minded designers in hopes that your favorite shoe will remain your favorite shoe. They understand all to well that a slightly different mesh or moving that overlay 2mm could mean the difference between a great fit and a problem. I come away this time reminded that they are really good at what they do. Its easy to dismiss them as indifferent to our needs when our favorite shoe is tweaked. But remember that it can't be easy to work as the intermediary between designers, business folks and factories. So, what did I learn? Its hard to say specifically, but Mizuno is playing with some really cool material applications and Adidas is taking a calculated path in hopes of regaining the faith of runners and running stores. All companies are trying to be the leaders and much of the talk is about obvious goals and ideals. But mostly, I come away with tremendous appreciation that good people are working really hard to make our job at the FZ interesting by making great new shoes. Cheers-Teague
• 10:37

  Running on the big boat

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  To begin, this is a post about cruising. It's baffling to me, and I wanted to warn you in advance so you can skip this one before reading any further if you're so inclined. My parents are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this month so last week we left the kids with Tami's parents and went on a cruise with all my siblings, their spouses and my parents. I'm the youngest of six kids so there were 14 of us total. A cruise wasn't my first choice, but your parent's 60th celebration is the place to go along. Turns out this might have been the perfect trip for a big family with varying interests and lifestyles (I guess that's every family). We all got to do our own thing, but still we're together and played a lot of cards and ate many meals together. Running on the ship left something to be desired but I was prepared for that. I felt fortunate for the treadmill (can't believe I'm saying that) and all the drills I've learned in Kyle's strength classes. I even got a couple good runs in at ports which is always my favorite way to explore a new place anyway. All and all, a great trip. Fun to celebrate my parents, and great to get some time with Tami. As always, it's good to come home to Central Oregon. Cheers-Teague
• January 20, 2009
• 13:35

  Max train continues to roll

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  The 2009 US half marathon national championships took place over the weekend and from the results it looks like it was a fast race. Local honch runner Max King came in 10th overall with a time of 1:03:49. For those of you who are math challenged like me that's 4:53 pace...wow! Nice job Max! The picture is from Xterra but it's all I got.
• January 19, 2009
• 21:21

  Horse Butte & Horse Ridge - Giddyup!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I'm sure we all can conclude that we were teased by the gorgeous weather last week making us question whether or not this really is January... And, with exception to the inversion we had on Saturday, Sunday and part of today.. which was a staunch reminder that yep, we're still in the trenches of winter, it can't be denied that we've sure been spoiled by an abundance of sunshine lately!! If you haven't received your fix of Vitamin D and you've yet to venture east of town now wouldn't be a bad time. Tonya and Geoff reported that Horse Butte was awesome on Sunday with only a few spots of mud-- plus, March 29th is rapidly approaching for the Horse Butte 10 miler. Even further east, Amy and I escaped to Horse Ridge and although we were mountain biking we were awed by how perfect the trails were- not to mention the view of the snow-capped peaks to the west from the top of Horse Ridge. With all the amazing trail conditions right now it's hard for for me not to mention that our shipment of the Mizuno Wave Ascend 4 arrived a little over a week ago. The concensus around the shop has been positive-- with a more aggressive outsole and re-tooled upper we're pretty excited to get your opinion. Lastly, we received a mountain of Brooks "Cascading" off the shelves and I have to share this photo of all the boxes...I took this shot looking down from the"No Step" top of the ladder in our stock room which is about 14 feet off the ground. Hooray for Brooks!!! If you've yet to read Teague's review of the new Cascadia check out his blog entry. So, enjoy the trails and keep running!
  Rob
  
  
• January 18, 2009
• 20:48

  WRS #1 2009

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Today was the first Footzone Winter Race Series (WRS) 5k. Despite some freezing fog and it just being down right chilly we had a good showing. 34 brave souls came out to giver' on a fine Sunday Morning. The usual suspects came in the front of the pack with the rest doing their level best to haul it around the 5k course. As we hoped people came with a good attitude and took away just what they wanted from the day. Some wanted to prep for an upcoming race with a good effort. While others just wanted to do little faster run with other folks. So whether you are trying to get some speed work in or just trying to get out the door during winter the WRS is just the ticket.
  Results are listed below and points distributed accordingly. Stay tuned to the blog for more info on the next venue and how the tally is going for the big prize at the end. The overall male and female with the most points after the three races gets a brand new pair of shoes for the effort. And for those of us who a little behind the ridiculously talented don't despair, complete all three races there is a pair of running socks coming your way. Ladies of the WRS Men of the WRSLisa Nye 10 Andy Martin 10Jill Gozdwoski 9 Micheal Dennis 9Mary Primrose 8 Joel Vergona 8Megan Wrightman 7 Josh Davis 7Ericka Luckel 6 Shane Cochran 6Kari Strang 5 Ryan Altman 5Erica Westcott 4 Danny Harris 4Jenny Sventek 3 Kevin Lair 3Linsey Greer 2 Jason Taylor 2Kristi Sterry 1 Mike I might be Amish Olson 1
  
  Thanks for reading and coming out to run,
  
  daveIf I misspelled any names let me know and I can correct the mistakes. It's hard to read my writing when my hands are frozen.
• January 11, 2009
• 13:24

  Winter Race Series #1

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  One week from today on January 18th the first Footzone Winter Race Series will take place. The hot chocolate run ran from Farewell Bend Park today and the trail on the west side of the river was in great shape. So I have chosen that for the venue. We will run a 5k loop which starts and finishes at the covered area near the bathrooms. The race will start at 9am sharp so show up 15 minutes early to get signed up.
  
  See you there,
  
  Superdave
• January 04, 2009
• 8:41

  Many Asses

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Yesterday was the Bad Ass, Tight Ass, Huge Ass and Numb Ass Fun Run East of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area. The distances are 50k, 22 mile, 13 mile, and 9 mile respectively. I went out with Jill G. and ran the 9 mile before heading in for a day of fitting shoes at the shop. It was a beautiful, cold morning. The footing was good, there was no wind and the mountains were glowing in the distance. Not a bad start to a Saturday. About 50 people spread themselves out over the distances. The 9 miler is also know as the Super Slacker Super Dave 9 miler. You'll see Josh wearing the SD shirt in honor (Dave's in North Dakota with his Dad on a little huntin trip). This is a great winter loop so keep it in mind if you don't mind some hills and a little drive East to run on the dirt. Thanks to Jeff and Sean for putting this together and Kathy for the delicious beer bread I was snacking on at the end. Cheers-Teague
• January 01, 2009
• 21:37

  2009 is finally here!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Many descended on Farewell Bend Park this morning for a New Years Run. It was windy and the trail was seriously slick but good to gather, get a run in, and drink some cocoa. The wind really started to pick up soon after and blew the treats around. Interesting weather day to bring in '09.
  
  We took the day off today at the FootZone as we have every New Year's Day since we opened. However, we will open up again tomorrow since that's what we do, and have to face the fact that we might be unemployable outside of the shop. Turns out we'll have two less options for downtown eats in the New Year. Deep and Merenda weren't exactly our typical lunch spot but its sad to know that a few more jobs are gone and spaces will be empty. Lot's of folks are wondering what this means for downtown? I'd guess we'll end up with some other businesses downtown and they likely won't be high end restaurants. Rents are getting more reasonable and downtown's a beautiful, vibrant place, so don't give up on it just yet. Some would say that Merenda's opening was the beginning of a shift in Bend. I'm not sure what its closing says about the current direction in Bend, but it sure feels like another shift. It might not be a bad thing. At least maybe we can stop talking about the downtown parking "problem". Happy New Year-Teague
• December 30, 2008
• 20:30

  What's New?

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  The Tuesday Performance group side stepped the ice patches and thanks to Max, rallied for a great workout to close out the year. I'm still amazed to see a dozen people out now that we're in the depths of winter. Good times.
  
  Well, it's the shoes that are new. From Asics the Kayano, DS Trainer, Hyperspeed, Trail Attack and Landreth. From Brooks are the new Adrenaline, Glycerin, Infiniti, and Cascadia. Its still early so no bold predictions just yet but the Cascadia seems to fit even better, the Infiniti looks sweet and still rides like a dream, the Glycerin is plusher underfoot and the DS Trainer harkens back to the DS Trainers of old. Track Spikes are also on the shelves. Hard to imagine that Spring sports are that close but before you know it... Cheers-Teague
• December 22, 2008
• 21:36

  Partay!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Back to Front, Left to Right: Rob, Dave, Colleen, Teague, Tonya, Kirsten, Jenny, Melanie, Eric, Nancy and Chris.
  
  Last night was the revelry commonly refered to as the FootZone Holiday Party. This year was actually a cocktail party. I was able to fulfill my long held dream of playing bartender and firing up fun drinks. Tami (my wife) made a roasted veggie platter like you've only dreamed of. You know how most work parties are something you don't really want to attend but feel obliged to? This is probably the same, but no one lets on. There was good cheer all around. Everyone came, even Nancy who postponed her family Christmas trip so she could attend (she blamed it on the weather, but we know she just couldn't stand to miss out). All kidding aside, and I think all at the Zone would agree, we're lucky to have such a nice group to share our days with... and its good to raise a glass and celebrate. Cheers-Teague
• December 19, 2008
• 11:28

  Holiday Lights Run

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  It was a cold and windy night... but a hearty group of you still came out to check the xmas lights and drink some cocoa and malted beverages. Thank you to Tracy Miller and Amy Clark for putting this one on. We'll certainly do it again next year.
• 11:23

  Functional Fitness

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  The pre-holiday edition of Kyle's Functional Fitness workout here at the FZ was great. Good group and good challenging workout. We'll take a couple Thursdays off since they fall on the upcoming holidays but we'll be back at it 0n Thursday, Jan.8th. Mark your calendar.
• December 16, 2008
• 12:24

  Tuesday Performance Group 12/16/08

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Max just sent out an email last night and there will not be a workout tonight. Just a little too cold and icy to get you out there trying to run fast. No use getting anyone injured. Instead, Max will be at the FootZone from 6-7pm tonight to talk training if anyone is interested. It's also Ask the Experts tonight so Chris Vergona will be here in case you're having nagging problems.
  
  Max had a great race in Spokane last weekend at the club xc championships. The results are HERE Look for former Bend High standout and current Nike employee Brett Holts as well.
  
  Cheers-Teague
• 12:20

  Jingle Bell Run

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Preliminary reports say the Jingle Bell Run raised over $45,000 for the Arthritis Foundation this year. Hard to remember that it was only 10 days ago that we were standing in Columbia Park with everyone in shorts and tee-shirts. I had the pleasure of helping to organize the course this year. Last year there were some issues so it was great to see folks step up to make it better. Good work-Teague
• December 13, 2008
• 8:48

  Waking to white

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Oh Baby! Nothing like that first snowy run of the season. Grab your Yaktrax and get on out there. Winter brings challenges for runners but it also brings a lot of beauty and what better excuse than a run to get out and check out the winter landscape while others are snoozing. Looks like Bachelor got a good dump. Don't forget the Hot Chocolate Run tomorrow. Enjoy-Teague
• December 09, 2008
• 21:06

  Christmas come early at the Zone

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  About this time of year we're honestly ready for some new shoes. The days are short and getting colder and we practically do back flips when the styles start to change. Nothing wrong with the current shoes but when you deal with them every day, something new to ponder just brings a smile. Today was a bonanza as we got early hits of the new Brooks Cascadia, Defyance and Infiniti. The Cascadia is a staple for us and the new one initially feels like it won't skip a beat. The overall fit may be a bit more secure but even Rob's wide hoofies had no issues. The Defyance is new for us but Brooks has had tremendous luck with this neutral version of the tried and true Adrenaline. The Inifiniti was hands down the new shoe of the year at FootZone in 2008. Thus, this '09 version is laden with expectations. Time will tell but the fit seems consistent and it still has that wonderful forefoot ride that won so many of you over last year. Come in when you can and give us your feedback on these new styles. Cheers-Teague
• December 08, 2008
• 20:29

  California International Marathon

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  5198 people finished the Cal International Marathon over the weekend and six of them were Central Oregonians. Glenn Miller finished in 3:26:20, Annette Muensterman in 3:25:11, Kirsten Holden in 3:12:22, Ryan Altman in 3:03:54, Sean Meissner in 2:39:06 and Jeff Caba in 2:36:25. Quite a showing! Congratulations to all! Complete Results Cheers-Teague
• December 07, 2008
• 20:38

  Max at Xterra in Hawaii

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Max King prevails once again. This time it was at the Xterra Worlds Trail Half Marathon in Hawaii. Sounds like it was a tough course but he still managed sub 6 minute miles. Link here for Story/Results/Photos
  
  Kami Semick won yesterday at the North Face Challenge 50 miler in San Francisco. In case you forgot, this is the same Kami Semick who took 2nd at the 100k worlds in Italy ONE month ago. Wow, that is some seriously impressive recovery. Here are those Results.
  
  Great work Max and Kami!
• 19:50

  Catching up

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  I took some time with Tami and the kiddos at Thanksgiving to get up to Seattle and visit family. It was a great trip but I did miss "I LIKE PIE II" and as always, coming back to Central Oregon is a treat. Fortunately, the shop has been busy and I've been a poor blogger. All this sunshine and relative warmth seems to have folks continuing to run and thus buying running shoes at a good clip - Thank You for that. As for the past week, Tuesday was the Performance Group (still drawing a great crowd) and Screw Your Shoes. Thanks to Jeff Browning for bringing in the Makita's. More than 20 pairs of shoes came in the door to get winterized. Enough of you showed up, in fact, that I was able to join in the action. Since I'm not the handiest fellow, any chance to raise a power tool is a treat. The picture shows Jeff Caba getting set up and Max King and Jeff sharing some good natured banter about whether YakTrax or Screwing your shoes works best. Of course, it's all idle chat unless the snow flies. The Thursday Strength Workout is going strong and you really should join us. It's that workout I'd never do on my own, feels really worthwhile and I won't miss it if I can help it. Runners need this and for $5, you can't beat it. I hope your enjoying all those still accessible trails. Cheers-Teague
• November 27, 2008
• 14:07

  Happy Thanksgiving!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Wow! People apparently really like Pie. Today was the second Footzone "I like pie run" and it drew quite a crowd. I was expecting about 100 or so as last year we had 60 so I figured we would have more this year. Well I was blown away as over 200 showed up to run and eat some pie. But even with the massive horde of runners the spirit of the event was maintained. I never intended this to be a race or competitive in the slightest so it was nice to see people out having fun and getting some exercise before the big meal. Definitely props to the Foster clan and friends for the spectacular costumes. That is what the I like pie run is all about.We had over 20 pies entered in the contest with Tracy Miller taking home the prize for here efforts. I think it had something to do with the fact that her pie was still warm when she brought it in. It was great that there were so many homemade yummy pies for us to enjoy and thanks to all who participated.As an extra bonus we totally filled my Subaru station wagon up with food for the formerly know as COCAN Neighbor Impact. Thank you all for keeping the spirit of the holiday alive while getting some exercise.Peace out,dave
• November 20, 2008
• 14:11

  One week = Pie

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Well we are one week away from the second annual I Like Pie Run. This run started very humbly last year as I was chatting with FZ customer Kory Bright while I helped her with shoes. We thought it would be cool to have a run before the holiday most known for Americans gorging themselves. And just like that the I Like Pie Run was born. I made some simple flyers and to my surprise over 60 people showed up to run and eat a slab of pie.
  Now with the big day only a week away here is some info for this years run. The run starts from the FZ at 9am Thanksgiving morning. We are going to run north on the rivertrail off of 1st street. If you want to be entered in a raffle for a cool winter running prize package simply bring a pie. To participate in the run all you need to do is bring a can of food. This run is not a race but you can run as fast or as slow as you want I will have marked the 5 and 10 mile turnaround points. The course is out and back which means you can really turn around whenever you would like. The path is ok for baby joggers. Hopefully this answeres some basic questions but if you come up with some that still need answering give a call to the FZ 317-3568 or email me at superdave@footzonebend.com Thanks and see you in a week, dave
• November 17, 2008
• 20:38

  Just for fun

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  We have an abundance of functional shoes at the shop. Functional on all ends of the spectrum. That said, anyone who knows me knows that I like the fun side of running shoes as well. That might be something new and different or just plain cool looking. So, when Nike came out with a 25th anniversary color of the Pegasus, I couldn't resist. It's the same tooling (midsole, outsole) as the current pegasus (which is great, by the way) but with a simple, super comfy upper in a retro gray with the navy swoosh and a pegasus emblem across the heel. It would be a perfectly good running shoe, but I don't see myself using it that way. We only have a few so get 'em while we got 'em. Cheers-Teague
• 20:07

  Quite a Week

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  FZ activities this week include the Performance Running Group at 5:30 on Tuesday (no "ask the experts" with Chris Vergona this week, she's in Australia), Functional Strength Training at the FootZone on Thursday at 6pm. The Taco Stand noon run goes on Wednesday from the FootZone as always and the Women's Running Group will do a loop at Phil's on Sunday at 9am. In other words, a pretty standard week for extra curricular activities at the FootZone. We're still recovering from last week which was packed full. Tuesday was the PRG led by Max and a Nutrition Clinic with Tim Monaco. Both were great and well attended. Wednesday we hosted a Medical Professional Night where the folks in this community who fix us gathered to learn about shoes and how we do things at the FootZone. It was a full house. Thursday was the first go of Strength Training w/Kyle Will. 8 braved the initial offering but this one will grow quickly. All went away knowing they'd improved themselves (my legs were still sore in some under-utilized places 3 days later). Friday was the Chi-Running clinic with coach Keith. Another big crowd for that one to learn some techniques for running more efficiently. Four nights straight, glad it's not every week but it sure feels active at the FZ.
• November 13, 2008
• 21:30

  Functional Strength Workout

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Great response for the first strength workout at the FootZone. Kyle really knows his stuff and in an hour we learned a ton. He kept it moving and everyone was feeling it by the end. It's one of those workouts I'd be pressed to do by myself but it was fun in a group, and I can already feel how effective it is at targeting those muscles we obviously don't use enough in our running. Same time next Thursday (6-7pm), then a week off for Thanksgiving and back at it on December 4th. For $5 a workout, this is a screaming deal and money well spent. Join us, you'll be glad you did, and you'll give yourself a great chance to stay injury free this winter. Cheers-Teague
• November 12, 2008
• 11:04

  Caba's at Lithia Loop Marathon!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  Jeff and Katie Caba took first and second place respectively at the inaugural Lithia Loop Trail Marathon in Ashland last weekend. On a really challenging course with 4700" feet of elevation Jeff ran 2:47:31 and Katie ran 3:09:26! Nice work Caba's! Hard to imagine them running that fast all the time with jobs and raising three young boys. Just makes it all the more impressive. Superstar Sean Meissner had a solid second place showing and Jenn Shelton (formerly of Bend) was third woman. Jenn still owes me a half rack of beer from an election bet we made about six months ago. Jenn, Obama clearly didn't pick Hillary as his running mate. I'm still waiting. Oh well, she knows where to find me. cheers-Teague
• November 09, 2008
• 23:13

  Hot Chocolate in November

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  This morning began for many with the second CORK Hot Chocolate Run of the season. The turnout was huge (70+), the food was great, the heaters were warm, and the Harshburgers even built some cairns to show the way. We're lucky to have great community runs like this. I'm happy that so many are utilizing it. Your next opportunity is December 14th. Cheers-Teague
• 23:03

  Kudos to Kami

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Bend's own Kami Semick took second place over the weekend at the 100K world championships in Italy. Her time was 7 hours, 33 minutes, and only ten minutes behind the winner from Russia. I hope she's reveling a bit with a few good bottles of wine and loads of pasta before she heads back to the states. Congratulations Kami!
• November 07, 2008
• 17:55

  Girls Night Out- Black Pant Event!

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Well, Jenny and all the ladies here at the FootZone throw quite a party. This was the third Girls Night Out in the past 14 months and each time they get a little bigger and from the sound of things, ever more fun. You'll notice in the picture that at least one man crashed the party, but at least he was dressed accordingly! There was chocolate, foot massages, goody bags and fun had by all. Thank you to all who helped out and to Jenny for running the show. Cheers-Teague
• 12:34

  Running or Beer?

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  Why not both? The ever diligent bend hash group is still trying to find the perfect balance between running and beer drinking. If you would like to help them in their quest for knowlegde November, 15th is your chance. Meet at Silver Moon Pub at 3:30 pm for some fun. All participants must be 21 or over. Still have qestions go to www.bendhash.com
  
  Have fun
• November 01, 2008
• 21:18

  An acre for the Lord

   » ‎ Foot Zone Blog

  Tags:    [edit]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  Today on this fine Saturday was the running of the Lord's Acre 5 and 10k. For those of you who have never heard of the Lord's Acre here it is in a nutshell. The Lord's Acre festival is a fundraiser started 62 years ago to help out the church in Powell Butte. The festival has crafts, homemade pie, fresh meats cooked right in the ground, and as a few years ago a 5 and 10 kilometer run.
  
  
  Perhaps the greatest thing about this run is the prizes. No there are no new cars, finisher medals, or airplane tickets to Aruba. But if you by some miracle win your age group you get a whole pie... a pie. And not a pie bought at Safeway the night before on special but a pie made with love and care and lots of butter and sugar. There has never been a race that has made me wish I was faster like this one. But today like virtually all the rest of my events I came up a hare shy of winning the big one but thankfully I married a speedy woman who can bring the noise when it counts. That's right I just put down two pieces of banana cream pie and it was delicious, because my wife is way better at running than I am.
  So for all of you who find yourself with nothing to do next November get up off the couch hop in the car and haul it to Powell Butte and give it up for pie and a good cause.
  Peace out,dave