Steph's Blog

August 5 – Olympics!
The Summer Olympics begin this Friday - 8/8/08 at 8:08:08pm. Eight is considered to be a lucky number in China because its pronunciation (“ba”) is similar to “fa” which means prosperity. The number eight is also a perfectly symmetrical shape so no matter if you cut it vertically or horizontally, the two pieces are mirror images of each other. This symmetry represents perfect balance – something most of us try to achieve despite the craziness of our lives.

Whenever I am balanced in my life, I feel like I can conquer anything – which sometimes means having the strength to just let go and not stress over everything that life throws at me. When things are out of balance for me, I like to go for a run. Everything seems better after a run. Running gives me time to think, to dream and to enjoy being alive. As Vicki Hebler, No Boundaries coach and current participant in our half marathon training program, said to me today , “Every step is a gift”. It’s easy to forget that when we’re busy, stressed and rushed.

I encourage you to get out this week, take a step and enjoy the gift. It doesn’t matter how far or how fast you go. Just go. Your “to-do” list can wait. And if you need a little motivation, turn on the Olympics. Be inspired by those who have dedicated their lives to perfecting their sport one little step at a time. They have found the perfect balance between pushing their bodies to the limit and holding back to protect against injury and allow their bodies to recover and grow stronger. Their reward? Gold!

July 22 – Small World
I grew up on the east-side of Cincinnati in a small town called Mariemont (so small it was actually called a village). My high school graduating class had 83 kids which was considered a big class in a school that totaled 400 kids for grades 7-12. Everyone knew everyone and most stayed in the Cincinnati area after college graduation. Once my parents moved to CT and I stopped going “home” for holidays, I lost touch with many (except Missy, one of my oldest and dearest friends from pre-school who keeps me in the Mariemont Loop).

Flash forward 20 years (gulp!) and 1,000+ miles, and a fit woman approaches me in the store after making eye contact. I sense that I know her, but assume that it’s just because she’s been in the store before until she says, “I think we went to school together…I’m Cindy Pope.” Instantly, my mind flashed back to the sleepovers at her house and to the volleyball and basketball teams we played on together as uncoordinated kids. What fun memories!

After talking with Cindy who is now a professor at Central Connecticut State University (and guest lecturer at Yale and author of an upcoming book!), I marveled at how much we had grown and changed and experienced since our childhood, but also at how alike we still were. Seems Cindy is a loyal Fleet Feet customer and triathlete for a local Team in Training group. She reminded me of the saying, “A fit woman is a powerful woman”. It was inspiring to see her again, and I look forward to joining her for a few training runs so we can catch-up on old times!

June 24 – Summer is Here!
I love these longest days of the year because it feels like I have more time to sneak in a run or walk which always puts me in a good mood. Maybe that is why I like Brooks Running’s advertising slogan “Run Happy” - though I have to admit that I’m not always smiling while I’m running. Usually, it’s not until I am finished that those endorphins kick-in and I get that “runner’s high”. Exercise has a way of invigorating and empowering. How many of you have felt like you could take on any challenge life throws at you after working out? It’s the best feeling!

June 11 – Hello!
I am so excited to finally be here and am grateful to Alice for creating such a wonderful store! It’s just been 3 days since I took over as the new owner, but everyone has welcomed me with open arms and enthusiasm. Thank You!

The most common question I am asked is “what made want to do this?” The answer goes back to 1979 with one of my most favorite memories – participating in a fun run after one of my dad’s races. I remember beating a local radio celebrity and feeling like I was the wind. At that moment I fell in love with running.

I never thought that running would ever amount to a career path, so I followed another one of my passions – weather. But after 15 exciting years as a meteorologist (if you ever got an email from “Stephanie at WeatherBug”, that was me!), I decided to retire my crystal ball and get a masters in exercise science. I wanted to learn all I could about how the body responds to exercise because returning to the pavement (first walking, then jogging and finally running again) helped me “find me” and gain control of my life again several years after being diagnosed with Lupus and thinking that I’d never experience the joy of moving like the wind again. I found that the more I exercised and got moving, the stronger I felt both physically and mentally. In 2002 I tackled one of the hardest, but most rewarding challenges of my life – finishing the Marine Corps Marathon. That experience made me realize how amazing the human body is and that it is capable of more than we think.

So, as much as I loved chasing tornadoes, tracking snowstorms, reporting live from the eye of hurricanes and interviewing Punxsutawney Phil, I realized that I wanted to help people find the joy in becoming healthier through running and walking and do what they thought wasn’t possible. Being a part of Fleet Feet Sports allows me to do that. I enjoy helping people find the perfect shoe, clothes or accessory because I know it might be the motivation and proper equipment they need to get – and keep - moving.

I look forward to meeting all of you faithful newsletter readers, and thank you for this opportunity to live a dream. I hope I can help you live yours too!

Live Fit!
Stephanie