footzoneblog

Update

2009-07-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

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

Holi-day Weekend

2009-07-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

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

Spark Your Heart

2009-07-01T22:09:00.000-07:00

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

New Brooks Ravenna and Launch!

2009-06-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

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

Dirty 2nd Half

2009-06-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

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 9:00

It will take place somewhere in the Deschutes National Forest

It will be 13.1 miles of dirtiness

I 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

Commute Options

2009-06-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

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

Dirty Half Video

2009-06-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Just in the 2009 Dirty Half Video! Thanks Chris.

Heaven Can Wait Video

2009-06-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

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

yeehaw

2009-06-14T17:25:00.000-07:00

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

Dirty Half well within sight

2009-06-12T22:02:00.001-07:00

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

Great Weekend

2009-06-08T22:56:00.000-07:00

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

Learn to Run Wrap Up and Moving Forward

2009-06-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

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.

Workout at Kyle's studio tonight

2009-06-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

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

Course Preview- Thanks SD

2009-05-31T21:03:00.000-07:00

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

Another one down

2009-05-31T13:21:00.000-07:00

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

One Less Excuse

2009-05-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

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

Trail Work Tomorrow

2009-05-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

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

Steve at the Dirty Half

2009-05-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

Steve's Memorial and ways to help out

2009-05-21T18:54:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-05-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

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

Jungle Run

2009-05-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

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

McDonald Forest 50K

2009-05-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

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: http://www.oregontrailseries.org/mac/50k_2009.htm

Word to the Mother

2009-05-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

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

TPG - Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

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

Strength Workout Tomorrow Night

2009-05-06T20:42:00.001-07:00

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