Latest News
Memorial Day Sales at Fleet Feet Sports!
No Boundaries 5K and 10K Training Programs 2013 - Register Now!
Info Session Saturday, June 8 - 9:00AM at Fleet Feet Sports Pittsburgh
This Summer, join Fleet Feet Sports and New Balance to run your first 5k or 10K! The program focuses on beginners, but all levels of runners are welcome. The program is structured to help you cross the finish line of your first 5K or 10K in less than three months. Along the way we’ll be providing you with motivation to keep you moving, guidance and advice, weekly group training runs and educational clinics on topics such as proper nutrition, choosing the right gear, and avoiding injury. Plus, you’ll have the camaraderie of others just like you!
Check out the NoBo page here!
Upcoming Fleet Feet Flyers' Sunday Runs! (May 12th - May 26th)
FLYERS SUNDAY GROUP RUNS are BACK!!!
~ sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports Pittsburgh & Brooks Running ~
Starting Sunday, May 12th at 7:30 am
FREE themed runs through the famed sights, architecture and neighborhoods of Pittsburgh
water supported ~ multiple-distance maps ~ tons of runners
raffles, special events, and more!
MAY SCHEDULE
MAY 12th, 7:30 am
"MOTHERS’ DAY BLOSSOMS"
Meet: Starbucks Shadyside, 730 Copeland St
Post-marathon shake-out routes past Phipps Conservatory, the American Legion Memorial Gardens and an optional loop through Chatham University labyrinth.
MAY 19th, 7:30 am
"OFFICIAL FLYER KICK-OFF AND MARATHON CELEBRATION PICNIC"
Meet: Schenley Park (intersection of Panther Hollow Rd & Bartlett St)
Bring a blanket and dish to pass for after the run. Fleet Feet Sports is bringing a colossal cake!
MAY 26th, 7:30 am
"RETURN TO THE PLANET OF THE APES & MEMORIAL DAY BELL RINGING"
Meet: Primanti's in the Strip, 18th St between Penn Ave and Smallman St
Commemorating the one-year anniversary of the demise of Mellon Arena. Stand beneath the five towering flag poles high above the Golden Triangle and toll the Flag Plaza bell.
Feetures Socks - Buy 3 Get One Free!
Throughout the month of May, when you buy 3 pairs of Feetures Socks, you get one pair free! Stop in to take advantage of this awesome deal!
Congratulations Runners!
Congratulations to all of the Pittsburgh Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay runners!! Fleet Feet Sports is proud of each and every one of you, especially those who participated in our 2013 Marathon Training group! We are UNSTOPPABLE!!
We Are Unstoppable. [Boston - 4/15/13]
For more than 100 years, the Boston Marathon has given many people a sense of joy, accomplishment, resolve and victory. The finish line symbolizes the culmination of weeks, months and even years of hard work and dedication. But on Monday, an unknown entity attempted to strike down that happiness, and strip away that sense of accomplishment from runners, their families, and their friends.
Mere words can’t possibly relay our sadness, heartache and anger in response to these events. But we will not let the acts of a few take away our passion. This is a time for the Fleet Feet Sports community to come together and be resilient. Our brand manifesto speaks to who we are and how we will respond. We trample down walls. We bring a nation to their feet. We ignite hearts and inspire emotion. And we are unstoppable. We invite you to be UNSTOPPABLE with us.
Why We Don't Use A Foot Scanner
Many people wonder why we don't use a "foot scanner" that you can step on to determine what shoe or insole is right for you. These computerized scanners, which can be found in drug stores and superstores, show your foot's pressure points and arch type. It's a fancy way of doing the "Wet Test": wet your feet and stand on a surface, like a brown paper bag, that leaves a visible footprint. The wider the band that connects your heel and ball, the lower the arch you have.
Your arch type affects your biomechanics and is an important component of choosing the right shoe for your foot, but it is only part of the FIT story since at least 20% of people's arches act differently than they "should". Here at Fleet Feet Sports, our FIT Process has three main components that help us define your foot and make the best shoe recommendations for you: foot morphology, biomechanical assessment and "other".
Foot morphology is a fancy way of saying that we analyze your foot size, shape and arch type. This is done by visually looking at the foot statically and dynamically (important since you are in motion when you run!) and taking multiple measurements with an old-fashioned Brannock device. This helps us to choose the right size shoe and shoe brand since each shoe company fits a certain shaped foot better. That is why your friend may swear by his Asics shoes, but they cause you pain.
Next, we examine your biomechanics by determining your arch flexibility and doing a gait analysis (either watching you walk barefoot or with our video gait analysis software). This tells us if you overpronate, supinate or are naturally efficient which in turn, governs what type of shoe (neutral, stability or motion control) you need, as well as the curvature of your shoe's last. Key here is arch flexibility since a rigid arch needs extra cushioning to help attenuate the shock produced when the foot hits the ground at forces of 2-4 times body weight. Whereas, a flexible arch disperses shock better, all that flexibility in the mid and fore foot can exacerbate overpronation which stresses and torques your feet, shins, knees, hips and back causing its own host of problems.
Finally, we take other special considerations into account like your gender, weight, training surface, weekly mileage, injury status, orthotics and structural deviations in the foot like bunions and extra bones. We put all this data together and bring out 2-3 pairs of shoes that we think will fit you best. Don't be surprised if one of those first shoes feels amazing - it means that we did our job right!
When you think about it, the foot is a marvelous structure. It has 28 bones (including the sesmoids), 33 joints, 112 ligaments, plus tendons, nerves and blood vessels that work in unison to support, balance and propel your body. No two feet are exactly the same nor do they always fit into a specific category. Don't cheat your feet and let a computer scan recommend an orthotic or running shoe for you. An injury is going to cost you a lot more, monetarily and mentally, than a good pair of shoes. Invest in your feet. Let our FIT Professionals teach you about your feet and help you find the perfect fit. We guarantee it!
Fleet Feet Pittsburgh in Whirl Magazine!
Check out this article on Winter Running in Whirl!
Read about us in the USC Patch!
Check out this recent article about the Fleet Feet Flyers in the Upper St. Clair Patch!
http://upperstclair.patch.com/articles/local-running-group-is-city-s-largest
Stay Safe with Brooks Nightlife!
Fall is right around the corner, and the days are getting shorter. Don't run unnoticed! The Brooks NightLife Apparel Collection combines safety and style by offering high-contrast colors with strategic retro-reflectivity to boost visibility. The highly visible fluorescents and crucial features of this collection will keep you visible in the low-light conditions of night and early morning. Stop and get yours today, while sizes are still available!