On The Run With UNR - Running The Hills Of Kentucky!

Running the Hills of Kentucky!

Notes From The Foot Whisperer

Anyone for a bit of Bourbon? The Bourbon Chase in Central Kentucky, that is. And now that I’ve had time to digest everything (Figuratively), it made for another wonderful weekend with some great running buddies! Our little team (Named after one of our favorite beverages), and by extension, part of the Saturday morning run group, made our way to Louisville, Kentucky to start our sojourn. For anyone who didn’t hear of our Washington DC Ragnar run last year, our twelve person team ran a 200 mile relay race through some of the prettiest land in this country. Each person had three legs to run. By the time we finished in Lexington, 200 miles and 29-1/2 hours later, our team was all ready for the bourbon (Literally, not figuratively!). And every person had a story to tell!

My favorite was in the little town of Stanford. It was my first of two night-time runs. Our van (We called it the “Adult Van” as opposed to the “Kids Van”) pulled in to Stanford around 8:30 pm. We were met by a very polite and generous fire police man who directed us not only to the parking lot, but also to bathrooms with running water (a luxury on this race), and some great hot chocolate for all of the Chasers. At the exchange zone, the townspeople met us and kept all of the runners at ease as we waited for our exchange, telling us stories about prior Chases and their total commitment to making it one of the best 200-milers out there! All with a very contagious Southern drawl! As my team mate approached, my team number was called out. The hand-off was made, and I ran into the darkness of rural Kentucky to the next exchange zone.

By the end of the race in Lexington, all of the pains, sore muscles, and tired bones were a thing of the past. We had dinner as a team and reminisced about a most enjoyable race! If you and 11 other friends ever get the chance, try a Ragnar or one of many other two hundred mile team relays. Memories that you can share with the grand kids!

The evening runs were cold. And it just gets me pumped up for cold weather running! Check out some of our new cold weather gear. As well as some great standards out there that are currently on sale!

On The Run with UNR - Hello From Ebensburg!

I’m spending some time today working out of the Ebensburg Up-N-Running. It gives me time to see what the running community is like in other parts of the state. And Pennsylvania has a rich heritage of good runners as well as running events. In the Central PA region, there’s loads of great little races to attend.

Two very active running clubs in the community are: The Ebensburg Area Running Club (EARC), and the Indiana Road Runners Club (IRRC). They host a variety of different distance events. The big event every year for the EARC is the annual Turkey Trot, held on Thanksgiving. It runs through the streets of downtown Ebensburg, ending at the Fire Hall. Proceeds of the event go to one of several charities in the area. They get around 700 plus runners. Everyone has a great time. And there’s plenty of post-race refreshments. To see a really cool video of the race, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOFQpt94BQ.

The big event for the Indiana Road Runners Club is the annual Indiana First Bank Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay. It is held on November 8 on the Ghost Town Trail. A very inexpensive event for those looking to run a November marathon. Visit www.indianaroadrunners.com for more information.

Some other neat events occurring in Central PA are: Saturday, October 7, 2015 The Vampire 5K in Johnstown PA. Proceeds benefit the American Red Cross. I really like the race entry fee categories! It has a $30 Race day entry fee. However, if you donate blood or platelets, the fee is waived. (The donation period has passed as they don’t want someone fainting on the course. But keep it in mind for next year!)

Saturday, October 24. Color Me Pink Run/Walk in Windber, PA (Yep, the home of Tarzan, Johnny Weissmueller!). What a great way of raising funds to advance patient care and breast cancer research during the month of October! Proceeds benefit the Joyce Murtha Breast Cancer Center.

Saturday, November 14. Shanksville Fire Department Station 627 - 6.27 Ladder Run Challenge. It’s three races for the price of one! It’s 6.27 miles . And you advance from the first race, to the second, to the third by covering the distances over a set period of time. Contact dmapes40@yahoo.com for more information. And while you’re there, visit the awe-inspiring Flight 93 Memorial.

On The Run with UNR - Here Comes Autumn!

Hey, we made it to Autumn. It has always been such a great time to go out running! And there are some really great little races out there. It seems more races have themes. And what better themes in the Fall than Halloween, scary races, apple cider, amazing post-race food, and maybe a couple PR’s! For all of you training for the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, with the new course finish, we are seeing some spectacular races to the end. I would suspect if the weather turns out well, we may see some course records broken. Tell your friends and family come on out and cheer you on, as the last quarter mile is great for viewing.

One thing to start keeping in mind is how quickly it gets dark now. I like to wear a safety light on my head with at least a 20-lumen power. My two biggest problems running at night are mail boxes, and pot holes! And yours truly have run into both on occasion. Another nice piece of equipment for evening running are Knuckle Lights. Very easy to run with. And they really light up your surroundings. I also will start to wear a reflective vest. And I’ll top it off with the flashing safety lights. It’s a little early for Christmas. But when I’m decked out with all of my lights and reflective bands, if I get a few more strings of lights, I’ll be ready for the Holidays!!

Congratulations to all who ran in the City of Pittsburgh Great Race! And especially to that gang out there (You know who you are!) who ran every single Great Race including the Great Replacement Race. Also, a big congrats to the SFU alums who won the Reach the Beach Ragnar in New Hampshire back in September. That’s four years in a row for those guys!

Happy Running!

~Ed

On the RUN with UNR - Our new and improved blog!

Okay, so we’re now training for the Bourbon Chase in Kentucky. A nice 200 mile 12-person relay. And yours truly will be trying my best not to embarrass the team. My physical ailments are slowing me down. But I’m still enjoying the run. These late Summer/early Fall days are really nice for running. I’ve been switching my routes. And on occasion, doing some trails. As the farmers always tell me; Make Hay while the sun shines! So hopefully, we’ve got a lot more sun-shiny days ahead!

These 200-mile relay races are just one of the many races/runs coming this Fall. Lots of really neat events coming up:

In the North Pittsburgh area the races include:

PALS 5K Run/Walk for Education – Saturday, October 3, 2:00 pm in Saxonburg, PA - If you’ve ever run the Saxonburg Festival of the Arts 5K, you’ll love this race. It all takes place on the Saxony Farm. In my opinion, the prettiest place to hold a race! Hope you can make it! Contact: 412-793-5884

Highlands First Annual American Cancer Society 5K Race – Sunday, October 4, 8:30 am on the Heritage Trail – Tarentum Marina – Contact: 724-226-1803

Darlington Twp. VFD’s 2nd Annual Fire Prevention 5K – Saturday, October 10, 9:00 am. Proceeds benefit the Volunteer Fire Department. Contact: 724-730-5421

Freeport Girls’ Basketball First Annual Halloween Hustle 5K Run/Walk – Saturday, October 10, 9:00 am – Butler/Freeport Rails-to-Trails at Monroe Road. Costumes are encouraged!!!! Contact: freeporthalloweenhustle5K.weebly.com

10th Annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon! This is the one everyone seems to like running. An easy downhill point-to-point finishing in Freeport, PA. Saturday, October 17, 9:00 am. No race day registration. Shuttles to the start and back to the parking lot after the race. Lots of refreshments! And some really great locally crafted finisher’s medals! One of the fastest Half Marathons you’ll ever run! Visit website: www.butlerfreeporttrail.org

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Progress Report

Now that many of us are in marathon or half marathon training mode, and nearing the midway point in our training for Spring marathons it may be prudent to evaluate our progress, and keep the injuries at bay. If you have been putting miles in on our wintery cold, hard roads, you’re probably feeling the shock on the legs. Not to worry. As the temperatures rise, running on asphalt will provide some give to the constant pounding. The ruts in the rail/trails will soften. And your taper will be relaxing. I’m hearing the robins, which is a good sign that Spring will soon be here.

For those kids starting track and field, there’s snow still on the track, so training is limited. Try getting some miles in as the shock of starting from scratch often times will bring on shin splints. If you do feel onset of shin splints, try rolling one of RPI’s Sticks on the shins, or just use a rolling pin. It will hurt a little, but will help break up the damaged tissue to work it out of your system.

Good luck on your Spring training. We’ll be around to help you through any setbacks.

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Let's Beat This Winter Weather

If the weather lately has you down, you’re definitely not alone. After all, It is Pennsylvania. And it is February. And I’ll tell you, those blue jays, grackles, cardinals, doves and assorted little birds are eating me out of house and home! I find myself filling the bird feeder every two days while our feathered friends impatiently wait in the bushes nearby. But there is some really good signs that Spring surely is on its way! First – We are getting plenty more daylight! I am finding myself less prone to hibernate. And more prepared to run! Second - My tomato seedlings have popped through the soil in my planters, and are growing like weeds! Third – Have you noticed more sunny days? There are times, while running, if the wind is died down and I close my eyes just for that split second, I think I’m running on a beach Fourth – I’ll let you all know shortly, as soon as I see the first robin. For me, it’s generally around the last week of February.

But if you’re having difficulty seeing Spring, I have some neat ways of cheating my way into the warmer seasons: - My workshop at home has full spectrum lights to ward away SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). They really work! - I do take Vitamin D during the winter. It improves my outlook. - A brisk walk or run outside is definitely better than the couch! - When all else fails, I head over to Home Depot’s garden center, and check out the new things for Spring!

It will be here before you know it!

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Winter Weather and Wonderful News

How’re we all fairing through this winter? It doesn’t seem as bad as last winter. At least the Polar Vortexes aren’t as cold. Makes for some pretty decent running. Yours truly finally recovered from pneumonia. The doc put me on an inhaler, which will hopefully help. So it’s back on the roads and, healthy training. Been doing a lot of hiking in preparation.

We have a pretty good group of people training out of the store. If you’re training for the Pittsburgh Marathon, Half or even a Spring race, come and run with our Saturday group run. All paces and distances. Even a slow poke like me! 8:00 AM every Saturday. Nutrition and goodies provided by Up-N-Running.

Over the years, we have had many people asking if Up-N-Running is a franchise. We were flattered by the comments, but never really thought about doing it. Now, although it isn’t a franchise, we have decided to open another Up-N-Running in Central PA. Ebensburg to be exact. There are some really great running clubs in the area, and an avid running community. It is exciting. Julie will be the manager. She and her husband, Kevin, have been quite active in the central Pennsylvania running community. And with Julie’s added insight to women’s apparel, we hope to enhance our total apparel selection in both stores.

We hope to be up and running (pun intended!) by early Spring. So when you’re in Central PA, stop by Up-N-Running Ebensburg and say hi to Julie and the gang!

~Ed

Note From The Foot Whisperer - Helping The Roger's Family

The Holidays are a time for family. We like to get together with all of our loved ones, which is sometimes difficult, since our one child lives in California. But we manage to all get together periodically and enjoy each other’s company. Running is often involved in our family get-togethers. And often running gear is exchanged as gifts.
There is a huge gift, I think, that we can all provide. It is a gift to our community, of our time as volunteers, our resources to help those in need, and our love to comfort those people emotionally distraught. The Holiday season can be full of stress. Complicate that with any tragic event, and you’ve got people in need.
My little three mile running loop goes through some beautiful farmland, as well as some cute little three and four house neighborhoods. One house I always pass belongs to the Rogers family. On some occasions, I’d see the kids waiting for the school bus, or the dog outside playing. Or even the father leaving for work. Any normal family in any normal neighborhood.
A few weeks ago, their world was torn apart, as they experienced a devastating house fire that destroyed everything. Thankfully, all of the family survived without injury (Although, they did lose their pets). We all witnessed the outpouring of so much love and monetary support from the community. What a beautiful act of kindness!
The Rogers have a long road ahead to rebuild their lives and their house. We can all help them out this Holiday Season. If you have anything to offer in the form of monetary donations, or other forms, contact Judy Geist (jawg69@zoominternet.net). She is helping with this gargantuan task of seeing to the family’s needs. You’ll not only feel good about what you’ve done. But more important, it will help to make the Rogers’ Holiday the best!
~Ed

Notes From The Very Slow Foot Whisperer - Winter Chill is Upon Us

Hi all! This little Arctic blast in November gives us all a little hint to what’s in store in another month and a half. All I have to say is; Make sure the snow blower is ready, break out the shovels, get out the winter gear. And attack that winter running with a vengeance!

I think I’m pretty well set:

Shoes: I’m in the Asics Nimbus right now. It’s a little softer of a strike for my old, slow bones. Traction: I wear the YakTrax. They really grip the road when there’s ice and snow. Other manufacturers offer similar product. They all do a great job!

Socks: I’ve found the Feetures Elite Merino Wool works great on those really cold days. Another lighter sock is of course, the Mizuno Breath Thermo. Both are great for those cold “dawgs.”

Legs: I’m the old fashioned baggy pant person! I like the Asics Storm Shelter pants, even though they make that annoying “swoosh” sound while running. They keep the elements out. On a really cold day, a pair of tights goes underneath!

Shirt: I make no bones about it. I like the Mizuno Breath Thermo as a base layer. Usually, that and a jacket for the elements are all I need. But again, on a frigid day, I’ll put a second layer on. I’m a wimp!

Hands: For those not-so-cold days (@ 40 degrees), I just wear the Up-N-Running gloves (Find out more about them later in this blog), As it gets colder, I go to the Mizuno Breath Thermo, and usually a shell over that (10 degrees to 5 below). Any colder? And I’m indoors!

Neck: I recently got turned on to neck gaiters. It works far better than the towel!

Face: I’m one of those people who can’t wear the balaclava hood. When I breath through my nose, it fogs up my glasses. Instead, I use this great topical called SportSlick. It keeps the wind off your skin, while also moisturizing. Fantastic for dry skin, chaffing, and the cold!

Head: I’ve got a couple favorites. Beanies are really in right now. I prefer one that has ear coverings. And my all-time favorite is still what I call the “Elmer Fudd” running hat. It is water-proof, covers the ears, and has a nice big bill.

(My own little secret for beating the hills? You know which ones. They’re the hills that give you that sick feeling when you see them. At the base of the hill, I drop the bill of my hat, so I can’t see the top of the hill. Psychologically, there is no hill! Not until I get to the top.)

And that, my friends, should get me through the winter!

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Buffalo Creek Half Marathon

Hi all. I hope everyone who ran in the recent Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, had an enjoyable time and ran their PR! It was a little cold, windy and rainy. And this year, the Winfield Fire Hall was closed. So that presented a challenge to not only the runners, but also to those of us who helped put this great event on.

I think in the end, almost all enjoyed the scenery, camaraderie, and especially the pizza and hot apple cider afterwards! As your humble master of ceremonies, I hope I didn’t butcher your names up too bad as you were crossing the finish line. And I’m hoping next year to hand off the microphone to some new person so that yours truly can finally run in the tenth annual Buffalo Creek Half Marathon! And we promise some great new things for next year’s Half!

For any of you age-group award winners, who didn’t stick around for the post-race festivities, give us a call at 724-898-2525 to arrange to pick up your medals. Also, if you happened to shed any added clothing on the trail, the trail council retrieved everything. It is washed and bundled. And its here at Up-N-Running. We have three big garbage bags full of apparel. And some quite nice! We’ll keep everything at the store until the first week of November. Then any leftover will be given a new home at Good Will. So there’s some really nice Holiday Themed runs coming up:
The 34th Annual Butler YMCA Turkey Trot will take place on November 1 at 10:00 AM – Begins and ends at the Butler “Y”. Entry forms available at Up-N-Running
The Operation Troop Appreciation Veteran’s Day 5K Race will take place on November 9, 9:00 AM at the Hampton Community Park. Proceeds go towards holiday packages to our heros, the active duty troops,
The 16th Annual American Cancer Society’s Fight for Life 5K will take place on November 15th in Apollo, PA 9:00 AM. Starts at the 1st Lutheran Church on Pennsylvania Avenue.

For any of you who have never visited Ebensburg, PA, you’re in for a treat on Thanksgiving day as nearly 700 runners, including a turkey, race the streets and boulevards of Ebensburg’s Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. Enjoy great post-race refreshments! Starts at the Ebensburg Fire Hall at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 27.

*****And just a little note to our Military Veterans; A sincere thanks to all of you for your service, vigilance and sacrifice. Without you, we would not enjoy the freedoms that so many take for granted. Please be our guests on Veterans Day, November 11th, for some free coffee, goodies, and some free socks! Just a little way of giving a big THANKS!

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Thanking Those Who Help Us Along The Way

As we approach the completion of our eleventh year in operation, its nice to reflect on just how Up-N-Running got started. Its true,we were influenced and aided by Kevin and Keith Hanson of Hanson's Running Shop fame. Their help and advice was invaluable! And we had the assistance of some pretty good runners along the way.

It is also good to acknowledge some of the non-runners who helped Up-N-Running get to our current status.

Larry and Jean Benton owned the plaza where UNR makes it's home. Their main business was Costumes, Etc. and the associated Christmas shops. Larry's special gift was his unique way of conjuring up creative ideas to promote his business as well as our own. On any given day, Larry would pop in and ask, "What do you think of this idea?" And with his jovial sense of humor and sincere thoughtfulness, he'd always end our discussions with, "Peace." A true throwback from the 60's.

Jean Benton always knew what to tell you to make you feel at ease. A cancer survivor, she had a contagious smile on her face, having vanquished that terrible disease. Over the past couple of years, we lost Larry to the debilitating ALS. And although keeping Costumes, Etc. open and in business was a prime objective of Jean's, she eventually decided to close the store. In the midst of the closing and store liquidation, Jean tragically died from an apparent heart attack. She and Larry are dearly missed by all who have known them.

We mourn the passing of two dear friends. I personally will always remember the wonderful expression of hope in Jean's words when I lost my sister earlier this year, "She's not gone. Just gone ahead!" I truly believe that is the case with Larry and Jean.

If you get the opportunity to stop by Costumes, Etc., check out their closing sale. And offer some kind words to their extended family.

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Go The Distance

For the past few years, I’ve been reading and hearing about these long distance team challenges throughout the country. Known as the Ragnar, they are, for the most part 200 mile races, with each team having a 12-runner roster (The Sixpack teams are insane!). My son and his college buddies have run the “Reach the Beach” Ragnar in New Hampshire the last three years, taking first place every year. So yours truly was more than intrigued when a member of our Saturday morning group run (And also a member of a loosely tied beverage/running organization running out of our store) asked me to join his Ragnar team. The challenge? Our twelve person team had to run from Cumberland Maryland to Washington DC. The time period was roughly two days for each team to finish.

After 30 hours of living out of a van, using porta-potties, running insane mountainous legs, night-time running, driving and running dusty back mountain roads, and sleep depravation, you’d think we’d all swear “no more!” To the contrary, the camaraderie, challenges to record a “kill” (when you pass someone from another team), elation after the hand-off, van “decoration”, meeting and joking with others at the exchange zones, running through beautiful areas of Maryland, and overall satisfaction with the finish, blew away any negative thoughts about the Ragnar!

Am I ready to sign up for next year? Give me a couple of months to think about it. But seriously, check out the website, www.ragnarrelay.com to start your Ragnar team. And we’ll see you at the finish line!

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Gearing Up (and Drinking Up) for the Marathon

Are you ready for the Pittsburgh Marathon? Yours Truly has been running and I will be doing the Half for my favorite charity, The Alzheimer’s Association (We call ourselves the AlzStars). It’s easy to be a part of the marathon; either as a runner in the Full, Half, Relay, or 5K. Or you can participate as a observer and cheering fan. Believe me, I couldn’t have made it without the support of all of the people along the course!

And as if I don’t have enough challenges, my daughter gave me a new challenge; I have to drink 97 ounces of water a day this week to hydrate properly for the race! If it were coffee, that’d be easy! But in all seriousness, hydrating is so important as every organ in the body requires water. And when you stress your body in one of these races, the outcomes could be bad if not properly hydrated. My own experience in my second marathon was great!. The reason? Because one of my associates at the expo that year insisted (Nagged!!!) that I drink plenty of fluids days prior to the marathon. And she brought a huge bag of bottled water. At the time, I was annoyed, but cooperated. A big Thank You to Wendy!!! I had absolutely no problems running the marathon. And to the contrary, it was the most enjoyable race I had ever done!

Come pay us a visit at the Expo this year! We are offering some of our new L.A.B. apparel. And I think you’ll love the themes! And if you can’t make it to the expo, stop by the store for great Expo Weekend discounts! Friday and Saturday, take advantage of expo discounts. Anything at the store will be 20% off!!!

Happy Running!!!

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - One of the Gifts that Running Gives

I went for a run the other day. It was a beautiful, sunny morning around 50 degrees, with little wind. And I found out it was just the prescription for yours truly! It seems I had a lot on my mind. Some good. And others quite tragic. But I’ve found, through my running, peace, solace, and direction. What a great way to clear the clutter that periodically builds up in one’s head! While out there with the road under my feet, and the blue sky overhead, I was not annoyed by phone calls, the Morning News, or the thought of the day’s responsibilities. Instead I concentrated on the rhythm of my breathing and foot strikes. And I focused on the task at hand: how to say good bye to my sister. Denise was tragically taken from us in an auto-related accident while on vacation. And I had the unenviable task of providing a post-funeral eulogy to friends and family. How do I put into words, the feelings about a person I have known literally my entire life?

I decided to go for a run. It all came together! What a tremendous gift we all share as runners! I will always cherish the time I spent with my siblings. And I will likewise take pleasure in every one of my runs. Both solitary and with others!

Thank you all for that gift!

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Wow! Tens Years!!!

As many of you may know, and if you’ve heard me bellyaching enough about it, I am not a fan of the winter. Something about the cold, and the darkness, and the gray skies, and…..did I mention the cold? So how is it that ten years ago, in the middle of February, I had this crazy idea to open a specialty running store????

Ever since my days running track and cross country for Penn Hills, I had an affinity toward running. And mind you, I am a protégé of John “The Penguin” Bingham – SLOW is my middle name. The interest in running was always there, sparked by those incomparable contemporaries; Bill Rogers, Frank Shorter, Don Kardong, and of course, Steve Prefontaine. So imagine my surprise and elation to see many of my own children growing up with a talent for running. I’ve always wanted to see the local kids (including my own) do well in their track and field endeavors. But my real true interest was helping my contemporaries now. You know those in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and up! The Baby Boomers. It is refreshing and exciting to see a relatively new, just retired runner cutting seconds off his or her time. I feel privileged to be able to help them, in some way , achieve their goals.

Our Mission was a simple one: To help create a running-friendly environment in Western Pennsylvania, while giving back to the community. And in the process, making a living at it. I hope in the first ten years we, at some level, achieved our goals. And I reaffirm our commitment to make the next ten years of Up-N-Running even better for you, the runner.

Please join us on Saturday, February 15, 2014, as we start our next ten years! We will be celebrating our anniversary the entire day, starting with our Saturday morning group run (All ages and running abilities welcome). There will be snacks and goodies all day. And we will have drawings (10 – 1 for each year) throughout the day starting before the group run.

And now for the unabashed profit-making promo (tic): On any purchase of $20.00 or more, take $1.00 off for every year that Up-N-Running has been open ($10.00!). Any current promotions, discounts, or Customer Appreciation coupons included! We are making room for the new Spring apparel, so winter clothing prices will be cut drastically. Adrenaline 13’s, GT-2000’s, GT-1000’s, DS-Trainer 18’s, 860 V3, Inspire 9’s, Ravenna 4’s, Rider 16’s, Prophecy 2’s and many more are 20% off (In Stock only)! And on our anniversary day, you can take an additional $10.00 off those prices! So your final cost for say the Adrenaline 13 will be $78.00!

Lazlo will be at Up-N-Running the entire day to meet and greet everyone. And he will get a chance to show off the latest Lazlo Running Tee! See you there!!

~Ed

Notes From the Foot Whisperer: New Year's Resolutions

Happy 2014! It is the time for resolutions. AND the time for us to evaluate if we met our 2013 running resolutions. For those of you who participated in UNR’s 2013 Running Resolution Challenge, we will be opening your sealed envelopes in the new year. Stop on over anytime to collect your gift certificate (If you kept your resolution.). And while you’re at the store, why not set your 2014 running resolution for our New Year Challenge. As with 2013, it has to be challenging. And running-related. That’s it!

Yours truly has a couple of resolutions, both running-related, and for personal development, And let’s just say every time I break it, the St. Jude’s Children’s Research gets a little richer.

From Up-N-Running, everyone have a safe, happy, and prosperous New Year!

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - The Perfect Gifts

The hustle and bustle of holiday shopping always has a tendency to make us all a little tense about the whole shopping experience. I, for one, place a lot of pressure on picking out the right gift for Mrs. Whisperer. And to make it all a bit more on edge, she has a birthday a few days before Santa comes visiting! Then there is the family grab bag. Now, I’m totally stressed.

While on my run this past Saturday, I started trying to think of Christmas gifts for friends and family. It dawned on me that maybe there’s a better way to celebrate such a joyous event. Why not do things like make a donation to my favorite charities, or offer to help out at some charitable event. And Mrs Whisperer had the same idea. So this year, in lieu of giving our grab bag gifts, we are making donations to charities. And it looks like the whole family is on board. Oh, we’ll still make sure there’s something under the tree. But the sense of giving, is so much more fulfilling than one could ever imagine. And all towards a good cause!

Have a wonderful, stress-free Christmas! And try to offer a little something towards a good cause!

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer - Special VIP Sales!!!

The turkey is thawing out in the fridge. The cranberries and pumpkin pie have been bought. And the potatoes are ready to be mashed! All that is needed are the family members and Thanksgiving football. And lest we forget, it is a time to be thankful. I am thankful for a wonderful family with plenty of grandchildren. I am thankful for good health, and continued prosperity. I am thankful for our fine military who are always on the front lines for our freedom. And I am thankful that I have such wonderful friends and customers!

And during this time of year, we like to show our appreciation to all of our Up-N-Running friends by offering our annual Customer Appreciation Sale. For any of you who haven’t experienced the UNR Customer Appreciation Sale, you get some great deals on just about everything. The way we do it is to provide you with UNR dollars with every purchase you make between Black Friday and Christmas Eve (See the promotion). And you can redeem those dollars after Christmas. Suppose you bought a $100 pair of shoes between November 29 and December 24. You automatically get a $20.00 gift certificate from Up-N-Running redeemable between December 26, and February 15. Additionally, if you make your purchase with an American Express card on Small Business Saturday (November 30), and are registered with AMEX at Shopsmall.com between now and November 30, you get a $10.00 credit off your AMEX bill (Minimum $10.00 purchase)! That’s a $30.00 discount! And if it is a sale item, you save even more!!!

Check out the promotion. Stop by to say hi. And take advantage of our great Seasonal offer!

And everyone, have a peaceful and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer: Cold Weather is Fast Approaching.

Well, the leaves are almost all on the ground. And the days are definitely getting shorter. And although yours truly gets goofy from Seasonal Affective Disorder and cabin fever, it is a time for me to start building up my base miles for the Spring running season. I signed up for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon which takes place this May. So my training begins!

The colder season is a nice time to run, provided you have the proper gear. My cold weather training gear consists of a good cap, preferably something to cover the ears. And in winter I like to wear my “Elmer Fudd” water-proof cap with a bill and ear covering. Keeps all of the elements out! To keep my core warm and comfortable, I wear the Mizuno Breath Thermo half zip with a visible outer wind-breaking jacket. Although many people like the form-fitting running tights, I prefer the baggy wind-proof/water-proof running pant. Generally, the Asics Storm Shelter. It’s a throw back from my days running for Penn Hills High School. And it keeps a warm layer of air between my legs and the outside. Through most of the season, except the coldest days, I wear just a half cotton/half polyester official Up-N-Running glove. We’ve got plenty at the store. I like a Merino Wool crew length sock or in colder weather, the Mizuno Breath Thermo which now comes in both quarter length and crew length. And this year, I am trying something new for running shoes. Over the many years that I have run, I have always worn a regular breathable mesh running shoe (My favorite is the Saucony Power Grid Hurricane). My theory was that I needed something breathable to help the moisture evaporate as wet feet do tend to freeze quicker. This year, I am trying one of many different Gore Tex shoes. Gore Tex has the ability to filter out the water molecules from your body without allowing any moisture to get in. And although many Gore Tex running shoes have trail outsoles, I prefer the road, and so I am using the Brooks Ghost GTX. I’ll report on its effectiveness.

Okay, now that that’s done, it’s time to get my butt out the door and running!!! See you on the road or trail!


Elmer Fudd Hat


Breath Thermo Half Zip


Reflective High Visibility Outer Shell


Storm Shelter Pant


Breathable Socks


Ghost GTX Shoe

~Ed

Notes From The Foot Whisperer: Welcome Autumn and All That Comes With It!

Is it already November? Not sure whether I hate the cold more or the darkness! I swear yours truly has Seasonal Affective Disorder. But nonetheless, it’s time to put on that extra layer of apparel, get plenty of reflective and/or light-emitting items, and head out for a cool Autumn run.

Fall is a tough time to run in many respects because of the varied temperatures throughout a given week or even a day. I’ve found that the tried and true layering still seems to work the best. With that in mind, you may still want to check with Dennis Bowman on the forecast, as cold fronts blow though quickly. And, of course, make sure someone knows where you are running, and how far you are planning to run. I also like to carry my cell phone in my SpiBelt. Just in case.

To give our cold weather runners a little break (And to provide yours truly with no more excuses for not doing evening runs!), Up-N-Running has decided to change our hours , going along with the end of Daylight Savings. So starting November 4, our new hours will be Monday Through Friday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Saturday and Sunday hours will remain the same at 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday. And 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Sunday. These hours will run until we get back to Daylight Savings in March.

Don’t forget to change your clocks this weekend. And it has always been a custom in the Foot Whisperer household to change smoke alarm batteries at that time.

See you on the run!

~Ed