Here is a short list of my favorite things in 2011. Things that made me happy, kept me healthy and that challenged me personally and as a runner. There is also a theme through these products, they are all from people who are highly passionate about running and sports!

Agloves Touchscreen Comfort

I fell in love with my Agloves the second I put them on. They have been the perfect cold weather companion while running and even when walking to work. The silver nylon thread conducts the bio electricity from your whole hand so that you can easily use any touch screen device.

Agloves are great for cold weather running!

New this season is the Agloves Sport. Designed to keep you warmer on active days, the snug-fitted cuff seals the wind out, while the 15% silver-nylon traps heat in. Also check out the stylish Bamboo variety. Order online and they will even gift wrap it for you! Tell them I sent you :)

Agloves.com   @theagloves

Membership to All Sports Recovery Club

For the cost of just one massage or a PT session, you can have unlimited access to top of the line recovery tools like the Nortec MVP compression boots, self administered cold-lasers and ultrasound, free massage sessions and a bevy of other tools to keep you running healthy. Also on hand are experts in massage, MRT, Chiropractic and eastern medicine to get to the root of what ails you. I’ve been a particular fan of the inversion board lately and sipping a warm mocha while sitting in the compression boots.

AllSportsRecovery.com    @AllSportsRec

Run on the Moon: Alter-G

The new Alter G treadmill at High Altitude Spine and Sport

You may have heard of many elite runners such as Dathan Ritzenhein and Kara Goucher running on the Alter-G treadmill when they are injured or safely looking to increase their mileage. Now there is one available to the public at High Altitude Spine and Sport where they also specialize in treatment & rehab for sports injuries using ART/Graston/Kinesiotape. The pressurized chamber around the treadmill effectively reduces the effects of gravity, safely allowing you to run with less impact to manage your injuries. The less body weight the more it resembles running on the moon allowing you to focus on form and leg speed without worrying about impact.
Buy a punch card of 10 or more sessions, you can even try it out for 15 mins for free.

HighAltitudesportsrehab.com  @drRichardHansen

Convert to Skirt

Since its inception 5 years ago, Skirt Sports has been inspiring and empowering women to get out and run, support each other, all while having fun and looking good. With such great programs as Kick it Forward and their fun Skirt Chaser 5k race, its easy to support such a great company.

SkirtSports.com  @skirtsports

Check out the Marathon Girl Ultra a lightweight medium length skirt that will have you running faster while looking good.

Running the Edge

Former CU Buff superstar Adam Goucher and teammate Tim Catallano teamed up again to write a different kind of book about running. The book reveals key characteristics of what it takes to be a successful runner and how to carry that success in to all aspects of our lives. Adam and Tim have filled the pages with honest insights and fun stories from their own experiences as well as great quotes from other high level athletes. You too can become a running Maven!

RuntheEdge.com    @RuntheEdge

Discover the Secrets to Better Running and a Better Life

Building a Better Runner DVDs

Want to become a stronger, more efficient, faster runner? Of course you do! These DVDs detail out multiple exercise routines to help you gain strength and symmetry, while decreasing the chance of injury. Each DVD is also a DVD-ROM and contains both iPod/iPad/iPhone compatible videos as well as Windows Media compatible files. They also include PDFs of each routine, with sequential photos of all of the exercises which you can print out and take with you anywhere.

Co-developed by Coach Mike Smith and Coach Jay Johnson, also a former CU Buffs harrier. Coach Jay also does the tip of the week NikeRunning.com and has great content on his blog at CoachJayJohnson.com

RunningDVDs.com  @RunningDVDs

Building a Better Runner DVD

The Feed Zone Cookbook: Fast and Flavorful Food for Athletes

Boulder residents Dr. Allen Lim and chef Biju Thomas have worked with some of cycling’s most elite teams and athletes including Lance Armstrong, Levi Lephiemer and Team Radio Shack. While noticing that athletes had been under-performing on bland fare and processed bars and gels, they looked to make eating delicious and practical.

The Feed Zone Cookbook includes

• 150 delicious recipes illustrated with full-color photographs
• Allen Lim’s take on the science and practice of food
• Portable whole foods, including Lim’s famous rice cakes and more
• Dozens of quick-prep meals for before and after workouts
• Shortcuts, substitutions, and techniques to save time in the kitchen
• Gluten-free and vegetarian alternatives to favorite dishes

Find exclusive content and sample recipes at FeedZoneCookbook.com or order online at Velopress.Competitor.com

Good Quick Food for Athletes

Breeze Bars
Breeze Bars are a healthy, tasty alternative to heavy energy bars. Gluten, Wheat and Dairy Free. Made by local cyclist Breeze Brown, she knows first hand what athletes need.
BreezeBars.com   @BreezeBars

Mix 1
All natural protein shakes made yummy right here in Boulder.
mix1life.com  @Mix1

Whole Foods Boulder
The defacto place to go for a quick healthy bite to eat after a hard workout. You just can’t beat the variety of healthy whole foods and people watching.
@WFMBoulder

Honey Stinger
From our friends up in Steamboat, CO. Delicious protein bars, energy chews and Organic Waffle Stingers!
HoneyStinger.com  @honeystinger

Picky Bars
Although not from Colorado, they are created by elite runners Lauren Fleshman and Steph Rothstein and are Gluten & Dairy Free, All Natural, AMAZING Tasting Energy Bars. Hey, how can you not love that?
PickyBars.com  @PickyBars

What are some of your favorite things that you can’t live without or are looking forward to getting?

Professional athletes have access to a handful of specialists to keep them on their ‘A’ game. A team of massage therapists, coaches, chiropractors, recovery tools and services, gait analysis, blood lactate testing, and nutritionists.

But what does the aspiring endurance athlete or the dedicated weekend warrior who is dedicated to training at a high level?

More and more of these Olympic and elite level services are now becoming available to those of us who are just looking to be the best we can be.

Opened this summer was the All Sport Recovery Club where for a low monthly fee ($59.99) athletes have access to Olympic level recovery tools like the Normatec MVP Compression Boots used by Team Garmin-Cervelo, foam rollers and self massage tools, cold laser and ultrasound treatments, an ice bath, free 15min massage sessions 5x a week. Other services such as massage, chiropractic, graston treatments and level 4 ultrasound are also offered for a lower than your insurance premium price. They even offer a large selection of Mix 1, Honey Milk, or coffee and tea while you recover. And don’t forget the free WiFi.

Stop by to check them out. Your first session is free and they will give you a full tour of the facilities.

High Altitude Spine and Sport just recently added an Alter-G treadmill to their clinic, the first one open to the public in Boulder/Denver metro area. Because the AlterG® uses differential air pressure chambers to precisely lift the user from 100% to as little as 20% of the user’s calibrated body weight, it has become a favorite alternate training method among elite athletes which allows them to safely return to full weight-bearing running after or during an injury.

“The ability to train safely, rehab quickly, and recover faster utilizing this unit is a nice luxury to have, especially with the winter weather fast approaching.” states Dr. Richard Hansen, DC CSCS  on his website. Dr Hansen is also a cross country coach at XC Coach @PeaktoPeak High School.

The new Alter G treadmill at High Altitude Spine and Sport

Other benefits for endurance athletes include:

• Improved aerobic conditioning while reducing ground reaction forces
• Safer adaptation to increased mileage (eg. marathon training) and transitioning to minimalist running
• Overspeed training (run faster longer) and hill intervals (0-15% incline)
• Interval Training in a controlled setting

The price starts at $1 per minute, but deeper discounts are available in Punch Cards and memberships. For example, purchasing a block of 360 minutes (6 hours) saves you $90. You can even try it for yourself for free for 15 minutes.

Dr. Hansen’s services also include Chiropractic, ART, Kenisio Taping, Graston treatments, Functional Assessment keep you running healthy and strong.

Book appointments online at http://highaltitudesportsrehab.com/alter-g/ or call them at 303-442-0355 or email Dr. Hansen at r.t.hansen@gmail.com to inquire about testing out the Alter-G or additional questions.

Other high level services

Boulder Center for Sports Medicine

One of the top sports medicine facilities in the country. Athletes travel from all over the country for their services.

• Gait Analysis
• Bike fitting
• Blood Lactate and VO2 Max testing
• Alter-G Treadmill *coming soon

http://www.bouldersportsmedicine.org

Hudson Training Systems

Brad Hudson is a world-renowned coach for athletes ranging from mid-distance events through the marathon. Individual coaching from Brad, James Carney and Tyler McCandless is handled online and in person if you live in the Denver/Boulder area.
http://hudsontrainingsystems.com

Fuel4mance

Led by Bob Seebohar, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS who has worked with many Olympic and elite endurance athletes, he helps athletes Burn more fat and conserve precious carbohydrate stores while reducing the likelihood of gastrointestinal (GI) distress in training and racing which he calls Metabolic Efficiency Training.

Fuel4mance offers both Metabolic Efficiency Assessment and Lactate Threshold Testing.
http://www.fuel4mance.com

Running moms deserve some pampering this Mother’s Day. Here are a few ideas from local vendors and active Mom’s to get you started.

Run

Who needs breakfast in bed when you can start off your Mother’s Day with fun for the entire family?! Join in the fun at the 9th Annual Mother’s Day Title 9k+ Race at the Boulder Res, or the Mother’s Day 5k in Wash Park, Denver.

Looking Good

Mom’s should look good and feel good while out on the run. Skirt Sports has just the right mix. Perhaps its just the thing for her to do her own Happy Butt Dance.

Running Skirts and more from Skirt Sports

Moms can travel to and from the race or group run in style with a messenger/mommy bag from oh My Bag which offers ample storage, outside bottle and carry anything pockets, a nylon liner, and a long fixed strap all in a unique style that’s all her own.

Messenger Bag from oh my bag

Recover

Book an hour and a half with her favorite pair of hands, or book an appointment with a Massage services shops which have grown in popularity over the last few years. Usually their hours are very flexible for busy people and they employ many therapists who often specialize in different forms of massage, whether its sports specific, or just to relax and de-stress. A few of those businesses that support the local running community in Boulder are Massage Specialists, Elements, and Life Sports Chiro.

Local athlete and mother Susan Eastman Walton, was looking for a product to combat her aching legs during and after a run. Her answer was the RecoFit compression sleeves. Made of high tech fabric and even fitted to left and right calves, wearing them aids in recovery and is like a mini massage.

RecoFit Compression Sleeves

Give her some quite time

Local Author Dimity McDowell co-wrote the wonderful  Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving – and Not Lose your Famil, Job, or Sanity which offers both inspirational advice and practical strategies to help multitasking women make running part of their busy lives.

Run Like a Mother Book

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If anything, just get out on a walk or hike with Mom on the hundreds of miles of trails in Boulder’s Open Space and enjoy the day and the wildflowers.

What gifts do you have in mind for your favorite running mother?

We are fortunate in Boulder and the plains of Colorado that running in winter time can sometimes mean running shorts and t-shirts even in February. But as this isn’t often the norm its nice to find a product that allows you to run with your iPhone, smartphone, or ipod touch or any other touch and keep your hands warm. I’ve worked through several solutions of my own last winter; Cutting a hole in one of the fingers of my gloves, and trying to wrangle your glove off with your other gloved hand while running so you can change a song, or view your progress on your smart phone is not exactly ideal.

Along come conductive silver gloves – Agloves.

Agloves work with iPhone, iPad, Android, Smartphones, and all other touch screen devices

While Jean Spencer was doing a journalism internship in D.C. last winter, she also quickly realized that her normal gloves didn’t work with her new iPhone. A few products had come out last year to address this issue, but only offered a touch sensitivity in one or two fingers of the gloves.

So Spencer and her mom, an local avid runner, set out to create their own. By summer they were researching fabrics, testing prototypes even doing their own conductivity tests. They found that silver turned out to be the most conductive of all. Agloves are made with silver-coated nylon fibers knitted into the entire glove so you can use all of your fingers or your entire hand to control your music, text or get stats from your favorite running application.

Timing is everything

Released just in time for holiday shopping lists, Spencer uses her writing and social media networking skills to get the word out about Agloves and its paying off.

“Social media the fastest way for small companies to talk about their products” Spencer noted.

By going to local meetups like the #BOCC, they have already made quite the stir with the local startup community in Boulder and were featured (and quickly sold out) on Brad Feld’s Amazing Deals blog. The message has even reached Gizmodo and 9 News Denver.

The test

“You sort of have to feel them to believe them” says Spencer, and she is right. The gloves are well made, fit nicely and feel soft and comfy. The seams at the tips of the fingers are small and don’t get in the way when interacting with your touch screen device.

I took them out for a run starting at Chautauqua. The start was chilly and I was comfortable in the gloves, but as the run progressed, the weather moved in and I was running in rain and light snow by the end. Even then my hands stayed relatively warm in comparison to knit gloves I’ve worn in the past.

According to Agloves, this is because silver is also a natural thermal regulator, and distributes the heat of the entire hand throughout the gloves keeping your fingers warm, even in the coldest weather.

A great holiday gift!

Agloves are priced right at $17.99 which is on par with other ordinary liners or gloves. They would make a perfect gift for any of your running (and cycling) tech-loving friends and family.

I keep finding excuses to wear mine, even on my short walks to the bus for work. Personally I think its awesome to see smart products coming from our community and makes me feel good to Buy Local.

—–

Gotta love the logo too!

Purchase them online at Agloves.com, Follow the love on twitter @theAgloves and facebook.

Meet Runner’s World Chief Running Officer Bart Yasso

Bart Yasso is well known author of Life on the Run, providing commentary and penning articles for Runners World Magazine and most people know the name, if not the person by Yasso 800s, a formula for predicting your marathon time. More about Bart at: http://www.bartyasso.com/

Friday Feb 5 – 3 PM @BartYasso will be at the Boulder Running Company – Boulder store this Fri, Feb 5, at 3 PM . Event is free to the public. Hope to see you there!

Saturday Feb 6 – 8am Come run 3 or 4 miles with Bart Saturday morning 8am at The Runners Roost in Lakewood Colorado. He will do a book signing after the run.

Sunday February 7 – 10am he will be running the Superbowl 5k in Wash Park as part of the Run Denver Race Series. Thats a 10am start time

Training

Saturday fun run with Solepeppers February 6- 8am with Erin @ Solepepper Sports 459 S. McCaslin Blvd., Suite 2, Louisville, CO

FastForward Sports Winter Group Training

Sports Bra Sale Ends February 14

Come in to Fleet Feet Sports Boulder to check out their great selection of sports bras and get fitted for the right one by their knowledgeable staff.

Now through February 14th, buy one sports bra and get the second at half price.

Sale valid on in-store product only.

Last Minute Gift Ideas

Sometimes no matter how hard you try, the final weeks leading up to the holiday just seem to slip away and you are left with a few days left for finding gifts for loved ones and friends.

Here are suggestions from some of Boulder’s best.

Boulder Running Company

We are offering $20 off any online purchases over $100 by Dec. 25. – via Twitter

in-Step

Most everything in the store is 20% off now…come on in and see us! – via Twitter

Fleet Feet Sports

If you’re still searching for gifts this holiday season, think local and shop at Fleet Feet. We’ve searched the store for some of the best gifts and here are our recommendations for everyone on your list:

There’s still time to fill out a Wish List card that we can send to the people you choose so you get what you want. At Fleet Feet, you always get FREE GIFT WRAPPING.?? And don’t forget about our Gift Card Promo: for every $50 gift card you purchase, you’ll get some free stuff for yourself — a pair of Fleet Feet running gloves, a sport-inspired holiday ornament and some tasty Shot Bloks.

• Pistil Millie hat — hunting inspired but with a twist, the Millie hat is fashionable and warm, sized specifically for women. Also available in brown. Check out our other Pistil hats, and if there’s a little one on your list, come see our collection of Smartwool baby hat and glove sets.
• Crescent Moon snowshoes – perfect for the snow enthusiast, local Boulder company Crescent Moon makes quality snowshoes in a unique teardrop shape. Available in several models.
• Breeze Bars — available in original and chocolate flavors, these all natural bars are made locally and designed for endurance. Perfect for winter activities like nordic and alpine skiing, and snowshoeing. Create the perfect nutrition gift by pairing Breeze Bars with energy gel, energy chews, and hydration powder.
• Compression apparel — from full length tights to calf and arm sleeves, we’ve got compression gear from Recofit, CWX, Skins, Zensah, and Sugoi, all designed to encourage blood flow and faster recovery after a tough workout.
• Therapy accessories — whether to help with injury recovery or just provide a better stretch, we’ve got massage sticks, foam rollers, and support products for a variety of body parts and conditions.
• Gear bags — give the gift of organization with one of our Brooks or Sherpani gear bags that fit all the essentials, and then some.
• Cold weather and visibility accessories — think gloves, hats, headbands, reflective jackets, vests, and headlamps to keep your friends and family warm and let them be seen when they exercise.
• Sweet socks — everyone needs socks, so why not give them a few pairs from our collection of Balega, Smartwool, and Asics. And yes, we even have kids socks.

Outdoor Divas

Invest in fun this season.

At outdoor DIVAS you can find all the gear you’ll need for winter adventures. Choose from the best selection of women’s specific products like Patagonia outerwear, Icebreaker baselayers, Rossignol skis plus much much more.

It is not just about the gear, it is about how the gear makes you feel. The sales associates at outdoor DIVAS are genuine and really enjoy the outdoors themselves.  You can talk shop with them about the sick powder they’ve skied or the cutest winter beanies out this season, from function to fashion they can help. For them it is about the enjoyment that the equipment can allow you to have.

Newton Running

With a purchase of $200 of more you are automatically entered into a drawing to win a free pair of Newton Running Shoes and a Grand Prize of a Free trip to Boulder, CO for Natural Running Form Coaching with Danny Abshire http://www.newtonrunning.com/holiday-2009-rules

Plus they are offering 50% off 2day or Overnight Shipping

or Free Shipping through 12.31.09 on Standard UPS Ground Only.

http://www.newtonrunning.com/newton-products/the-shoes

Bobby McGee

If you are still looking for that perfect gift for the runner in your  life be sure to check out Bobby’s books on our website: www.BobbyMcGee.com

• Magical Running is THE book to help your runner get to the next level mentally. It includes a year’s worth of mental skills training and tips.
• Run Workouts for Runners and Triathletes is the way to go for the “self coached” athlete . This book contains detailed run training plans for 5km, 10km, Half Marathon and Marathon as well as Olympic Distance, Half IM and IM run plans. Each plan has three levels to choose from. In addition there are tests and workouts to challenge and take your training to new levels.
• Running Sports Essentials = the ultimate Drills book is sold out. A new and updated version will be available in 2010. Rumor has it that the Boulder Running Company has a few copies left.

Core Power Yoga

Holiday Gift Bundles are the perfect gift for the new or experienced yogi in your life.
Yogitoes + $25 gift card for $75 ($90 value)
Yogitoes are a yoga necessity. They provide a nice, soft buffer between you and your yoga mat – and prevent slipping. Don’t let your favorite yogi practice another day without one!

Use a CorePower Yoga gift card on clothing, yoga mats, accessories, yoga packages and even Lifestyle Programs

Massage

Giving the gift of massage is wonderful for this time of the year. Use it to recover and restore after the holiday season.

Buy Gift Cards from  Massage Specialists or Whole Body Balance

In-Step Active Footwear opens its doors in South Boulder

South Boulder’s only running store Active Imprints had a built a sizable cult following. Their key location in the Table Mesa Shopping center had good parking and great access to trails/bike paths south of town. They made custom insoles for the some of the best athletes in the region as well as the world. RL Smith worked there for many years, learning the trade of building custom lightweight orthotics while working in the retail space.

So when the store’s owners broke off to concentrate on the Newton Running brand, it seemed natural that RL Smith and wife Tricia Vieth would open In-Step at the same location.

The store carries a core set of running shoe brands, apparel, running accessories that include Fuel Belt, GoMotion lights and Timex watches, therapeutic devices such as foam rollers and foot rubz and compression wear from Zoot.

therapeutic devices such as foam rollers and foot rubz and compression wear from Zoot

Building on the legacy

The specialty of in-step is the fabrication of custom made insoles, also known as orthotics or foot supports. Unlike other similar types of products, In-Step’s custom insoles are specific to the individual.

View the video

They take a mold of your foot and build the insole while you wait. Estimated time is between 30 to 45 minutes. There is no follow up appointment needed, unless you are needing an adjustment, which is at no additional charge! if you are out of state you complete this process with a foam kit, mailed,  that you can do at home.

“The other key thing that makes our insole process unique is that we do an ankle neutral, weight bearing mold. We put the foot in motion or impact and then make the mold. You get a much more accurate impression vs hanging your foot over a table and putting a casting boot on your foot. The results are different and we find more applicable to building an insole that is going to be used while in motion” Says Co-owner Tricia Vieth

From experience

Owners Tricia Vieth and RL Smith have worked in the active lifestyle business for over 30 years combined. RL is a Certified Massage Therapist, ex-professional duathlete. Tricia, is a Licensed and Certified Massage Therapist with a degree in Athletic Training. This rich education and experience in bio-mechanics helps them completely understand how the body works.

Next Steps

Opening a retail store can be a daunting task for a young family, but they are building the business as any other small biz does. Good products, great customer service, and building community.

The Friday after Thanksgiving was the First Annual Post Thanksgiving fun run and core class from the store. Approximately 25 people showed up for the easy 5k run followed by a short core workout in the store. The feeling of the run was relaxed and social.

Post Thanksgiving Fun Run from the Store

Starting in January, In-Step plans on a few options for meet ups.

Through their PR Club, anyone could simply read and try the workouts for themselves via their Facebook page. The goal would be to help you towards a PR(Personal Record) in a 5k, 10k, Half up to a full Marathon for the next Denver Rock-N-Roll in October 2009. They also plan on supporting this with a meet up at the shop and run probably 2-3 times per week. Also in the works is a Lunch Crunch (core class) during the week starting in January as well.

“I think one thing that really sets In-Step apart, is that RL is truly a master at diagnosing athletic injuries and providing solutions that will get you back on your feet (or pedals if you are a cyclist). RL has this amazing hybrid of experience (being a former pro-athlete, massage therapist and with 12 years of building custom insoles) which benefits his customers.  I had a pain in my shin that surfaced while I was running. My doctor said, ‘if it hurts, don’t run.’ Runners know that isn’t a long-term solution. I went to see RL, and he really got to the bottom of what I had changed up in my work-out routine. Although my leg hurt when I was running, he figured out that the cleats on my new bike shoes needed to be moved forward slightly. Problem solved and I was pain free in no time. His insoles really represent that commitment to getting his customer’s bodies aligned and in top form for whatever keeps them moving. They are light, comfortable and I honestly can’t imagine going back to running, biking or skiing without them.” – Hillary Martin

Dave of SwimBikeRun wrote a review back in 2007 included is a picture of RL shaping the insoles.

http://swbkrn.blogspot.com/2007/06/orthotics-by-active-imprints.html