Run, Santa, Run!

Dust off the red suit… Saturday is the annual Running of the Santas!  A Philly tradition since 1998, expect a few thousand people in Santa outfits to be in the NoLibs bars starting early.  The highlight of the day, though, is the actual running of the Santas: a five-block run from McFadden’s to the Electric Factory.  It’s going to be a sea of red.

Do you have your running shoes?  They’re red, I hope!

Hey, these are my running shoes!  The Gel-Kayano by ASICS is a great running shoe (I vouch for it!) with cushioning systems, guidance systems, biomorphic fit…and a really great red color, and swooping silver lines.  Let’s also take a moment to appreciate the mottled red-and-white part of the sole—love that.  Also available in 11 other color choices; yours for about $100 on Amazon.

The Flex Run 2014 by Nike is a featherweight running shoe with responsive cushioning, ventilation, and traction.  My favorite part, though, has to be the polka-dot print fabric on the toe and around the heel—like little snowflakes adorning your feet.  Available in five other color options (including a pretty awesome sky blue shade); find them at Sports Authority for $60.

Ooh, this one’s kind of sexy with the black, isn’t it?  The S-Lab XY 6 by Salomon is built for off-road racing instead of street racing like Saturday, but who knows?  Depending on how much you drink…  (But seriously, be careful with that.  No more missing people in canals or anything, okay?)  The tongue is designed to keep mud and debris out—isn’t that cool?  You’d need that on trails.  There’s a pocket under the quick laces too, to store things.  There’s an internal sleeve to envelope the foot, and support to control the rate of pronation.  All cool things!  Yours for $170 from Zappos.

All ready?  Ho ho ho!  Off you go!

Still some tickets left for the Running!  The weather looks nice… go have fun!

Sales this weekend:
Bakers: Buy one, get one half off
Lord & Taylor: 25% off with savings pass or promo code FRIENDS
Macy's: 15% off with promo code EXTRA
Nine West: 30% off entire purchase
Payless: Up to half off all holiday dress shoes
Steve Madden: Get 30% off now and you'll get a coupon for 30% off later too!

Philadelphia Marathon

Woo!  Philadelphia Marathon Weekend is here!!  Not only the marathon, but a half marathon and an 8K as well—and they’re all sold out!  Way to go, Philly.  Way to show how awesome we are.

Now, if you’re running, I know you have your shoes (and running socks, and sports bras, and anti-chafe, and Gu, and all the other hundred things you need) all ready to go.  But perhaps this is inspiring you to take up distances races.  You’ll need shoes!  Here are some recommendations:

I swear by my ASICS.  I’ve had two pairs now, and I think they’re just the best.  Their GEL-Kayano has FluidFit upper technology that adapts to the foot for a one-of-a-kind, glovelike fit, and a FluidRide midsole that provides enhanced cushioning and durability resulting in a responsive and exceptionally stable ride.  On sale for $79 from Nordstrom.

My friend that I do half marathons with loves her Nikes, and here we have their Lunarglide.  With arguably the best upper fit in the industry, the Lunarglide +5 women’s running shoe provides lightweight support for the mild to moderate overpronator.  Evolved Flywire technology hugs the entire length of the foot with customizable lightweight support heel clip that engages upon footstrike for snug fit and support; Lunarlon cushioning system with a “bottomless” carrier construction and the Dynamic Support platform provide support and plush cushioning; and natural-motion-engineered flex grooves promote an efficient stride.  (Man, there’s some serious engineering in these shoes, isn’t there?)  On sale for $85 from Dillard’s. 

A woman we ran our last half marathon with has worn many brands, but she says Saucony is her favorite.  The Ride 7 is built for a neutral runner.  Their RUNDRY collar lining wicks away moisture to keep feet cooler and drier, while the molded EVA ComfortLite Sockliner contours to the shape of the foot to better support the arch and reduce peak pressure points in the forefoot.  Their PowerGrid midsole features GRID technology to help center the foot, absorb impacting shock and distribute pressure, for a superbly smooth and responsive ride, and the SRC (Super Rebound Cushioning) Impact Zone attenuates impacting shock and promotes a smooth transition.  Their iBR+ rubber outsole provides three times more cushioning while being 33% lighter than standard blown rubber, so it won’t weigh you down while you run!  Yours for $110 from Zappos.

So there you have three recommendations from three different distance runners.  Whichever you choose, lace’em up and go!

Sales this weekend:

Sorry ladies; I was unable to check the sales for you since I’m getting my wisdom teeth out this morning.  (Oh joy.)  But the hunt is half the fun, right?

Philly Tech Week

This Friday begins Philly Tech Week, a week-long celebration of technology and innovation.  Whether that’s building techie things, picking up new skills, discussing how technology impacts our fair city, or learning how to be a tech entrepreneur (or just playing quizzo), there will be something for the geek in each of us.

Saturday and Sunday is Light Hacking Weekend.  Play with analog techniques that explore light, drawing and perception; build portable camera obscura or a periscope; play with interactive installations; build your own light sabers (you heard me); and play light Pictionary with long-exposure camera shots.

Were you ever jealous that only children get to have light-up shoes?  (Don’t lie.)  Your day has come!  Evolved Footwear took a navy and pink pair of women’s Nike Air Max and fitted them with pink lights in the heel.  Leave them on, have them flash (fast or slow)—either way, you’ll get a lot of jealous looks from other adults too long denied light-up shoes of their own.  Yours for $165.

Feel like laughing?  Next Thursday, Geekadelphia and Laughs on Fairmount are bringing something new to Philly Tech Week. Watch a colorful cast of characters as they’re pitted against each other in the premiere of The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth: A Comedy Throwdown.

Looks like a smackdown to me!  These Batman Chuck Taylors by Converse and DC Comics have all the hallmarks of a comic battle royale: Whak!  Boom!  Stop him!  The old Batman logo is on the tongue, and the Bat Signal glows yellow on the inside of the shoe.  Yours for $40 from Converse; or $60 if you prefer Wonder Woman.

But most importantly, and I am very serious now, this Friday night THEY ARE PLAYING TETRIS ON THE CIRA CENTER.  Hurry and sign up for your chance to play a round!  Even if you don’t get chosen, there will be food trucks and a beer garden and lots of fun.

Do, do do do, do do do, do do do… you can just hear the music when you look at these, can’t you?  These slip-on shoes are painted with all the classic Tetris pieces, with a game in progress on the toes.  These are a size 10 and are available for $20 from Etsy seller JessiesPieces, but I bet she could do a custom order for you if you have smaller feet.

Tech geekery never looked so fun, so you should really check out one of the many events going on between Friday and April 12.  There are a lot of female-centered events on how to make it in the tech industry, in addition to all the fun stuff, so if your career path lies there it might be especially worthwhile.

A Moment in Time

Head over to the National Constitution Center between now and the end of the year to see their new exhibit Capture the Moment: The Pulitzer Prize Photographs.  Bearing witness to moments of jubilation, heroism, and compassion, as well as the harsh realities of war, racism, and poverty, the 153 Pulitzer Prize-winning images on display carry human emotions across barriers of language, time, and place. 

A lot of them are heartbreaking, not gonna lie.  But some are downright inspiring.  (Okay, two.  Two are inspiring.  The rest will overwhelm you with sadness.)  Take the 1993 winner, from Ken Geiger and William Snyder:

Geiger had just finished photographing the U.S. women’s team winning the 4 x 100 relay at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when he noticed the Nigerian women watching the scoreboard. “When it became official that they had third place (a Bronze medal), they broke into celebration.”  Can I say how much I dig these ladies?  You rock, 1992 Nigerian women’s 4 x 100 team.

Orange, white, signature black check… the Flyknit Lunar 1+ looks close to the one in the photo!  So if you’re inspired to go out and train, maybe these are for you.  An ultra lightweight upper, responsive cushioning, reflective bits so you can be seen at night, AND it’s available in five colors!  (Two of which are green, in case you’re inspired by their uniforms instead.  Or if you just hate orange.  And if it’s the latter, you and I need to have a chat about the many wonders of orange.)  Yours for $110 from the Nike Store.

And, of course, the 1945 winner from Joe Rosenthal:

Rosenthal admitted that when he took a shot of five Marines and one Navy corpsman raising the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima’s Mt. Suribachi on February 23, 1945, he had no idea that he had captured something extraordinary. He was setting up for a different shot when he spotted the group of men planting the flag and quickly took a snap without even looking through the viewfinder.

I love how the print on the Hi American Flag Sneaker by Converse All Star is sort of black and white, just like the flag in the photo.  It has a canvas upper and a rubber outsole, as well as that classic Converse styling.  Find them at Journeys for $60.

So check out the exhibit at the NCC.  And then come back to the interwebs and watch my favorite video of baby bunnies to cheer you up.  (Baaaaa!  The noses!  They’re too cute!!  I can barely stand it!!)  You’re welcome.

Sales this weekend:
Aerosoles: Fall boot sale-- up to 25% off select styles
Bakers: Take an extra 30% off clearance styles
Macy's: Take an extra 10% off with code SUPER
Nine West: $25 off a purchase of $100 or more, and $50 off $150 or more (web exclusive!)
Payless: All fall boots up to 40% off

Go Red for Women

February is American Heart Month.  Maybe you saw a lot of women in red on Friday (Wear Red Day).  Maybe you’ve noticed the red lights on Liberty Place or the Ben Franklin Bridge.  I hope you have, because those lights and those women in red were just trying to remind you to keep good care of your ticker!

In the spirit of the month, I give you a selection of red shoes.  First up, a pair that can really help you keep your heart healthy:

The Air Pegasus by Nike have a breathable mesh upper, a sockliner that conforms to the shape of your foot and offers comfort and underfoot support, a lot of cushioning, and even environmentally-friendly rubber on the sole for those of you going green as well as red.  Available in (get this!) eighteen (!) different color combinations; find them on Lady Foot Locker for $100.

The Valma by Mossimo is a simple round-toe flat with seven rhinestones on the toe of varying shapes and colors.  Love.  Also available in black, blue, purple, and green… and for $17, why not get one in each color?  Check them out at your local Target.

If you can, get to Macy’s this month.  Between now and Valentine’s Day, buy a $2 pin to support the cause and get an all-day savings pass.  Buy one of the limited edition red dresses from Ellen Tracy and Marilyn Monroe between now and the end of March and 10% will go to the Go Red For Women movement (between now and the end of the month, the dress from Kensie counts too!).

The Sierra by Paris Hilton combines the color of them month with super-trendy houndstooth and touches of patent leather to make one beautiful bootie.  It has a 4.25-inch heel, round toe, a delicate bow on the outside of the ankle, and a zipper up the side to let you in.  Also available in black, brown, and a really smart black-and-white houndstooth + bright blue patent leather—your choice for $76 from Macy’s.

In Pennsylvania alone, nearly 26,000 women die each year from heart disease and stroke.  One of every three women will die from heart disease, yet less than 60 percent of women recognize heart disease as the number one killer of women.  Consider yourself warned!  I want you ladies around for some time to come, so take good care of your heart.  The Red Cross has even put up a whole nutrition and fitness program.  Take a look!

Color Me Rad!

I love me a wacky 5K run.  I have even done a 5K through a cemetery dressed as a skeleton ballerina.  (That was not the original intention of the costume, but it just kept getting poofier...)  Why do a regular 5K when it can be so much more, I figure?

So this Sunday, my brother, lovely future sister-in-law (which I should probably just begin abbreviating LFSIL), and I will be running around Fairmount Park getting bombarded with color!  The Color Me Rad 5K involves brightly colored cornstarch being hurled at runners from the sidelines for three miles.  When you get to the end, what started as a white outfit looks like Easter exploded on you.  It’s going to be amazing.

The eternal question: what shoes?  You could do a white running shoe, of course, to collect the color as you run...

The Free Run + 2 by Nike is almost ghostly, in its white and gray (though it comes in ten color options too).  It’s highly flexible and gives the runner an almost barefoot sensation, and the deep grooves in the sole help exercise muscles you didn’t know you had.  Yours for $90 from Finish Line (and hey, free shipping!).

...but the spirit of the day calls for something more like this, don’t you think?

  

The Supernova Glide 4 by adidas is a bright cheery blue (called Super Cyan) with bright pink and shiny silver accents.  It has an anatomically contoured sockliner, midfoot support, impact protection, and a breathable mesh upper.  Find them at Zappos for $115.

The WR890 by New Balance is a fruity explosion of berry pink, yellow, and purple.  This shoe has won awards for its running awesomeness, including a responsive and long-lasting cushy insole, a unique flat-lacing system, and maximum shock absorption.  Find them at Zappos for $100.

The brightness!  The blue laces!  The pink and blue splotchy sole!  The Noosa Tri-7 by Asics Gel looks like it’s already been through the Color Me Rad 5K, totally capturing the joy of being thoroughly covered in color.  It has a mesh upper for breathability, an insole designed to reduce excess pronation, and some special features that mean you can wear it without socks if you want.  Yours for $110 from Lady Foot Locker. 

This weekend’s 5K is sold out!  You can still come and hurl color at us (please do!), or try the July 15 Boston race or August 25 Pittsburgh race, which are still accepting registrations.  There’s a similar run (The Color Run) that has some waiting list spots for its July 19 Philadelphia run, August 25 and 26 NYC runs, and September 9/October 21 DC runs.

Sales this weekend:

Bakers: Free shipping on every order

Lord & Taylor: 20% off with promo code SUMMER or savings pass

Macy’s: 15% off one pair, 20% off two pairs, and 30% off three pairs with promo code GREAT

Payless: Summer sandal sale

Play Ball!

Take me out to the ballgame, 
Take me out to the crowd! 
Tomorrow’s game 1 of the NLDS— 
In these shoes, you sure won’t look a mess! 
Let’s beat the heck out of St. Louis; 
If the Phils don’t win it’s a shame! 
For it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out 
At the old ball game! 

Yes, our Phillies are in the postseason again! Woo! Beat those Cards! If you’re lucky enough to have tickets to the game, be sure your shoes are up to snuff. How ‘bout Phillies flip flops like these?

  Love the graphic print on the insole! And don’t worry; “Phillies” is written on the strap so you can still see which team you’re rooting for even if you’re wearing them. Just under $14 from CollegeGear.com.

Now, if you’re like me, you want more sparkles! Yay sparkles! Seven rows of blue sequins, a red P to pop—these are sharp. Yours for $20 from FansEdge. 

I’ve never really been a fan of sneaker heels, but these are winning me over!

Aren’t they sharp? The Nike Dunk High Heels have a nice solid heel, fabric upper, and lace-up fronts. Yours for $106 from Nikeheels Discounts.

Staying in to watch the game? Curl up in these:

Nice and fuzzy. (And it’s going to be cool this weekend! You’ll thank me for the fuzzy later.) You can pick these up at Walmart for $20.

Going out to celebrate? Red boots, baby!

How fierce are these? (I envision Carmen Sandiego in similar boots as she, you know, steals the pyramids from Egypt.) The Baker by Michael Antonio have a nice, soft ruched fabric shaft, 4.5-inch heel, three-quarter-inch platform, gold buckle, and side-zip closure. These rockin’ boots are also available in black, and can be yours for $79 from Zappos.

Let’s root, root, root for the Phillies—good luck, boys!

Sales this weekend: 
Aerosoles: Free shipping on $50 or more, no promo code required
Bakers: 30% off pumps; 25% off any handbag with the purchase of shoes or boots
Macy’s: 25-50% off comfort shoes
Nine West: Free standard shipping on any purchase; limited time
Steve Madden: Free shipping on orders over $75 using code SMFREESHIP
Lord & Taylor: 40% off already-reduced shoes until midnight tonight!
Bloomingdales: Free shipping on any order, now through Monday

Profiles in Shoerage: Sarah Jones

Vital Information: 
Name: Sarah Jones
Age: 22
Hometown: Philadelphia
Pairs: 300


When did you start collecting shoes? Was there a pair that got you started? 
I started collecting sneakers in about the 6th grade, when I first really got into Jordans. I don’t remember exactly what shoe started my fetish but it was definitely the Jordan brand.

Do you have a favorite pair(s)? Why are they your favorites? 
My favorite pair would probably be my Jordan Spacejams or a pair of glow in the dark Nike Blazers that I have. I love them because they’re hard to come by and not very many people have them.

Do you have any favorite places to get shoes? 
I buy shoes from anywhere as long as they’re a unique pair of sneakers. Normally I tend to shop at Samsung, or Ubiq downtown, otherwise I shop online.


Where do you keep them all? 
I don’t have enough space to keep them in one place so they’re mixed between storage, school, and home.


What is your newest pair? 
My newest pair is the new Ken Griffey Air Max.

As a high heel lover, I have to ask—why sneakers? 
I have to say I love sneakers because they’re comfortable. As an athlete, it’s hard for me to stay away from something I spent my entire day in.

What sport(s) do you play? 
I play basketball.

Want a collection like Sarah’s? Better start now! Why not start with a pair of sweet Nike Air Griffey Max?

They come in a ton of colors: black and blue (shown), black and purple, black and pink, black and red, white and blue, and all red. Find them at Cheap Jordan Shoe Mall for $89.

Know someone worthy of a Profile of Shoerage? Let me know at phillyshoefairy@gmail.com. 


Sales this weekend: 
Aerosoles: 20% off on new fall styles! (Fall already—can you believe it?)
Bakers: Free tote with any Chinese Laundry purchase
Bus Stop Boutique: Annual Warehouse Sale, July 17 and 18—help them clear out their inventory for fall! Macy’s: Two day sale, July 15-16 Nordstrom: Anniversary Sale: next season’s styles on sale through August 1 Lord & Taylor: 20% off with promo code TWENTY Bloomingdales: Take $25 off for every $200 you spend