"South of The Border": Fleet Feet Sports - Columbia, SC.

I took a short trip (1.5 hrs) down from Charlotte, NC to visit the Fleet Feet Sports Columbia, SC.  The state capitol is here and a zoo, neither of which I got to visit.  But I did have a great time hanging out with some really talented and inspiring staff at FF Columbia.

Fleet Feet Sports - Columbia, SC from Ben Hernandez on Vimeo.

A great way to recycle old shoes!

We talked about socks, the Columbia running community, great trail running nearby and they even gave me this great pint glass before I left!

And you know I couldn't leave Columbia w/o finding a cool place for a cup of coffee.  Thank you, Dan Matena, for the suggestion!

Drip in Columbia, SC

It's all single pour, people.  Single pour!!!

On the way to my next destination I got hit with an INSANE rain storm.  Every couple of miles I would pass another car that had slid off the road into either the center median or off to the right in a ditch.  But when it was all over I spotted this oasis in the wilderness:  SOUTH OF THE BORDER!!! Theme Park! Gift Shops!.....BMX Track!!??  Yes.

"You never sausage a place! You're always a weiner at Pedro's!!"  Another sign had a real, wrecked car mounted on it and said, "It's A Hit!"  I couldn't take a picture in time.

Yes, friends.  That is a Space Needle-sized sombrero tower. 

 Adios Carolina del Sur!

Atlanta Trip pt. 3 Fleet Feet Lawrenceville, GA

Another stop on the tour was Joe Braley's other store in Lawrenceville to get in on a Tuesday evening run group.  Although the turnout was a little small this particular evening we had a great time with an awesome bunch of runners.

Getting geared up for the fun run.

Again, Joe has some great ideas when it comes to "shoe walls".  This is rebar anchored to two columns, fed through the holes in the brick.  The bricks can then be shifted around to change the look.  Pretty cool.

FF Lawrenceville is in a great old building in downtown.

Dogs always welcome at the fun run!

Atlanta Trip pt. 2 Johns Creek, GA

The second stop on the trip was to Fleet Feet Johns Creek just outside of Atlanta.  Joe Braley (owner) brings a very creative element to the style of his store here.

Cool shoe display.

Loved this!  Wall-sized chalk board for events, etc.

nutrition and accessories.

"Chandelier" over the shoe display.

Kristen and Jason working w/ a customer.

Pepsi-cola boxes.

Atlanta Trip pt. 1 Athen, GA

Athens, GA

My first stop on this trip was Athens, Georgia to see a Dustin Shinholser who is the owner of a brand new Fleet Feet Sports coming in the next couple of months.

I had never been to Athens and the only thing I knew about the place was that R.E.M. came out of Athens.

What a cool city!  And Dustin's store is right in the middle of the action - Earth Fare market across the street, coffee house 2 doors down, German bakery, bike shop on the corner and the university is a half mile away.  It's perfect!

Dustin having a chat out on the front porch with the mail man.

Showing us around the place.  It's an old house that used to be a hair salon.  Of course, he's keeping the chandelier for his office.

Fleet Feet Fit Workshop: Nashville, TN

After working the Flying Pig expo in Cincinnati, I hopped back into my rented Ford Fiesta and hit the road for the fit workshop in Nashville.

Elizabethtown, KY. 

Victor Ornelas from FF Inc.  Leading the workshop.

I'm telling you...I'm a sucker for cool diners and coffee houses.  417 Union.  Nashville, TN

Ryman Auditorium.

Country Music Hall of Fame.  I grew up about an hour and half north of Bakersfield.  I know all about the Bakersfield sound.  Too bad I didn't have time to go in.

Back at FF Brentwood (Nashville).  Victor Ornelas coaching new staff on the fitting process.

great use of dry erase boards for stock room organization.

Mount Pleasant - Grand Opening!

The last several days I've been tagging along with TGA rep Dan Matena.  Dan also reps for NUUN, Body Glide, Fuel Belt, Gore, and a few others.  We stopped by the brand new Mount Pleasant, SC grand opening and "Run For Boston".

What a great staff and growing customer base!  They folks were dedicated and the customers really enjoyed having another great specialty running option in Mount Pleasant/Charleston area.

Owner Chris Minkel explaining the benefits of proper shoe fit.

L. to R. Shelley, Jason and TGA rep Dan Matena

Balega Hoppity Hop Balls and a kegerator filled w/ Holy City (the keg doesn't stay in the store).  Let the festivities begin!

The crew.

I guess Jason digs Hidden Comfort.  Nice!

Busy.

The stage is set. 

Rachel (customer) excited about something...winning Balegas maybe?

So Rachel here, couldn't get enough of Dan's Aussie accent.  She had seen a website where certain words were listed in certain orders to teach a person to take on an Australian accent.  Here phrase?: Razor blades.  So in order to say razor blades like an Aussie you say, "Rise-Up-Lights".  She kept saying "razor blades" to Dan all night!  Hilarious!

out with customers.  Great bunch.

the intercoastal.

On our way home.  The Cooper River Bridge.

Run For Boston - Greenville, SC

Because I've just started, my buddy Dan Matena (regional rep) has been showing me the ropes in his territory.  One of our first stops was Greenville, SC for a "Run For Boston" event organized by Fleet Feet Greenville.  I had a never been to Geenville, SC.  What a great little college town!

Dan Matena, Aussie role model for the youth of America!

FFG is very involved in the running community there and it showed with the support from the runners who attended.  From what I understood from owner Sheila, they started organizing Friday with expectations at around 50 people.  As word spread, that number ballooned to about 800!

This quickly turned into 800 runners!

Here's a little video I put together for the event.  Thanks for all the support Greenville running community!

Run For Boston - Greenville, SC from Ben Hernandez on Vimeo.

Parting words of wisdom as we drove out of town.