New Year, New Balance

It's almost time to ring in the New Year and with that comes the New Year's resolutions!

A lot of people strive to be healthy in the new year. That's great! Eating healthy and working out are great ways to make your mood better, reduce the risk of cancer and diabetes, and just overall look and feel better.

Working out, especially in these cold winter months can be a struggle. Let's be honest...when it's -40 outside and there's a good movie on TV, a lot of people are more likely to cuddle up on the couch than venture out to the gym. It doesn't have to be difficult though!

Here are 5 tips to help you get active and stay active in the new year:


1) Find a buddy: working out can be boring and sometimes you can lose motivation if you're not seeing the results you want right away. If you have a friend, not only do you become accountable but working out can actually be made fun!

2) Get the right gear: it's very important to have the right clothing and footwear for working out. You want to make sure you're comfortable and not limiting movement in any parts of the body. And sometimes it helps to have some new, flashy workout gear to get you out and motivated! We have an excellent selection of New Balance and Saucony running and training shoes in store! There's also a range of socks, including warm winter socks for those of you adventurous souls who brave the outdoors! Any of our fit experts can help you choose the footwear that's right for YOU and the activities you'll be doing.

3) Set goals for yourself: this goes along with being accountable. If your goal is to 'get fit', you may not see the results you want. But if your goal is to let's say lose 10 pounds or be able to run 5km in 20 minutes, then you're going to have to work hard to get there! Sign up for the Manitoba Marathon and put your training goals in each week.

4) Reward yourself: hey, you can't be 100% good all of the time. When you lose those extra 10 pounds, go by yourself that top in a size smaller or a new pair of shoes you've been eyeing. This should be more long term ie. every month or every two months so that you're not going crazy but that you're giving yourself the satisfaction you deserve when you reach your goal.

5) Turn on the tap: and get drinking water! This might seem unbelievable, but cutting out drinks like soda, alcohol, and coffee can make you feel more energized throughout the day. Drinking water is not only good for keeping you hydrated but it cuts out all the extra sugar from beverages. You should be drinking 8-10 glasses of water minimum everyday. The more active you are, the more water you'll need to refuel your body.

Follow these tips, and maybe create some of your own! Remember, it's really easy to stay active but it takes 21 days to make a habit, so don't give up! You want to live for a long time and being active is the first simple step to do so. If you ever have questions about the proper footwear to use for your fitness activities, feel free to come into any of our locations and have one of our fit experts find you the right kind of footwear.

Have a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays From Us to You!

Well we've got a short post this week, because we're busy gearing up for the holidays and we know you're busy too!

As the year wraps up and everyone celebrates their holiday traditions, we just want to take some time to thank you all! This year has been awesome and we received 1st place for Best Local Shoe Store in the Best of Winnipeg 2014! We could not have accomplished this without your help, and the help and hard work from our wonderful staff. So from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!

2015 is a new year with new beginnings. We are in the process of shooting a commercial today, of which you will see in the new year.

There will also be other promotions, new products, and tons more going on in our store. Be sure to stay tuned and as always, if you have suggestions, comments, or reviews never hesitate to contact us! One quick reminder of our holiday hours/closures:

December 24th: Closed at 3 PM
December 25th and 26th: Closed
December 31st: Closed at 3 PM
January 1st: Closed

All the best to you and yours over the holiday season, and we will see you in the new year!

Hit The Ground Running

Some weird thing happened in Winnipeg this week…if you have been outside you might have noticed that temperatures started climbing UP to 0 degrees! For most, we thought this was quite wonderful and a nice break from the frigid wind chills we’ve already experienced in the past month. It looks like the end of this week gets even better, with temperatures in the single digits! Perfect!

The best thing to do in winter, especially if you live in Winnipeg, is to take full advantage of the nice days when they come around. Who knows, they might not be back until the snow is gone. If you’ve ever thought about starting a winter activity to stay active, what’s been holding you back? There’s no better time than the present to get your gear and get moving!

We spoke with our New Balance Calgary rep, Trevor, who is a running enthusiast and has big goals set for his running future. He gave us some advice on winter running and how to get started if you’re new to running!

Q: How do you keep yourself motivated to run every day?

A: Some days it’s really tough to get out there, especially when the snow is flying and the wind is blowing. For me, I switch it up a bit by subbing out some runs for cross training in the gym. Increasing my overall strength by utilizing the weights helps me to be a better runner for when the summer rolls around. This also helps me to stay injury free. When I run outside though, I constantly remind myself of my goals and I think about those that look up to me. That keeps me motivated more than anything else.

Q: What items of clothing and footwear do you wear when you go out running?

A: For the winter months, I layer up as much as possible. For my torso, that is usually a base layer with a t-shirt on top and a windblocker jacket to keep the warm in, and the cold out. When the temperature dips severely, I’ll add on another long sleeve shirt. From the waist down, I’m usually wearing knee high compression socks and windblocker tights/run pants.

 

 

Q: What type of surface do you run on?

A: I would define myself as a road runner. The road is a place where you can truly push the body to beyond its limitations and get a true gauge of where your fitness level is. In saying that, most of my training is done on the trails. Here in Calgary, we have the mountains about 30 minutes away, so the change of scenery is very rewarding. Running on the trails is also less strenuous on your body as it is a lower impact activity.

 

Q: For anyone interested in getting into running this winter, would you suggest they start outdoors or indoors?

A: For those that are beginning to run, it is up to their personal preference to be indoors or outdoors. There are studies that support both running outdoors and running on a treadmill, but when it comes down which is more beneficial, I would draw the line right in the centre. Look at it this way; when you’re running outside, you continually have a change of scenery that can relieve any stress built up throughout the day. When you run on the treadmill, you’re stationary which can be boring and demotivating.

Q: How cold does it have to be for you personally to stop running outdoors?

A: For me, it’s never too cold, but I’m the 1%. I believe that as long as you are prepared for the weather by layering up, you’ll be able to run no matter what the temperature is. Once the thermometer drops below -25, the cold impacts my breathing pattern and it’s more difficult to run for a long period of time. For the runners out there, if you think it is too cold to run outside, listen to your instincts and jump on the treadmill/stationary bike/elliptical. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Q: What are some good tips for those just starting out in running around this time of year?

A: My best tip for those that are beginning to run is to listen to your body and to ease your way into the activity. If you go out there and increase your cardiovascular activity by (for example) 200% in a single week, you run the risk of injury. Start with a walk run (example: walk 3 minutes, run 2 minutes, repeat 5 times) to get your body accustom to the force, and then slowly increase your running duration by 10 percent, per week. If you start to flare up discomforting pains, listen to those as a warning sign that you are pushing your body too hard and it needs to rest.

Q: What are your top tips for someone who wants to run in the winter time?

1)      Layer up. Winter time is unpredictable and if you don’t keep your body warm, that could lead to some trouble. Just remember, during the winter months, it’s always better to be too warm than too cold. You can always pull off a layer while mid run.

2)      Wear technical apparel. Some people may not know the difference between a technical shirt and a cotton shirt except for the price tag, but wearing technical running gear is essential to keeping you warm and dry. A cotton shirt will absorb moisture and keep it stationary, resulting in you getting cold. A technical shirt will manage and wick moisture; regulating your body temperature better.

3)      Ensure you’re wearing the proper shoe. We’ve been told time and time again to wear the proper shoes, but when the ground is slick, this becomes even more important. Be sure to wear a shoe that will grip into the snow. This can either be a road shoe, as most road shoes with higher cushion levels have more outsole rubber, or you can try out a trail shoe which will give you optimal grip. You can also try out Yaktrax, which are like tire chains for your shoes.

4)      Embrace the cold. Yes, your motivation to get out and run in the freezing cold may be low, but the winter months are beautiful and it will give you a greater sense of accomplishment. Nothing says “I’m a true Canadian” like running outdoors during the winter months.

If you have trouble getting started, follow these tips! Grab a buddy, get some new workout clothes and start fresh! You can never have too many pairs of New Balance runners, as demonstrated by Trevor here.

 

 

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

It sure is! Winter has officially arrived here in Winnipeg. With that comes the snow, the cold, and of course Christmas! That’s right it’s December 1^st, which means we’re less than a month away from many people’s favourite holiday! 

I’ve seen a lot of posts from people saying they’re already done their Christmas shopping and I keep wondering how these people accomplish this task so early. Maybe I’m just the kind of person who loves the holiday rush or loves waiting for everything to go on sale but either way, I usually finish my shopping 2-3 days before Christmas. Call me crazy, but it’s the way I do things.

In addition to the shopping, there is a lot going on around this time of year. Baking, spending time with family and friends, travelling, sales, so much! At Canadian Footwear, we’re not short of things going on either! We're decorated for the holidays, we've got fully stocked boots, runners, and dress shoes. We've also got some other reasons you might want to come visit us for!

Winnipeg Jets Promotion

If you’re a fan of our Jets, you’ll want to stay tuned for this promo. Starting this Friday, when you come into the store and make a qualifying purchase of $100 or more, you are instantly entered to win Jets tickets for home games throughout December! More information about this will be posted on our Facebook page later this week!

$20 Off!

We still have our $20 off promotion running through our Facebook  page and paper coupons. If you bring them into the store, you’ll receive $20 off a regular priced pair of footwear on a minimum $100 purchase. Who doesn’t love to save money around Christmas!

Fit Feet on The Street

With the weather getting colder every day, we encourage and happily accept donations of new or gently used winter boots for men, women and children. We are very low right now, and would be very happy with any donations. Consider taking a look through your closet for any unused footwear that we can donate to those in need. Any of our retail locations accept donations.

Anything else? Well we have lots of different shoes, boots, socks, runners, and accessories for those shoe lovers on your Christmas list. Come down to any of our three locations and pick out that gift for someone special! As always, keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for special promos and giveaways!