Get to Know Your Running Clubs - Fleet Feet Sports Racing Team
In this edition of Get to Know Your Running Clubs we chatted with Max Coatney about Fleet Feet Sports Racing Team, based in Chicago.
Want to learn more about them? Read on!
Hey Max! Before we get into Fleet Feet Sports Racing Team, tell us a little bit about yourself.
The office staff likes to call me the Digital Overlord of the Fleet Feet Sports in Chicago. Meaning, I manage all of our social media accounts and oversee all digital marketing initiatives. I spend my extra time finding and creating engaging content for the internet and social accounts.
Cool - and what about the racing team, when did it start?
The club has been around for about twenty years. It started as a group of friends. A group of competitive store customers, friends, and track and field athletes, both male and female who loved to race and loved to drink beer more. We started it to gain notoriety and that's exactly what the people wanted. So many local runners and customers wanted to race under our store name. The popularity of club racing teams starting to explode in the late 1990s. People wanted to run for someone and something. We were that "someone."
So we know your runners like beer! Tell us a bit more about them, and why our readers should get involved.
Our Racing Team hosts a variety of runners from Olympic athletes to the casual runner. There is one common theme we like to go by and that is that everyone on the team is looking to become a better runner. New for 2017 are pace groups for Wednesday evening speed workouts and group leaders to help cater to everyone's pace so that you get the most out of each workout. We cater to runners who share the passion of training and racing and enjoy the camaraderie after the hard workout is completed or the finish line is crossed.
When and where does your club meet?
Monday team runs are hosted year-round at most of our Chicagoland stores. The run usually consists of a recovery or temp run. They kick off at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday night speed workouts are hosted from early March - mid-November at our Old Town store. The workouts focus on speed and are led by our professional coaches. They kick off at 6:30 p.m.
How much does it cost to join?
Our Racing Team membership is $85 for new members and $65 to alumni.
With this fee you get discounts to a dozen Chicagoland races, discounts to Chicago Endurance Sports training programs, VIP shopping nights with Nike, post-race parties, and other benefits.
Are you affiliated with any runs around the city?
Fleet Feet Sports Chicago is deep within the Chicago Running Community and a sponsor to dozens of local races. Head over to the Races section of our website here - the races with "FF" next to them, are the ones we sponsor.
Any other favorites to tell us about?
Dia De Los Muertos 5K because of the awesome age group awards, Shamrock Shuffle 8K, Chicago Marathon (duh), Elmhurst 4 on the 4th, and the Chicago Half Marathon.
Awesome! Do you have any cool routes around Chicago you can recommend to our readers?
One of our favorites is the run from our Old Town store which runs through Lincoln Square and converges on the Lakefront Path where you get a scenic view of the lake. Plus, you get a view of the architectural neighborhood of Old Town.
Another favorite is the South Loop fun run which heads east on Roosevelt towards the Lakefront Path and loops besides the Adler Planetarium. Look west, and you have the best view of the skyline in the city.
And finally - anything else we should know that's going on?
We're hosting two pre-season workouts on January 18th & February 15th. Join us and meet some of the team, talk to our coaches, and see what it's all about.
Thanks Max, it's been great to talk!
Want to learn more?
Want to connect with Fleet Feet Sports Racing Team, or just learn a bit more about them? Check out their information below:
Fleet Feet Sports Racing Team Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Find more runs around Chicago
Looking for runs in and around Chicago? The RunGuides Chicago race calendar can help you find upcoming runs and running races in the area - www.runguides.com/chicago/runs