So now you know where to take the kids when you are in Boston! Go to the New Balance Climb at the Children's Museum.

The Children’s Museum is on Children’s Wharf, 300 Congress St., Boston, MA. Call 617-426-6500.

- Michele

Do you want to collect a New Balance Classic. I think this is really awesome. New Balance Retro shoes in a gum ball machine, click each ball and see what happens. Check out the New Balance Classics in action!

- Michele

For Women the Heart Throb Pink Ribbon Tee's in both athletic gray and white are available as our Special of the Week. These adorable tee's are semi-fitted in a soft cotton t-shirt fabric with inspiring messages of love and hope to show your support for breast cancer awareness. A great deal at $11.99 and ships free.


Here are some other deals of the week.

- Michele

Did you see the Oprah show today? The show was about Warrior Women. Oprah and Gayle took a group of 60 women to Miraval Life in Balance Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona.

At the end of the show, Oprah said "Thank you, New Balance!" and Dr. Oz and Martha Beck wiggle their feet up in the air with their New Balance shoes. If you take a look on the Oprah site, you can find some great New Balance info. I especially liked this page, Find the Best Fit for Your Life. It features a New Balance Fit Clinic with information on how to find your best fit. It also explains about walking, running and training shoes for women.

While your on the Oprah site, explore some of these pages - Spa Life, Spa Cuisine and Wellness. There's lots of spa ideas for you that you can do at home. These suggestions will definitely motivate you to take some time out of this holiday week-end to spend with yourself!

- Michele

The NBx Collection is getting alot of hype all over the New Balance site. Last year New Balance was driving the "For Love or Money" advertising campaign. This year it's "Everything we know about running. Raised to the X power".

I thought I'd list the features that New Balance believes raise these running shoes to the x power. These shoes are all about support, fit, comfort, cushioning, stability, lightweight and keeping dry.
Here are some of the technology that raise these models to the next level:

• Knot x - Isn't it annoying when you need to stop running to tie your shoes. With Sure Laces (knotty laces). These laces have ripples which allow the knots to stick to the ripples like glue.


• Support x - The NLOCK feature, gently secures your midfoot with a integrated lacing and webbing system.


• Fit x - Everyone should know that a shoe that fits better, performs better. This collection offers lightweight shoes to sizes from 5B to 15 4E. One particular model is made in 60 size and widths variations, one sure to fit you with the best possible fit.


• Dry x - The faster you run, the harder you run, the more you sweat. Yuk, nothing like sweaty feet! The 873 has a Lightning Dry fabric that moves moisture away from your feet.


• Cushioning x - With the ABZORB insoles, ABZORB allows impact protection and durabilty for your feet.


• Lightweight x - Lighter is better. Acteva Ultra Lite midsoles provides for a lightweight ride.


• Stability x - With the TS2 Transitional Support System offers 10% more pronation control.

I was running with a friend the other night and we started hashing it out about the best way to stay hydrated. The easiest answer is to drink a lot of water but I think we can move past that. Besides cramps and heat exhaustion, I start to feel sick and lethargic when I am dehydrated. So whenever I start feeling a little under the weather I start drinking.
I do have a couple of tried and true tips for replenishing fluids:
• Down some Pedialyte the night before a big run/hike/ride.
• Room temperature water hydrates faster; although it feels good, your body has to warm up cold water before it can use it.
• Cut your Gatorade in half with water - easier on the stomach and something I’ve always done.

Hope this helps!
-JOhn

If you have a favorite drink or hydration ritual – let’s hear it.

If you’re like me then you love comfortable shoes but you also like to have shoes that you can wear out to your favorite spots and not catch anyone sporting your same kicks. To be quite honest I have a NB obsession, maybe fetish is a better word. This coupled with the fact that I work at NBTampa, makes my wife and my closet a little crazy. I’m sure our friend Lazy will appreciate the new Limited Edition Las Vegas Collection that will be here the first week of July. These should run about $84.99 and be in just in time to become my “lucky” shoes. This is a sneek peak as to what is in store for a great summer and fall Classics collection.

Check out the new women's page at the New Balance website. You can check out featured apparel, find the best shoes, find the best sports bra and receive fitting tips.

You can even enter to win a spa getaway.

- Michele

What’s the difference between the old 608’s and the new 621’s? Well Michele let us know that the 608’s were still being made, and I thought that I would break down the differences between the new and the old version of this popular cross-trainer. The biggest difference in the shoe is the cushioning, the 621 has Abzorb cushioning in the forefoot and the 608 does not. There are some minor cosmetics differences in the shoes but they look pretty much the same to me. I will say that 608’s have a cult like following, much like the 991’s, and the followers will often say that the newer versions just doesn’t fit or feel as nice. I however disagree and think the more cushioned 621 is a better feel.

To each his own, I guess.
-John

I received an email from a customer a few days ago who asked if we had the New Balance cross-trainer 608. I said that it was discontinued and it was updated to the New Balance 621. This customer emailed me back today and said that they contacted New Balance corporate and that they told her that yes, it was discontinued but because there is such a demand for it, they were re-releasing the 608. So I went to New Balance and checked this out and sure enough there is stock in the 608's. So if your looking for the 608 cross trainers, give us a call and we will hook you up!
(1-877-NBTampa)
- Michele

We've made an adjustment to our Shipping Policy. We still offer Free UPS Ground Shipping. However, that offer does not apply to orders Shipping to Alaska or Hawaii.

One of our customers rightly pointed out that our previously policy indicated that our Free Shipping was for orders shipping to the Continental United States and that Alaska is part of the Continent and so we've adjusted our verbiage a bit so that we're not misstating things.

Thanks for letting us know!

I mentioned that the New Balance 902 received the Runner's World Editor's Choice Award. It received recognition also by Outside Buyers Guide - 2007 Gear of the Year, Named Best Renovation by Running Network Spring Buyers Guide and named in GenA Network Spring Shoe Guide.

The bad news about that is the 902 received such recognition that the demand is greater then the supply. Sorry, guys, the Men's 902 is out of stock in most D width sizes. Looks like it will be August before the 902 is replenished!

Here are some other New Balance shoes that brought in some awards in 2007.
You can check them out on the New Balance corporate site on the Awards & Recognition page.

- Michele

If you haven't already noticed we've made some considerable improvements to our search engine results that we feel will make the results more effective for you.

Easier To Read

Improvement Summary

• The thumbnail image for the corresponding model is now considerably larger


• The Brand, Gender, Model and Category are all included in the main title link for each result


• The Price is now enlarged and click-able


• The style number is included along with a short description of the item


• Last Type


• Available Sizes and Widths

Check out our new Specials of the Week

Men's Attack Short

Women's Valve Tee

You have lived through decades of fitness crazes - Jane Fonda, Suzanne Sommers and the Thigh Master, Richard Simmons, spandex, Tae Bo.... Maybe your feeling another craze coming on, but wait - read this article first. The article is called Let's Get Physical. It discusses the many ways baby boomers are using to keep their bodies young. (Check out the picture of the gym class in their uniforms - Does that bring back memories?)

Also if your looking for some monthly reading on fitness, there is a magazine called GeezerJock. GeezerJock claims to be the first Masters sports and fitness magazine to cover the spectrum of competitive athletics for people 40 and over. (Oh yeah, that's you!)

Check it out baby boomers, it's worth the read.

- Michele

Check out this review in the May 2007 issue of Backpackers Magazine: The New Balance Arch Support insole receives a rave review. It was praised for its lightweight and flexibility as well as its tremendous arch support. Said to be the best for high arches and pronators.

“The high, molded-nylon arch prevents overpronation better than any other footbed we tested. Making it great for heavy loads and long days.”

If you've not shopped with us before then you don't know about our Shipping Policy.

Since March of 2000 when we launched this web site we've had Free UPS Ground Shipping and I'm not talking about the type of free that requires $50 or $99 worth of stuff in your Shopping Cart either. I'm talking about Free UPS Ground Shipping... no exceptions!

Well, I take that back, there is one exception that's sorta out of our control actually. UPS Ground is only available in the Continental United States. Orders Shipping to Hawaii and Alaska do not qualify for Free UPS Ground Shipping. require Air Shipments and so our policy states that Free UPS Ground Shipping is available for all orders shipping in the contiguous Continental United States.

Edit: I edited this post based on the Shipping Policy updates announced in this post.

I was just thinking after posting my last blog - I gave you a coupon code now maybe I should give you some ideas for some New Balance Mother's Day gifts.

Here are some of my favorite New Balance things to spend some New Balance time in.
For Hanging Out:
New Balance 802, slip on recovery shoe.
WR802BP and
WA802BR
For by the Pool, New Balance has some great new
sports sandals, a style for everyone.
For Country Walking, great for light hiking:
New Balance 965
For Running:
New Balance 892
For Cross-training:
New Balance 1008
For Golf:
New Balance 1275
For Tennis:
New Balance 803
For Yoga:
New Balance 631
For Honoring, Supporting and Celebrating those affected by breast cancer, the Lace Up For the Cure Collection
Love these socks!
Love my New Balance shorts!

- Michele

I am a mom of three boys ages 5, 10 and 15.
Days are full of pre-school, elementary school and high school drop offs and car pools. Nights are active with school events, baseball games and other activities. Now you must also know about the week-ends. Who needs to be at what field, what game and what time? Who has a birthday party to go to? Who needs to be at work? Who has a play date? Who needs to be at the movies at 7:00? And that's just taking care of the kid stuff. I won't even go on about the other stuff.

But I will say, May 13 is all about Mom. So make sure you don't forget her. Give Mom what she really wants for Mother's Day: Time for herself, Time with you and some New Balance Time.

If you place your order from May 1 - May 6, we will have time plenty of time to ship your gift this week. Here's an added incentive, a 10% coupon code, good until May 6. Enter this code when you check out and you will receive 10% off your purchase. Coupon Code: NBTLOVESMOM

- Michele