Checkout our new Family Fan Club website on Wordpress

It's been in the works for a while, but we've finally made the move to WordPress. On the surface, that's probably not very exciting, but behind the scenes it lays the foundation for some exciting enhancements at Family Fan Club.

The first big change is the integration of the store and blog. From this point forward, we'll be blogging from the integrated blog function native to WordPress.

The second and most exciting change is the ability to offer products direction from the lab at Family Fan Club. As we announced on June 7th, we're starting to offer Performance tech t-shirts for triathletes, runners, cyclists and swimmers. The move to WordPress based store will allow us to supplement our partnership with CafePress with products made and delivered directly from Family Fan Club. We'll be printing all of our Performance Tech Shirts on 100% polyester ALO shirts with styles for both Men and Women. Every design in our store will be available on demand and in low volumes (as low as one!). In addition to our standard designs, we can also personalize any design or simply supplement an existing the design.

In the end, the benefit will be to our customers, providing more options with products directly from Family Fan Club.

If you've landed here, please go to our site, look around and shop, shop, shop!

Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.

New Family Fan Club logo

As you can see at the top of the page, Family Fan Club has a new logo! We think it really embodies what we're about, designs for athletes, family and friends, wearing your support and who doesn't need more cowbell on race day? Thanks to the guys at i design your logo for making it happen.

We'll be making this design available in our store shortly!

What do you think about the new design? Tell us your comments.

Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.

Performance Tech T-shirts for Triathletes, Runners and Cyclists

You asked for it, you got it! Performance Tech T-shirts for Triathletes, Runners and Cyclists (or Adventure Racers, High School Sports or anything!) will soon be available on the Family Fan Club website. Every design in our catalog will be available on light colored 100% polyester performance tech shirts for training and racing.

Over the last month we've been piloting a printing process that uses heat to transfer dye onto the fabric. The benefit of this process vs. other methods is that the fabric is permanently dyed so it can be washed without damaging the quality of the image, as well as resistant to discoloration from UV light and air. Needless to say we've been impressed with the quality and will soon be updating the store with all the details regarding how to purchase these new shirts.

If you can't wait for us to get the webpage updated and need a Performance Tech T-shirt NOW, contact us with the details of what you're looking for and we'll get it done!

Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.

Family Fan Club is now available at Campus Street Sportswear

Family Fan Club is now available at Campus Street Sportswear located on the Pearl St. Mall in Boulder, Colorado. With Father's Day approaching and race season heating up, stop by and pick-up some t-shirts and Wear Your Support!

Here's some shots from our visit on Memorial Day Weekend:





Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.

Sport Hooks by Heavy Medalz

If you've got a few medals from races that need a home, checkout Sport Hooks from Heavy Medalz. Of all the races I've done over the last three years since I got off the couch, I think the only medal I have is from the Amica Boulder Spring Triathlon. Perhaps I'll have another medal to add after the race on 6/20/2010?

Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.

Get your Family Fan Club involved on race day

The 2010 race season is just around the corner. For those of us with families there are a couple of great ways to get the whole family involved.

One way is to get the family involved on race day, is to train and pick a race to participate together. Here's a great article I found on Active.com by Farel B. Hruska, the National Fitness Director for Stroller Strides, regarding getting the family involved on race day. Kim & I agree and this article covers many of the reasons we started Family Fan Club, to get the whole family involved on race day and to be role models for healthy living.

If kids aren't ready for training and racing, include the family on race day with support t-shirts from Family Fan Club. Our kids love to come out and support Mom and Dad on race day. There are typically a ton of kids, activities and generally a ton of fun to be had on race day. Our boys love finishing up a race with Mom & Dad and I can say I love finishing with the boys, it's a great feeling.

Getting the family involved may even lead to a uninterested spouse suddenly getting of the couch running and racing. It happened to me, it could happen to you.



Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.

The Elusive Marathon

By guest blogger Kelly:

In January I decided I needed some motivation to keep me running through the winter months. I decided to run a marathon in May. As a recreational runner I had participated in many 5k’s, 10k’s, and 15k’s, however, with a family including 2 young kids I never thought I could run a marathon because there already weren’t enough hours in the day. All around me, however, many of my friends (many with children younger then mine) had recently completed marathons so I decided to dive in headfirst.

I steadily increased my mileage and incorporated speed work and tempo runs. It was all going well until my “long” runs went beyond 11 miles. I started to feel the pain of the strain my body was under and I was tired. I was tired of so many things; tired of the constant aches in my legs, tired of losing hours of time to running on Sunday mornings, tired of getting up before the sun to run, and tired of forced workouts because “I had to”. On the morning I was supposed to do a 14-mile run I quit. Yes, after weeks of hard work and time spent, I quit with part of me feeling guilty and part of me feeling like a gigantic weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I went out that morning and ran 6 glorious miles without a water bottle, without energy beans, without an ipod, and enjoyed every minute of it. I have never looked back and have no regrets. Afterall, I did train through the winter months right? Goal partially achieved.

What have I learned from this? Well, I think I will ultimately run a marathon. When? Maybe when my kids are older and I have more “time” to myself. Maybe when I have a committed marathon partner to encourage me and go on long runs with me. But really, it might never happen and that would be OK too since I am still a runner and still enjoy “long” runs even if they are 10 miles or less.

So anyone want to train for a marathon with me?




Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.

Am I A Runner?

This is a question I rarely ask myself, because the answer is simple. No. When people refer to me as a runner I always deny it. My friend Leandra often refers to me as her friend Kim "the runner." Every time she uses "the runner" label to differentiate me from another friend I always say, what are you talking about Leandra? I'm not a runner.

Funny, Rebecca (my running partner) doesn't consider herself a runner either. When people ask us if we are "runners" we say we run together and yeah, we run some races, but we aren't "runners". After all, look at me. If you saw me on the street you would never think of me as a runner. I don't go through running shoes every other month, I don't wear shorts that are high cut and flap in the wind or are tight. For goodness sake, I chafe in places where I know "runners" do not chafe.


To me, running is simply a recreation, time when Rebecca and I can be together and chat about all that is going on in our lives. We have actually saved specific topics for a run and read books specifically for our long runs. Knowing that it is our conversation that gets us through to the finish line we look forward to seeing each other every day. Often after we have run 10 miles and talked in the parking lot for 20 minutes I have to call her to tell her something I forgot to mention. We aren't runners......


I am currently reading the Runner's World "The Runner's Diet" by Madelyn H Fernstrom (which I will review when I am done reading). In her book Madelyn says "No matter whether you run 1 or 6 miles a day, you're a runner (p13)." She also paraphrases Descartes to "Offer an important guideline for all of us: 'I run; therefore I am a runner' (pXIV)." By this standard I guess Rebecca and I should consider ourselves runners.


My friend Leandra has made it a personal goal to convince me that I am a runner. She is constantly catching me off guard asking me questions when I least expect it. While golfing one day she asked me if I was wearing my running shoes (I just wear sneakers to golf in), I promptly said no, I only wear my running shoes when when I am running never any other time. "Oh she said, then you are a runner."


Then at soccer practice she asked me if I knew the time, when I told her she said, oh is that your heart rate monitor. Yes I said, it is. She replied, if you have a heart rate monitor then "you must be a runner."


Do you have a running partner? Yes, you know Rebecca is my running partner. "Oh, then you must be a runner."


I think you get the picture......


Sometimes I think this misconception that I am NOT a runner is a result of geography. After all, look where I live. When I tell people I ran a 1/2 marathon they say "Great, do you want to join me in the .... Marathon?" It seems like everyone around me is competing in IronMan, Marathon, Ultra Marathon etc. I only run a half marathons, but maybe just maybe instead of comparing myself to people that I will never compete with I should compare myself to where I came from.


I didn't even start running until I was 23 and in Graduate School. A long distance race for me as a 5K. I run farther than that on a daily basis now, and I still love running. I have run the Steamboat Half Marathon 5 times (4 times in a row) and I have even run 2 half marathons in the same season a few times. Now that is amazing when I look back on it.


OK Leandra, I guess you are right. Rebecca and I are runners! Instead of denying it when people ask we should hold our heads high and say


"Yes, as a matter of fact WE ARE runners!"


- Thank you friend


Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.

Traditional Medicinals

Written by Kim:

As I mentioned in my first post, one of the things that has plagued me and my motivation to run over the past few months has been stomach issues. I don't know the root of this evil. It seems like I wake up every morning with a stomach ache and no motivation to run. However, because of my accountability to my running partner Rebecca I have run through it.

So, what is one to do? Being a fan of homeopathic medicine and my desire to solve problems naturally I began searching the internet for solutions to stomach issues. I found the answer quickly and it seems to have transformed my belly. I have been so happy and excited to wake up every morning with no stomach ache. I have started drinking Traditional Medicinals Organic Ginger Tea before I go to bed at night and it has made a world of difference. So YEAH again to Traditional Medicinals and their wonderful teas!


Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.

Training Chart

I have found that I work best with a goal in mind, preferably one I have had to front some cash for. So this is part of the reason why I sign up for the Steamboat Half Marathon every year. Of course the fact that Steamboat is one of the most beautiful places in Colorado and 5 days away with my family and friends is one of the best weeks of the year for me has something to do with it too.

So, how does a novice/intermediate runner like me prepare for a Half Marathon?

Every year I follow Hal Higdon's Half Marathon training program. I find his website to be very informative, realistic and best of all FREE! He says "The excitement around half marathons often is the same as at a marathon -- except you get to go home early." I love this and it is exactly why I train for at least one half marathon a year. In my opinion a half marathon is not a race just anyone can get up and run, but at the same time the training is not so time intensive that I would fail to do it right.

With my two young boys I just have not gotten to the point yet where I can dedicate myself enough to training for a marathon. Although, my friend Tracey and I have promised ourselves that we will run a marathon together before we turn 40. Unfortunately that window is quickly closing and at least Tracey has the experience of running 5 marathons behind her (I know I know, already with the excuses).

Anyway, for the past several years I have followed Higdon's Novice 12 week program, but last year Rebecca and I thought we would try to bump it up to the Intermediate program. After all, we definitely fit the description - "THE ABOVE [Intermediate] SCHEDULE IS FOR EXPERIENCED RUNNERS: individuals who have left their Novice roots behind and who want to improve their performances. You should be capable of running 30 to 60 minutes a day, five to seven days a week, have competed in at least a few 5-K and 10-K races, if not a marathon, and at least be willing to consider the possibility that some speedwork might help you improve."

Last year we created our workout calendar (well I did and forced my spreadsheets on Rebecca), and everything started out easy. After all we were more than ready for this. ROAD BLOCK: I can not get myself through the speed workouts. Let's face it, I am a 10 minute miler. I enjoy this pace and I can continue to run this pace for miles on end. I hate sprinting, but I KNOW it would help me in many ways. First it would knock my body out of its doldrums and it may also decrease my mile time. The question is, is the pain worth going from a 10 minute mile to a 9:45 minute mile? I still won't win, but maybe I would finally hit that elusive 2:10 half marathon time I have always longed for and have come so close to.

This little tirade brings me back to yesterday's post and the how I mentioned that blogging was partially selfish. I figured if I created a workout and told everyone about it that it would make me even more accountable and more likely to stick to the parts that I don't like. So I promise continued updates.

My 12 week training program officially started this week and I am going to get out of this funk, get myself excited and start training for this race the right way! Anyone want to join me?

My Plan:
Mondays - Easy Run starting with 3 miles increasing 1/2 mile every other week
Tuesdays - Yoga and/or Sculpt & Tone Class
Wednesdays - Alternating 400 m weeks and tempo runs
Thursdays - Yoga and/or Sculpt & Tone Class
Fridays - 3 miles easy and strength
Saturdays - 3 miles easy increasing 1 mile every third week
Sundays - Long Runs starting with 5 miles, increasing 1 mile a week


Wear Your Support! Visit our t-shirt website for Triathlon t-shirts, Running t-shirts, Marathon t-shirts, Cycling t-shirts, Duathlon t-shirts, Swimming t-shirts and personalized t-shirt options supporting family and friends on race day. Browse our selection of designs, it's likely we have a triathlon t-shirt, duathlon t-shirt, marathon t-shirt, running t-shirt, cycling t-shirt or swimming t-shirt that will appeal to you.