Healthy, Happy People = Healthy, Happy Company: Foot Levelers Shares Its Message of Health with Roanoke Valley Leaders

Wow! What a week for Foot Levelers!

In addition to kicking off our exciting new partnership with Roanoke Fire-EMS, Elizabeth and Mary of Team Foot Levelers took our message of “healthy people = healthy company” on the road, speaking to the fine folks of Leadership Roanoke Valley Class of 2017 (LRV) on Wednesday.

LRV is an interactive 10-month program that unites movers-and-shakers from every sector of the workforce to develop leadership skills and discuss how to make Southwest Virginia a better, smarter, more innovative (and more fun!) place to live, work, and play.

Elizabeth spoke about how Foot Levelers’ innovative, homegrown Workout for Payout program keeps our employees healthy and happy and our company strong. You can check out a recent WSLS Channel 10 story about Workout for Payout, the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, and our star employee/hometown- basketball-hero-to-boot Abby Oliver here.

Thanks to Leadership Roanoke Valley for making us a part of your big day!

Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon: The Results are In!

The results are in!

America’s Toughest Road Marathon just keeps getting bigger, with 2,507 registered runners–an 11% increase over last year; 600 volunteers, a brand new (official) double marathon, 10 non-profit race beneficiaries, plus runners hailing from 43 states and nine countries.

Even though warnings of severe weather forced organizers to cancel the event about five hours in, reviews were glowing (thanks, folks!).

Runner Elizabeth R. Bain of California said this about the race in The Roanoke Times: “What really made this course shine (besides the gorgeous views from the tops of the mountains)? YOU, Roanoke! From the volunteers handing out bibs and shirts at packet pick-up, to the mimosa ‘aid station,’ to the guy driving the bus where I took my DNF [did not finish], everyone was so kind and friendly! Even though I’m a slow, back-of-the-pack runner, every aid station had cheers and cowbells and plenty of aid station supplies for me.”

Foot Levelers booth at the Marathon Expo Friday before the race

 

Our employee-volunteers preparing for the influx of runners at the Star Aid Station

Runners near the Star Aid Station pose for a quick picture at the Mill Mountain overlook

We’re proud to support this incredible event every year, and congratulate all who dared to run America’s Toughest Road Marathon. An extra loud shout-out goes to our employees who got up at the crack of dawn to participate as runners or volunteer at the Star aid station!

It takes a village to host a marathon (Foot Levelers peeps in yellow giving out water, snacks, cheers and high fives to runners at the Star Aid Station)

 

Numbers about the economic impact should be out soon. Last year, the marathon generated more than $592,000, and over the past seven years, the it’s added more than $3.2 million to the local economy.

Our man Barto (center, in black) chugging up Mill Mountain along with other runners. Credit: The Roanoke Times.

Congratulations runners, thank you volunteers, and kudos to organizers from the Roanoke Regional Partnership for another world-class event!

Tammy and her daughter after the event

Some of our employee runners ready for the race: L-R, Barto, Scott, Tyler, Mike and Wayne

We Walk the Walk (and Run the Run)

Tomorrow’s the big day! The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon gets underway bright and early at 7:30 a.m. and we couldn’t be more excited!

Not only is Foot Levelers the title sponsor, we have several employees who will be competing tomorrow in America’s Toughest Road Races.  We also have several dozen more signed up to cheer on runners and hand out waters and snacks at the Mill Mountain Star Aide Station.

L-R, Meet our runners: Abby, Mike, Scott, Barto, Tammy, Wayne, and Tyler

Last night, WSLS’s John Carlin interviewed our CEO Kent about the company’s support of the marathon during a half-hour live marathon special. Check out the rebroadcast here! (Kent speaks to John around 11:30, and you can see Abby in action in the story immediately following the interview).

John Carlin (left) and Kent at the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon finish line last night

Big shout-out to our employee participants–we have all the faith in the world in you! We wish you and ALL the runners the best of luck on the course tomorrow! Stay tuned here and on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more updates throughout the weekend.

The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon 2017 is Almost Here!

Aid station at the famous Roanoke star

And they’re off!

Sarah Glenn of Roanoke, VA, women’s winner of the half marathon

Tyler O’Brien of Jacksonville, FL, winner of the men’s half marathon

Excitement is building for the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, this Saturday in Foot Levelers’ stunning hometown of Roanoke, Virginia. Known as America’s Toughest Road Marathon, the event draws brave souls from all over the country.

Once again this year, several of our employees will be taking to the course as competitors–best of luck to Tammy, Wayne, Scott, Abby, Mike, and Tyler! And as always, we’ll have a raucous group of cheerleaders and helpers up at the Mill Mountain Star Aide Station helping to hand out waters, snacks, and keeping runners’ spirits high.

WSLS Channel 10 came to visit us recently to talk to Abby Oliver, former basketball superstar and our awesome employee, about her training for the marathon and some of the innovative ways Foot Levelers encourages employees like Abby to stay fit and healthy. They’ll be running a special tonight about the Marathon featuring Abby and a live interview with Kent from the finish line at Elmwood Park. Tune in if you can or check back here–we’ll post the special after it airs.

We’re rooting for everyone Saturday! You got this!

Our Own Roanoke Star — in Training for America’s Toughest Road Marathon

Alyssa Rae from WSLS Channel 10 came and visited us yesterday to talk about our Workout for Payout program and how our own Abby Oliver is putting it to use while training for the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon! Alyssa interviewed both Kent and Abby and also shot some cool footage of Abby running part of the course!

Abby runs in our Brooks Adrenaline GTS 17 Shoethotics with InMotion custom orthotics. InMotion features silver for natural odor and moisture control and Celliant, which is research-proven to help increase blood oxygen levels in the body’s tissue for a boost of strength and stamina. Check out a short video of Abby in action on our Facebook page! We’ll post again when the WSLS story airs.

Abby

Alyssa interviewing Kent in Foot Levelers’ gym

Click here to see a quick video of Abby running.

Check Out Our Infographic on Plantar Fasciitis!

Happy Global Running Day!

It’s not too early to register for the 2017 Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon — save 15% until June 8th by clicking here! Just use the RUN4ALL code at checkout!

Congratulations Runners, and Thanks to All!

Thank you to all the runners, volunteers, fans, sponsors and more who made the 2016 Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon an outstanding success!  See you in 2017!

Jeff Powers of Philadelphia, PA, men’s winner of the full marathon

Abby Oliver after finishing the race!

Amy Ostrofe of Suffolk, VA, women’s full marathon winner

Aid station at the famous Roanoke star

And they’re off!

Fun and encouragement from the fans

Tyler O’Brien of Jacksonville, FL, winner of the men’s half marathon

Sarah Glenn of Roanoke, VA, women’s winner of the half marathon

Look Who Made the Front Page!

We’re excited for our own Abby Oliver, who graces the front page of The Roanoke Times today, our hometown paper!

Abby is a rockstar in our Sales and Service department and an accomplished basketball player in her “previous life”–to say the least. The Times talked to her about training for the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon–her very first marathon, and known as America’s toughest–happening just steps from our office door tomorrow!

‘Course, Abby is no stranger to challenges.  Among a mile-long list of achievements, she was the University of Richmond’s women’s team 7th Leading All-Time Scorer when she graduated in 2012, and the nation’s best at the free throw line. Read that again: the nation’s best. Number 1, Numero Uno, Top Dog, Queen Bee. Holy wow. Before joining our team, Abby played pro overseas.

At Foot Levelers, Abby helps doctors from all over the world choose the right custom-made orthotics for their patients, many of whom are professional athletes. Her experience on the court makes her a natural when it comes to helping docs help patients stay injury-free and performing at their peak.

We know Abby will do great at The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, and we’ll all be rooting for her at the finish line. Go Abby go! 

Training for America’s Toughest Road Marathon: Check Out Our New Video!

 

We hire great people–like Abby Oliver in Customer Service, former college basketball star turned pro baller turned Foot Levelers’ Blue Ridge Marathon runner-in-training. See Abby in action in our new video!

Though she’s an accomplished athlete–Abby was the University of Richmond’s women’s team 7th Leading All-Time Scorer when she graduated in 2012, and the nation’s best at the free throw line–this will actually be Abby’s first marathon. She’s training with our XP3+ orthotics to keep her in tip-top shape and injury free. Go Abby go!