Month: September 2011 - page 2

Pros And Cons Of Buying and Leasing Business Equipment

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There is so much information out there on whether small business owners should buy or lease their businesses equipment.  The jury is out on this decision as each situation will vary greatly.  Every small business requires different equipment and each piece of equipment will need to be looked at for its own special circumstances to determine whether leasing or purchasing is the better deal for your company.

If you are purchasing your equipment outright you will have to make sure the cash you have on hand is able to be tied up in equipment or if an equipment loan is your next step.  An equipment loan will add another dimension to the decision because you will now need to account for the loan terms and the cost associated with that.  This will alter the decision to lease or buy in some situations.

As a small business owner it is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both leasing equipment and purchasing equipment.  In general people look at leasing as a way to safeguard capital and provide more flexibility but may cost more over the long term.  The cost however may be minor in regards to loss if you weigh in the advances in technology the equipment will have in the future.  Computers and technical equipment fall into line with this thinking.  Businesses look at the purchase of equipment in regards to the tax benefits and the value of ownership.  However because purchasing equipment means taking out an equipment loan it is not for all businesses.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Leasing Equipment versus Buying Equipment

Let me start by stating that the assumption is that the equipment being purchased is being bought outright and an equipment loan is not in this equation.  Loans add an entirely new dimension to small business ventures and equipment purchases.

1)      Initial Expense:  Obviously with leasing you are able to get more assets for business startup with minimal outlay.  Leasing often only requires a small down payment which will leave capital available for other areas. However, down the road when you add up the initial deposit and monthly lease fee you may have been able to purchase the equipment twice over at the end of the lease agreement. Purchasing requires a large amount of capital out of pocket this can be a real disadvantage to owners with little money who are looking into business ownership.

2)      Taxes: With leasing you can deduct the expense off of your taxes however with purchasing you get incentives some purchases and only depreciate others. Check with your accountant to decide which situation is the best for your needs as far as your taxes go.

3)      Upgrading: It is obviously easier to upgrade new equipment every few years with a lease.  Purchasing new equipment every few years would require the outlay of a lot of capital.  You will need to determine if the purchase will be one that requires that your business keep up with trendy new technology. You will have to decide if the equipment is something that will become obsolete, such as computers or if it is something where age is not really an issue like a stove.

4)      Ownership: This obviously does not happen with leasing.  You never outright own the equipment.  It is truly never yours to do with as you wish.

5)      Obligation:  If you are leasing equipment and decide being a small business owner is not for you the obligation to pay for the equipment is still there.  However, if you purchased it you may resell it hoping to recoup some lost capital.

It is in the best interest of a small business owner to figure out the net cost associated with the purchase of equipment for your business. Once you determine the cost effectiveness of leasing or buying you will want to review the items that aren’t as easily laid out in black and white.  These gray areas will consist of the longevity of the equipment and its technology. Along with the whether the equipment is deemed to be necessary for the long haul of the business.

Ask 4 Funding

Keeping The Carpet Clean

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One of the things I like to do to calm me down is to clean the house.  I know weird huh?  There is just something about the smell of cleaning products and the thought of having everything in its place for even just a few minutes.  The one thing that irks me is the carpet.  We have newer carpet and maintaining it seems to be a job in its own.  I love the look and feel of the carpet but with two kids and three cats find myself at a loss for cleaning tips when I am in need.  Over the years I have come up with many carpet saving tips that I thought I would share for people going through the same situation as me.

Carpet cleaning is an art form. Professional carpet cleaners seem to have some magic trick that obliterates the stains and wear marks making the carpet as good as new.  How they do that to me is unbelievable.  However, I live within a budget and professional carpet cleaning services are just not in the budget more often than once a year.  The first thing for me, in cutting back on these services was to find a way to maintain the carpet for as long as possible.  I added an extra large entrance mat on the inside and outside of the door.  A bench and shoe rack was placed outside in the vestibule area of our garage to encourage shoe removal.

One problem with keeping our carpet clean is that my daughter is a flip flop lover.  Along with this comes dirt from her feet which leave marks on the carpet over time.  I cannot handle dirty feet so when I am home I make her wash them but that is not always the case.  I have found with dirt that has been tracked in the best remedy for stain removal is water and white vinegar.  I combine this mixture in a spray bottle and squirt the affected are, not saturating it.  I then take a clean white cloth and gently blot the stain until it is removed.

I have found that rubbing stains causes the stain to spread and often just squishes it deeper into the carpet fibers.  I also find that being overly aggressive will cause the carpet fibers to weaken making the carpet appear older than it is.  In order to thoroughly and deeply remove the stain take a thick white cloth and a heavy object and place in on the spot after you have blot removed the stain.  Leaving this overnight will help the stain seep from deep within the carpet onto the cloth leaving the carpet not only clean on the surface but also deep down.

I find that by vacuuming often I have cut down on the amount of stains that I visually see.  One member of our family takes a turn every other night vacuuming.  Thankfully we love in a ranch and the areas are easy to reach with the vacuum.  This helps keep pet stains down and allows us to spot stains quicker than when we were doing this chore only once a week.

Another trick I had read included using a blow dryer or iron to help dry the area after a stain was removed.  This is never a good idea for any type of carpet no matter how wet it appears.  High heat will only set it stains that may be hiding deep within the carpet.  The best solution for wet carpet is circulating air.  A large oscillating fan placed within the affected area should be enough to dry the area thoroughly.  It may take more than a day or two depending on how saturated the area is.

Many people ask me if I like clean carpet because I have issues with being overly clean but really it goes way above the fact that I enjoy a clean house.  Having carpet cleaning done allows all of the allergens that are building up to be removed.  It also prevents homes for organisms that will make homes in your carpet to be eliminated.  The thought of carpet bugs disturbs me especially because we enjoy family time hanging out on the floor.  The last thing I want to think about when playing a board game on the floor with my kids is the invisible creatures crawling among us.

Have a professional carpet cleaner out to your home at least once a year is maintenance that will not only benefit the look of the carpet but also the health of your family.  Routine spot cleaning and protection will help keep your carpets looking clean in between cleanings.  Obviously prevention is the key piece needed to improve the longevity of the carpet but with kids, pets and living in general that is not always possible.

True Cleaning

Prepare In Advance: Age In Place Remodeling

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As we get older and our kids start lives of their own I think it is common that we begin to think about the aging process and how it is going to affect our lives.  In thinking about aging I know it is my goal to live in my home with my husband as long as we possibly can.  I have no interest in becoming a burden to my children but realize that I like the idea of staying in a place I know as home with my belongings surrounding me.  I also realize when planning to age in place that certain criteria needs to be met in order to keep up with the changing needs that we will be met with.

For instance, my husband has completed five major knee surgeries.  The next step for him will be knee replacements.  In our home we have very minimal steps up but do have one that connects the living room to the kitchen area.  When looking at our aging in place needs I see this hurdle will need to be converted.  I am not sure how we will accomplish this but can see that either more steps with smaller inclines or a ramp will need to be installed to ease the transition for him.

As most people age they have different needs that need to be met.  Obviously we don’t know what those needs will be until we are in the thick of it.  There are things though that are universal and should be looked at as your children leave the nest.  When you are remodeling you can jump start the aging in place process with simple, discreet solutions to getting older.  One thing my husband I have done is removed the carpet from our home.  Not only are hardwood floors beautiful but they are also friendly for walkers and wheelchairs if the need should arise.

Another thing we do as we remodel the rooms in our home is look to make sure that door handles are replaced with levered handles.  I know that when we remodel the bathroom my husband has requested a shower that has a removable shower head along with a barrier free entrance and built in seat.  The designs that we have seen are beautiful and really turn the bathroom into a spa.  This along with the higher toilet and levered faucets should allow us to ease into our golden years in this space.

We have discussed the obstacles with our children of routine items such as yard maintenance and snow removal.  We will keep up on this ourselves as long as possible and then will look into service companies to maintain it when we can’t or don’t want to any longer.  The last thing we want to do though is be a burden anymore than we already will have to be to our adult children.  Aging in place often leads to placing a bigger burden on family and that is not our hopes.

If we need care on a daily basis and can no longer function with grab bars and other home modifications we will need to look into either an assisted living facility or at home care that lives with us or comes in regularly to assist us with our needs.  We would like to live in our home as long as possible and with that in mind plan on reviewing each room with aging in place remodeling in mind.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

SBA – Helping Small Business Owners Obtain Lending

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Business owners are regular people just like you and I.  They run into situations that require more capital then they have.  How does an entrepreneur come up with funds when their small business is in need? This may happen in opening a small business or may present itself during an expansion whenever the need arises it is important to be aware of what you will need in order to prove to a commercial lender that you are a secure investment.

The small business association or SBA provides a lot of information on lending as well as tips and solutions for things that come up with running a business.  One issue they cover in great detail is lending.  There are several issues that can arise when a small business owner is looking for a business loan.  Do you have the means to pay the loan back?  Can you prove it to a lender and how?  Clarifying a need for money and what they lent money will be used for is also needed.  It is important to remember that lenders want to lend money but need to know that they are making a wise investment lending it to you.  Your goal is to prove to them you are a worthwhile risk.  The question is how one goes about proving this.

The SBA recommends that business owners have key information ready and available at all times for investors and lenders.  People are rarely prepared to ask for money when the need arises so it is important as a business owner to be prepared at all times.   The first step involves gathering information in the form of financial documents and a business plan to show lenders business goals and that you are a risk worth taking.  The next thing they will need to know is that the business has the means to repay the loan.  With cash flow data you will be able to prove to lenders that you have substantial resources to back up the loan.

Small business owners are at a disadvantage in some ways because they personally can be held liable for business debts.  Often small business owners will need to not only prove the businesses financial means but also their personal means.  Commercial lenders might be interested in seeing past tax returns that the business has filed and will also be interested in the company’s credit ratings.   It is good for business owners to pull a credit reporting of their business every six months to check for discrepancies and to look for areas to improve on the credit rating.  Higher credit ratings will ease a company’s ability to receive a loan because your credit rating is evidence to commercial lenders of debts that have been paid in a timely fashion.  However a poor credit rating will do the opposite so you want to make sure that your businesses credit rating is in check before applying for a loan.

The SBA is an association that offers guidance to many small business owners throughout the United States.  With the economy in a rut as it is now many people are afraid to take a risk in opening a small business.  It is important to look into organizations such as the SBA for help with not only fiscal decisions but also with guidelines to help make your business a success right from the start.  Make sure you stay on the right path in your business venture and access organizations and groups that will help you achieve this goal for the ultimate reward…success!

Ask 4 Funding

A Lesson On Vacuuming

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My vacuum is one of my most prized belongings.  The kids are not allowed to use it and my husband well he is as bad as the kids so no.  I selfishly leave the vacuum chore for strictly me.  I feel like this is really the part of the house that I have complete control over, maintaining the carpet.  I am a stain removal queen and think of the carpet cleaners as friends.  The carpet was the one home renovation I wanted and had to budget for when we moved in.  Carpet is not cheap, actually there are very few inexpensive floor covering now a days so I plan to make it last forever.

My cleaning rituals are like everyone else’s. We farm out daily duties to each of the kids such as empting trash cans and the dishwasher.  Every other day I vacuum the entire house.  This takes about twenty minutes but after I am done the whole house feels cleaner.  I also am able to look for a treat stains that have occurred without my knowledge.  This is super helpful because they have not set in so I can still remove them without having to call the professional carpet cleaners in.

Once a week our home is put through the deep clean ringer.  My children are in charge of dusting and picking up their rooms and closets.  My husband and I take on mopping the floors and laundry.  While my husband is tackling items in the garage that have meandered out of their spots I vacuum the wall to wall carpet. I take time to do the areas next to the walls and baseboards with the crevice tool.  This removes any build up that has occurred and then once all the dust is gone from the baseboards the kids have fun spraying and washing them with cleanser.

When vacuuming I break the rooms up into sections.  I find it is easier to do a thorough job when I can concentrate on one smaller area instead of worrying about the entire room all at the same time.  It also allows my focus to be within the area really looking to see if dirt is building up or a stain has appeared.  The entrance to the living room directly next to the front door is the biggest problem area.  This area needs regular maintenance to prevent any type of build up to occur.  I often put the vacuum on low and turn the rotating brush off in this area to get a tight suction allowing sand to be pulled deep from the carpet.

Other areas that require special care are in front of places people sit and places that we walk all the time, such as hallways.  What I do for these areas is vacuum in different directions.  This causes the pile to be moved differently and helps loosen the dirt to the surface.  Traditional horizontal and vertical vacuum techniques should be switched up with a crisscross pattern often to keep the carpet pile fresh.

Professional carpet cleaners will tell you that your carpets should be cleaned twice a year.  Going into the holiday season in mid October and again in mid April is the most common times to have carpets cleaned. I however feel that with regular vacuuming, maintenance and prevention that your carpets can be professional cleaned once a year and still maintain their original look and feel.   I love a throw placed by all exits and entrances.  Prevention is the most important step you can take in maintaining a spot free carpet.

True Cleaning

Small Business Help In The Form Of An Unsecured Business Loan

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How has the economy affected your small business?  Many business owners, large and small, are scaling back whether on employee benefits, laying employees off, reducing inventory or asking the government for help.  With companies making cut backs society is also left to make changes.  Banks are stricter with who they lend money too and credit is tougher to receive.  The expansion of small businesses in this economic environment becomes incredibly difficult and leads to many owners calling it quits.

There is one major thing between those businesses who will succeed and those that will fail…capital.  Many small business owners are getting by with unsecured business loans.  With this type increase in funds small businesses can make changes to increase profits and pull themselves into economic recovery.  Unsecured business loans can help by providing a flexible, instant boost of cash flow to help with advertising, expansion, equipment purchases, employee retention and many other situations that can arise along with business ownership.

As with any business decision that is made there are advantages and disadvantages.  The same is true when deciding to get an unsecured business loan. You will want to look into all aspects of the lending process along with institutions that offer these services.  Look at the reasons that you are seeking the loan and what value it will bring to the business verse the risks involved with borrowing funds that you don’t have on hand to pay back.

Advantages

1)      A business owner is not required to pull money out of their own pocket as a deposit. Although some loan companies will require an initial fee of an amount under a hundred dollars to go through the loan process.

2)      Unsecured business loans are great for businesses with high credit rankings but have limited cash.  This is why during recessions unsecured business loans are so ideal.

3)      Cash advances are allowed to be pulled from the loan when needed.

4)      Repayment of the loan helps build good credit and with flexible repayment options payment plans can be worked easily into a business’s accounts payable.

5)      The application process and approval time are quick and this can help small business owners turn their businesses around in little to know time.

Disadvantages

1)      Often time’s interest rates are a bit higher than conventional secured loans.

2)      The repayment plan is shorter than most loans and there are maintenance fees.

3)      An unsecured business loan is often handed out in smaller amounts than secured loans.

A small business that can weather rough financial times and preserver is ahead of the game.  As long as business owners remain realistic and flexible they should be met with long term success.  With the assistance of an unsecured business loan small business owners with ambition and drive can manage to stay competitive through rough market times and grow during the rebound. Part of growing any business is risk taking and knowing when to call the bluff or fold on the economy.  Playing the game of small business owner is not for the faint of heart that is for sure.

Ask 4 Funding

Easy Steps In Repairing Storm Damage To Vinyl Siding

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The weather has been so unpredictable lately.  Storms are ripping through the area leaving paths of destruction.  Many homes have had damaged that is too minor to file an insurance claim.  In this case homeowners are on their own to make repairs.  My home falls into this category.  Not only do we have issues with flood waters occasionally, we live on a river, we have an abundance of large trees in our yard that storms wreak havoc with.

The last heavy rain we had had brought several large branches down in are yard.  One of them actually took a large chunk out of our siding.  The storm damage to our home was minimal in comparison the tree that fell on our neighbor’s car.  We still had to take care of it but we were thankful it was something small to deal with.

There are minor obstacles involved with the repair of siding.  First you must make sure you purchase siding to match the existing color and size of the current siding.  In our case this was not hard.  The previous owner stored some in the garage.  The only problem we had was that the coloring was a bit off due to the sun fading the house.  Really not a huge problem for us because the area we were working on repairing was minimal. Many home maintenance stores will have siding samples that can be brought home for comparison.

My spouse and I are novices when it comes to home repairs.  We were able to use basic tools we already had for this job.  The first thing we did was remove the broken pieces of siding.  To do this we used a utility knife and a framing square.  This provided a straight edge and gave us a guide for the knife.  We cut the siding with an inch on both sides to spare and proceeded to pull it away from the house cutting it on the bottom.  Snips area great tool to have on hand as well as a zip tool for home improvement projects. A zip tool can be used to go up the backside of the siding to remove the nails with the siding.

We measured the piece of siding that came out and using our framing square and utility knife cut out a section of new siding to fill in the existing hole. We made sure our measurement include a half inch overlap on either side.  Our thinking was that this would prevent any weather damage from occurring behind the siding because access would not be granted to water, snow or rain. Thankfully damage did not extend beyond the siding to the actual house. We were lucky that we did not uncover any deeper issues.

The installation was super simple.  We slid it into the area and tapped in a few roofing nails.  The siding was good to go and blended fairly well considering that the house had been in the sun for awhile longer than the siding.  If this problem exists for you and your issue is in a more noticeable spot on the house you may consider removing a piece of siding in a more inconspicuous spot to cover the damaged area.  The older piece with camouflage right in around the other siding and the new piece will be somewhere inconspicuous.

If after this reassurance that vinyl siding repair after storm damage is easy even for a novice you are not convinced call in a local handyman.  This is a rather minor job that should be able to be completed in under an hour or two, depending on the size of the affected area.  Storm damage is not preventable.  However it is not always massive and can often be dealt with by an individual homeowner.  Professionals are available to assist you if the storm damage that affects your home is more than just a piece of bunked up siding.

Go Maher

Security For Your Home With An Automatic Gate

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Security is a large issue for many families.  The feeling of safety within ones home is of the utmost importance.  How do you go about creating a safe environment for your family and home?  One way that people are finding security and peace is through the use of automatic gates and fences.

When thinking about installing an automatic gate and metal fence around your yard there are a few questions to ask yourself.  It is true that steel fences and automatic gates have gone down in price relative to previous decades however still is a major home renovation that needs thought given to it.  Before signing the papers and having fence companies out to give you a quote there are a few things to think about.

First thing is why would you think your home is better off having a gate?  This answer can vary greatly.  One reason is for the extra sense of security it gives in keeping unwanted visitors out.  It also helps to restrict the boundaries for animals and small children.  Automatic fences that are closed send a strong signal to keep out.  You make yourself less of a target for thieves.

Another thing to ask yourself is if you need a gate that is automatic or can you live with a manual gate?  How often do you anticipate the gate being closed?  If the answer is every time someone enters or exists the answer is clear.  Although if you are only going to close the gate when the kids are in the yard or when you are on vacation the answer is going to need some more thought.  Automatic gates are much pricier than manual gates because the access system used to control them are expensive.

Another thing to think about is the space the fence will be used in.  Are you looking at a fence that will slide or swing?  Sliding fences take up less space and give full access to the yard when coming in and out.  Swing fences take up space within the yard and need room to swing open and closed.  A lot of what you choose will be determined on the layout of your driveway.  If you are on a large slope a sliding gate is obviously more practical then a swing gate.

With your fence and gate what type of style do you desire?  Ultimate privacy is given using a paneled fence while ultimate aesthetic beauty comes from ornate steel fences.  This will depend a lot upon the look, feel and what you wish the fence to accomplish.

Another thing you will want to look into is if you want a fence that works on hydraulics which offers owners a quiet entrance and exit. This of course comes with an expense. A cheaper more sound defiant system is one in which an electro mechanical system is used.

What controlled access system is appropriate for your gate?  Will you choose something that automatically recognizes your voice, remote control or keypad?  The options are endless and really require you to think about how easy you want the access to be.

Another thing to take into consideration is the little ones you are trying to protect.  Do you need a fence that offers special safety features?  If so what cameras or sensors?  Automatic gate options have grown.  With technology advancing so rapidly you are sure to find one that fits your budget and need.

SAC Fence

Purchasing A Wheelchair Accessible Home

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Looking for a new home is time consuming and downright painful.  Imagine however if you were looking for a home that needed to be handicap accessible. Your laundry list of requirements is totally different than the average homeowner.  It is important to find a home that can be easily altered to become wheelchair accessible if you have not found one that is already suited for the needs a wheelchair imposes.

Requirements to make a home more wheelchair friendly start with the entrances and exits of a home.  In order for a home to be accessible there must be at least one entrance equipped with a wheelchair accessible ramp.   It is a good idea that you make all of the homes exits and entrances safe for wheelchairs to provide comfort for the individual to get in and out easily.  It is easier than one might think to add a ramp off the deck in a backyard and to add threshold ramps to garage entrances and exits.  Also, wheelchair accessible ramps are made to enhance the beauty to any front porch area.  The more ways to get in and out of the home the safer and more comfortable a wheelchair bound individual will feel.

In dealing with exits and entrances it is important to remember the width of a wheelchair and the turn radius required to move freely in and out.  Make sure all door and hallways, including vestibules are at least thirty-six inches to provide adequate space for wheelchairs and walkers to maneuver.  If hallway doors are too tight it can help to reverse the swing of the door out to provide an extra few inches through the doorways to rooms throughout the house.

Wheelchair access throughout the home is only one issue that handicap people face within their own homes.  Issues that are just as important are items such as accessible electrical outlets, accessible smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, along with making sure fire extinguishers are all within reach of a wheelchair user.  Simple tweaks can make sure that items are made to be convenient for all household users.  Smoke detectors can be wired into the wall and outlets can be placed higher up making the reach less of a burden.

I mentioned earlier wheelchair accessible ramps and think it is important to also mention that outside ramps will need to be maintained in regards to snow and ice.  There are two ways in which this can be done, manually or by installing special heat coils designed especially for the prevention on snow and ice build-up.  Otherwise ramps become obstacles not only for the member of your household in a wheel chair but also those maneuvering the ramp by foot.  Keeping a clear path in and out of your home is of up most importance.

In keeping your home accessible for wheelchair use it is important to remember that rugs and carpet add to the difficulty of maneuvering.  Furniture should be place so that a thirty-six inch path is clear with a turning radius of at least five feet.  The more open the floor plan, with the least amount of clutter is the best option for a home that needs to be handicap accessible.  Threshold ramps can be installed to make transitions less difficult from room to room.

A home that is wheelchair compatible would have a wish list of a thousand things to make life easier.  Levered door handles, roll in showers, removable shower heads, grab bars and appliances only those with front controls and front access however we know this is not always going to be possible right off the bat when purchasing a home.  When the search begins narrow your must haves down to include a list of things that a home can have that can be easily converted.  The house might not come all together but at least make the work that you need to put into it minimal with purchasing a house that comes with tools that will make it easier.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Are You Ready To Run?

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Being a novice in a sport is one of the hardest parts about getting involved in something new.  My girlfriends challenged me in a five kilometer race two years ago and I was beyond nervous.  Not only am I not a runner I had no idea what I would need to do to start.  I see people running daily and they seem to have all of this technical running gear where should I turn to get started?  I know what you are thinking, ‘Just put one foot in front of the other, and stride a bit wider than a walk, go!’ However, I found running is not as easy as it sounds.

I began my running gear quest at a local store that sold only merchandise associated with running.  At first it was a bit intimidating but going in I realized they were so excited to have a novice to teach all about the sport of running.  It was a change of pace from their usual clientele.  They directed me to the running shoes where I was immediately confused.  The sales person explained that the shoe was actually the most important part of all the running gear out there.  I saw Asics, Nikes, New Balance and then these alien type Vibram Five Finger shoes.

Seeing that I was just beginning I wanted a shoe that looked the part so even thought the sales person explained the benefits of having the more natural, true to form Vibram Five Finger shoes I leaned towards a more traditional Asics shoe.  It had traction, support, durability and fir my foot like a glove.  I was so happy I started my search here with this knowledgeable staff to support my purchase.

The next item we addressed was my chest.  The last thing I needed was to blow a shoulder out because of improper support.  Unfortunately the running shop could not assist in this because they only sold bras in smaller sizes which I preceded to chat with the sales person about. I think he realizes that not all women interested in running are an A or B cup.  It turned out I needed more than a little compression style sports bra I was fitted with a sports bra that had two cups one to hold up each breast.  With that finally taken care of we were on to the rest of my running apparel.

I was able to choose breathable materials for both the pants and top that would remove the moisture from my skin as I glistened my way through each run.  I was all set now to get to the actual motion of running and training for our race.  I will not lie, I looked really good. The running gear was great; my body however was as soar as it had ever been.  My shins stung, I perspired way more than a glisten and I found I was icing parts of my body I did not know existed.  However I love it!  Maybe I will be buying those more natural true to form Vibram Five Finger shoes.

Elite Feet Running