Running Heroes

Available in print for quite awhile, but finally a link from the Runner's World web site, the article and photo about Boots and Ellen Boutillier, YellowJacket Racing and Fleet Feet Rochester.
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-243-297--14130-3-1X2X3-4,00.html

It was an interesting process nominating these two worthy individuals. I really never thought the nomination stood a chance, especially after receiving an e-mail from Runner's World stating they had a number of people to consider. It was a nice letter from the Senior Editor, but I thought it was over. Thirteen days later another editor wanted more information and my hopes were up. Two weeks later I was informed Boots and Ellen were finalists, but not definite yet. Ten more days and the journalist writing the articles emailed me. We had a phone interview a few days later. In September I got the email stating Boots and Ellen were in the magazine, nine weeks after the nomination.

I still didn't really believe it and there were many emails back and forth with Runner's World regarding photographs and content,  but I am thankful it worked out.

Here is my original letter, which you can see was changed quite a bit. The main point I kept trying to make was the influence Boots and Ellen have had on the health of the community and getting so many people to become fit through walking, running, snowshoeing, duathlons and triathlons.

Dear People,


My heroes are a husband and wife team who have transformed the running, duathlon, triathlon and snowshoe scene in the Greater Rochester, NY area. Dave, “Boots” Boutillier and Ellen Brenner-Boutillier, co-owners of Fleet Feet Sports of Rochester and a race management/timing company, YellowJacket Racing, have influenced the lives of thousands of people. We have always had a very active running and triathlon community, especially when compared to cities of similar populations, but Boots and Ellen have taken this to an even higher, amazing level, over the past several years.

Boots is a former college All-American runner and nine-time member of the US National Duathlon team, winning a gold medal at the 1996 World Championship. Ellen has completed many sprint-half-ironman triathlons and is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer and USAT coach.

This isn’t just a business to them, they live in the City of Rochester, promote the entire upstate NY area, work too many hours per week to count, all the while motivating people to begin or continue an active, healthy lifestyle. Their businesses have expanded, which means hiring more staff and helping the local economy.

Boots and Ellen have organized countless events that raise money for charities, schools, give money to support local cross-country and track teams and sponsor a master’s xc team. They take it as a matter of pride to come up with new programs or events every year. YellowJacket Racing currently owns and produces 38 events, Fleet Feet is a major sponsor of another 26 events, and they time another 54 events throughout New York each year.

Special Programs Offered:

• Urban Fit (begun in 2010 – Core and strength workouts)

• Corporate Wellness (lectures, demos, training advice workshops, healthy lifestyles)

• School visits (work with faculty and students promoting physical fitness)

• No Boundaries (beginning 5k and 10k training programs – hundreds of people participate throughout the year)

• Group Workouts (Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year)

• Tri Community College (11 week coached workouts leading to sprint triathlon)

• Walking Program (newish program with more than sixty registrants)

• Winter Warriors (Free program to keep you motivated in the winter-hundreds participate)

• Distance Training (hundreds of participants, coached training for a half or full marathon)

A Few of the Unique Events Boots and Ellen have developed:

• Flower City Challenge (in conjunction w/City of Rochester, Duathlon-Tri with kayaks in river-weather permitting on Saturday, 5k and 13.1m race in downtown on Sunday, 3,000 participants)

• Dirt Cheap Trail Race Series (promoting trail races in parks throughout Monroe County)

• Snow Cheap Race Series (snowshoe/trail night time racing at Cobb’s Hill park, Rochester, NY)

• Fleet Feet Gives Back – 100% proceeds go to charity

Thank you for considering my nomination. If you need more information, please let me know.