We're very pleased to welcome a new partner to EverymanTri.com. The FamilyFanClub.net is another great Colorado business that is run by athlete for athletic families.
Kim and Paul Taylor are parents that have made fitness a priority in their lives. They set a great example for their two boys by participating in local running and triathlon races. They offer support to each other by giving each other dedicated time to train and make it a point to always attend each other’s races.
In addition to being a fit family, they also encourage others through their business FamilyFanClub.net, an online shop where you can purchase adorable items that “celebrate support of athletic and fitness accomplishment”. What started out as a fun idea to support Paul during a triathlon has now morphed into a small family business.
With great slogans like “Swim Daddy Swim” and “I need more Cowbell”, your family can become an instant cheering section! Imagine how fun it would be to see your child or spouse wearing their “Run Mommy Run!” teeshirt during your next race? Keep reading to find out more about this fit family and enter for your chance to win one of their shirts!
Q: How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
A: We have two boys, Connor (5) and Griffin (3).
Q: How did family fan club get started?
Kim: Paul has been attending my many races over the last eight years as the wonderful dedicated husband that he is. He had been talking about completing a triathlon for several years and I was so proud of him for making the commitment to training and achieving one of his goals that I really wanted to make it a memorable day! So I had some shirts made for the boys showing how awesome they think their dad is! The shirts said “Swim Daddy Swim, Bike Daddy Bike, Run Daddy Run”. It was so cute, the boys were yelling and cheering for Dad as he ran through transition, rode by on his bike and finished his first triathlon like the champion we all knew he was! After the race so many people commented on how cute the shirts were and even asked where they could buy them that we knew we were on to something!
Q: What types (marathons, triathlons, etc.) of races do you and your wife do?
Paul: I prefer triathlons. I was swimmer in high school, so it’s been an easy transition to get back in the water. I’ve never been much of a runner, I’m getting better, but I’d still much rather walk!
Kim: I have been participating in running races since 2000. I completed my first Half Marathon in September 2001 and I was hooked! I love the distance, enough challenge without being too demanding on my personal life. I annually run the Steamboat Springs Half Marathon and it has been a goal for many years to complete two half marathons in one year. So last year I completed the Steamboat Half and the Denver Half. I was so inspired by this and so happy to have a fantastic running partner in my friend Rebecca that I have changed from a seasonal runner to someone who ran throughout the entire year (sun, rain, sleet and snow) and now think that I am ready to kick it up a notch and have aspirations to run a full marathon!
Q: Do you have a favorite?
Paul: I’ve done five triathlons now, but my favorite so far has been the Greeley Sprint Triathlon in Greeley, CO. It was a great first race, well run and very beginner friendly. I also enjoyed the Boulder Peak this summer. Olde Stage is quite the challenge!
Kim: Hard to say because I LOVE the Steamboat Half Marathon because Steamboat is an amazing place, the race is gorgeous, and we make it a fun little vacation every year. However, I absolutely LOVED running the Denver Half Marathon last year. Despite the horrific weather conditions, there were still tons of fans cheering everyone on and when I finished it was the first time I felt like I could have gone on! That was the first day I actually thought I was ready to complete a marathon. Although, the race I really look forward to each year, it is the Title Nine Sport T9K race on Mother’s Day. It is such an awesome way to celebrate mothers!
Q: Do you ever race together?
Paul: We did a couple of 5k races and the Sodus Point, NY Sprint Triathlon in 2007.
Kim: We ran the Bolder Boulder together in 2008! It is difficult to complete races together with the boys so we simply pick our favorite races, make a cooperative race schedule over the winter, and participate with our training partners. However, we are committed to supporting each other and we never miss a race the other is participating in! There is nothing like crossing the finish line and having Paul waiting there for me or even better having the boys run across the finish line with me!
Q: What are some of your most popular products?
Our most popular products so far have been: Triathlon Daddy, Run Mommy Run, Run Like a Girl, It’s Business Time (Triathlon and Running), IronDad, IronWife and IronSherpa. The interesting thing has been how many adults have purchased the Triathlon Daddy and Run Mommy Run designs. We figured these designs would be popular with the kids, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the number of adult t-shirts, stickers, buttons and magnets we’ve sold. We’ve also had a number of people personalize our designs. So instead of Run Daddy Run, we’ve had requests for Run Andy Run! We’ve also added family names to the back of t-shits, such as TEAM DENHAM.
Q: Can I get everything online or do you sell your products in stores as well?
We currently have several retailers in the Boulder, CO area that carry our products including Adrenaline Tri-Sports, Fleet Feet Boulder and 3x Fast. We will also be partnering with vendors across the front range during the race season to sell our products at race expos, including the Greeley Triathlon, 5430 Triathlon Series, Denver Marathon and Hy-Vee Triathlon. Our retailers currently carry limited design and product availability, but our online store (www.familyfanclub.net) literally has 100’s of designs available on 100’s of products ranging from t-shirts, stickers, buttons, signs, mouse pads, xmas ornaments, etc. Our online store also provides an opportunity to customize any of our designs, so if you’re supporting your spouse or friend, we can replace Mommy/Daddy with your spouse or friends name.
Q: What advice do you have for families who claim they do not have time for exercise?
Paul: My recommendation would be to prioritize exercise into your schedule. Put it on the schedule and commit to yourself that no matter what is going on, you will work out at least 1 hour a day. With two small kids, a full time job and living 1800 miles away from our family, the deck is definitely not stacked in our favor. I started attending classes at the local recreation center (Boot Camp, Kick Boxing and Spinning) where they offer day care, which allows both Kim and I to work out together. With race specific training, it works out pretty well that Kim is a morning person and I feel more motivated to work out after work, so our schedules work together to allow us to meet our training objectives.
Kim: Get a partner! Finding a friend that has the same goals and objectives is the greatest thing. It gives you a reason to get out of bed early in the morning or to the gym after a long hard day. It is too easy to skip out on a workout because there “isn’t time” but when you know someone is there waiting for you to show up it strengthens your commitment. Plus, I swear that when Rebecca and I run together the more we talk, the quicker our pace and the faster the miles pass!
They are also offering one lucky reader a free T-shirt of your choice! Visit their site, check out their great slogans, and then tell us (in the comments section below) which shirt is your favorite and why. The contest will end December 14th, 2008. Winner will be chosen at random and must provide a US mailing address.
Stop by the store and browse our triathlon, running, cycling and swimming designs on t-shirts, sweatshirts, buttons, magnets, stickers and many other products. Makes a great gift this holiday season with most items under $25.
