I’ve run off and on for about 35 years, never because I really wanted to, usually because I had to.
I had to run when I was in junior school because I played for the football team. I had to run in high school because I was in the track team. And now, I have to run because I am gaining belly fat and my metabolism has slowed to record lows.

Don’t get me wrong—I love a nice jog through my local park, especially in autumn as the colorful leaves line my path and the vibrant trees please my eyes. I find running to be much more fun when I have a partner along who is not trying to set a land speed record. I used to run with a friend in France who taught me a lot about endurance and the mental limits that we set for ourselves. He always said that the first 45 minutes of a run were agony, but after that they were pure pleasure. He’s probably one of these guys who talks about a “runners’ high”, although I don’t think that there is an equivalent term in the French language.

My friend did have a point. The agony of our runs together did seem to ease a bit after about 45 minutes, although I know that makes no logical sense. After galloping around our Parisian suburb for 60-75 minutes several times a week for months, he persuaded me to run in the half-marathon near Paris. On that memorable day, I ran for two hours, longer than I had ever run before, or have since. It was a fantastic spectacle, as only the French could pull off. There were bands every few kilometers, lots of well-wishers calling out from their windows, gorgeous scenes as we ran along the Seine and wonderful camaraderie that struck this competitive American.

Despite that wonderful experience, I’m still not sure if I believe in a runners’ high. I don’t feel a chemical rush during my runs, at the 15-minute mark, the 30-minute mark or even the hour mark (haven’t gone that far in many moons). I do, however, feel an energy kick later that day when I have run, and I sleep a lot better, too. I’ll vote for an enjoyable runners’ sleep any day, but will hold on the idea of a naturally generated high. I know that all kinds of great chemicals are released into your brain when you exercise vigorously, and I also know that I am in a much better mood when I run (just ask my wife), but I still don’t get high. Running for me has always been more of an obligation, not a pleasure.

Perhaps I’m wearing the wrong shoes. Maybe there are secret shoes that release additional chemicals into your body as you run, producing the high that veteran runners rave about. I’ll have to find out where those are and buy a pair.

New Balance has made many an awesome running shoes in its 100+ years of existence. The brand began in 1906 in Boston, when it pioneered arch supports in footwear for professionals who were always on their feet – police officers, waiters and the like. New Balance went on to boom during the running craze of the 1970s and beyond.

Like most athletic brands, it has branched out into fashionable casual footwear, and New Balance’s offerings do not disappoint. They sport the distinctive “NB” logo and throwback two-toned soles that recall life before shoes cost three figures. They also are as ultra comfortable as you would expect from a brand that began with comfort in mind. They might not get you high when you wear them, but you’ll feel like you’re walking on pillows, which is more pleasant than most shoes feel, a sort of mini-high, let’s say.

You don’t have to have your own yacht to enjoy a seaside stroll in France. You don’t have to be a filmmaker to enjoy Cannes or Deauville. You don’t have to own a summer home to enjoy St. Malo or Biarritz. You can stroll all of these seaside towns in style without telling anyone that you’re just a normal working bloke on holiday. If you have a large nose and a difficult demeanor, who knows? You might even pass for a Frenchman, until you open your mouth, that is, and ruin the world’s most beautiful language with either your accent or mangled grammar.

France has three coasts to savor, and each has numerous delightful towns through which you’ll want to faire une promenade. The experiences you’ll have on each coast, though, will vary as widely as the weather and beaches that you’ll savor. After sampling all three, you can choose a favorite and return there year after year.

The northern coast has beaches that may not be the most appealing to some, with their cool waters and abundant seaweed washed onshore, but they often lack the crowds that the south attracts and a few of the harbor towns will capture your heart. Try a day in Honfleur, for example, and see why this boat town has been drawn again and again by painters. You can sample all of the shops in an afternoon and eat a memorable meal with that day’s catch as the sun sets.

St. Malo is another unforgettable destination. You’ll watch the waves crashing against the giant boulders for minutes on end, then retreat into a number of boutiques with distinctive marine fashion and mouth-watering caramels made in the region. Dress for the wind, though, it’s almost a constant.

Further west and south, spend a day or two in Biarritz if you can find a hotel room and a 1-meter x 2-meter spot on the beach for your towel. I’m not kidding; if you’re not on the sand by noon, you might not find a site for your serviette de plage. Once there, enjoy the active waves that draw surfers from around the world and revel during your walk past the long-standing hotels, ostentatious mansions and vibrant markets and restaurants in this longtime French playground.

The southern coast has been written about by scores of writers who behave as if they are the first people to sample Cannes. The marinas are amazing, the people-watching is world class and you never know who will pull up in the next yacht. If you like to gawk at celebrities and pay a month’s rent on a drink, stay on the Riviera and party with the rock stars.

Whatever coastal towns you choose to holiday in and absorb by lazing on the beach and sauntering through the streets, you’ll need footwear that is light enough to breathe yet sturdy enough to withstand high mileage. It would make sense to choose a French brand with a name that proves its knowledge of the terrain you’ll trod. Rivieras is a new mark that has been making waves of its own with its Classic 10 and Classic 20 models. Both choices will make you look as chic as the French, and they’ll keep your feet as comfortable as a slice of ham in a baguette. Leave your crumbling sneakers at home; Rivieras must be the footwear of choice when walking in the most visited country on the planet.

Penguins are kind of amazing, aren’t they? I mean, who thought them up? They can’t fly but they have wings, they can’t run but they have feet, they dress formally even on summer evenings and they would rather slide than walk. Their absolute uniqueness makes them a popular bird to watch, study and learn more about. I mean, what other bird has an award-winning documentary made about them? Do you think people would have flocked to movie theaters to see two hours about robins in community? I think you know better.

Penguins intrigue us because few of us will ever make it to their homelands in the Southern hemisphere. We only see them on film and wonder what they are like in real life, what we would do if one waddled toward us or shrieked at us when it felt its egg threatened. Penguins have proven to be a popular subject for cartoons as well, as artists imagine conversations between the stuffily dressed and oddly behaving birds.

I think we also are attracted to penguins because they seem to live a carefree and pretty fun life. What’s not to like about sliding down ice ramps and landing in the water, again and again and again, 100 times per day for all we know? And, once in the icy bath, they zip through the water at speeds we would never imagine for them, stopping only when they become too tired to move. Then, they pop out of the drink and waddle back up on land to sleep standing up, tucking their heads into their shoulders in most cases.

What is undeniable about penguins is their cuteness. Between their striking eyes, tuxedo outfits, wings perpetually bent out to their sides and webbed feet, they look so huggable you just want to squeeze them. No wonder they are one of the most popular stuffed animals around.

Well, penguins are cute on the ice, but they also lend a stylish cuteness to a shirt as well. The Original Penguin brand has been going strong for almost 60 years, and it was a staple in casual wear for decades. Thanks to several recent megastars sporting Penguin apparel in recent years, the brand is enjoying another uptick. If Original Penguin shirts are good enough for Brad Pitt, Jake Gylenhaal and Adam Brody, fashionable gents all, then they are probably cool enough for your closet.

Original Penguin not only makes shirts, but a variety of coats, jackets, hoodies, knits, shoes, boots and cardigans. The brand capitalizes on its cute logo, featuring it in a small, subtle form on most of its shirts and jackets, but also slapping an almost life-sized version on some of their polos and tees. Logos are unwanted unless they represent style and quality, so you’re okay sporting the cute bird on your chest. And, you never know, it might make you more huggable, too.

Some items of clothing say more than others. When you wear a particular shirt, for instance, that looks different than the norm, people might remark, “Wow, cool shirt,” and then move on. All your shirt did for you is mark you as someone who is not afraid to break convention, nothing more.

Or, you can wear certain kind of jeans and people will say, “That looks great on you” (and they’ll really mean it!), but let’s face it: jeans don’t look too tremendously different one from another.

A few articles of clothing, though, do make a very loud and bold statement, and you don’t even need to get any oral feedback to know that you’ve communicated what you wanted to. The non-verbal communication will suffice. Men will straighten up a bit when they talk to you, and they’ll treat you with more respect than they usually do. Women will probably stand about 10 centimeters closer to you, hoping that they can get in at least one touch on that piece of clothing.

What item has that power? What garment says the same thing worldwide, namely, “I am stylish, I am serious but not too much, I go the extra mile to look great.”

It’s a blazer, that oft-neglected piece that does so much more than simply give your arms and shoulders a little more coverage. A blazer reeks of class, especially a nice tweed one. Years ago they were an essential part of any stylish man’s wardrobe, and they are (thankfully) making a comeback in recent years.

A blazer says that you want to look just a tad more formal than the next guy, that you don’t walk out of the house in a track suit and slippers, that you care a lot about the image that you are projecting through your clothes. Yes, a blazer says all of that. Any time a person sees a man in a blazer, s/he immediately concludes, “That’s a guy who cares about looking chic.” Who would object to that comment other than an unemployed gamer who wants to sit on his parents’ couch night and day until he’s 50?

Scotch and Soda, the Dutch designer that is noted for creating looks that please young and older men, features a variety of classic and trendy blazers that will make all sorts of statements for you without a word. You’ll wear the two-button tweed blazer for the next 10 years if your size doesn’t change, and the jacket blazer with the inner knit is a creative way to beat the elements and look stunning.

Scotch and Soda also offers a complete line of knits, shirts, pants, shorts, jeans and cardigans that look cutting-edge yet tasteful at the same time, a very difficult trick to pull off. The piece that will say the most, though, is a blazer. Throw one on the next time you walk out the door and tell me that no one reacts. I already know what will happen. People will whisper, “Oh, Robby finally got a little clothing sense!” That one blazer changed your entire image. Pretty powerful, huh? And, a lot cheaper than buying an entirely new wardrobe.

One of the dirty little secrets about Europe that most people don’t know is that for much of the year where great football is played—England, France, Germany, Italy, and even Spain at times—the weather can be borderline nasty when you attend a match. Of course, you don’t notice while you’re singing your team’s song in full throat or lighting a firework that will make its way to a lower section or gaping in awe as your favorite player unveils a bicycle kick that leaves the keeper flat-footed.

The fact is, though, when the action stops, you might realize that the temperature has remained in single digits, and there is a light mist hovering that can chill you to the bone. There are times when European football is played on sunny afternoons with temps nearing 30, but its most crucial matches seem to take place on nights when you can see your breath and need to huddle together with your mates to keep warm during the match.

At least you don’t have to wear shorts like the players do. But then again, you’re not running for 90+ minutes, either. Even the most physically active spectator cannot match the heat generated by any of the players, except perhaps the keeper when his team dominates play on the other side of the pitch.

To fully engage in the spectacle of a top-flight European football match, you have to dress for the occasion. That means that not only do you don your team’s trademark scarf and paint your face in the appropriate colors, but you need to keep the nippiness away so that you’re never distracted from the task at hand—giving your boys a lift and telling the opponents where they can go!

Antony Morato’s line of knitwear seems to have been designed with the football fan in mind. His sweaters, hoodies, polos and shirts all keep you at just the right body temperature for maximum screaming. Perhaps these gorgeous knits were indeed designed for football fans and those they follow, and that’s why you can spot Messi and Villa, among others, rocking this brand. You’ll understand why the first time you slip one on: soft to the touch, warm to the body, pleasing to the eye.

Antony Morato’s garb keeps you cozy but does not overheat, it blocks chill but breathes, serves its purpose but looks fantastic as well. Who knows? You might look so good at the next match that the team will ask you to pose for a few photos as fan of the match, to be posted later on their website, or maybe you’ll just stand out in a group shot of the crazies who never sit. I know that you’re in that section because you are a man of passion. So is Antony Morato–passionate for football, passionate for style and comfort.