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Lead Stories: Saturday, September 6, 2008

Injury Forces Ritzenhein Out of Healthy Kidney 10-K

Posted May 8th, 2008 at 3:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

Defending champion and event record holder Dathan Ritzenhein has been forced to withdraw from the 4th annual Healthy Kidney 10-K scheduled for Saturday, May 17, in New York City.

“We’re very disappointed not to be able to return to New York for the Healthy Kidney 10-K,” Ritzenhein told reporters on a conference call today hosted by the New York Road Runners, the founders and organizers of the race. “With a whole array of ailments, it hasn’t come together in time for me to take on the great field that’s been assembled for the race. Knowing that it might set back my preparation [for Beijing], it was with regret that we made the decision to withdraw.”

Ritzenhein, 25, of Eugene, Ore., said that the injury to the third metatarsal of his left foot, which he sustained at the USA Cross Country Championships in February, has persisted.
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Choose Running Shoes
by Arch Height

Posted September 17th, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Training Tips

Check the height of your arches when you shop for new running or walking shoes. If you have high arches, you usually need shoes with good shock absorption. If you have low arches, you will probably benefit from shoes with good motion control (Gait & Posture, July 2007).

When you run, you land on the outside bottom of your foot and roll inward. This is called pronation, which helps to protect you from injury. If you landed on your foot and did not roll, the force of the impact would be transmitted up your leg to increase your chance of breaking bones and tearing muscles. However, as you roll in from the outside bottom to the inside bottom of your foot, you will see that your lower leg twists inward.

Excessive pronation twists your lower leg, which can cause stress fractures of the lower leg bones. It can cause knee pain because it forces your kneecap to rub against the bone of your upper leg. Excessive pronation can even twist your hip joint to cause pain in the hips and lower back.
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ASK LARA:Plantar Fasciitis and 3 Ways to Cross Train

Posted September 3rd, 2007 at 6:00 PM by Lara Johnson

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Columns, Cross Training, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Exercise, Ask Lara

Need advice? Injured? Confused? Overwhelmed? Bored? ASK LARA!
ASK LARA is a free advice column to help you with all of your running, fitness and nutrition inquiries. To ASK LARA — simply fill out the form at the conclusion of the column.

Q. I think I have plantar fasciitis and have a marathon coming up in 2 weeks. I’m not sure how much running I can do between now and then. Any advice on how I can keep my fitness level up? I already bike indoors once a week but I’m not sure if biking can take the place of running. Anything you can suggest is much appreciated.
~Darlene from Boise, Idaho

A. Plantar fasciitis is a pesky problem that affects numerous runners. With a marathon so close, you certainly don’t want to make matters worse, but you do want to maintain your fitness level. The good news is that you are only 2 weeks out from the marathon, and thus the work is done. As you have already accomplished your training over the past weeks, now is the time to begin a taper and thus decrease your training anyway. The severity of the problem should dictate how much you are able to run. If it’s painful to run, it’s not a good sign and you should focus mostly on other activities. Adding some good cross training to the mix can help you heal the problem while maintaining your fitness. First, let’s take a look at the injury.

Plantar fasci-what?
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the band of tissue, the plantar fascia, that connects the heel bone (calcaneus) to the forefoot, supporting your arch. When this area is strained through overuse or weaknesses, it causes irritation and inflammation, often causing pain in the heel first thing in the morning and …
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ASK LARA: Introduction and Top-of-Foot Pain

Posted August 21st, 2007 at 8:45 PM by Lara Johnson

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Columns, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Ask Lara

Need advice? Injured? Confused? Overwhelmed? Bored? ASK LARA!
ASK LARA is a free advice column to help you with all of your running, fitness and nutrition inquiries. To ASK LARA — simply fill out the form at the conclusion of the column.

You’ve heard of ASK FLASH…Welcome to ASK LARA, a new place to submit all of your running questions. Let’s get to it!

Q. So Lara, we have Flash for all of our running and fitness questions, why do we need another Q and A columnist?
~Maggie from Boston, MA

A. I’m glad you asked that question. Well, it’s true that I do not have a catchy nickname. And I don’t have Flash’s years of wisdom, as I am much younger. However, I can offer guidance based upon my own personal and professional experiences. On the personal side of the coin, I have had my share of injuries and triumphs and set-backs, and all of those other things that come with being a runner.

Professionally, I have a background in the sciences, including a M.S. in Health & Exercise Science (See below for my full bio), and simply a fascination with human anatomy and exercise physiology. I am a personal trainer and have worked with the old, the young, heart patients, diabetics, healthy adults, addicts, students, in the clinic, and in fitness. And all related to exercise. In order to tackle your many questions, I am teaming up with Flash so that we may best conquer your running inquiries. Two heads are better than one, right? Plus, perhaps some of you ladies have women-specific questions. Send them my way!
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Velocy attempts to revolutionize shoe industry; embraces Forward Gravity

Posted January 24th, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Amanda Black

Section: Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes

Traditional shoe technology focuses on the heel; a concept that has been widely accepted by manufacturers and athletes for more than 50 years. However, architect Daniel Talbott and his team at Oregon-based Velocy have decided to challenge this conventional wisdom with their innovative new line of running shoes.

After spending ten years researching human performance and identifying the factors that help propel the animal kingdoms fastest species, such as the cheetah and ostrich, Talbot invented Velocy’s patent pending “Forward Gravity” shoe technology. Velocy explains:

“Forward Gravity technology is engineered to place emphasis on the forefoot and in doing this, all weight is shifted forward and supported by your leg’s muscular ability during knee flexion. This is the human body’s natural way of absorbing shock.”

Velocy asserts that Forward Gravity will enable runners to run more efficiently and effectively. They also believe that Velocy shoes are capable of helping elite runners run times that are substantially faster than many, current world records.
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Orthotics for injury prevention

Posted November 27th, 2006 at 12:00 PM by Jonathan Faccone

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Gear & Apparel, Sports Medicine

Runner’s face the risk of injury on a consistent basis because of the extreme and wear and tear of the sport.

The impact that is innate to running is hardest on our joints but also can cause serious injuries to our feet, muscles, etc. Although a good pair of athletic shoes is of the utmost importance, studies how that for many people that just isn’t enough.

That’s why orthotics can be a helpful solution. Orthotics are specifically made foot inserts to correct the biomechanics of the foot during running. Many runners suffer from common lower extremity injuries, such as stress fractures, and studies have found that this is often caused by a person’s stride, pronation, foot structure, etc. In correcting biomechanics, orthotics help keep the foot in the normal position through the footstrike; helping to relieve stress caused by structural or postural instability. Read the rest of this entry »

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Your Foot Type?!?! - A Simple Test To Find Out

Posted June 13th, 2006 at 11:21 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes

Time to buy a new pair of shoes? Don’t worry - The Final Sprint has all the info you need to help you find that perfect running shoe. All you need to do is the simple water test described below, read Blake’s awesome article entitled “When the shoe fits … wear it!” and you’ll be all set . . .

The right shoe for you depends on whether you are an over, under or normal pronator. This all depends on the height of your arch. I know what you’re thinking . . . “How in the world do I measure the height of my arch?!?” In actuality - it’s quite simple. All you need is a shopping bag, water and a shallow tray or pan.

1. Pour a small amount of water in the shallow pan so that it just covers the entire surface.

just wets your sole.

2. Next, slowly lower your foot onto the surface of the water so it
3. Step onto the shopping bag or onto any heavy paper (Tip: paper bags from the grocery work best)
4. Lastly, check out the mark on the shopping bag and then read below . . .

Note: other factors like weight, mileage, etc are also factors - but your foot type is nevertheless the primary component

Normal Arch
You see about half of your arch? Then your foot has a “normal” pronation (this is most common).
In terms of buying shoes, Runner’s World, you are:

Best suited to a stability shoe that provides moderate arch support (or medial stability). Lightweight runners with normal arches may prefer neutral-cushioned shoes without any added support, or even a performance-training shoe that offers some support but less heft, for a faster feel.

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