4 Laps kick-start a life of Fitness:
NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAYS 2010
“Running can be fun”, said a young 5th grader at N. Springfield Elementary School on May 6. Fun running was the theme as ARA hosted its 3rd annual RUN A MILE DAYS during the May 4 – 8 period nationwide. North Springfield Elementary in Annandale VA was one of the schools who fully embraced the call to challenge every student to run the mile. Other schools in cities and towns in 20 states heeded our call to set up a day to RUN THE MILE. There were elementary schools like North Springfield, a track club in Las Vegas, other middle schools in greater Las Vegas, a track club in northern Wisconsin, an elementary school in St Paul Minnesota and a middle school in Grove City Pennsylvania to name a few. All these clubs and schools had one common denominator: a committed PE teacher, educator or coach who wants to challenge youth to better health and fitness.
One inspired teacher or fitness enthusiast is all it takes. Tony Nocera is one to mention. As a veteran PE teacher in Fairfax County Schools (VA), Tony took his love for running and imparted it on his young boys and girls in the North Springfield VA Elementary School over 20 years ago. His “MILER” program follows many of the tenets of the American Running Association’s “WALK-RUN Training Program”. He had PE classes run on the grass fields of the school each week. This was their training time for the mile run. Normally, the school system tells PE teachers to limit participation in the mile run to 4th graders and above. Tony encouraged all elementary school students to run the mile. If it took a walk-run effort, he would be there urging on his students. The culmination of Tony Nocera’s PE “MILER PROGRAM” is a Top 10 MILE RUN Event in May. Our NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAYS served as a tune-up and celebration of the mile for all students at North Springfield Elementary. A few days later, the “TOP 10 MILER Event” took place at Tony’s school. There are two races, one for boys and one for girls. Mile runs held in the spring earn students rankings. The top 10 timed boys and girls race the mile. Tony Nocera has kept a school record board and participation board. Students love the challenge of the mile and realize the path for health and fitness that running the mile represents. ARA was privileged to join Tony Nocera and the North Springfield Elementary MILERS with our RUN A MILE DAYS.
Grove City Pennsylvania was another key site for NATIONAL RUN A MILE DAYS. The Grove City PA Middle School served as our official kick-off miler event on May 4th. Mark Courtney is AMAA’s top marathoner and a member of our AMAA Board. He also happens to live run a race timing business in Grove City PA. Mark is also a practicing Physicians’ Assistant in the city and local Grove City College. Mark offered to volunteer his timing services to the middle school PE teachers for our MILE DAY. In 2009, the school’s PE department took up Mark’s offer and had all students in the middle school run the mile on the track. They loved the event and wanted to repeat the MILE RUN DAY in 2010. May 4th fit the school schedule, so they served as our kick-off MILE RUN event. Each runner wore a Champion Chip timing device. Boys and girls had an official electronic time and had splits for each of the four laps.
Running the mile is the first step we urge young boys and girls to take to get fit and live a healthier lifestyle, ARA also urges all Americans especially seniors to “RUN THE MILE”. More studies show that walking and running is a pathway to a longer healthier life. In 2011, ARA and AMAA will team together to get more seniors out running. We may even have partner events that match up a school with a senior group or active 55 community center.
More on Minimalism in Running Shoes. Another manufacturer has entered the “less is more” approach with a running training shoe: SAUCONY. The newly released KINVARA that hit retailers in early June offers the lightweight minimal structure that shoes like the Nike Free, Newton’s Gravitas and other brands’ racing flats offer. The Saucony shoe will bend and twist with your foot. One key recommendation for anyone considering trying the lightweight minimally structured running shoes is to ensure that you have a snug fit. Your feet should not slide laterally (i.e., side-to-side) and your forefoot should also envelope your foot. Remember to try them on soft running surfaces. As with any new running shoe, ease yourself into them. This type of running shoe is not for all runners, but if you want to build up the strength in your feet and like a more lightweight feel, then check out the new offerings. It appears that the shoe manufacturers are seeing a spike in sales from the newly developed category and new options are being created.
Summer Fare: Fresh fruit options abound in the summer. Local produce cannot be beat and if you’re like me in the summer, there is nothing better than fresh local blueberries. Throw in watermelon and you’ve got two fruits that provide hydration and nutrients that all runners need. Blueberries show up in store shelves on the east coast in early June and can be found into late August. Each time I buy them, I check to see what state was the local producer. It’s like tracking the return of birds from the south to north each summer. It’s nearing July 4th and now the blueberries in produce sections are from New Jersey. Two weeks ago it was North Carolina. Soon we’ll see the Michigan Blueberries and for you New Englanders, the August crop of Maine Blueberries complete the U.S. season. Late August features the Canadian crops. Back to suggested blueberry serving options. After a morning run, eat them as a side or add them to cold cereal. For light desserts, a blueberry crisp made with oatmeal is a favorite in our house. Lastly, nothing tops a homemade blueberry pie. I even make one that is Vegan worthy (I hold out the butter and use Crisco in the crust.
Lunch options I’ve spotted: more salad to go restaurants in urban areas are popping up. These retail salad stores are not your old-school salad bars. Each salad offers fresh greens and mixins’ that have been prepared from whole vegetables and lettuce or green heads. SUBWAY: new light summer offerings have arrived. Check out the new Orchard Chicken Salad Sandwich. Go easy on the dressing and you have a low cal fresh sub for lunch
Hydrating in Summer Heat. We just endured 12 straight days of 90 degree plus heat with at least one of those days hitting the 100 mark. Hydrating and avoiding the direct sun is essential to summer survival. I don’t have to beat the drum about running early in the day when the forecast is calling for 90 plus degree days with high humidity. I was on the Outer Banks of North Carolina last week in the heat and made sure to run no later than 7:30 am. It helps that the ocean was a final pit stop after a morning 6 miler. On these days, drink some water or a sports drink like Gatorade’s G2 before the run. Once you finish your cool-down, drink the same combo or simply hit the Gatorade G2 or full strength G. Now Gatorade is offering 3 drink options. They have a post activity recovery drink that can serve you well after the initial rehydration. In all cases, listen to your body and drink to thirst in the hot and humid conditions of July and August.
Stay cool: run early in the day or the early evening. Enjoy your summer!
-Dave
