Running

Top 10 Reasons for Running Injuries

As a runner and podiatric surgeon I have always been keenly interested in running injuries and their causes. I have kept track of them for many years and recently compiled this list of the 10 injuries that appear on my radar most often. Read on—I think you will be surprised.

#1—Most Frequent Injury Cause—No Training Log

Green Gear for Summer, May 2009 Issue, by Brian Mohr & Emily Johnson

It is refreshing to see so many businesses and manufacturers in the outdoor industry finding creative ways to reduce their environmental footprint. While we feel that the most environmentally friendly gear is that which has been previously used, neglected, or otherwise restored, we still occasionally have to buy something new.

Reader Athlete August 2009: Karen Allen

Age: 52
Residence: Burlington
Family: Husband, Bill; three adult daughters
Occupation: Lawyer
Primary sport: Running

VS: You recently ran your first marathon, Burlington’s own Vermont City Marathon. How did it go?

Training with Kids

Urban legend has it that Bill Koch rollerskied up Mount Greylock pulling his daughter on a mountain bike. With a rope around his waist, Koch double-poled eight miles uphill, towing his 70-pound child. Was this extreme strength-training, childcare duty, or both? Even if the story isn’t true, it illustrates how far some parents will go to get a workout.

Time is of the essence

Trail Running: Will We Ever Mountain Bike Again?

Our mountain bikes are collecting cobwebs inside the shed. It’s not that they need to be repaired, or that the tires are worn through. Rather, their dormant state might have something to do with all our swimming. Swimming keeps my wife, Emily, and me in great shape for something else we love—surfing.

Haglund’s Heel and Achilles Tendonitis

Most everyone has heard of the mythical Greek athlete and warrior, Achilles, and his problem heel, but not many know about the bane of the running athlete: Haglund’s Heel. Dr. Haglund was a friend of Dr. Roentgen, the inventor of the x-ray.

Reader Athlete July 2009: Anja Jokela

Age: 25
Residence: Burlington
Family: Mom, Mary Jane Lipinski; dad, Bill Jokela; brother, Dana
Occupation: Student
Primary sport: Running

Fight Cancer and Get in Better Shape

Become part of the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation to Make Marathon Miles More Meaningful

Exercise Associated Hyponatremia

In just the past few years, the Boston and New York City marathons brought exercise associated hyponatremia (EAH) into headline news. The potentially life-threatening condition is a blood sodium depletion caused by excessive fluid consumption.

­Winter Feet

The winter season engenders a youthful spirit in all of us. Well, in the beginning of the season, anyway, before we get tired of the gym and other indoor workouts. If we are outside, the bright sunny winter days in Vermont can provide a much-needed dose of vitamin D. There is increased evidence that vitamin D is needed for good health and prevention of many chronic diseases.

RunVermont Announces New Executive Director

Burlington, VT—RunVermont’s board of directors recently announced that Peter Delaney will take the reins as the new executive director of RunVermont. Delaney comes from a 28-year career at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, most recently as vice president, and was responsible for all aspects of the guest experience.

Races, Athletes, and Automobiles

A year has passed since the financial crisis crashed the world-wide economy, and in that year we have all learned a lot about banks, loan companies, Wall Street, consumption, and greed. I feel confident the economy will recover and life will go on, hopefully with thoughtful changes in the way we live.

Run Jackrabbit Run!

When it comes to building trail systems, the Europeans have a style and flair all their own. From the “way-marked ways” of Ireland’s lush green countryside, to the Haute Route linking Chamonix, France, with Zermatt, Switzerland, through some of the Alps’ most impressive scenery, European trails have been defined by a blend of wilderness and creature comforts.

Wagger Athlete: Mitzy; nickname Schmitty or Schmitt Dawg, April 2009 issue

BREED: Border Collie
AGE: 9, maybe 8
RESIDENCE: Norwich
FAMILY: I split my time between my Joe Holland and his mom, Barb.
PRIMARY SPORT: Running long distances and tennis ball. That’s a sport, right?

Reader Athlete September 2009: Serena Wilcox

Age: 30
Residence: Cambridge
Family: Two golden retriever mixes, River and Sonny
Occupation: Isis customer service representative
Primary sport: Ultra running

VS: You completed the Vermont 100 in Woodstock this year. How did it go?

Vermont Sports Magazine Offers Digital Subscriptions: 10% of subscription sales to support three Vermont non-profits

Vermont Sports Magazine and it’s online service www.vtsports.com, have recently launched a digital subscription service for it’s magazine readers interested in helping the magazine reduce its’ carbon footprint in Vermont and helping out some noteworthy non-profit organizations in the state.

Reader Athlete: Andy Weinberg

Age: 37
Residence: Middlebury
Family: Wife, Sloan; daughters Grace, 9, and Jade, 6
Occupation: Assistant swim coach and assistant aquatics director at Middlebury College
Primary Sport: Running

VS: When did you begin putting on races and what was the first race you ever put on?

Dirty Old Socks

Many jokes and quips have been made about socks, but in reality, socks can make the difference between success and failure in an athletic event.

For most of us, socks represent a basic piece of athletic equipment. Many jokes and quips have been made about socks, but in reality, socks can make the difference between success and failure in an athletic event.

Reader Athlete June 2009: Erika Nestor

Age: 43
Residence: Burlington
Family: Partner, David; children Luke, 15; Sam, 12; Zoe, 6
Occupation: Athletic Director for The Field House
Primary sport: Running

Don’t Just Go Camping, Get An Education!

No one can argue that Vermont is handcrafted for the ultimate camping experience. Beautiful scenery, lakes, mountains, streams, dirt-roads, and quiet back roads all provide a wonderful natural environment to promote the outdoors. Thus, it is not surprising that there are literally hundreds of camps available in Vermont. The choice is infinite in terms of activity, location, cost, and comfort.

How Many Times Should a Runner Run?

How many times a week should I exercise? How many days should I rest? How many times should I exercise each day?

18th Annual Holiday Gift Guide

We are pleased to present the Vermont Sports annual Holiday Gift Guide. The goods we recommend on these pages were reviewed by members of the VS editorial staff (Jules Older, Brian Mohr, and Kate Carter) and are their picks for most interesting, impressive, and thoughtful gifts for people who spend time in the outdoors.

Muscles Not Motors Gear Review - May 2009

Whether you’re a snowboarder or snowshoer, mountain hiker or mountain biker, Nordic skier or Nordic walker, you need gear. Each month, I review, right here, three items that I personally feel are especially cool. Here are my picks for this month.

Muscles Not Motors October 2009 Gear Review

Whether you’re a snowboarder or snowshoer, mountain hiker or mountain biker, Nordic skier or Nordic walker, you need gear. Each month, I review, right here, three items that I personally feel are especially cool. Here are my picks for this month.

KELTY GUNNISON 2.1 TENT

Fall Trail Running Series Set to Begin at Great Glen Trails

Pinkham Notch, NH—The Fall Running Series at Great Glen Trails begins on Thursday, September 4 at 3:30p.m. The series runs every Thursday until October 9. Competitors may run or walk the course between 3:30 and 6:30p.m.

ABCs of DVTs and PEs, by Donna Smyers

How can an athlete have a circulatory problem?

Beyond the Marathon

The marathon, 26.2 miles, is steeped in history and lore, stemming from its Greek origins. The Greek soldier, Pheidippides, ran from the battlefield near Marathon to Athens, announcing the defeat of the marauding Persian armies in 490BC. Pheidippides collapsed and died after his announcement and historic run.

Snowshoe Racing: The Ultimate Winter Exercise

For most people, snowshoes conjure up an image of a leisurely trek through the woods: quiet and slow. However, a number of athletes are taking snowshoeing to the next level. In the winter, when running shoes become impractical, many are taking to the snow and running in snowshoes races, of which there is no shortage.

Reader Athlete: Andrew Thompson

Age: 32
Residence: Lyme, NH
Family: Girlfriend, Bethany Charron
Occupation: Carpenter, starting respiratory therapy school in the fall
Primary Sport: Long-distance running and hiking

VS: You are the reigning record holder for hiking the Appalachian Trail at 47.5 days. Can you tell us about that journey?

Reader Athlete: Heidi Hill

Age: 37
Residence: Waterbury
Family: Husband, Tom; daughters Julia, 2, and Ava, 5
Occupation: Writer and stay-at-home mom
Primary sport: Cross-country skiing and running

Vacations and Marathons

My wife, Alison, and I are runners. We originally met returning from separate jogs on Burlington’s Rec Path. We are members of a running group that meets every Sunday, and even our dog has a public blog detailing his running log. Last summer, we got married on a partly cloudy afternoon by a giant oak tree at Oakledge Park, by mile-marker 13 of the Vermont City Marathon course.

Reader Athlete March 2010: Heidi Noonan

Age: 45
Residence: Jeffersonville
Family: Husband, Tom; son, Taylor, 15; daughter Erika, 12
Occupation: Physical therapist
Primary sport: Running

VS: What do you enjoy about being a physical therapist?

After-the-Race Soreness

The running season is well under way and many of you have already done the Boston Marathon or the Vermont City Marathon. You no doubt have a little soreness to contend with in terms of quad and calf stiffness. We have all experienced the post-exercise muscle soreness at some point in our running careers.

Listening to Your Instincts

Exploring pain has been on my agenda for several years. Pain can be a good thing, especially if it is heeded. Too often, we have learned to block pain out, and this is when problems can start to happen. My email in-box is always filled with notes and letters from readers and patients, and I do my best to respond to them all in some way.

May 2009 Reader Athlete: Pam Clapp

Age: 37
Residence: Waterbury
Family: Husband, Roger; sons Adrian, 6, and Lewis, 4
Occupation: Executive assistant to chairman of Generon International
Primary sport: Running

VS: When did you start running and why?

Around the State - Miles for a Mission Comes to the Marathon

Burlington, VT—Marathons provide a popular fundraising opportunity for anyone who wants his or her hard work to benefit others. In the case of the Vermont City Marathon and Marathon Relay, held in Burlington on Memorial Day weekend, the high number of relay teams forming in order to raise money for charities has led the organization to create their new Miles for a Mission program.

Reader Athlete: Jessie Donovan

Age: 32
Residence: Charlotte
Family: Husband, Peter Schneider; sons Griffin, 5 and Eliot, 4; daughter, Ava, 1
Occupation: Enrollment management analyst for UVM and land developer
Primary Sport: Triathlons and running

VS: You work full time, have three children, and still race. How do you find the time?

2009 Summer Sports Camp Guide

The Vermont Sports 2009 Summer Camp Guide lists over 30 camps in Vermont that focus on outdoor sports-related activities. Most are the same sports we traditionally cover in our editorial content, such as running, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, climbing, adventure, and outdoor skills. This guide includes a basic description of each camp’s offerings.

Lateral Ankle Sprain and Chronic Ankle Instability

The commonly occurring lateral ankle sprain, also called an inversion sprain, can be the precursor to painful and disabling chronic ankle instability. The ankle twist, rollover, or sprain may be the most overlooked athletic injury, and for that reason may also be amongst the worst. A common ankle sprain can lead to ankle instability, cartilage damage, arthritis, and a lifetime of ankle pain.

Born to Snowshoe

In 2009 at the age of 70, John Pelton won his age division at the United States Snowshoe Association’s National Championships at Mt. Hood, OR. A modest man, Pelton downplays his achievement noting that he was also the only racer in his division. Nevertheless, his finish time was better than several competitors thirty and forty years his junior.

The Sun Shines On Vermont Sun Triathlons

Long known in Vermont as a collection of premiere triathlons, The Vermont Sun Triathlon Series is steadily growing into one of the nation’s top triathlon venues as well. One race in the series, the Lake Dunmore Triathlon, held this year on August 2, was recently named the USAT Northeast Region Club Championship race, as well as the Vermont qualifying race for the Best of the U.S.

Recognizing Iliotibial Band Syndrome

The iliotibial band (IT band) is a thick fibrous structure that originates in the upper parts of the outside of the hip known as the iliac crest. The band begins as muscle fibers from the tensor fascia lata and portions of the gluteus maximus and medius muscles. The elastic IT band then inserts into the tibia, just below the knee, blending with the vastus lateralis and the biceps femoris muscles.

Overtraining Syndrome

A friend recently forwarded a newspaper article to me entitled “Streaking.” Recalling a fad that was popular for a few years in the college town in which I grew up, where streaking meant running naked in large groups through town, I opened the link to see if “streaking” was making a comeback.

2010 Summer Sports Camp Guide

The Vermont Sports 2010 Summer Camp Guide lists camps in Vermont that focus on outdoor sports-related activities. Most are the same sports we traditionally cover in our editorial content, such as running, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, climbing, adventure, and outdoor skills. This guide includes a basic description of each camp’s offerings.

Tuned In, Tuned Out

One of the reasons I enjoy being outdoors is that I feel more connected to the environment and my surroundings. I like the way it feels to step out the front door into whatever is happening outside. I like hearing birds sing, seeing plants grow, feeling the air on my skin. If I were deprived of these sensations, I would cope, but it would make me sad.

Reader Athlete: Rowly Brucken

Age: 40
Residence: Northfield
Family: Wife, Lisa; daughters, Katherine, 8 and Caroline, 1;
stepdaughter, Grace, 8
Occupation: History professor at Norwich University
Primary Sport: Running

VS: How did you become a runner?

Honing Your Heart Rate?

For years and years we’ve been testing people in our Human Performance lab at UVM for all kinds of studies ranging from fluid intake to heat tolerance. One thing that has always plagued me is the accuracy of the maximal heart rate numbers we get. For the most part we don’t really question the data as it’s all carefully collected and monitored.

Turn Down the Heat!

Recently I had the privilege of working with the Hartford, Woodstock, and Lebanon Fire Departments to provide medical coverage for the Covered Bridges Half Marathon. I must begin by saying that we are all lucky to live in an area where we are protected by such a well-trained, skilled, and professional group of first responders.

The Nano Workout

Does the busyness of your life keep you from your desired workout routine? Do you have the time to work out, but suffer from nagging, recurrent, overuse injuries? Are you healthy, but feel like you are stuck in a workout rut, doing the same workout again and again? If you answered yes to any of these, maybe it is time for you to think small.

Reader Athlete: Tara Nelson

Age: 34
Residence: West Glover
Family: Husband, Dan; son, Christopher, 7, daughter, Robin, 5
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom
Primary Sport: Running

VS: How did you get started running?

Muscles Not Motors Gear Review - March 2009

Whether you’re a snowboarder or snowshoer, mountain hiker or mountain biker, Nordic skier or Nordic walker, you need gear. Each month, I review, right here, three items that I personally feel are especially cool. Here are my picks for this month.

KINETIC ROCK AND ROLL TRAINER

Preparing for Your First Triathlon

Triathlons are multi-sport events that include swimming, cycling, and running. They are exhilarating, intense, and fun. If you are considering your first triathlon, chances are that you already swim, bike, or run, or perhaps a friend recently raved about his or her triathlon experience and you want to give it a go yourself.

Avoiding Common Winter Running Injuries

Runners have to run to keep highly specialized muscles in shape. Spring training starts right now, in the middle of the deep, dark, cold winter. Too many runners take time off from running in winter, and these same folks increase the possibility of injury when the weather finally turns warmer. Running in winter means having a flexible training schedule or better yet, no schedule at all.

Changes

May 25, 2008, is the 20th anniversary of the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon. It’s astonishing, when you think about it, that 20 years have gone by since Gordan MacFarland and his cohorts conceived the idea of holding a marathon within Burlington’s city limits, and then actually pulled it off. That was 1989. A year later, I started this magazine.

Reader Athletes: Kelly Wilson

Age: 40
Residence: Charlotte
Family: Significant other, Jack Pilla; sons Charles, 13, and Philip, 11
Occupation: Personal Trainer and Running Coach
Primary Sport: Running

VS: You completed your first 100-mile run this autumn. How did it go? What were the highlights?

Marathon Memories

This May, for just the second time in 21 years, I won’t be in Burlington on Memorial Day weekend to run the Vermont City Marathon. Both absences are due to unavoidable conflicts with weddings. I have run all the other Vermont City Marathons, but there were a few tight squeezes during those two decades.

Mandatory Reading for Runners

If you have not read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, please run out to your nearest bookstore and purchase it today. You will enter a world of adventure, intrigue, and learning. McDougall’s storytelling technique will captivate you from page one. I suggest this book to anyone who loves running, or desperately needs to understand the mind of the running athlete.

Feet with High Arches

Feet with high arches are artistically pleasing and very much desired for their haute couture possibilities, especially for women, but this kind of foot can be an abysmal mechanical disaster for athletes.

HIGH-ARCH ADVERSITIES

The Dog Dilemma, April 2009 issue, by John Morton

I love dogs!

Reader Athlete September 2009: Justin Fyffe

Age: 29
Residence: East Dummerston
Family: Wife, Jessica; dog, Bailey
Occupation: EDM Programmer
Primary sport: Running

VS: You were the first Vermont finisher and fifth overall at the Vermont City Marathon this year. Were you expecting to have such a good race?

Posterior Tendon Injuries

The posterior tibial (PT) tendon and muscle represent one of the longest muscular units below the knee. PT muscle fibers originate on the lateral-posterior aspects of the leg, on the tibia, the upper two thirds of the medial-posterior portions of the fibula, and the connective tissues between both the fibula and tibia.

Reader Athlete: Liz Foster

Age: 59
Residence: Charlotte
Family: Husband, Jim; daughter, Libby; son, Jeb
Occupation: Volunteer
Primary Sport: Running

VS: When did you begin running?

All about Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has been used in hospital settings since the 1970s, though its application was restricted mostly to surgery. Recently, advanced technology has brought this unique, helpful, safe treatment to sports medicine clinics around the world.

The Dreaded Stress Fracture

Every runner fears a stress fracture. Understanding how this diabolical, disabling injury occurs can help prevent it. The words “stress fracture” are really a misnomer, as the injured bone does not present radiological evidence of a true fracture line. The bone is not really broken or fractured, as in a crushing or severe twisting injury.

Os Trigonum Syndrome

The Os trigonum is the most commonly occurring accessory bone in the foot, occurring in an estimated eight to ten percent of the population. This interesting bone sits at the most posterior aspect of the talus, at the border of the talus and the calcaneous. The Os trigonum is truly a congenital development, but does not begin to become evident until adolescence, when it is visible in an x-ray.

StoryWalk Project Receives Support from VT Caring Foundation

Children in Vermont will now be able to combine the joy of being outside with opportunities to develop literacy and physical fitness thanks to a grant the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition (VBPC) has received from the Vermont Caring Foundation, a charitable affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont.

Reader Athlete: Bridget Wiedl

BRIDGET WIEDL

Age: 28
Residence: Barre
Family: Murphy, dog
Occupation: Grant writer at Vermont Foodbank
Primary Sport: Running

VS: You’re recently moved back to Vermont. Why did you return?

Bob Matteson - Setting Records at 92

He set the world record for 92-year-olds in the 400-meter distance in June, 2008, at the Vermont Senior Championships in Burlington. In July, he broke the one- and two-mile marks in Colonie, NY. Less than a week later, he broke the 200-meter world record at the New England Masters Championship. In September, he was off to Maine where he broke the record for 800 meters.

Hope Springs Eternal

Now that we’ve had a hard frost, it’s time for the biannual shoe rotation. Sandals, sneakers, and water mocs that are stuffed into the mud room cubbies get traded for snow boots, winter hiking boots, and Nordic ski boots that are stuffed into the spare bedroom closet.

Reader Athlete: Bradley Poster

Age: 53
Residence: Marlboro
Family: Wife, Lauren; daughter Ariel, 23; son Harry, 19
Occupation: Assistant director for the estate of artist Jules Olitski
Primary Sport: Running

VS: You’re a longtime marathoner who has just had his hip resurfaced. What was the nature of the injury that led you to surgery?

The Kinetic Chain Gang, April 2009 issue

The human kinetic chain consists of a group of body parts that are linked together in a way that allows them to function. Like any chain, if the links are separated, rusty, or damaged, it will not function properly, and other parts of the chain might become damaged. The human kinetic chain’s activities may be open or closed.

Radical Ridgeline Trail Running

Trail running in Vermont is like dancing through a scenic minefield of roots, rocks, puddles, and fallen trees. It forces you to leap, twist, and scurry in order to keep a smooth line and stay on the ever-winding trail. It’s at once exhilarating and peaceful, and some trails require a level of focus that leaves no room for dwelling on anything in life but the 20 feet of trail before you.

The History of the Craftsbury Outdoor Center

For what it is today—a world-class facility that grooms top athletes and attracts Olympians to its races—the Craftsbury Outdoor Center had humble and even uncertain financial beginnings.

Sinus Tarsi Syndrome

Often confused with an ankle sprain, sinus tarsi syndrome (STS) is a painful condition of the sinus tarsi, the opening on the outside of the foot between the ankle and heel bone. It is more often misdiagnosed than accurately identified. Sinus Tarsi Fat Pad Impingement Syndrome is another more appropriate, though rather lengthy, name for this painful condition.

Symptoms

Pittsfield Peaks Snowshoe Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K

The Pittsfield Peaks Snowshoe Marathon is held each March in Pittsfield, VT. The event includes three races: a 26.2-mile marathon (four loops); a 13.1-mile half-marathon (two loops); and a six-mile “fun run” (one loop). The six-mile option allows novices to participate, which is important to race director Andy Weinberg.

Between a Rock and a Running Shoe

Sometimes I think I have a rock in my head. A fairly large one—granite perhaps, or maybe Gabbro—lodged in the part of my brain where reason is broadcast. My lovely fiancée disagrees, or pretends to disagree, but she’s a sweetheart, so she has yet to convince me otherwise.

Muscles Not Motors Gear Review - March 2010

I just got back from the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show in Salt Lake City, UT, where 40,000 or so outdoor industry types like me converged for a week-long gear summit. By the last day, I was dehydrated from drooling. Here are just three of the items that I found particularly tasty.

GSI OUTDOORS VORTEX HAND CRANKED BLENDER

Summer's Eco-Friendly Outdoor Gear

It’s no news that outdoor gear companies are making better use of eco-friendly fabrics, energy-efficient manufacturing techniques, and low-waste marketing and packaging practices. This approach is not only increasingly economical, but essential for keeping up with the eco-conscious consumer.