2015 Spring - Club Running Magazine

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WE RUN THE NATION!

Spring 2015

2015 RRCA Distance Running Hall of Fame Inductees Women in Running Leadership Spring Shoe Review

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Blair Ball Sports Photographer

Jay  List  of  Holland,  NY,  earned  the  2015  RRCA  National  Marathon   Championship  title  at  the  MS  Blues  Marathon  in  Jackson,  Mississippi.

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ClubRunning Spring 2015

Bruce Morrison

WE RUN THE NATION!

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4

Executive Director’s Letter

5

RRCA Members Share

6

Member Spotlight

9

Health & Safety Spotlight

ASICS LA Marathon Expo

The True Meaning of Competition National Black Marathoner’s Assoc.

Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix

Another Reason to Drink Wine

10 Spring Shoe Review

20

WOMEN

26

2015

in ROAD RACING

LEADERSHIP RRCA

Distance Running

Hall of Fame

Inductees

24 Championship Spotlight 28 Runner Friendly

Community® Program

30 Training Tips

FUNdamentals of Youth Running

CONTENTS RRCA.org

Spring 2015 ClubRunning • 3

Spring 2015 www.RRCA.org

ROAD RUNNERS CLUB OF AMERICA (RRCA) Executive Director Jean Knaack RRCA President David Cotter Photographers Victor Sailer PhotoRun.net BigStockPhoto.com Bruce Morrison iStockphoto.com Blair Ball Sports Photographer Dan Reichmann Dennis D. Steinauer Go! St. Louis Jack Daniels NBMA Pete Madia, P3R Photography Paula Norton Writers David Hunter Mitchell Garner Jean Knaack Ryan Lamppa Tony Reed Andy Smith Cregg Weinmann

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As the RRCA mission states, our organization is dedicated to promoting running as a competitive sport and as healthy exercise. Through our efforts to promote running as healthy exercise, the RRCA has been actively involved in several national efforts designed improve physical activity in the U.S. One of those efforts is the National Physical Activity Plan. The National Physical Activity Plan has a vision: One day, all Americans will be physically active and they will live, work, and play in environments that facilitate regular physical activity. The Plan is a comprehensive set of policies, programs, and initiatives that aim to increase physical activity in all segments of the American population.

In February, I had the pleasure of attending the 2015 National Physical Activity Plan Congress and speaking on the panel titled The Role of Nonprofit Organizations in Promoting Physical Activity. A wide range of nonprofit organizations, including RRCA members, contribute to the nationwide effort to increase population-level physical activity. The session highlighted the innovative contributions of the RRCA, the Y, and the American Cancer Society’s national efforts that promote physical activity in key segments of the U.S. population. RRCA event member Freedom’s Run in Martinsburg, WV, directed by Dr. Mark Cucuzella, was included as one of the poster presentations outlining the importance of community-based running events designed to engage local residents in fitness and running events.

As part of the 57th Annual RRCA National Convention, two education sessions highlight the importance of physical activity promotion at both the state and local levels.

We applaud the state of Iowa for its efforts to improve health for all Iowans, and the RRCA is proud to have earned its “Seal of Approval” for the RRCA Convention as part of Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative.

We encourage our members to reach out to community, state, and national leaders and encourage them to continue to support efforts that get Americans moving more to improve their health.

Bruce Morrison

ClubRunning

Executive Director’s Note

Jean Knaack #RunSafe

Group & Coordinating Editor Christine Johnson/Holding Space LLC

The RRCA is proud to be a BBB Wise Giving Alliance Accredited Charity and a Gold-Level Guidestar Exchange Partner.

Designer Alex Larsen/Alex Graphics Proofreader Marg Sumner/Red Ink Editorial Services FORTIUS Media Group, LLC Advertising Larry Eder Publishing Director 608.239.3785 fortiusmediagroup@gmail.com Advertising Production Manager Alex Larsen/Alex Graphics Counsel Perry F. Goldlust www.clubrunning.net www.runblogrun.com Custom Published By

ClubRunning is a complimentary publication made possible by our advertisers and created through a partnership between the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) and FORTIUS Media Group, LLC. You’re a member of your local running club, and your local running club is, in turn, a member of the RRCA.

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ClubRunning is custom published by FORTIUS Media Group, LLC for publisher Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). All ad materials should be mailed to P.O. Box 6450, San Jose, CA 95120. Insertion orders should be emailed to fortiusmediagroup@gmail.com FORTIUS Media Group, LLC assumes no liability for matter printed. Publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for content of paid advertising and reserves the right to reject paid advertising. Publisher expects that all claims by advertisers can be substantiated and that all guarantees will be honored. Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Publisher.

Copyright ©2015 by Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) unless otherwise noted. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher.

We recommend, as with all fitness and health issues, you consult with your physician before instituting any changes in your fitness program.

Let Us Hear From You!

ClubRunning welcomes your suggestions, comments, and questions. Direct them to share@rrca.org

Address Changes/Missing Issues

Visit www.rrca.org/publications/club-running/ about address changes, duplicate mailings, or missing issues.

Please include both old and new addresses.

4 • ClubRunning Spring 2015

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RRCA Members Share

Road Runners Club of America

RRCA on the Road: ASICS LA Marathon Expo A member of the RRCA staff made his big debut in March at the ASICS LA Marathon Expo: our new inflatable mascot. Despite the long trip to the west coast, he cheerfully manned the RRCA table for two full days and was a good sport about posing for pictures with runners who stopped by to say hello. Some highlights from the weekend included: • Making sure the RRCA booth was set up properly before all the attendees arrived • Meeting an impressive 14-year-old from Southern California who was preparing to run his second full marathon that weekend • Feeling the excitement and nervous energy as participants picked up their race bibs • Racing one of the members from the

2015 RRCA National Championship Event Series

LA Leggers, an RRCA member club (she won, but it was close) • Watching as race participants found their names on a big wall that listed everyone running the marathon • Chatting with Bring Back the Mile’s Ryan Lamppa, who tried to talk him into giving the shorter distance a shot The new mascot made it safely back to the RRCA National Office in Virginia and looks forward to hitting the road again soon. April destinations include the Boston Marathon Expo and Des Moines for the 57th Annual RRCA National Convention.

You can follow his travels on social media with the hashtag #RRCAontheRoad on the RRCA’s new Instagram account @rrcanational. If you see him out and about, make sure you stop by to say hi and take a picture to share on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

The RRCA Championship Event Series boasts over 185 races that attract over 330,000 runners nationwide at the state, regional, and national level.

We invite you to run in the 2015 RRCA National Championship Event Series, which provides awards for winners at the open, master, grandmaster, and senior grandmaster levels.

April 26, 2015 5K CHAMPIONSHIP HY-VEE ROAD RACES 5K – DES MOINES, IA In Conjunction with 57th Annual RRCA Convention www.hy-­veeroadraces.com/5K/

Andy Smith

June 13, 2015 1 MILE CHAMPIONSHIP GO MILE – LITTLE ROCK, AR www.gorunning.com/gomile/ August 15, 2015 HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIP PARKERSBURG NEWS & SENTINEL HALF MARATHON PARKERSBURG, WV www.newsandsentinelhalfmarathon.com

Andy Smith

October 31, 2015 10K CHAMPIONSHIP MARINE CORPS MARATHON 10K WASHINGTON, DC www.marinemarathon.com/MCM_Weekend/ MCM10K.html

Andy Smith

Andy Smith

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November 7, 2015 ULTRA CHAMPIONSHIP NASHVILLE ULTRA MARATHON – NASHVILLE, TN www.nashvilleultra.com

RRCA Championship Series Sponsors Gatorade Endurance • Sports Authority Ashworth Awards • FORTIUS Media Group, LLC Scan the code to view the full RRCA Championship Event Series Calendar

Spring 2015 ClubRunning • 5

RRCA Members Spotlight

The True Meaning of Competition by  Mitchell  Garner,  RRCA  Vice  President In late October 2014 I had the privilege of running in the 2014 Marine Corps Marathon 10K race. The race is an abbreviated version of its parent race, the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM). The shorter 10K race starts on the National Mall in Washington, DC and finishes 6.2 miles later at the storied Iwo Jima Memorial adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. In 2015, the MCM 10K will be the RRCA’s 10K National Championship race.

The MCM is truly one of our country’s great races. It’s permeated with a sense of love for our country and pride in our military. On Oct. 14, 1964 Billy Mills, a Native American and a Marine, became an overnight American

ing the final turn, Mills went wide as he lapped a West German runner and launched an explosive finishing kick in the last 100 meters. With blazing speed, running as though his feet were on fire, he first passed Clarke, and then in the last 5 meters passed Gammoudi, just edging the Tunisian at the tape and setting an Olympic record (and a personal best by 50 seconds) in a time of 28:24.4.

As Mills crossed the finish line, he raised his hands in triumph. So amazing was his finish that an uninformed Japanese track official at the finish line area asked him, “Who are you?� Billy thought that he might have miscounted the laps (25) and that the official was making the inquiry so that Mills could be dis-

With  blazing  speed,  running  as  though  his  feet  ZHUH RQ ¿UH 0LOOV ¿UVW SDVVHG &ODUNH DQG WKHQ LQ the  last  5  meters  passed  Gammoudi  ... hero when he won the men’s 10,000 meters race at the Tokyo Summer Olympics. He’s the only American to have ever stood on the top step of the Olympic podium for this event.

Almost every year, he comes to the MCM to greet the runners and lend his presence to this wonderful event, dubbed the People’s Marathon because there are no corporate sponsors.

Mills’ victory in the men’s 10,000 meters race at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics is well documented in a movie, Running Brave, and in numerous YouTube videos. The end of the race is heralded as one of the most exciting Olympic finishes, and one of the most stunning Olympic upsets, of all time. With less than a lap to go, Mills, running with the lead pack of Australian Ron Clarke and Tunisian Mohammed Gammoudi, was unceremoniously elbowed—some would say fouled—twice by Clarke. Then Gammoudi pushed them both and surged into the lead as they rounded the first curve of the final lap. The impact knocked Mills two lanes over and almost completely broke his stride. An ordinary person would have been flustered and demoralized, without the mental poise to recover from such harsh physical jolts, especially after having run almost 6 grueling miles against the world’s best middle-distance runners in an Olympic championship race. But Billy Mills is no ordinary person.

Mustering every ounce of strength, resilience, and fortitude in his sinewy body, Mills, a true warrior, worked to catch up to Clarke and Gammoudi on the back stretch. Round-

6 • ClubRunning Spring 2015

qualified. It was not the case, however. The official assured Mills “No. You won the race!�

Fast forward 50 years. Shortly after completing my MCM 10K race, I noticed Mills and, to my astonishment, Gammoudi, his hoary Olympic rival, talking to each other just past the finish line. Seizing this once-ina-lifetime moment, I rushed to where they were standing and engaged them in conversation. I told them how inspiring it was to see two Olympians who had battled each other down the home stretch at the Tokyo Olympics now standing together, five decades later, in gentlemanly demeanor and reliving their historic race.

Speaking through Nadia, his daughter, Gammoudi, who does not speak English, reflected on the race and harkened back to a conversation he’d had with Mills in 1963, a year before the Tokyo Olympics, at a World Championship race for military personnel.

Following the race, Gammoudi told Mills that if he wanted to be a world-class runner, he needed to work on his finishing kick.

Without a devastating finishing kick, Mills would have difficulty reaching the highest level in competitions with elite runners.

Mills took Gammoudi’s advice to heart, training religiously over the year leading up to the Tokyo Olympics and honing his ability to launch a potent finishing kick in the final stages of a middle-distance race. A year later, the moment when Mills would need that finishing kick became reality, and as they say, the rest is history. But for Gammoudi’s advice

and Mills’ willingness to heed that advice, he might not have achieved Olympic hero status on that memorable day in Olympic history over 50 years ago.

After hearing this story about Gammoudi’s advice and Mills’ triumph, my thoughts turned to something to which I refer as “the true meaning of the word competition.� In common parlance, we think of a competition as a race or a contest in which one person tries to finish ahead of the other person.

Some even take the word to another level and think of competition as the process of beating the snot out of one’s fellow competitors!

The etymological root of the word, however, is a Latin word competere, which has various meanings, including “to strive or seek together.� This etymological twist on the common notion of competition denotes a nobler calling for those who compete: True competitors seek together to do their best and help others do the same, and not necessarily to beat them in a race or a contest. The story of Gammoudi and Mills is testament to the true meaning of competition, to a spirit of endeavoring to attain excellence together and to collaborate with others in doing good deeds.

As a postscript: later, after Gammoudi had left the MCM finish line, I engaged Mills in a deep conversation about the meaning of his Olympic gold medal. With a steadfast look, he told me that he perceives his gold medal as a divine gift, a gift that he, its steward, must use in a constructive way. His gold medal has given him the opportunity to motivate and inspire others throughout the United States and, indeed, throughout the world. We talked about the ongoing violence in the Middle East. He said that he and Gammoudi are currently involved in a peace initiative in the Middle East, seeking together to preach a message of peaceful coexistence among followers of different world religions.

Mills is a Christian; Gammoudi is a Muslim.

Fifty years after their memorable race at the Tokyo Olympics, these two competitors have come together to “compete� for world peace, a challenge which is perhaps the greatest competition of all.

The renowned Catholic saint, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, once said, “Peace begins with a smile.� As Mills and I parted company at the MCM finish line, we warmly embraced each other and then smiled.

This first appeared in the Ann Arbor Track Club’s membership newsletter in December 2014. Reprinted here with permission.

RRCA.org

RRCA Members Spotlight

National Black Marathoner’s Association

By Tony Reed, Co-­Founder of National Black Marathoner’s Association The 11-year-old National Black Marathoner’s Association (NBMA) is the nation’s largest and oldest nonprofit organization of Black American distance runners. The organization’s membership is open to everyone, regardless of ethnic background, athletic ability, or running experience. There are no membership dues. Our objectives are to • Encourage Black Americans and others to pursue a healthy lifestyle through long-distance running and walking •Serve as a vehicle for members to celebrate accomplishments at an annual summit • Provide college scholarships to deserving high school distance runners Although Blacks represent 13% of the U.S. population, we represent about 1.6% of core runners, according to a 2011 Runner’s World article. We have been narrowing this gap through our three-pronged approach of educating, training, and sustaining.

Educating Black Americans have higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure than other races. And many of us have seen family members and friends struggle with and die from these conditions. We educate people about the benefits of reaching for a better quality of life and lower health care expenses through running and walking.

Many of our members lack family support for their healthy lifestyle. These individuals are on the receiving end of negative and discouraging comments such as “We don’t run distances” or “Running will ruin your knees.” Thus, we offer encouragement to our 13,000-member Facebook group.

We (informally) have Medal/Motivational Mondays (post photos from the weekend races), Testimonial Tuesdays (tell us about your weight loss or life change), Throwback Thursdays (running “back in the day”), and Race Roll Call Fridays (who’s racing this weekend).

Coaches Stephen Jackson and Alice Williams are cofounders of NYC’s Running 2 Live (www.Running2Live.org) and Dallas’ Southsiders Running Clubs, respectively.

And coaches Alexandria Williams and Whitney Patterson cofounded www.SportyAfros. com They address nutrition and hair-related challenges unique to Black women athletes.

Sustaining According to a 2014 Running USA survey, more than twice as many Blacks (21%) prefer to run in groups than do Whites (10%).

Also, Blacks (46%) are more likely than Whites (37%) to use running to socialize while running. To sustain their interest, we encourage runners to join a local RRCA club or to form an RRCA running club. We list several, longtime RRCA clubs on our website, such as Cincinnati’s Avondale Running Club, Cleveland’s Team Marathon, and Atlanta’s South Fulton Running Partners as well as newer RRCA clubs. And where these clubs and coaches don’t exist, we provide virtual support through our Facebook group.

2015 NBMA Annual Summit Many of our members belong to local running clubs throughout the U.S. However, about 63% of our members train alone due to their work and travel schedules. Thus, we’ve held our U.S. Annual Summits to bring these solo runners and running clubs together.

About 24 runners participated in our inaugural event at the 2005 Lewis and Clark Mar-

athon in St. Charles, MO. The summits provide independent runners and running club members from around the country an opportunity to socialize and run. The runners’ experiences range from novices to 100-time marathon finishers. More than 500 runners are expected at the 2015 Summit at the Dallas Marathon (Dec. 12–13). This gives new runners opportunities to learn from experienced runners and coaches.

During the Black Distance Running Hall of Fame and Achievements Awards Banquet, we’ll be inducting runners, ranging from marathoner Mebrahtom “Meb” Keflezighi, to miler Jon Rankin. Thanks to NBMA’s historian/researcher, Gary Corbitt, 19 little-known endurance athletes from the pre-1935 era will be inducted. We will also recognize several individual achievements. These include running marathons or half marathons on all seven continents or in the 50 states and completing between 100 and 400 marathons.

Visit us at http://www.blackmarathoners.org/ to learn more about us.

Members at the Tenth Annual NBMA Summit at Spokane’s 2014 Windermere Marathon and Half Marathon.

Courtesy of NBMA

Training The NBMA encourages its members to become RRCA-certified distance running coaches. This includes partnering with the Dallas Marathon to train local coaches.

These coaches respond to Facebook postings on topics ranging from training plans, journals, and injuries, to hair care, chafing, and shoes.

RRCA.org

Spring 2015 ClubRunning • 7

RRCA Members Spotlight

Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2015

By Ryan Lamppa Bring Back the Mile, the national campaign to elevate and celebrate the storied distance, has announced the return of its Grand Prix Tour that features four marquee events across the country. The inaugural BBTM GP Tour in 2014 showcased six events, with Jack Bolas and Heather Kampf taking the Tour titles. This year’s Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour, with more than $85,000 in guaranteed prize money, opened on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Camel City Mile, part of the Hilton Garden Invitational collegiate track meet in Winston-Salem, NC. “The BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2015 will generate plenty of excitement as the best milers will be competing at America’s top events for prize money, grand prix points, and bragging rights,” said BBTM founder Ryan Lamppa. “In addition, the popular Pick-the-Winner online contest sponsored by Running Warehouse also returns for each Tour stop, with a chance to win running shoes or gear.”

The total prize purse for these Tour events exceeds $80,000, plus

$7,500 for the Grand Prix purse. At each tour event, the top 6 men and women score points (10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1), with the top four scorers earning Grand Prix money ($2000, $1000, $500, and $250). The Running Warehouse “Pick-the-Winner” online contest will again offer direct fan engagement at each tour stop. How it works: The person who picks the men’s or women’s winner at a tour event and predicts the closest winning time will be awarded running shoes or gear.

2015 Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Remaining Events May 14—Medtronic TC 1-­‐Mile, Minneapolis (USA Road Championships) $25,000 prize purse + $10,000 course record bonus July 31—GNC Live Well Liberty Mile, Pittsburgh $20,000 prize purse Sept. 13—Minnesota Mile, Duluth, MN $20,100 prize purse

About Bring Back the Mile

Peter Madia

The Mile holds a special place in track & Ƥ -­‐ ȋ Ƥ ǡ Ȍ ǡ ǡ Dz dz Ǥ Ƥ Ǧ͘Ȃ

ǯ ͕͙͘͝ -­‐ ͖͔ ȋ ǡ Ǥ ͕͜ǡ ͖͔​͔͙Ȍǡ

Ǧ͘Ǧ ǡ ǡ ǯ Ǥ The mission of Bring Back the Mile is to return the Mile to prominence on the American sports and cultural landscape by elevating and celebrating the Mile to create a national movement.

8 • ClubRunning Spring 2015

Health & Safety Spotlight

Another Reason to Drink Wine: It Could Help You Burn Fat From Oregon State University, www.oregonstate.edu

RRCA.org

ble to the human diet.”

Over a 10-week trial, the high-fat–fed mice developed fatty liver and diabetic symptoms—“the same metabolic consequences we see in many overweight, sedentary people,” Shay said.

But the chubby mice that got the extracts accumulated less fat in their livers and they had lower blood sugar than those that consumed the high-fat diet alone. Ellagic acid proved to be a powerhouse in this experiment, too, lowering the high-fat–fed mice’s blood sugar to nearly the levels of the lean, normally fed mice.

When Shay and his colleagues analyzed the tissues of the fat mice that ate the supplements, they noted higher activity levels of PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma, two proteins that work within cells to metabolize fat and sugar.

Shay hypothesized that the ellagic acid and other chemicals bind to these PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma nuclear hormone receptors, causing them to switch on the genes that trigger the metabolism of dietary fat and glucose. Commonly prescribed drugs for lowering blood sugar and triglycerides act in this way, Shay said.

The goal of his work, he added, is not to replace needed medications but to guide people in choosing common, widely available foods that have particular health benefits, including boosting metabolic function.

“We are trying to validate the specific contributions of certain foods for health benefits,” he said. “If you’re out food shopping, and if you know a certain kind of fruit is good for a health condition you have, wouldn’t you want to buy that fruit?”

The research was supported by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Science at the University of Florida and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The study appeared in the January issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Shay’s research with mice was supported by the Blue Mountain Horticultural Society, the Erath Family Foundation, and the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences.

BigStock.com

Drinking red grape juice or wine—in moderation—could improve the health of overweight people by helping them burn fat better, according to a new study coauthored by an Oregon State University (OSU) researcher.

The findings suggest that consuming dark-colored grapes, whether eating them or drinking juice or wine, might help people better manage obesity and related metabolic disorders such as fatty liver.

Neil Shay, a biochemist and molecular biologist in OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences, was part of a study team that exposed human liver and fat cells grown in the lab to extracts of four natural chemicals found in Muscadine grapes, a dark red variety native to the southeastern U.S. One of the chemicals, ellagic acid, proved particularly potent: It dramatically slowed the growth of existing fat cells and formation of new ones, and it boosted metabolism of fatty acids in liver cells.

These plant chemicals are not a weightloss miracle, cautioned Shay. “We didn’t find, and we didn’t expect to, that these compounds would improve body weight,” he said.

But by boosting the burning of fat, especially in the liver, they may improve liver function in overweight people.

“If we could develop a dietary strategy for reducing the harmful accumulation of fat in the liver, using common foods like grapes,” Shay said, “that would be good news.”

The study, which Shay conducted with colleagues at the University of Florida and University of Nebraska, complements work with mice he leads at his OSU laboratory. In one 2013 trial, he and his graduate students supplemented the diets of overweight mice with extracts from Pinot noir grapes harvested from Corvallis-area vineyards.

Some of the mice were fed a normal diet of “mouse chow,” as Shay calls it, containing 10% fat. The rest were fed a diet of 60% fat— the sort of unhealthy diet that would pile excess pounds on a human frame.

“Our mice like that high-fat diet,” said Shay, “and they overconsume it. So they’re a good model for the sedentary person who eats too much snack food and doesn’t get enough exercise.”

The grape extracts, scaled down to a mouse’s nutritional needs, were about the equivalent of 1½ cups of grapes a day for a person. “The portions are reasonable,” said Shay, “which makes our results more applica-

Spring 2015 ClubRunning • 9

presents

2015 SPRING

SHOE REVIEW SHOE REVIEWS: MOTION STABILIZING—3 • PERFORMANCE—4 • NEUTRAL—5

The only constant in the sporting goods industry is that it’s not static. While new brands continue to appear, their chances of success have not been great. That said, the odds of success have never been better than they are now, as running specialty stores are gravitating to many of the smaller brands. The reason? Big sporting goods chains want to carry the best shoes that have been vetted by the running specialty stores, and most of the top brands have complied. So, to give customers something special, many running specialty stores have begun carrying shoes from less well-known brands. Of course, that’s what we’ve promoted in these reviews for more than 17 years: The more shoe choices you have, the better your chances of finding one to fit your feet and needs. This spring review features both established stalwarts and some fresh new creations, with innovation and industry best practices thrown into the mix. Categories continue to be refined and address the ever-present need for shoes to meet biomechanical needs, hold up to the forces exerted when running, and optimize a shoe’s performance via shape geometries. Use this guide as a starting point and, if possible, make your first stop a running specialty store to find the best running shoes for you.

Keep running, friends.

— Cregg Weinmann Running Shoe Reviewer for the Running Network, LLC

Š2014 New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.

SMOOTH JUST GOT FAST.

Fresh Foam gets fast with the Fresh Foam Zante.

Data-driven design and intelligent geometries combine to create a light, fast ride.

THIS IS #FRESHFOAM. THIS IS #RUNNOVATION.

FORTIUS Media Group, LLC Partners

2015 Spring Shoe Review Somewhere in my garage in Wisconsin are my first pairs of running and racing shoes. My first pair of real running shoes were Onitsuka Tiger Cortez. It was 1974, and I had just moved to California from Missouri. Over the summer, I ran more than 1,000 miles in that pair of training shoes, eventually reinforcing the heel with a shoe glue product that was popular back then.

My first track spikes were adidas Intervals, a shoe made for racing distances, which I beat up terribly. They started out white, but were covered with mud and such after a few spring races on dirt tracks.

During the spring of 1975, I raced in Brooks track spikes which, if memory serves me well, I purchased at Starting Line from Angel Martinez, who’s now chairman at Deckers. I remember telling Angel that he sold me the first pair of running shoes that I actually paid for myself: $30 that I earned from babysitting and painting jobs. I broke five minutes for the mile in those shoes.

Also in my garage are my old Nike waffle racers from the fall of 1975, which I loved because of their colors—green and yellow. I broke 17 minutes at Crystal Springs in those shoes. It was (and still is) a fine course, back then it was 2.9 miles. Eventually, I used those shoes in a college art project.

Every time I open a new box of running shoes, I experience the same excitement I did when I bought my first pair. In our reviews, we remember that feeling and we hope you feel the same excitement. And, as always, we suggest that you go to your local running store when you purchase running shoes. They don’t want to simply sell you a pair of shoes; they want to fit you in a pair that will make your running enjoyable.

Special thanks to Cregg Weinmann, our RN footwear reviewer; Christine Johnson, RN project coordinator and editor; Kristin Cerer, designer; Marg Sumner, proofreader; and Alex Larsen, production manager, who continue to prepare these reviews for you, year in and year out, since 1998.

Enjoy!

Larry Eder Publishing Director FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

Saucony Zealot ISO

Brooks Ravenna 6

Project Coordinator/Editor: Christine Johnson Reviewer: Cregg Weinmann Designer: Kristen Cerer Proofreader: Marg Sumner, Red Ink Editorial Services Shoe Photography: Daniel Saldaña, Cregg Weinmann Advertising Sales: FORTIUS Media Group, LLC Publishing Director: Larry Eder, 608.239.3785, fortiusmedia@gmail.com Ad Manager: Adam Johnson-Eder, 608.556.9164, adamlawrenceeder@gmail.com Legal Counsel: Perry F. Goldust

ASICS GT-2000 3

NEW SHOE

RENOVATION

Spring 2015

Spring 2015

adidas Supernova Glide Boost 7

American Track & Field www.american-trackandfield.com Athletes Only www.atf-athlete.com Athletics-Africa www.athletics-africa.com/s/ Austin Fit www.austinfitmagazine.com California Track & Running News www.caltrack.com Club Running (RRCA) www.rrca.org/publications/ club-running Coaching Athletics Quarterly www.coachingathleticsq.com Colorado Runner www.coloradorunnermag.com Footnotes (Long Island, NY) www.glirc.org Get Active! & Club Business International www.healthclubs.com Hawaii Sport www.hawaiisportmag.com Latinos Corriendo www.latinoscorriendo.com Michigan Runner www.michiganrunner.net Missouri Runner & Triathlete www.morunandtri.com New England Exchange Zone www.usatfne.org Race Packet DC www.racepacket.com RunMinnesota www.runmdra.org Running Journal & Racing South www.running.net RunOhio www.runohio.com Track & Field News www.trackandfieldnews.com US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association www.USTFCCCA.org Winged Foot (NYC) www.nyac.org Winged M (Portland, OR) www.themac.com Youth Runner www.youthrunner.com www.ePodismo.com (Italy) www.ePodismo.com/USA www.HalfMarathon.net www.JumpingTheGun.com www.MarathonGuide.com www.RunBlogRun.com www.issuu.com/RunDenmark www.RunningProductReviews.com www.SlowTwitch.com www.WomenTalkSports.com www.WorldWideRunning.com

This 2015 Spring Shoe Review is produced independently

by FORTIUS Media Group, LLC for its partner publications and websites. All shoes reviewed were tested by experienced, competitive runners who were matched to the biomechanical purpose of each shoe model.

New Balance Fresh Foam Zante

Copyright © 2015 by FORTIUS Media Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be stored, copied, or reprinted without prior written permission of FORTIUS Media Group, LLC.

Motion Stabilizing

Neutral

Performance

Spring 2015

Spring 2015

Spring 2015

2015 Spring Shoe Review — 2 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

FORTIUS Media Group, LLC and its partner publications and websites suggest that, as with all fitness activities, you meet with a healthcare professional before beginning or changing your fitness regimen.

MOTION STABILIZING ASICS GT-2000 3

RENOVATION Spring 2015

120

$

Brooks Ravenna 6

Motion Stabilizing Spring 2015

110

The 2000 series has been a cornerstone in the ASICS running line because of its effectiveness for a wide variety of runners. Round 3 is an update that builds on the strengths of Round 2, while refining its components. The upper features new, lateral no-sew overlays, with stitched medial overlays that provide support while reducing the weight of the shoe. The addition of the Heel Clutch system (adopted from the Kayano) better secures the rearfoot. The midsole employs the same geometry, but the cushioning of the shoe is plusher, thanks to added Gel in the heel and adjustments to the two foam layers of the Fluid Ride system. The stability remains the same, as the medial seconddensity foam (Dynamic DuoMax) shores up the shoe effectively. The outersole has the usual adjustment—here the toe is filled medially, the shank is beefier, and the Guidance line is straighter—all in an effort to subtly stabilize the gait while maintaining both durability and ride. The upshot is that the GT-2000 3 will please fans of the shoe. Its ride, fit, and value earned it our award as Best Renovation.

“Fits well overall, nice fit on the heel. Feels true to size. Pretty cushy, better for long runs than for short, fast training.”

The Ravenna has been a successful franchise for the Brooks line, evidenced by earning a few awards in its time, thanks to its solid focus on stability and cushioning. Round 6 has a flashier new look and the chops to back it up. The upper is open mesh, supported by welded overlays, with synthetic leather at the toe to give it shape. A ghilley lace loop at the saddle continually adjusts the midfoot, effectively securing the foot into the heel, where new linings and foam have a much smoother feel than before. The midsole is twodensity BioMogo DNA, Brook’s proprietary foam, which has a smooth, cushy feel while avoiding the mushy ride that can accompany cushioning. The outersole is full-contact rubber (carbon in the rearfoot, blown rubber in the forefoot) that makes good on the stability that comes with the extra surface. The combination of fit, ride, and great price earned the Ravenna 6 our award for Best Shoe in the Motion Stabilizing category.

“Nice secure fit, does a good job of hugging the foot with a smooth interior. Stable feel and good cushiness to the ride.”

Hoka has a number of shoes that focus on maxing out the cushioning—the brand’s main focus. The Constant is a new shoe to the Hoka line and slots in as a motion stabilizing shoe. The upper is closed mesh, supported by welded suede overlays, that shapes the toebox, locks down the midfoot, and reinforces the eyestays. The tongue is asymmetrical, wrapping from the medial (inside) side to support the midfoot, and a TPU clip anchors the heel. The midsole is a combination of EVA and RMAT foam. A unique stabilizing second density of the RMAT pushes into the arch, while the rocker geometry and flare of the forefoot stabilize the foot at the late stage of the gait. The outersole is a full-contact design. A ring of rubber around the perimeter opens on the lateral side, and toughened EVA and RMAT fill the open areas. The Constant brings cushioning and stability to recovery days with more focus than Hoka has brought before.

“Good snug fit, but with enough room up front.

Gives good support and has a great feel. Really provides nice cushioning while still feeling stable and responsive.”

Now in its fifth iteration, the 860 remains the moderate stability shoe of the New Balance line, here with good updates from top to bottom. The closed mesh upper has welded overlays in the forefoot and a strip of synthetic leather shaping the toe. The midfoot is anchored by a lace/strap in the saddle, and stitched rearfoot overlays secure the heel.

A new asymmetrical heel counter bolsters the medial side without overbuilding the entire heel. The midsole continues with the two-layer setup introduced in Version 4, but with new tooling that offers better flexibility and contouring. The outersole is Ndurance carbon in the heel and blown rubber up front, each contributing its strength: durability and cushion. The improvements point to better performance, which is good news to New Balance fans and another choice for runners in need of more fit options.

“Felt secure all around. Room for my toes and the heel was well supported. Solid shoe for plenty of training.”

The Hurricane is the most vaunted shoe in Saucony’s running lineup; its update brings changes, some big and some minor. The upper is an open mesh with welded overlays.

More significant, however, is the new ISO fit system: a saddle of fingers that wrap the midfoot and adjust as the foot moves to offer a better fit than previous versions. The midsole has new geometry. It still features an 8mm heel-to-toe drop, but with a more substantial crashpad and a taller stack height for more cushioning. The outersole is little changed, but two things have been addressed. First, the medial heel outersole has added rubber beneath the second density of the midsole for stability. Second, the medial forefoot has a release groove at the first metatarsal for better flexibility at toe-off. These changes have increased the performance feel of the shoe. With its fit, ride, and stability, the Hurricane ISO has been upgraded from a very good shoe to an even better one.

“Love the new fit! Nice and secure, flexes well, stable. I have been really impressed with this update.”

$

Hoka One One Constant

160

$

New Balance 860 v5

115

$

Saucony Hurricane ISO

150

$

2015 Spring Shoe Review — 3 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

Updates the GT-2000 2 Sizes: Men 6–14,15,16,17 (B,D,2E,4E); Women 5–13 (2A,B,D,2E) Weight: 12.0 oz. (men’s 11); 9.8 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

Updates the Ravenna 5 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15 (D,2E); Women 5–12 (B,D) Weight: 12.9 oz. (men’s 11); 10.5 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–11 Weight: 11.5 oz. (men’s 11); 9.3 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: low- to medium-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

Updates the 860 v4 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15,16 (B,D,2E,4E); Women 5–12,13 (2A,B,D,2E) Weight: 11.7 oz. (men’s 11); 9.4 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

Updates the Hurricane 16 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15 (D,2E); Women 5–12 (B,D) Weight: 11.9 oz. (men’s 11); 9.8 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with mild to moderate overpronation

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO RUN:

Circus Clowns

Monday After Vacation

Zealot ISO

Step into shoes so comfortable, you can’t help but run in them. SAUCONY.COM/ISOSERIES

PERFORMANCE adidas adizero Tempo 7 Boost

The Tempo has been a reliable Performance shoe choice: It’s great for faster running with a touch of stability. The addition of Boost foam in this version is welcome news and constitutes a step up. The upper is completely redone: now open minimesh with traditional synthetic suede overlays and a new saddle design to anchor the midfoot. The tongue, employing a stretchy fabric, is gusseted to prevent it from slipping side to side.

The midsole is full-length Boost foam topped by a layer of EVA that’s thin on the lateral side, but forms an enclosed medial forefoot (called Stableframe) to stabilize the foot. The outersole is full-length Continental® rubber that’s thin, flexible, and durable. The sum of these parts equals another effective execution of the Boost technology and another versatile option for runners in need of solutions.

“Fits snug, but roomier than expected. The Boost midsole has a lively feel to it. Comfortable on my long or fast runs. Definitely a well-designed shoe.”

Ampla is a new brand, perhaps a catalyst for something different, as they’ve introduced a new technology. The upper is a closed micromesh, supported by welded overlays, that is close-fitting like a racing shoe. The midsole is two layers: a softer layer near the foot and a very firm layer near the ground. The technological shift—and the visual difference in the shoe—resides between the layers, where a carbon fiber shank sports a flange that protrudes below the sole, appearing to hang toward the ground. When running, the shank’s stiffness keeps the foot lined up while the angle of the sole acts as a proprioceptive cue to move the foot strike to the sweet spot. Internally, the carbon fiber extends to the big toe to encourage an efficient toe-off. The outersole is tough carbon rubber at both the heel and toe, and softer rubber where the flange contacts the ground.

While the effect is a faster feel, the shoe is really designed for neuromuscular training.

The label on its tongue says it all: “Stop not running right.”

“Snug overall, like a racer. The midfoot is stiff and holds my foot in a forward position that feels fast.

Running in it seems to train the foot so it can improve my running.”

With shoes designed to accommodate the 33 joints in the foot, the 33 series has been the most nimble of the ASICS running lines. The new 33 FA features the latest version of the Fluid Axis geometry first introduced in the Gel Lyte 33. Here it features a 4mm offset from heel to toe. The upper is open mesh with soft, sueded overlays that are welded for a smooth interior. The structure is minimal. The midsole is two layers: a Solyte cradle near the ground and a new compound, AmpliFoam, that sits atop the cradle near the foot.

While the AmpliFoam’s cushioning has been superior, it needs more structure, hence the cradle. The outersole is AHAR, ASICS’ abrasion-resistant rubber compound, which spreads over the shoe in pod-like segments. The rest of the sole is toughened foam. The outcome is a shoe that’s excellent for faster running, strengthening, and even as a regular training shoe to rotate into your routine.

“It has a very flexible and comfortable upper. I like the way the shoe flexes and moves with my foot. The flexibility of the toebox makes it very comfortable, almost slipper-like.”

At one time the Launch was nearly squeezed from Brooks’ line, but its attributes earned it a second chance. The Launch 2 is wholly new, its name and purpose the only constants.

The upper is open mesh, supported by welded overlays, and a synthetic leather toe bumper shapes the toebox. The interior is smooth, thanks to Lycra linings in the heel and tongue areas. With its visually appealing, vibrant colors, the two-tone mesh also allows the forefoot plenty of space, while snugging the midfoot securely. The midsole is Brooks’ DNA, so it’s well-cushioned without mushiness, protective yet responsive enough for faster running. The full-contact outersole is a combination of carbon rubber in the heel and blown rubber in the forefoot. The Launch 2 is an effective training shoe that’s light enough for faster running, yet durable enough for the long haul.

“Great snug fit from the heel to the arch, with a wide toebox, I love it! Good cushioning, but it runs plenty fast. I trained in it on all kinds of runs, and even a few races as well.”

New Balance has been pushing the innovation envelope with its Fresh Foam; the new Zante falls on the lighter and faster end of the spectrum. The upper is an open minimesh, with welded overlays, stitching kept to a minimum to do the job in the least restrictive way. The saddle is fashioned from a stiffer mesh, with minimal structure in the heel so it’s almost nonexistent. The lacing eyelets have been decoupled to both better secure and move with the foot, and the tongue is gusseted to keep it in place.

The midsole is 6mm geometry, combining cushioning and structure into the midsole where needed. The outersole is full-contact, with low-profile, hexagonal lugs molded for traction in the forefoot and contact in the heel. The blending of performance, cushioning, and economical price earned the Fresh Foam Zante our award for Best Shoe in the Performance category.

“Fits like a racer, and is light enough to be a race shoe, but cushy enough to be a day-to-day trainer.

It has been a great performer, and has a key spot in my shoe lineup.”

120

$

Ampla Fly

180

$

ASICS 33 FA

110

$

Brooks Launch 2

100

$

New Balance Fresh Foam Zante

Performance Spring 2015

100

$

2015 Spring Shoe Review — 4 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

Updates the adizero Tempo 6 Sizes: Men 7.5–13,14; Women 5–12 Weight: 11.8 oz. (men’s 11); 9.7 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 6–11 Weight: 11.6 oz. (men’s 11); 9.7 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

New Shoe Sizes: Men: 7–13,14,15; Women: 5–12 Weight: 10.4 oz. (men’s size 11); 8.5 oz. (women’s size 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, PU Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics, for faster-paced runs

Updates the Launch Sizes: Men 8–13,14,15; Women 6–11,12 Weight: 11.0 oz. (men’s 11); 9.0 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 5–11,12 Weight: 8.6 oz. (men’s 11); 7.0 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

PERFORMANCE Newton Distance IV

The Distance is Newton’s lightest training shoe—what they describe as a speed trainer.

Round 4 retains the geometry established across the line with the various Point of Pressure platforms; here it’s the POP1 configuration. The upper features different meshes in the forefoot and rearfoot, employing the same open mesh as the whole Version 3, but here only in the rearfoot. The vamp and tongue feature a new, closed mesh with less give to it, welded overlays, and a small toe bumper giving shape and a little structure to the forefoot. The midsole features the same 2mm geometry, cushioning, and performance as before. The outersole is also unchanged: rubber over the lugs and toe, the rear section just toughened foam. What results is an effective update, keeping what worked and nudging the progress forward with some upgrades.

“Good, roomy toebox, and they fit true to size.

The heel counter is stiff and supportive. The lugs are noticeable until a few miles into the runs, but they do work.”

Saucony has introduced a variety of effective performance shoes. The Breakthru is the first to feature the 8mm geometry of many of its mainline training shoes. The upper is a closed mesh with both traditional and welded overlays, and tailored for a good fit for a broad range of feet. The midsole is a blend of well-cushioned EVA and a full-length of Powergrid that adds snappiness to the ride, extending its effective range in the process. The mostly segmented outersole is lightened by the “missing” segments. The effectiveness of the shoe can be summed up this way: good durability and a smooth ride at a reasonable price.

“Nice, roomy forefoot with a no-nonsense heel and midfoot fit. Not super cushioned, but they can really handle the mileage—and they don’t weigh a lot either.”

The Zealot is the third of three shoes equipped with Saucony’s ISO technology, which is designed to provide a more secure fit. The Zealot is for faster running, while its brethren are for cushioning and for stability. The upper is closed mesh with welded overlays, and the strap-like ISO fingers adapt as the foot moves. The tongue is gusseted to allow the upper to conform to the foot without the tongue slipping from side to side, contributing to the excellent fit. The midsole is fairly firm, leaning toward the responsive end of the cushioning spectrum, rather than cushy, although it’s flexible enough to avoid a stiff feel. The outersole is segmented, which contributes to the shoe’s flexibilty. The traction is good, as is the sole’s durability. Its blend of clever design, responsive cushioning, and adaptable fit earned the Zealot our Best New Shoe award.

“The sheath-like construction is snug, and the eyelets on the lacing system are separate, allowing variable adjustment along the length of the foot, which makes for a good fit. Very nice on road and dirt. The tread pattern suits all types of running.”

Skechers has overcome some barriers with its serious approach to performance, and it’s been enhanced by the successes of its signature athletes. The GoRun 4 makes a quantum leap without abandoning its genetic roots, always a dilemma when updating a shoe. The upper is a step forward, with closed mesh, sublimated graphics, and welded overlays that contribute to an improved fit and updated look. The midsole features the same 4mm geometry, with a new midsole shaping that offers a better ride, while the midfoot’s new second density results in a better feel. The outersole is still largely toughened foam (the small round rubber buttons remain in the heel and forefoot), and the midfoot features larger rubber pods that have improved durability. These changes have upped the game of the GoRun, significantly improving what was an already good shoe.

“The stretchy upper flexes well with the foot, snugs up pretty well, and has enough support. The ride is pretty smooth and fast, worked well for my faster running. It has been a good shoe to reach for in my rotation, for a ‘kick up the pace’ run.”

155

$

Saucony Breakthru

100

$

Saucony Zealot ISO

NEW SHOE Spring 2015

130

$

Skechers GoRun 4

100

$

Updates the Distance III Sizes: Men 6–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight: 8.4 oz. (men’s 11); 6.7 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight: 10.2 oz. (men’s 11); 8.2 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 5–12 Weight: 11.8 oz. (men’s 11); 9.7 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

Updates the GoRun 3 Sizes: Men 6.5–13,14; Women 6–11 Weight: 10.1 oz. (men’s 11); 8.0 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, finished fabric Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics for faster-paced runs

NEUTRAL adidas Supernova Glide Boost 7

Neutral Spring 2015

The Supernova Glide 6 Boost proved to be a versatile, durable, and practical use of the new Boost technology. It maintains the effective chassis while turning its focus on the upper. The new upper has two aims: aesthetics (which are nice, but don’t affect performance) and fit. The new fit is effective, especially in the women’s shoe; the uppers in the male and female versions are different. In both, the stretch mesh flexes well and is also breathable without feeling too breezy in cool conditions. Minor tweaks to the overlays and saddle also do their parts in enhancing the fit. The effective midsole is unchanged: Boost foam topped with EVA to spread and stabilize the bounce. The outersole is the thin layer of tough Continental® rubber over the length of the full-contact bottom that has been so effective for grip and durability. The ride, durability, and value earned the Supernova Glide Boost 7 our Best Shoe award for Neutral shoes.

130

$

2015 Spring Shoe Review — 5 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

“The best thing about the fit is you don’t even notice it—hugs your foot perfectly. The cushioning is fantastic, my best shoe.”

Updates the Supernova Glide 6 Boost Sizes: Men 6.5–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight: 11.8 oz. (men’s 11); 9.7 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

NEUTRAL Mizuno Waverider 18

With any shoe, the goal is to please as many runners as possible. Consumer concerns about Round 17 have informed effective changes to Round 18. The upper construction has returned to a former technique, and the fit is better tailored in the midfoot: snug in the arch/instep with plenty of toe room. The midsole is firm but fairly flexible in the forefoot. A new polyurethane insole softens the feel a bit, but the firm ride is noticeable.

Increased toe spring both allows the foot to roll better through the gait and gives the shoe a more responsive feel. The outersole is unchanged. X-10 rubber in the heel and bevelled pods on the lateral forefoot smooth the transition. Overall, the shoe is a few grams heavier, but the fit, ride, and feel are more familiar to the franchise, so fans who didn’t love the 17 may recognize much in this version. Recent converts should also be pleased.

“Fit was good: roomy in the toes, snug heel, no friction problems. The ride was very firm, but the cushioning was pretty good. The shoe rolls well with the foot.”

The Fresh Foam Boracay is the update to the Fresh Foam 980, a combination of a new foam formulation and application of geometries by New Balance. This round focuses on nudging each area forward to arrive at a better product overall. The upper (an open mesh in Round 1), is now a closed but breathable airmesh that’s supported by a thin framework of welded overlays. The toe is surprisingly well-supported even without a toecap, the eyestays feature self-adjusting eyelets, and the neoprene tongue and foam ankle collar provide a plush, interior feel. The Fresh Foam midsole features the same 4mm geometry.

The sidewall cells have been altered to stabilize the shoe medially, while the lateral side cushions and directs the foot. This is possible, in part, because the one-piece, full-contact outersole (which is unchanged) allows the gait’s path to be chosen by the foot as the sole flexes to accommodate. The fit and ride have been elevated a notch, and while not for everybody, fans and future fans will find a lot to like.

“Really comfortable shoe to put on. It fits well— snug where needed, roomy where needed. The run is very smooth and lively for a cushion shoe.”

The Cloudster was introduced as the third model for On, a durable, high-mileage shoe with basic credentials. Round 2 keeps the chassis, while adding some zing to the rest of the shoe. The upper is closed mesh in the rearfoot, and stitching reinforces the heel counter and midfoot. The forefoot is a unique, four-way stretch fabric that adjusts with the foot without squeezing or irritation. The midsole is compression-molded EVA foam, with 7mm geometry—fairly firm—but it acts more as a platform for the “clouds” (the outersole lugs). The Cloud technology of the outersole provides the unique ride here; it varies with each runner’s stride, as the clouds compress and grip the teeth of the interior surfaces.

The addition of the stretch upper, combined with the proven midsole/outersole setup has succeeded in providing a responsive shoe that can manage high mileage with ease.

“Feels light on the foot, lighter than it actually is.

The fit is very accommodating, the stretch of the forefoot never restricts the foot, just supports it.

They were great for my longest runs—really held up well.”

The Triumph is Saucony’s flagship neutral shoe, so it’s fitting that it’s the model to debut its new ISO-fit technology. The upper is wide open mesh that’s supported by welded overlays, but the central focus is on the ISO-fit system, independent plastic fingers that replace the eyestay and flex with the foot to hold the midfoot firmly, though without discomfort. The tongue is gusseted to keep it from slipping sideways and causing irritation. The taller midsole has an additional 3mm of cushioning in the stack height without affecting heel-to-toe drop, which holds steady at 8mm. The full-contact outersole is a combination of carbon rubber in the heel and blown rubber in the forefoot. That’s similar to the previous version, but with additional release grooves to provide the foot with more freedom to flex at toe-off. The success of the update will be judged at the cash register, but the technical accomplishment has been, yes, a triumph.

“A sheath-like fit was great, even without the ISO-fit, but the flex with the foot made them even better. The ride was cushy enough that they became my mileage monsters.”

The new Gemini builds on Under Armour’s growing collection of shoes with molded textile uppers. This one is aimed at the runner who looks for deluxe cushioning. The upper is (very) open mesh and supported by welded overlays at the sides of the vamp that secure it to the heel. A thermoplastic toe bumper shapes the toe and gives the outersole an anchor point. In the back is an external thermoplastic heel counter. The midsole is charged foam, well-cushioned with two resilient densities that combine to provide a responsive ride. The outersole is full-contact—carbon rubber heel, blown rubber in the high-wear portions—and open areas along the length are exposed, toughened foam. The form fit is snug, so some runners may want to size up a half-size or more. The bounce, fit, and responsiveness make the Speedform Gemini a new shoe that’s worth serious consideration.

“They fit OK, but seem to run a little small. The cushioning is better than I’ve tried with Under Armour, I think they have it pretty well dialed-in.

It was a good shoe, but I think it will probably get better.”

120

$

New Balance Boracay

120

$

On Cloudster

130

$

Saucony Triumph ISO

150

$

Under Armour Speedform Gemini

130

$

2015 Spring Shoe Review — 6 — FORTIUS Media Group, LLC

Updates the Waverider 17 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15,16; Women 6–12 Weight: 10.9 oz. (men’s 11); 8.8 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

Updates the Fresh Foam 980 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15,16 (D,2E,4E); Women 5–11,12 (B,D) Weight: 10.5 oz. (men’s 11); 8.5 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

Updates the Cloudster Sizes: Men 8–12,13,14; Women 6–12 Weight: 12.4 oz. (men’s 11); 10.0 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to very mild overpronation

Updates the Triumph 11 Sizes: Men 7–13,14,15; Women 5–12 Weight: 11.4 oz. (men’s 11); 9.3 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: Strobel slip-lasted, EVA Strobel board Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics to mild overpronation

New Shoe Sizes: Men 7–13,14; Women 5–10,11 Weight: 11.0 oz. (men’s 11); 8.9 oz. (women’s 8) Shape: semicurved Construction: molded slip-lasted Recommended for: medium- to high-arched feet with neutral biomechanics

Š2014 New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.

SMOOTH

BY DESIGN.

With the Fresh Foam Boracay, data-driven design and intelligent geometries combine to create a smooth, continuous ride every time.

THIS IS #FRESHFOAM. THIS IS #RUNNOVATION.

WOMEN in ROAD RACING

LEADERSHIP

LIFTING THEIR CITIES Visionary Women Leading Midmajor Marathons Are Urban BoosterS By Dave Hunter

Patrice Matamoros

Peter Madia

This is the second of a three-part series which explores the emergence of talented women in leadership positions in the rapidly growing and evolving field of American road racing. Part I examined a trio of female leaders—and the evolution they are promoting—at three of the country’s largest marathons. Part II digs deeper into the realm of America’s “midmajor” marathons to review the work of three more accomplished women, who, while without the notoriety of their female counterparts heading up the country’s largest events, are nonetheless skillfully guiding broadbased, multifaceted, and influential urban-based running organizations that are thriving, and exerting a positive impact on the sport and their communities.

20 • ClubRunning Spring 2015 pring 2015

RRCA.org

These leaders aren’t based in the largest, glamour-oriented American cities. They don’t have the battalion of skilled personnel. They don’t operate with the muscle of well-funded budgets. Their races don’t feature worldclass athletes at the front of globally assembled fields. They don’t offer handsome prize money for their top performers. But Nancy Lieberman, Patrice Matamoros, and Iris Simpson-Bush, who are the corporate leaders, respectively, of the GO! St. Louis Marathon, the Pittsburgh Marathon, and The Flying Pig Marathon, are bringing an innovative, evolutionary approach to their race weekends and changing the face of the sport while simultaneously lifting the economic fortunes, the well-being, the spirit, and the self-esteem of the cities they serve.

Nancy Lieberman / President & Founder, GO! St. Louis Marathon / Coming Together

In 1997 Nancy Lieberman, at the age of 47, ran her first marathon. After running two more—one of which was the Boston Marathon— Lieberman returned to her native St. Louis and asked herself (and others) this question: “Why don’t we have something like this?” “I was really excited by what I saw,” she reveals. I was excited about the engagement of the city—the runners, the spectators, and sponsors all merging together in celebration of so many different things.”

Lieberman decided to do something about it. “I left my job in health care, which I’d had for 20 years, looking for an opportunity to do a similar type engagement of people all coming together to celebrate the best of this city—a cause, a runner’s fitness, or something,” she explains.

“I realized I had this passion for running and I wanted to put together a marathon, but more than a marathon. It was going to be more of an event for people, an event that would kind of have a different bent.”

Toiling to fill the void created when a smaller, local St. Louis marathon began to droop, Lieberman got right to work. The task wasn’t easy and posed some risks. “First of all, I didn’t take a salary that first year. There were four of us who pledged money out of our own bank accounts if I didn’t raise enough money to put the race on,” explains

Nancy Lieberman

RRCA.org

Courtesy of Go! St. Louis

Lieberman as she recalls those stress-filled early days. “I was fortunate enough to secure enough money to put the events on. We employed the St. Louis Track Club and got volunteers.” The inaugural year was like an advanced class in on-the-job training. “I really didn’t know anything about putting on a race,” she admits. “Except I had run three marathons, so at that time I certainly thought I knew everything,” she adds with a laugh. But she found help along the way. “I went to a road race management seminar and I realized that I didn’t know very much. I listened to [Boston Marathon race director] Dave McGillivray. He came out to help me. He helped me line up a course. And he became my mentor.”

Now a seasoned veteran with 15 years of leadership experience, the 65-year-old Lieberman has cultivated a crisply tailored vision that guides her. “Our vision is to get people of all ages, abilities, and lifestyles to engage in some kind of fitness event,” states the president and founder of GO! St. Louis, which hosted the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials for the women’s marathon. “We’re not about who’s the fastest and who’s #1. It’s about being inclusive in terms [of ] generations now and in terms [of ] demographics.”

The GO! St. Louis Marathon, the running of which “always dances around Easter during the first part of April,” has now evolved into a multi-event race weekend that offers a variety of event selections to capture all demographics. Saturday’s offerings—the read/write/run event for school-age children, the middle school milers, the “mature mile” for seniors, and a 5K race—attract over 13,000 entrants. And Sunday’s traditional marathon, half marathon, and marathon relay draw yet another 13,000 athletes.

While the Go! St. Louis Marathon is the centerpiece event, Lieberman and her charges have assembled a year-round race series that includes four additional events: a multidistanced Halloween event, the Cardinals Care 6K in memory of Stan “The Man” Musial, an All-American 5K on Father’s Day (complete with postrace apple pie and ice cream), and the GO! Missouri KT 82 (a Hood-To-Coast-like 82-mile distance relay from St. Louis to Missouri’s wine country).

With the national racing calendar offering an abundance of marathoning and road racing options every weekend of the year, successful races need to offer a distinctive alternative, providing special and varied experiences not readily available at other locations. “One of our distinctions is [that] our events are for the entire family. Many families will come to St. Louis where someone will run on Sunday, and the family will run on Saturday. So there are opportunities. St. Louis is a wonderful small town—although we think we’re a big town,” says Lieberman as she explains how St. Louis residents view their city of approximately 320,000 in a county with a population of just over 1 million. “And notwithstanding our size, there are so many cultural attractions: the Cardinals, the botanical garden, the science center, the zoo. And many of these are free or charge only minimal admission,” she explains. “We are a friendly town.

It’s easy to get around. Our course is a great tour of the city. We serve local, indigenous food—toasted ravioli from a local restaurant, Ted Drewes ice cream, Crown candy, Michelob Ultra. Our racers run by Busch Stadium, they see the Arch, they go by Anheuser Busch, they see St. Louis University, they go into Forest Park. So our marathon is a pretty great tour of our city. We try to make it all about St. Louis.”

Building on years of success and pressing to add new events and expand the race series’ reputation for inclusiveness, Lieberman hesitates to offer a precise vision of what the race series will look like in five years.

“I’m not exactly sure,” she confesses. “But I will say that we’ll be reaching out regionally to replicate some of the things that we do here in St. Louis.” And she candidly adds, “We want to be relevant. We’re not going to put on an event just to put on an event. “It’s got to fulfill our mission to help more people get healthy and well. It’s got to make sense to us.” In the wake of the race series’ ever-growing success, it’s pretty clear that the various running events of GO! St. Louis do make sense—not only to its race organizers, but also to its growing legion of participating runners.

Spring 2015 ClubRunning • 21

Patrice Matamoros / CEO, Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. / The Yellow Brick Road to Rejuvenation

In 2003, plagued by the city’s economic woes and the departure of its key title sponsor, the Pittsburgh Marathon (which had hosted the U.S. Olympic Trials for the men’s marathon just three years earlier) shut down operations, bringing the curtain down on its 18-year-old spring marathon. But after a five-year absence, the race reappeared. “In 2008 we had a press conference to announce that the marathon was going to come back for a 2009 running,” explains Patrice Matamoros. “I came on board in 2008 to plan the May 2009 marathon.”

Matamoros, who has now served as the CEO of Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc. for nearly seven years, will readily admit that neither she nor others leading this effort of race rejuvenation fully appreciated the magnitude of the task that lay ahead. “It was truly a startup effort organizationally. When I was asked to take on the marathon, my colleague Dee Staphis and I had a mutual friend who said to us, ‘Hey, Dee, this is going to be a blast. Why don’t you and Patrice work on this together?’ So we did.” The duo soon found that resuscitating the race was more difficult than they’d been led to believe. “The two of us basically worked the first five months for no pay until we could solidify sponsorships,” Matamoros soberly discloses.

Hard work led to some relief when sponsorship contracts with key corporate supporters, headed by Dick’s Sporting Goods, were finalized.

“Then I was able to reimburse myself for the event expenses that I put on my personal credit card and I was able to pay something small to myself and to Dee so we could continue on.” Slowly, the effort gained traction and, Phoenix like, the Pittsburgh Marathon began to rise from the ashes of its 2003 flame-out. “I was employed, and Dee was working as an independent contractor. But we had kind of collected people along the way that had something unique to offer,” explains Matamoros. And laughing on reflection, she adds, “It was kind of like the Wizard of Oz. We found people who had laid out the course before and others who had handled operations before, and they all came on board and began helping us as independent contractors. Another friend helped with PR.” With Matamoros in the lead, an unlikely confederation of passionate independent contractors and volunteers skipped down the yellow brick road to race day. “The right people came to us at the right time.”

And with a smile and a laugh, the CEO adds, “I always say the Red Sea parted for us on that first race day because it was an absolute miracle that we were able to pull it off that first year with the things that we didn’t know.” Shaking her head, she adds, “You don’t know what you don’t know until you do it. We showed up on race morning, and it was pretty wild.” How did the rejuvenated race’s first race day turn out? “At the end of the day, we thought, ‘Oh my gosh, we’re probably gonna be run out of town.’ We went back and looked online at the reviews of the marathon, and they were fantastic. We were like, ‘Holy cow!’”

Refining its execution in subsequent years, the Pittsburgh Marathon delivers a polished race program to its runners. While race weekend now features a 5K on the day before, the first Sunday in May is a cavalcade of running and fitness opportunities, including its centerpiece trio of the full marathon, the half marathon, and a five-person marathon relay. Sunday events now also include a pet walk and a gargantuan kids’ race of over 12,000. All in all, in 2014 Pittsburgh’s two-day celebration of running boasted approximately 40,000 participants.

Matamoros delivers Pittsburgh’s springtime running celebration to an army of running warriors with a lean full-time staff of less than a dozen dedicated workers. Married, with three teenagers, Pittsburgh’s CEO admits the obvious: “I’m a multitasker,” she proudly states. Does life for her and her management team resemble a state of perpetual sleep deprivation? “Yeah, pretty much,” she says with a laugh.

Pittsburgh’s CEO knows the positive impact of the marathon does more simply enhance the runners’ experience on race day, and she has the cold, hard data to back it up. “Three years ago when the race encom-

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passed only 30,000 participants, the direct economic impact of our race weekend on the greater Pittsburgh area was $8 million,” notes Matamoros, who has indicated that the economic impact study will soon be updated. “Now with 40,000 participants, the direct economic impact of the race weekend should easily exceed $10 million.”

Patrice Matamoros sees many ways by which the Pittsburgh Marathon differentiates itself from the crowded field of road racing options.

“We know you can go almost anywhere to get a shirt and a medal,” she admits, “but we’re a race with a soul. What’s different with us is we get that this is a lifestyle for our people who are running. It’s all about the runner. It’s all about what we can do to help make this a most memorable experience in their life.” And Matamoros notes the manner by which technology enhances and adds value to the experience. “We capture what they need and what they want, and we provide customer service. We do a personal media center, which is a virtual customer service center for any questions on race weekend. We provide 130 band acts this year on the course, together with ‘cheerathoners’ in addition to 13 neighborhood festivals. We’ve commissioned a local artist who’s created our official poster, which blends sport and art. We also will be working with the local hospitals, the Andy Warhol Museum, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America to add other important aspects to our race weekend.”

Pittsburgh’s 47-year-old leader doesn’t hesitate when asked about how the race will look in five years. “We think about merging the arts, the culture, music, and technology. I think Pittsburgh really has a backdrop for all of that. And that’s what we are seeing the synergy is [in],” Matamoros, points out. “We have unbelievable art museums here. We have unbelievable educational programs here with technology. We have the charitable component of Pittsburgh,” she notes. “We’ve become the fabric of Pittsburgh and our region within the last six years. We’re just going to strengthen those ties.” And the CEO sees an often-overlooked reason for runners to patronize Pittsburgh: “When you register with the Pittsburgh Marathon you can say, ‘I gave back’ because about $1 million of our race registrations go back to the community through a variety of programs.”

Iris Simpson-­Bush / Executive Director, The Flying Pig Marathon / Celebrating Community

The memories are fond for Iris Simpson-Bush as she reflects on the sequence of events that led her to the leadership role for a fledgling marathon in Cincinnati. “I heard someone was trying to bring a marathon to Cincinnati. I was excited personally since I’d run a few marathons and I thought it would be great to have a hometown marathon. I thought it would be great for our city.” After 30 years in broadcast sales, Simpson-Bush left her position with a local television station to join a group of local leaders pursuing a shared vision of founding a marathon for the Queen City. Simpson-Bush never looked back. “When you find yourself glancing back at the good old days and the way things used to be,” she reflects, “it’s probably time to go and create some new good old days.”

As an original board member of Cincinnati Marathon, Inc., Simpson-Bush was part of the early brain trust that undertook detailed planning for the inaugural race in 1999. The board made a decision early on that proved to be instrumental to the embryonic race’s theme, brand, and ultimately, its impressive success. “We all felt that that name [The Cincinnati Marathon] wasn’t going to cut it as the way to attract others,” she reveals. “We did think it was a bit of risk to name ourselves The Flying Pig,” states Simpson-Bush, noting that Cincinnati, a leading meat-processing center in the 1800s, was once actually known as Porkopolis. “As you well know, running a marathon is a very serious undertaking. You invest hundreds of hours and miles. And if we were going to be a truly successful marathon, we had to attract people from other cities. Cincinnati is not necessarily a destination city. We think it’s a great city. And many people tell us, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s a wonderful town.’ We are rather small, very navigable. We have Major League Baseball, an NFL team, a world-renowned symphony, very vibrant arts. So it’s a city that has a lot to offer.” And with a serious delivery, Simpson-Bush lays out the challenge the naming decision presented. “Are we going to be able to attract

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Paula Norton

others by calling ourselves The Flying Pig? Will they trust us to take the race seriously since we do everything else with tongue in cheek? And with a relaxed smile, Simpson-Bush concedes, “It was a risk. But in hindsight, I would call it a stroke of genius.”

The rest is history. The funky, festive name was an immediate success. Everybody got it. “Suddenly,” says the Pig leader, “we had a name that was very brandable.” Before long, Fast Company named The Flying Pig as one of the top 10 best brand names in the country. Runners World called The Flying Pig “one of the most fun marathons.” Simpson-Bush understands now what a transformational moment the naming decision turned out to be. “When we came on the scene, we were one of the first ‘thematic’ marathons. Hundreds of races have now taken the act of running and added these fun elements. We were fortunate to come on the scene at the beginning of that phenomenon. And now it’s [an] integral part of running. It’s a very important reason running has grown, not only in our market, but across the nation.”

Iris Simpson-Bush, who in 2002 ascended to the top position as The Flying Pig’s executive director, took energy from that early naming decision and, well, she’s run with it. On the eve of its 17th running, The Flying Pig has evolved into a weekend festival for the city once known as Porkopolis. The flagship weekend, always the first weekend in May, now offers many events. Friday evening kicks off with a 1-mile run. Saturday features a 5K, a 10K, a diaper dash for wee ones, a 2-mile dog run known, of course, as “The Flying Fur,” and an incremental youth program that features a toddler division known as—wait for it—The Piglets.

Not unlike many road racing organizations, The Flying Pig has spread its porcine wings and now offers a year-round array of racing opportunities. Drawing on Cincinnati’s heritage as a regional brewing center, The Flying Pig has embraced a beer-themed race series to complement its inaugural marathon weekend. There’s an Octoberfest race in the fall, a Bockfest event in March, and one of the local breweries is the

Iris Simpson-Bush

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name sponsor for the Little Kings Mile during The Flying Pig race weekend. Runners competing in all three Beer Series events are crowned Brew Hogs, receive a commemorative mug and race medals both of which double as functional bottle openers.

While fun bordering silliness prevails, Simpson-Bush has taken care to ensure that the whimsical tinge to The Flying Pig Marathon and its emerging race series doesn’t allow deviation from the race’s carefully-crafted three-prong mission statement. “First of all, the mission from the very beginning was to put on a premier event for athletes of all abilities. I think with all of the distances and all of the divisions we have, we feel very good that we can say we now do indeed have something for athletes of all abilities and people who just aspire to be an athlete.

“Secondly, we’re not-for-profit and we raise money for charities. I get to work with a couple of hundred charities. They are all worthwhile causes armed with dedicated people working hard for whatever their cause may be. That’s pretty inspiring as well.” And with a sense of pride, the executive director adds, “We now raise well over $1 million a year for those charities, so that can be pretty gratifying.”

“And the third part of our mission is celebrating community,” she explains. “I now think the Pig has become a real icon in our community. It’s the support of our city leaders, our police, firefighters, first responders—just the community at large—that gives the Pig some of its uniqueness and why I think so many people return. We get participants from all 50 states and 18 foreign countries. They return every year, and the city benefits greatly from that.” Drawing attention to the periodic economic impact analysis performed for the race by Xavier University, Simpson-Bush notes, “Our economic impact is conservatively estimated at over $12 million a year.”

The Flying Pig’s leader can quickly cite what makes her signature event and its emerging race series so distinctive. “I think what makes our race unique is the fun aspect combined with the well-organized execution of the event,” states Simpson-Bush without hesitation. “We’re told all the time we’re one of the best-organized and well-run events that our participants have ever attended. We work very, very hard to make sure all of our participants’ needs are met. The community support—the parties, the residents along the course—and the large charity component also play large roles.” And with a knowing smile, she adds, “If you can manage the fun aspect, but never at the expense of a well-executed event, people notice it. It does kind of set you apart.”

The 64-year-old executive director is upbeat when she looks into the future for what has become a true race series for The Flying Pig Marathon. “I think [the race series] will continue to grow, in large measure because of its accessibility,” she predicts. Noting the signature event will celebrate its 20th running in 2018, she adds, “I think the Pig is here to stay. I think the presentation will be in the same fashion as is it is now. We don’t feel the need to add much more. I’m optimistic about its growth.

The sport of running is growing here and across the nation.

“We try to make our participants—regardless of the distance—feel that from the start line to the finish line, they’re in good hands and we’re trying to help them achieve their personal goal.” And after a momentary pause, she smiles and adds, “And we do it with fun.”

Lieberman, Matamoros, and Simpson-Bush realize their respective racing weekends will never be on the World Marathon Majors circuit; they don’t generate record-setting performances; nor are they glittering, elite, solemn events attracting worldwide attention within the sport of road racing. However, they continually witness that their regional events do much to advance fitness, ingrain healthy nutritional practices, promote self-esteem, celebrate and lift community spirit, and deliver a significant direct economic impact which substantially aids all sectors of the cities they serve. And they know, in the end, those are the accomplishments that really matter.

Dave Hunter, who ran his marathon PR of 2:31:40 on the revered Boston Marathon course back in the Paleozoic Era, is a track & field announcer, broadcaster, and journalist. Learn more at www.trackandfieldhunter.com

Spring 2015 ClubRunning • 23

Championship Spotlight

2014 RRCA Championship Event Series Recap

By Jean Knaack The RRCA Championship Event Series is one of the oldest distance running traditions in the U.S., dating back to 1958 when the RRCA awarded its first championship designation. The goal of the RRCA Championship Event Series is to shine a spotlight on well‐run events and to promote the sport of running by recognizing the top performing runners in the Open, Masters (40+), Grand Masters (50+), and Senior Grand Masters (60+) age categories for both men and women as RRCA champions.

In 2014, the RRCA Championship Event Series included 170 races at the state, regional and national level that attracted over 300,000 runners nationwide, making it the largest grassroots‐organized, running event series in the U.S. RRCA championship events receive sponsorship support from the RRCA,

Gatorade as the official beverage of the series, Ashworth Awards as the official award provider for the series; Sports Authority as the presenting sponsor of the series, and CoolMax as a supporting sponsor.

In 2014 the RRCA supplied over 83,000 championship-branded race numbers to events, and Ashworth Awards developed our wildly popular RRCA Championship medals that were given to all RRCA champions at the state, regional, and national levels. Over 1,360 medals were given out during the year to reward distance runners.

For 2015, the RRCA has designated over 200 RRCA championship events at the state, regional, and national level. You can find RRCA championship events by using the QR code to the left or at www.rrca.org/ calendar/find-event/

55&$ 0LOH &KDPSLRQV &ODULÀHG As our sport does not have one standard method for posting race results, we erred in pulling results for the Genworth VA 10 Mile Race as reported in the last issue of Club Running. The following individuals are the 2014 RRCA 10 Mile Grand Masters and Senior Grand Masters Champions. We regret the error.

Congratulations to the 2014 RRCA National 10 Mile Champions GRAND MASTER Mike Bailey (56, Cross Lake) 1:06:22 Robin Steckley (56, Forest, VA) 1:16:30 SENIOR GRAND MASTER Mark Whisler (64, Salem, VA) 1:13:02 Amy Rockhill (62, Roanoke, VA) 1:33:13

2015 RRCA National Marathon Championship Mississippi Blues Marathon, Jackson, MS • Jan. 10, 2015 On Jan. 10 more than 3,000 runners from all 50 states braved 20-degree temperatures to take part in the 8th Annual Mississippi Blues Marathon, the RRCA National Marathon Championship. The race was also named by Runner’s World magazine as one of the top 10 Marathons for 2015 and was sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi.

This year’s race featured the full marathon, half marathon, and quarter note (10.5K distance) events, as well as a kids’ one-mile Congratulations to the 2015 RRCA National Marathon Champions

MASTERS Thomas Smith (47, Wethersfield, CT) 2:49:33 Nadine Hamilton (47, Allentown, PA) 3:31:11 GRAND MASTERS Peter Beauvais (53, Desoto, TX) 3:07:40 Vicki Bentley-Condit (57, Grinnell, IA) 3:53:42 SENIOR GRAND MASTERS Larry Unger (63, Lincoln, MA) 3:38:59 Dorothy Lupariello (60, Shelton, CT) 5:01:04

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was the first female to finish in 2:57:39.

The Mississippi Blues Marathon honors musicians who’ve made history over the years.

To support the state’s rich blues heritage, the marathon donates a portion of its proceeds each year to the Blues Foundation and the Blues Musicians Benevolent Fund to provide financial support to blues musicians in need.

Compiled from information from the Clarion Ledger and www.MSbluesmarathon.com Blair Ball Sports Photographer

OPEN Jay List (37, Holland, NY) 2:41:34 Kari Elliott (34, Calgary, Canada) 2:57:39

fun run. The race started and finished at the Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art, making it a spectator-friendly course. The marathon course took runners on a scenic tour of the Capitol city, passing historic landmarks, centers of education, and numerous residential areas. Participants often described the course as hilly, with a change of 950 ft. in elevation.

Runners got a taste of authentic Mississippi Blues with live music around the course. The race is a favorite for marathon maniacs and half fanatics seeking to run in all 50 states.

Jay List, age 37, of Holland, NY took first place in the marathon with a time of 2:41:34, while Kari Elliott, age 34, of Calgary, Canada

2015 RRCA

Distance Running

Hall o f F ame Inductees

Compiled by Mitchell Garner

45th Class Includes Sara Mae Berman, Jack Daniels, Phil Stewart

Since 1971 the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) has honored dedicated individuals for their contributions and service to the sport of distance running through its National Distance Running Hall of Fame. We’re delighted to announce the 2015 inductees, who were honored at the RRCA National Running Awards Banquet and Ceremony on Sat., April 25 in Des Moines.

Sara Mae Berman Pioneer, Marathon Champion, Women’s Running Advocate Sara Mae Berman is a distinguished American distance runner. She was born in the Bronx, New York on May 14, 1936. Her family later moved to Manchester, NH, where she grew up. She went to college at the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design.

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SARA MAE BERMAN

Berman came from a generation in which women were not encouraged to be athletic, especially after having children. Her journey as a runner started when her husband, Larry, whom she married in 1955, suggested that through running she could become a pioneer in the sport of women’s distance running and get back into physical shape after having had three children. Relying on training guides by Dr. Ernst van Aachen, Arthur Lydiard, and Dr. David Costill, Larry became her first coach.

In the ’50s, women weren’t considered strong enough to run long distances, and the longest distance women were allowed to compete in was 200 meters. Berman, however, was attracted to longer distances.

She, along with a group of female runners, actively campaigned for equal rights for women in the sport of distance running. Berman also trained in the fall and winter for cross country skiing. After the 1968 Winter Olympics, she was named to the first-ever women’s National Nordic Ski Team.

Berman’s running accomplishments are impressive. She competed in her first road race in June 1964 as an unofficial entrant in the 5-Mile Handicap Race in Marlborough, MA. Just seven years later, she’d won the Boston Marathon three times, before women were recognized as

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official participants (1969 in 3:22:46; 1970 in 3:05:07 (an unofficial course record, bettering the previous record by more than 16 minutes and finishing in the second-best time in the U.S. that year; and 1971 in 3:08:30). In 1970, she won the first RRCA Women’s Marathon Championship in Atlantic City, NJ, besting a field of six female starters with a time of 3:07:10. That same year, she finished third in the inaugural New York City Marathon women’s division. In 1971 she turned in a personal-best marathon time of 3:00:35 at the Plodders Marathon in Brockton-and-Avon, MA. Her accomplishments in the sport, however, extend well beyond the race course. Berman was the first female RRCA officer, serving as vice president for 1966–67. In the 1960s, she was one of the original road race course certifiers in New England. She certified the ’67 Boston Marathon course so it would be accurately measured, enabling runners to qualify on the course for the ’68 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. Her work as a race course certifier played a pivotal role in legitimizing the sport of distance running and making records verifiable across the U.S. Berman and her husband constituted one of the original running couples in the United States. In 1962, they founded the Cambridge Sports Union (called the Metropolitan Athletic Club until the late ’60s), the first competitive sports club in New England for men and women.

The club provides training for endurance sports, including running, cross country skiing, and orienteering (including ski orienteering).

Berman attributes her success to her husband, who believed that she could succeed in running and other endeavors. She and Larry have three adult children and currently live in Cambridge, MA. Jack Daniels Olympic Medalist, Coach, Author Jack Daniels was born in Detroit on April 26, 1933. He’s a professor of physical education and a coach of Olympic athletes. He received his Ph.D. in exercise physiology from the University of Wisconsin– Madison.

Daniels first achieved prominence in athletics as a member of the ’56 and ’60 U.S. Olympic teams. He’s a two-time Olympic medalist in the modern pentathlon, winning a silver medal at the ’56 Melbourne Olympics and a bronze medal at the ’60 Rome Olympics. The modern pentathlon combines fencing, pistol shooting, swimming, equestrian show jumping, and cross country running. Despite Daniels’ prowess in the various disciplines that constitute the modern pentathlon, his weakest event was running. He wanted to find out why, and so he decided to study the sport. “I wanted to be a runner,” he said.

In the mid-’90s, Daniels was named “World’s Best Coach” by Amby Burfoot of Runner’s World magazine. Over the course of his coaching career, Daniels has trained or advised a variety of America’s

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Couresy of Jack Daniels

After college, he competed in races in the Washington, DC area, where he emerged as one of the area’s top runners. In ’74 he placed third in the National Amateur Athletic Union’s 50-mile race in New York. In ’75 he was the first Washington, DC–area finisher in the Boston Marathon, posting an excellent time of 2:19:58. He qualified for and participated in the ’76 Olympic Marathon Trials.

In ’77, he placed 15th at the Boston Marathon.

Stewart received notoriety in 1979 when he took the dramatic photos of President Jimmy Carter’s collapse during a 10K road race at Camp David. The photos were published in Sports Illustrated, Time, People magazines, and other publications. Stewart received an Honorable Mention in the “News Picture Story” category from the National Press Photographers Association. Stewart was a cofounder of Running Times magazine (1977), one of the

finest runners, including Jim Ryun, a three-time Olympian and world recordholder; Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first women’s Olympic marathon; two-time Olympian Ryan Hall, America’s fastest marathoner; Sara Hall; Ken Martin and Jerry Lawson, both sub-2:10 marathoners; Peter Gilmore, Amy Hastings, Ryan Shay and Alicia Shay of the McMillan Elite Team; and many others.

Daniels outlined his training philosophy in his book, Daniels’ Running Formula, first published in 1998. The third edition of this popular training book came out in 2013. Although he has coached both men and women, Daniels believes in treating the athletes he coaches the same way. The only difference is that women, in his view, seem more enthusiastic and willing to learn. After testing female runners over the years, he found that despite having a lower VO2 max (maximum capacity to transport and use oxygen during exercise), female runners are just as efficient as male runners and can handle the same amount of training. Rather than finding differences between males and females, Daniels focuses on training the individual.

In 2007 after a long coaching stint at the State University of New York at Cortland, Daniels became the head distance coach at the Center for High Altitude Training at Northern Arizona University. When the center closed Daniels coached at Brevard College until 2012. In 2013, he became the cross country coach at Wells College in Aurora, NY. In his coaching career with the State University of New York, Daniels coached 30 individual Division III NCAA national champions, 8 NCAA team national champions, and 130 All-Americans. In recognition of his coaching achievements, he was named NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year three times and NCAA Division III Coach of the Century.

Daniels currently lives in Flagstaff, AZ, but resides in New York during the fall to coach cross country at Wells College.

Phil Stewart Publisher, Race Director, Administrator, Emcee Phil Stewart is a lifelong supporter of the RRCA. He’s the current editor and publisher of the Road Race Management newsletter and the Road Race Management Directory of the Running Industry. In addition, through his company, Road Race Management, Inc., he organizes the annual Road Race Management Race Directors’ Seminar & Trade Exhibit, an annual sport-wide industry gathering.

Stewart began running in his junior year of high school at Washington, DC’s Woodrow Wilson High School and never stopped. He placed second in the Washington, DC city meet in the mile (1968), and his personal-best mile time of 4:31.4 stood as the school record for 20 years.

He graduated with a BA in history from Carleton College in Northfield, MN, where he was captain of the cross country team and recipient of the school’s award for excellence in cross country.

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Dennis D. Steinauer

JACK DANIELS

PHIL STEWART

two nationally circulated running magazines. Over the years, he’s had prominent leadership roles in running organizations, including president of the DC Road Runners Club, vice president of administration of the RRCA, treasurer of the United States Track & Field Association (formerly TAC) Men’s Long Distance Running Committee, and member of the USATF’s board of directors.

Stewart has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to the sport of distance running, including the USATF President’s Award, the 2006 RRCA Browning Ross “Spirit of the RRCA” Award, the RRCA Journalistic Excellence Award, induction into the DC Road Runners Club Hall of Fame, and member of the advisory board of the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.

Stewart is currently event director of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile, the premier springtime running event in Washington, DC. The event is part of the Professional Road Running Organization World Championship Circuit and is continually rated as one of the outstanding races in America.

Stewart is also a frequent emcee at awards ceremonies and press conferences, in part because of his vast knowledge of the people and happenings in the sport. He currently provides commentary for the Gasparilla Distance Classic (Tampa), the Quad-City Times Bix 7 Mile (Davenport, IA), the Utica Boilermaker 15K (Utica, NY), and the ACLI Capital Challenge (Washington, DC).

He still regularly competes as a runner and finished the 2014 Berlin Marathon with a time of 3:40:29. He lives in Bethesda, MD and has two children, Mark and Anna.

Spring 2015 ClubRunning • 27

Program Spotlight

New Runner Friendly Community® Designations The goal of the RRCA’s Runner Friendly Community program is to shine a national spotlight on communities that stand out as runner-friendly and to provide incentives and ideas for communities to work toward becoming runner friendly communities. Runner Friendly Communities improve the quality of life, increase physical activity for residents as outlined in the National Physical Activity Plan, and exert a positive economic impact on the community.

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FLINT, MI

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LAKELAND, FL

DETROIT, MI

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Congratulations to the following Runner Friendly Communities which were recently designated by the RRCA. LAKELAND, FLORIDA With a population of 97,422, Lakeland is the largest city along Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando. It’s home to the Publix supermarkets headquarters, one of the largest regional grocery store chains in the country, as well as the city’s biggest employer. Fittingly, the dominant feature in Lakeland are the city’s many lakes, including 38 that are named and many others that are not.The centerpiece is Lake Hollingsworth, the city’s largest lake, which is surrounded by a 2.85-mile multiuse trail. The lake’s central location and picturesque setting results in it being used by over 2,000 people a day. Several water fountains are located along the city’s 20+ miles of pedestrian networks along with community restrooms. Parking is available near pedestrian networks (trail head parking lots), and the city ensures the trails are well lit and well marked. Whenever issues arise involving the trails or sidewalks, the City Works department is quick to address them. The city has a strategic plan in place to extend its trail network.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department does a good job of scheduling the venues for local running events. City employees are easy to work with and give longstanding events priority in scheduling. The Lakeland Runners Club (LRC), which submitted the application, has a great relationship with local police. Lakeland officers are accommodating in the permitting process for events and with securing officers to keep events safe.

The LRC is committed to fostering youth running in the community. The club is responsible for bringing cross country to Polk County middle schools, which previously had no program. The LRC established a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to graduating high school seniors who participated in cross country or track & field. The LRC’s Kids Running Program has been a huge success and averages 50–75 children per week during the year, serving children ages 5–12.

Program director Grace Owen was recently named Outstanding Youth Program Director of the Year by the RRCA.

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The Lakeland running community has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years, largely due to the efforts of the LRC and FITniche, the local running specialty store. Both have contributed greatly to the local community by putting running at the forefront and making it something that residents want to do. In 2010, the LRC’s membership ranged between 200–250 members. Now its membership stands between 600–650, and its average age is dropping. The LRC’s hope is to create a running community that continues to replenish itself and promotes a healthy and active lifestyle for Lakeland residents.

“Over many years of implementation and coordination with the Polk County Transportation Planning Organization, Lakeland’s local pedestrian system is built on the concept of the 5 Es: Education, Engineering, Encouragement, Enforcement, and Evaluation,” said R. Howard Wiggs, Lakeland’s mayor. “The City of Lakeland has demonstrated it has a positive relationship with the running community by meeting all the criteria established by the Road Runners Club of America.”

Community leaders who provided support and letters of recommendation include Mayor Howard Wiggs; Richard Perez, Lakeland city planner; Rich Wills, FITniche owner; Hans Lehman, lieutenant, Lakeland Police Department; Chris McArthur, general manager, Black and Brew Coffee House; and Mitchell Harvey, owner, Mitchell’s Coffee House.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN Detroit is the 18th-largest city in the U.S., with a population of over 700,000 within the city limits and close to 5.2 million people in the greater metro area. The presence of automotive giants Ford, General Motors, Dodge, and Chrysler made Detroit a major manufacturing hub for much of the 20th century. However, the recent financial struggles of these companies have reverberated thoughout the city and its residents.

As Detroit works to emerge from difficult economic circumstances,

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many of the strategies, partnerships, and innovative ideas it’s employing can be seen in what makes it a Runner Friendly Community. Detroit is America’s great comeback story, a city on the upturn.

One of the best places to run in Detroit is the Riverfront Pathway.

Located along the Detroit River that flows through the heart of the city, the pathway currently includes more than 4 miles of lit pathway, with plans to extend it to 5.5 miles by 2016. Beginning in 2003, a substantial portion of the Dequindre Cut, an old Grand Trunk Western Railroad Line, was converted into a green pathway, ideal for running, and cycling.

Additionally, Belle Isle, a 900-acre park located in the middle of the Detroit River has more than 6 miles of roadway that include a pedestrian and bike lane. Clean Downtown, a Downtown Detroit Partnership program, provides litter and graffiti control, the continuous cleaning and sweeping of 39 miles of sidewalk, landscape maintenance of parks and green space covering the equivalent of 15 football fields, and supports events that attract millions of people to downtown annually.

Area businesses such as Fifth Third Bank and runDetroit, the local specialty running store, sponsor races, allow local running clubs to use their facilities, and offer discounts on purchases. The Detroit Free Press, the region’s main newspaper, sponsors the city’s 37-year-old marathon in conjunction with Talmer Bank. The Detroit Free Press Marathon boasts more than 20,000 participants, making it one of the larger marathons in the Midwest. The Free Press also covers major running events such as the 10,000-participant St. Patrick’s Day Parade Corktown Race.

Other events are covered by a variety of regional running publications, including Michigan Runner.

The Motor City Striders, an RRCA member club, has been in existence for more than 56 years, along with the 30-year-old Downtown Runners and Walkers, who submitted the Runner Friendly Community application. Despite some harsh winters, running events are held in the city year-round. The city’s leadership is good about issuing permits for events that have proof of insurance, along with a well-thoughtout course plan. The Police Department recognizes the importance of running events and provides patrol support during races. Downtown Detroit is blanketed with security provided by the pooled resources of Project Lighthouse, a public-private partnership involving Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, FBI, Customs and Border Patrol, state, county, and city police departments, and private security companies.

“Detroit running is branded with an urban experience like no other city,” said Khalil Mogassabi, head of the Urban Design & Sustainability Initiatives for the city. “The beginning of any race event in Detroit is made warm and welcoming with the cheering crowds and encouragement from residents and volunteers. Runners who come to Detroit will cherish their experience and want to come back again and again.”

Community leaders who provided support and letters of recommendation include Mogassabi; Dave Beachnau, executive director, Detroit Sports Commission; Jack C. Riley, senior vice president and marketing director, Fifth Third Bank; Doug Kurtis, vice president, Downtown Runners and Walkers; and Justin Craig, co-owner, runDetroit, a running specialty retailer.

FLINT, MICHIGAN Located along the Flint River, 66 miles northwest of Detroit, Flint has a population of 102,434, making it the 7th-largest city in Michigan.

Flint and Detroit are not only geographically close, but they share a similar recent economic history. Once a powerful center of automotive manufacturing, Flint and its residents have been greatly affected by the

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industry’s struggles. While recovery from this hardship has come in fits and starts, some of the most innovative and creative policies, including infrastructure development, are what make Flint a Runner Friendly Community.

Over the last few years, Flint has installed designated bike lanes and multi-use paths along many of its downtown thruways and along the Flint River corridor, providing runners and walkers a safe infrastructure to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Recently, the city developed and adopted a comprehensive plan, the “Master Plan for a Sustainable Flint.”

The plan includes additional trail networks and sidewalk developments that will incorporate best-practice design guidelines to ensure residents are provided with a safe, convenient running and walking infrastructure. Development of two new multi-use trails identified in the plan is already under way, the Grand Traverse Greenway and the Genesee Valley Trail. These trails connect to the regional trail network. Flint is in the process of developing a Complete Streets ordinance to further enhance the city’s walking, running, and biking infrastructure. Evidence of the plan’s commitment can be seen in increased lighting and emergency call boxes along pedestrian paths, traffic signals geared toward pedestrians, more pedestrian signage, and improved crosswalks.

The Riverbend Striders has been providing Flint area runners and walkers a year-round schedule of events for over 45 years. The club, along with the Crim Fitness Foundation, submitted the Runner Friendly Community application. The local running community hosts 23 running and walking events each year. The Crim Fitness Foundation hosts 10 of these, including the popular annual HealthPlus Crim Festival of Races, which provides participants of all ages and abilities the opportunity to run or walk. The festival is seen as one of Flint’s premier annual events, consisting of nearly 16,000 participants, 3,000 volunteers, and 50,000 spectators for the Teddy Bear Trot, Michigan Mile, 5K, 8K, and 10-mile courses. Crim partners with city officials, churches, universities, parks, and local businesses to make this happen. Residents are afforded additional running and walking opportunities throughout the year with Crim’s popular adult training program, which boasts more than 1,000 participants annually, the grassroots race series, and the CrimFit youth program.

The local broadcasting stations are supportive of running events, training programs, and other health and wellness initiatives throughout Flint. Many of the media outlets sponsor Crim events and provide in-kind services such as public service announcements, event coverage, event promotion, and graphic design.

“We are all in,” said Dayne Walling, mayor of Flint. “Increasing awareness of our running culture and infrastructure in Flint means better health outcomes, more community programming, events, and greater use of our infrastructure for running, walking, and biking. Through meaningful collaboration, Flint and its community partners can ensure all residents have a welcoming place to run, walk, and play.”

Community leaders who provided support and letters of recommendation include Mayor Dayne Walling; Mark Bauman, owner, Bauman’s Running and Walking Shop; Curtis Thompson, owner, Complete Runner; and John and Anne Gault, co-owners, Gault Race Management.

Apply today to have your community designated as an RRCA Runner Friendly Community! Learn more at http://www.rrca.org/programs/ runner-friendly-community/

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Training Tips

FUNdamentals of Youth Running It’s great to see so many children getting into running for health and fitness benefits, and many are enjoying it as a competitive sport as well. To help parents, race directors, and program directors, the RRCA promotes the following guidelines for youth running. These guidelines are based on the 10 developmental principles that guide training and racing for young distance runners as outlined in the book Training for Young Distance Runners by Larry Greene, PhD and Russ Pate, PhD, published by Human Kinetics.

1. Make Running Fun First and foremost, running should be fun. Don’t use running as a punishment. Encourage children to participate and try their best. It’s okay for children to walk if they’re participating in a running activity or event.

2. Emphasize Good Technique Teach youth good form early and eliminate bad habits like excessive arm movement, twisting of the upper body, or overstriding.

Dan Reichmann

3. Focus on Participation and Self-­Improvement In grade school, running should be about participation and developing a healthy lifestyle, not about being the fastest kid in the school or program. Save competition for middle- and high school–aged students.

4. Consider Individual Differences Avoid a one-size-fits-all running program. Accommodate differences in abilities within the group. Children mature, both physically and emotionally, at different rates, and this factors into their ability to participate in running. If children love running, let them run a distance they’re comfortable with, over a 30–45 minute period for grades K–6.

For some children, this may be 2–5 miles. Keep in mind that children should get at least 60 minutes of exercise daily to maintain a healthy body, and running is the perfect exercise for children.

5. Limit Systematic Training and Competition Before Puberty Before puberty, children are rapidly growing and changing. Excessive (more than 60 minutes), systematic training may interfere with normal growth and cause injury in a child, especially if pushed beyond their

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own limits by an adult. Between ages 3–9, encourage regular exercise, which can include organized running for fun as outlined in the Kids Run the Nation program guide. Around ages 8–12, children may enjoy participation in an organized running program that has a more systematic training environment that lasts 2–3 months. Around age 12 for girls and 14 for boys, key developmental changes enable them to slowly increase training distance and duration, leading to participation in a systematic and competitive training environment.

6. Increase Running Workload Gradually Running workload includes volume (distance), intensity (speed or effort), and frequency (number of days per week). As with adult running training, children should start a running program with a low volume and low intensity and limit frequency to a couple of days a week. Workload should increase over the program’s duration, but should remain appropriate for the individual student.

7. Participate in Age-­Appropriate Running Events Running in a kids’ fun run or youth track event can be a great experience for kids. For children age 5 and under, focus on “dash” events that range from a few yards to one mile. For children over 5, kids’ fun runs that are ½ –2 miles long may be considered, but allow for a combination of running and walking. Children age 6 and over may want to participate in a 5K run/walk. Be sure to allow for walking in a 5K and let them go at their own pace. Children ages 13–15 and older may want to participate in a 10K to half marathon event. Those over 18 may want to participate in a marathon or longer distance. These are general guidelines, and the distance a child can physically and emotionally tolerate depends on the individual; however, longer distances (over 10K) should be postponed until after puberty.

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