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Running for clean water Ohio man runs 100 marathons in 100 days
Joining the Club
Bloomington women find fitness and more in cycling group
SENIOR STRETCH
YogaFit class keeps seniors active at all fitness levels
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04 15 FEATURES
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stride
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Fresh Picks Strawberries
COVER STORY
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Running for Clean Water
ACHIEVE Community Spotlight
Ohio man runs 100 marathons in 100 days
Bloomington Walking Club and YMCA 5K Fridays
18 Health Chat Vaccines and kids’ health
20 Calendar
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Joining the Club Bloomington women find fitness and more in cycling group
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Senior Stretch
YogaFit class keeps seniors active at all fitness levels
22 Spotted Photos of fitness in action
stride Editorial director: Bob Zaltsberg Production & copy editor: Kathryn S. Gardiner Photo director: David Snodgress Senior writers: Seth Tackett, Carol Johnson Contributing staff: Gizzelle Sandoval, Emily Tate, Garet Cobb, Rich Janzaruk, Jeremy Hogan and Chris Howell Graphic designer: Stewart Moon Publisher: E. Mayer Maloney Jr. CONTENT: 812-331-4289 kgardiner@hoosiertimes.com Advertising sales manager: Laurie Ragle Marketing manager: Shaylan Owen ADVERTISING/DISTRIBUTION: 812-331-4310 INstride is a monthly fitness, wellness and nutrition magazine serving south-central Indiana with offices in Bedford, Mooresville, Martinsville and Bloomington. It is distributed to more than 90,000 readers and can be found at various locations throughout south-central Indiana. The free publication is also inserted in the Bedford Times-Mail, Martinsville Reporter-Times and Bloomington Herald-Times the second Monday of every month; and the Mooresville/Decatur Times, the second Thursday of every month. ©2015 Schurz Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Coming up in May n Our photographers will be out at some of the fitness
events that appear in today’s calendar. We’ll share those photos in Spotted, and welcome your contributions as well. n We’re working on a number of fitness inspirations,
from a person who plays racquetball to hikers to swimmers. We’re trying to build up our file of story possibilities and would welcome suggestions. n May will also be a time for spending time in the gar-
den. We’ll focus on the healthy aspects of gardening.
ON THE COVER Daren Wendell is running 100 marathons in 100 days to raise money for Activewater, a faith-based group involved in improving water quality in Ethiopia. Photo courtesy of Activewater.
4 INstride • April 2015
EDITOR’S LETTER
Variety of Achievements We’ve heard of some extreme fitness activities over the years, but Daren Wendell’s current quest may be the most formidable of all. Some may use other modifiers for the Ohio native’s goal of running 100 marathons in 100 days. His larger hope is that all this running will turn into $100,000 to help provide clean water in Ethiopia. INstride staff writer Carol Johnson has the story. Inside today’s edition you’ll also meet members of the Bloomington Bicycle Club. It’s that time of year when more and more cyclists take to the area’s roads for fun and exercise. Staff writer Seth Tackett brings you that story. And staff writer Emily Tate visited with folks in the YogaFit Senior workout class at the Barbara B. Jordan YMCA in Morgan County. The point is, a wide variety of skill levels and workout options are featured in this month’s magazine. As always, the key is to pick out something you like to do, start slow, and work up as suits you. You don’t have to run even one marathon, let alone 100 in 100 days, to improve your health. With the weather turning warmer and the sun shining brighter, April is a good time to go outside and start moving. Check out our calendar for ideas for events, grab a buddy, or just go out on your own. You’ll be glad you did. Bob Zaltsberg, Editor
April 2015 • INstride 5
THE
Joining Club COURTESY PHOTO
Jim and Sylvia Schroeder in the Badlands of South Dakota.
Bloomington women find fitness and more in cycling group
6 INstride • April 2015
By Seth Tackett
S
ylvia Schroeder and Kathy Cummins are proud members of the Bloomington Bicycle Club. Why? It helped change their lives. Both cyclists fell in love after joining the club, Kathy with the sport and Sylvia with the president. The two Bloomingtonians joined for different reasons, but the sheer enthusiasm they share for the club and cycling is the same.
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Ken Dau-Schmidt, C.E. Taylor, Tom Whitehead, Kathy Cummins, and Allan Edmonds on a summer ride sporting five different RAIN jersey designs.
Sylvia joined for social reasons after moving to Bedford from Illinois in 2011. “It’s beautiful here and a great biking area,” she said. “You just get hooked on it. It started out socially, but it’s fun more than anything. Yeah, it’s a good way to meet people.” Shortly after joining the club, Sylvia responded to an email that was sent by her future husband, current president of the Bloomington Bicycle Club Jim Schroeder, asking if any members were interested in renting a house together for Hell Week, a sort of spring training ride held in Texas. Sylvia and another member signed up and helped out on the trip, but she wouldn’t be riding along. “I didn’t really know anybody in Indiana at the time, and (the trip) was affordable, and it sounded like fun,” Sylvia said. “I didn’t bike with anybody out there, I biked by myself. He told me in advance that I wouldn’t be biking with them. “They did a 100 miles every day.” And that was too much for the newcomer. Upon their return Jim asked Sylvia out, she said yes, and 18 months later they were married.
“He often tells people we lived together for a week before we went on a date,” Sylvia said. Kathy, who is 58 years old and originally from Morgantown, W.Va., joined shortly after moving to Bloomington with her husband from Naperville, Ill., where she had participated in a number of triathlons. Her initial ride with the club was short lived after a trip up Old Ind. 37 North. “We get out to the outskirts of town, right around Bethel Road, and they take off,” Cummins said with a laugh. “They are gone, and this one guy turned around and said, ‘I’ll stay with you,’ and I said, ‘I think I know where I am, why don’t you just point me back to town.’’” Subsequent rides for Kathy have been much more rewarding, so much so that she is now the secretary of the club. “I got on the board, because I do believe that you should give back to an organization of any kind that gives you so much,” Cummins said. “The club has really given me a major outlet for being able to ride. “Without the club, I wouldn’t be biking as much as I am. Everybody in my family knows that it’s my No. 1 sport. It’s what I do.”
April 2015 • INstride 7
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Kathy Cummins, right, is at the finish line of her first RAIN ride in 2011, with C.E. Taylor and Ken Dau-Schmidt.
In 2008, the club started the OWLS, a group of older, wiser, and a little slower riders. Cummins is an original member. “I have been (riding with the OWLS) ever since,” Kathy said. “The pace is right. We wait for each other; the OWLS have a no-drop policy. So, whoever is in the back has to watch for the slowest person. “It has been very successful having the slower group.”
Even though the pace maybe a little slower, Kathy is still heavily involved. “Everybody knows Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings I will be gone biking,” Kathy said. “It’s easier on your joints than running is. You don’t have to aim for being a Tour de France-type of rider. You can be an in-town cyclist and still get a lot of exercise that way.” Sylvia, 62, was also looking for a slower pace, but still wanted to ride with her husband, who is a faster rider. She found herself on the back of Jim’s tandem bike, where the two can be found participating in rides all over the country. “I enjoy it because I am the stoker,” Sylvia said. “So, I am on the back. I like to take photos, and I don’t have to drive. Because when you are driving the bike, you have to pay attention to cars coming at you, safety and keeping the bike up. “I really enjoy it. My first century was with him on a tandem. It’s the only way I can ride with him.” Despite what some may think, being on the back of a tandem bike is still a workout. “I have a lot of people that say I am not doing any work,” Sylvia said. “But I always offer them to get on and nobody has taken me up on it. “It’s a different kind of riding. The captain has to work different muscles. He has to do all of thinking and navigating. I basically pedal, that’s what I do. There is sort of a rhythm.” There’s no guarantee when you join the Bloomington Bicycle Club that it will change your life or find you a spouse, but the 2015 season is underway. n
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Jim and Sylvia Schroeder’s tandem bike on a ferry in Holland.
8 INstride • April 2015
FRESH PICKS
By Gizzelle Sandoval
Berry Good Strawberries boost immunity and health
Strawberry Parfait
Strawberries are not only known for being “berry” sweet, but they’re also an immune-boosting, cancerfighting super fruit. According to Best Health Magazine, strawberries are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants that are good for your overall health. Here are some ways how: Eating just one cup of strawberries gives you 100 percent of your daily vitamin C, a well-known “immunity booster” and fast-working antioxidant. Vitamin C is important for our eye health because it is what protects them from exposure to the
4 cups sliced strawberries, divided 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 cup fat-free ricotta cheese 4 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon water 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup amaretti cookie crumbs 1/2 cup frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed 2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted
sun’s harsh UV rays. It also strengthens the eye’s cornea and retina. Because vitamin C is a good “immunity booster,” that also means it’s good at preventing cancer by helping to suppress cancer cell growth. Collagen requires vitamin C in order to keep your skin looking young and fresh. Strawberries are great for keeping wrinkles at bay. Even though we’re taught that eating too many sweets can raise the amount of bad cholesterol in your body, strawberries contain “powerful heart-health boosters” that reduce the density of bad cholesterol in your blood and prevent plaque buildup in your arteries. n
Place 2 cups of strawberry slices and granulated sugar in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Set strawberry puree aside. Combine ricotta and next 4 ingredients in a medium bowl; stir well with a whisk. Spoon 2 tablespoons cookie crumbs into each of 4 parfait glasses. Top each portion with 2 tablespoons strawberry puree, 1/4 cup strawberry slices, and 3 tablespoons ricotta mixture; repeat the layers. Drizzle the remaining strawberry puree over each serving. Chill for 2 hours. Top each parfait with 2 tablespoons whipped topping and 11/2 teaspoons almonds. Source: MyRecipes.com
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April 2015 • INstride 9
ACHIEVE COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
By Paula McDevitt, Alison Miller, Nancy Parker, and Shyla Simmonds
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A 5K Friday gets underway at the northwest branch of the Monroe County YMCA.
Take a Walk
Bloomington Walking Club and YMCA 5K Fridays offer chance to get out Spring is coming and as the temperatures rise and the snow melts, there are more opportunities for outdoor recreation. One of the most popular choices for outdoor physical activity is walking. Walking has many physical, mental, and social benefits. For example, walking for just 30 minutes a day has physical benefits such as maintaining body weight, reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, and improving blood pressure. Getting outside and enjoying nature on one of the numerous walking paths and trails in Bloomington can increase mental well-being and can provide a time for reflection. Joining a walking group can provide
10 INstride • April 2015
social connections and support, making physical activity even more enjoyable. The Bloomington Walking Club and YMCA 5K Fridays are two regularly scheduled weekly events that provide the community with options to get outside and have fun. The Bloomington Walking Club is a partnership between IU Health Bloomington, IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians, the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, and the Purdue Extension. The Bloomington Walking Club is a free, informal, noncompetitive group that meets for a guided walk on the paved trails surrounding Olcott Park. Walkers can choose their own pace; no one is left behind. All ability levels and ages 18 and up are welcome. The group meets at Olcott Park at 6 p.m. every Thursday evening, April-October, weather permitting. All weather announcements will be made on the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Facebook page. New for 2015, medical professionals will also attend a walk once a month. Dr. McKinley will attend April 2 and Dr.
Goswami will attend May 7. The Bloomington Walking Club is a great way to support your healthy lifestyle. If you have questions about the Bloomington Walking Club please contact Alison Miller by email, milleal@bloomington.in.gov, or phone, 812-349-3771. The YMCA 5K Fridays is a free non-competitive 5K run/walk event that is held at the Northwest YMCA. This event meets every Friday evening, rain or shine. Participants follow a marked course around the beautiful and scenic NW YMCA outdoor trail. The events are free, open to the community, and are family-friendly. Pets are welcome too. Last year, those who completed eight or more of the 5K Fridays received a free t-shirt. We appreciate working with our community to further the opportunities for access to healthy activity and this event is no different. Our sponsors for this event were IUHealth Bloomington and The Running Company. Last year was our inaugural event, which was extremely successful. We had a total of 250 participants of all ages who participated in at least one Friday 5K. Sixty people earned a t-shirt at the end of the program by attending eight or
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more Fridays. We celebrated the start and finish of our event by opening the facility to the community, serving food and giving fun awards. This year, we will be having a Spring 5K Friday (starting late April) and a Fall 5K Friday. Any questions about the events or if you would like to participate or volunteer to help with the event, please contact Shyla Simmonds at ssimmonds@ monroecountyymca.org. n
5K Fridays are free and open to the community.
April 2015 • INstride 11
Running for
Daren Wendell trained for two years to prepare for his 100 marathon mission. COURTESY PHOTO
12 INstride • April 2015
Clean Water Ohio man runs 100 marathons in 100 days By Carol Johnson
I
t is said that less than 1 percent of the population ever reaches the finish line of a marathon. So running 100 marathons in 100 days would put Daren Wendell in rarefied air. What Wendell is doing seems crazy by anyone’s measure. But to him, he’s doing nothing that special, nor is he out of his mind. Blessed with natural endurance and a desire to use that gift to make a difference, Wendell is running to raise $100,000 to bring clean water to Ethiopia. When INstride caught up with him on March 17, he was on day 75. He had completed his marathon that day on U.S. 40 and was taking a break just outside Indianapolis. It was a homecoming of sorts for Wendell, who spent a few years living in Avon when he worked as an intern with youth at Kingsway Christian Church.
April 2015 • INstride 13
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Wendell’s cross-country run is to raise funds to improve the water quality in Ethiopia.
He is raising money for Activewater, a faith-based group he helped found to improve the health of people in Ethiopia by improving water quality. Embarking on a cross-country fundraiser wasn’t done lightly. A couple of years ago, Wendell met with board members on a big fundraiser with the goal of “just make it memorable.” The result was 100 marathons in 100 days to raise $100,000. Wendell, 33, and a native of Ohio, said he spent two years training. “It was nothing to come home from an eight-hour work day and run 20 miles a day,” he said. As the start date of the challenge approached, he increased his mileage while decreasing his recovery time to get his body ready for the pounding challenge of 100 marathons. In two years, he logged about 3,800 miles. His journey began Jan. 1 at Santa Monica Pier, Calif., and will end April 10 in New York’s Times Square. In between he will have traveled through 13 states. 14 INstride • April 2015
Wendell isn’t new to endurance challenges. He has hiked and biked across the United States and he completed a 35-hour nonstop swim across Lake Michigan, a swim that spanned 50.6 miles. “I knew I could do it if I could put in the training,” he said. Endurance and the discipline to train are “gifts,” he said. “My faith is important to me and God gave me this and I have used it to help others. Others could do this if they had the proper motivation and were willing to make the sacrifice,” he said. With the bulk of the challenge completed when he talked to INstride, he said his body was holding up well, but fatigue greets him first thing every day. “It’s hard to get up in the morning, but before I know it, the day’s is over,” he said. “I’ve had the usual stuff like toenails falling off, blisters, and some soreness with my hip flexor but nothing chronic that keeps me from getting my miles in.” After completing his daily marathon, he eats, posts photos and a message on the RunDarenRun Facebook page, and is in bed by 7 p.m. He wakes up every day at
Team Activewater To learn more about Daren Wendell and Activewater, visit www.RunDarenRun.com or view RunDarenRun on Facebook.
5:30 a.m., often meeting with local media in the town or city where he, his wife Danielle and the support team stopped overnight. He begins running by 7:30 a.m. Instead of big meals, he eats often, about every 90 minutes. His body craves fats and sugars. (He said he was heading to Dairy Queen for a Blizzard after our interview.) It helps that his experience with endurance challenges has taught him what his body needs. He changes shoes about every 10 days. Wendell said he was confident when the journey began that he could complete the challenge, but the fundraising goal was a total leap of faith. By day 76, he had already raised $100,000. “It’s crazy, it took 834 separate donations to reach that,” he said. “I don’t even think I know 834 people who would want to donate, so it’s just amazing people have supported us.” In response to that success, Wendell and Activewater set a new fundraiser goal of $120,000. Another $20,000 will help 500 more people. He said Activewater helps with the building of wells, and also partners with African communities to oversee well development and educate people on sanitation. “We want to see long-term development, so that’s its sustainable for the long run,” he said. Running coast-to-coast, he is seeing the country in a way few people do, but he said he probably won’t be able to see “the big picture” for a while. “I think it’s been hard for me to unpack all that because I’m still in it,” he said. “Every day I have to get up and run so I can’t say what I’ve learned yet. “ He did say he liked some states better than others. He’s not a fan of New Mexico. “There’s nothing there and it’s a long state,” he said. “Albuquerque was nice but we didn’t feel welcome.” He ran alone many days, but as he approached Indiana, he had company. He said 50 runners signed up to run with him in one week. As for the friendly states, “Missouri was really good to us. Texas, Oklahoma and Indiana were just fantastic.” n
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The Activewater organization partners with African communities to build wells and improve sanitation.
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April 2015 • INstride 15
Emily Tate | INSTRIDE
Robyn Thompson leads a YogaFit Senior class at the Barbara B. Jordan YMCA in Martinsville. The class offers modified instruction on moves and stretches that improve coordination, flexibility and range of motion.
Senior Stretch YogaFit class keeps seniors active at all fitness levels
By Emily Tate ust a few weeks after undergoing knee surgery, Carolyn Thrasher is back at the gym. On a recent Tuesday morning, Thrasher was attending YogaFit Senior, a class at the Barbara B. Jordan YMCA in Martinsville that offers modified instruction to help participants improve their strength, coordination and range of motion. “It’s really helped with my balance and just overall keeping me flexible, which is what’s really important when you’re older,” she said. “I do what I can do in here. I can’t do what I used to do, but I do what I can do.” The inclusive nature of the class incorporates people such as Thrasher who have been undergoing rehabilitation as well as people with more demanding fitness routines. “She modifies everything really nicely,” Thrasher said of Robyn Thompson, the senior adviser at the Y who also teaches the class. Thompson has been leading the class for four years.
J
16 INstride • April 2015
“There were things that seniors could do, but there wasn’t anything specifically for seniors,” she said. “We get someone almost every day asking about the class.” In YogaFit Senior, all poses are performed while either seated in a chair or standing—there are no floor exercises, and participants don’t even have to take off their shoes. There are also cardio classes and ones that mimic physical therapy training for seniors, Thompson said. Though some of the classes are part of the Silver Sneakers program offered through Medicare, anyone can attend. Participants in her class have developed a friendship, meeting for tea after class, having lunch and meeting up at community events. “I think that’s the thing I’m most proud of,” Thompson said. “The friendships that have been fostered.” The class attracts several men as well as a dozen or more women, but it has also drawn attention from people who realized the name can be misleading. Suzanne Mittenthal originally had written off the idea of taking a class geared toward seniors. “I wasn’t going to go to this class for little old ladies,” she said. “But one of the people in this class runs marathons. You can do it according to your own abilities—you don’t feel like ‘I can’t do that.’” As class wrapped up, Mittenthal was heading to the Y’s aquatics center to continue her workout by swimming laps. She said she enjoys the methods used in the YogaFit class. “I’d been doing regular yoga,” she said. “It’s different— maybe a more focused approach.” For more information on YogaFit Senior or other classes, visit the Barbara B. Jordan YMCA at 2039 E. Morgan St., Martinsville, or call 765-342-6688. n
Emily Tate | INSTRIDE
In the YogaFit Senior class at the Barbara B. Jordan YMCA in Martinsville, participants such as Suzanne Mittenthal, left, focus on balance and flexibility. Mittenthal continues her workout by swimming laps after class, while others, such as Carolyn Thrasher, right, use the class as a way to stay active after a medical procedure.
April 2015 • INstride 17
Q&A: Vaccines and Kids’
mumps, rubella, pneumococcus, polio, rotavirus, and varicella (chicken pox/shingles) Anything we can do to help insure the health and well-being of our patients, their families, and the community, I am in favor of.
Health
In our live chat in February, Dr. Scot Moore, pediatrician with IU Health Bloomington, answered your questions about vaccinations and children’s health.
Q:
What procedures does your staff take in order to ensure that vaccines that you receive from pharmaceutical companies are genuine and safe to use?—D.R., Bloomington MOORE: We purchase vaccines from a distributor or directly from the vaccine manufacturers. They provide representatives to make site visits to review vaccine purchases and deliveries. Every vaccine given is recorded by date, lot number, patient’s name, and even the site/limb where the vaccine was given. If there is ever a recall or lot problem, we have a statewide electronic record of that.
Q:
How much research have you made into vaccine safety and side effects?—Alan H., Bloomington MOORE: Surveillance of safety, effectiveness, side effects, population vaccine coverage is done continuously. I, personally, have spent the past 25 years following the studies of effectiveness, side effects, components, etc., of vaccines.
Q:
We’ve gone from a schedule of five doses in 1983 to well over 30 doses by the age of 5 now. Most of this schedule change was in just the last 10 years. Why have they increased the number of vaccines on the schedule so dramatically?—D.R., Bloomington MOORE: We get better all the time! This is the list of vaccine-preventable illnesses: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type B, human papillomavirus, meningococcus, measles, 18 INstride • April 2015
Q:
Aren’t there potentially serious side effects to vaccines as well. Yes, the diseases themselves are serious, but vaccines too can cause problems, which is why the FDA has an Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. I think it’s only fair for us parents to hear both pros and cons of vaccines as well.—Brad, Spencer MOORE: I completely agree. This is a huge responsibility for parents and health care providers to consider in caring for children. VAERS is an open platform that anyone can access to report a suspected adverse event from a vaccination. There are others, including the VSD (Vaccine Safety Datalink) that tracks all patients in four large health maintenance organizations of over 500,000 patients, that is also used to look for side effects. Recent vaccine studies also include many more patients than older studies in an attempt to find more rare side effects before release of a new vaccine.
Q:
I am very much pro-vaccine, but I don’t feel comfortable with the AAP’s vaccine schedule. How is it healthy for a 2 month old to receive six different vaccines at their well visit, on top or their (underdeveloped) immune system already fighting off thousands of germs daily. We currently spread out the vaccines and by 5, our children will be fully vaccinated. Please help me understand why so many vaccines are administered in such a short amount of time and how this can truly be safe?—Taylor, Bloomington MOORE: This is a fantastic question and one we have given much thought to in the past. Vaccines have only been studied as outlined in the schedule recommended by me, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP), CDC, etc. No study has ever been undertaken to look at the safety and effectiveness of alternate schedules.
As a comparison, the bacteria that causes strep throat has 23 determinants on its surface that your immune system responds to all at the same time. All of the vaccinations given at 2 months of age (and repeated at 4 months and 6 months) have fewer determinants than that. The immune system is amazingly adept at responding to many things at the same time. In no way will all of the vaccine components given together overwhelm the immune system. There may actually be some benefit to giving the vaccines at the same time, instead of spreading them out (other than the additional trips to the doctor’s office and the pain of the shots). With the immune system “revved-up” it may provide a more robust and long-lasting immune response that won’t be obtained by giving them one at a time. I completely understand parents’ concerns of so many shots at such a young age. But we need to start stimulating the immune system early to provide the best protection that we can give. Many of these infections are more intense and more dangerous at younger ages, so waiting until later/school age to start, misses the time when kids need the most protection. One more thought: the smallpox vaccine had more than 400 determinants that the immune system was required to respond to. Today’s vaccines have far fewer and are constructed to give the best protection with the fewest side effects.
Q:
How effective has the local flu vaccine been this year?—Suzanne, Bloomington MOORE: There are four strains of influenza virus included in this year’s vaccine (some three-strain vaccines are available too, but we have just had the four-strain [quadravalent] in our offices). Those are influenza A (H3N2), influenza A (H1N1), and two influenza B strains. The influenza A (H3N2) is the one that has widely circulated in the U.S. so far this flu season. It was about a 50-50 match—meaning that the flu virus mutated after the vaccine was formulated and distributed. I always get a flu vaccine as soon as they arrive in the fall, and believe that even if it is not a perfect match, the illness would have been worse without getting the vaccine. Unfortunately, we are using 1940-50’s technology of growing and harvesting the viral component of the flu vaccine from chicken eggs. This is time and labor consuming. In the future we will have better ways of getting vaccines made faster and better matched.
Q:
Is it possible to find out the immunization rates in our communities? If so, how? Also, many adults lose immunity to some vaccine-preventable diseases over time. How can adults find out if their
immunizations are up to date and working?—Laura, Indianapolis MOORE: A shot record would be helpful. I love my mom, but doubt even she could find mine! Blood tests can be done to look for immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases. I have had these done to prove my immunity to measles, varicella (chicken pox), and hepatitis B. These are very contagious and health care workers are required to be vaccinated or prove immunity. Your comment on waning immunity over time is true. This is part of our current problem with pertussis (whooping cough). Although our current pertussis vaccination has far fewer side effects than the older version, the immunity seems to wane after three to five years. So, even older children and young adults are likely not well protected. We do recommend adult vaccinations too. These would include an annual influenza vaccination, diphtheria/tetanus every 10 years (with pertussis included if you haven’t had one since childhood), varicella (shingles), pneumococcus (Prevnar-13 and Pneumovax). There are specific age and circumstance criteria for each of these.
Q:
Do the group of people who live among us but refuse vaccinations exhibit higher rate of diseases than those who get vaccinations?— Dobrin, Bloomington MOORE: Yes. The recent pertussis (whooping cough) and measles outbreaks in the U.S. clearly show that to be the case. In 2014, there were 644 cases of measles in 20 states. Eighty-one percent of those were unvaccinated; 12 percent had an unknown vaccine status; 7 percent were vaccinated (5 percent had the recommended complete two-vaccine series). In Indiana, 92.7 percent of the school-aged children are appropriately vaccinated for measles. This is a pretty good number, but may not be completely protective even for the population as a whole. The measles vaccine is 93 percent effective after one dose and 97 percent protective after two doses. That leaves 3 percent as non-responders and susceptible. So, even if my and your children are fully vaccinated, they may continue to be susceptible to these highly contagious infections. A real problem is the “micro-communities” of non-vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children. There are pockets of the population that [are] not protected and a place where the infections can spread rapidly and put the rest of the vaccinated population at an increased risk as well. n
April 2015 • INstride 19
Calendar
April Spring Family 18 YMCA Run/Walk WHEN: 8 a.m. WHERE: Monroe County YMCA, 2125 South Highland Ave., Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: Enjoy this mildly hilly course as you run or walk through the woods and neighborhoods surrounding the Southeast YMCA. Race proceeds support the Y For All annual campaign, which helps us provide scholarships to people facing financial hardship. Event includes a 5K run, 5K racewalk, 10K run and kids’ fun run. MORE INFO: www.monroe countyymca.org
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2013 Gnaw Bone – Dances with Dirt
of 25 YMCA/Friends McCormick’s Creek 5K Run/Walk WHEN: 8:30 a.m. WHERE: McCormick’s Creek Park
Milwaukee Trail 18 Volkswalk 5 or 10K WHEN: Walk starts between 9 a.m. and noon and walkers need to be off the trail by 3 p.m. WHERE: Lawrence County Historical & Genealogical Society, 929 15th Street, Bedford, Ind. DESCRIPTION: The 5K or 10K walk is an opportunity to see Bedford’s Milwaukee Trail. Walkers will be shuttled to the end of the trail and walk back to the starting point. The new walk- and bikeway has seen more than 100 visitors a day since June, when volunteers completed work to ready the first 5.5 miles of the former railroad right-of-way. The newly opened phases of the trail originate at Lincoln Avenue and travel west to Coxton Road near Williams in rural Lawrence County. Visitors can pass by Spider Creek to the Shawswick area and Salt Creek Bridge, and along the way can enjoy limestone bluffs, tree canopies, scenic waterways, and a variety of wildlife. MORE INFO: Bedford Hiking Club website, www.bedfordhiking club.com
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Nature Center, Spencer, Ind. DESCRIPTION: This event is raising funds for the Owen County YMCA. MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com Bloomington Volksmarch 25 WHEN: Start as early as 9 a.m. WHERE: Monroe County YMCA, Southeast Branch, 2125 S. Highland Ave., Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: This volksmarch, a non-competitive walking event, will start at the Southeast YMCA and will pass along the scenic Jackson Creek Trail and through beautiful neighborhoods with a checkpoint in the quaint Renwick Village. Walkers may start anytime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. but must finish by 4 p.m. Participants may choose a 5K or 10K trail and are encouraged to walk for fun, fitness, and friendship! The event is sponsored by the Bloomington Flying Fish Volkssport Association. MORE INFO: Details and a complete brochure for the event can be found at http://btownflyingfish.blogspot.com/
May History “Carved” in Stone, a Guided Cycling Tour WHEN: Noon WHERE: Meet at the Army Corps of Engineers office, 1620 Monroe Dam Court, Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: Discover how limestone shaped the development and identity of the people that settled in the Salt Creek communities during the 1800s and early 1900s during a guided cycling tour near Monroe Lake. For intermediate to advanced bicyclists, ages 15 and up. Limited to 10 people; $15 fee. Preregistration required by April 28. MORE INFO: http://bit.ly/ carvedstone2015
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Tails on the Trail 5K WHEN: 9 a.m. WHERE: B-Line Trail at the Country Club Trailhead DESCRIPTION: With two legs or four, join Pets Alive in the fight to end pet overpopulation. Hit the B-Line with your dog to raise funds for spay and neuter services. MORE INFO: Register at https:// www.signmeup.com/site/ online-event-registration/106382
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Gnaw Bone Dances with Dirt WHERE: Mike’s Music and Dance Barn, 2277 State Rd. 46 W, Nashville, Ind. DESCRIPTION: Vicious 600 foot ridges, breathtaking natural beauty and wicked trails abound. Gnaw Bone is about one mile out of Nashville, Ind. Back in 2015: The world’s most difficult 10K. Expect double your road time and triple the effort. The other race distances include 13.1, 26.2, 50K, 50 miles and 100K relay course. Post-race beer and a jammin’ band at the finish. MORE INFO: http://danceswithdirt.com/gnawbone-home
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Morgan County Fallen Officer Memorial 5K WHEN: 8 a.m. WHERE: Liberty Christian Church, 1600 Liberty Church Road, Martinsville, Ind. MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com
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Race to Breathe 5K and Family Activity Morning WHERE: The Warehouse, 1525 S. Rogers St., Bloomington, Ind. DESCRIPTION: The day starts off with a 5K timed run/walk on the B-Line. The run will be followed by a morning of activities free for everyone, including rock
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wall climbing, skateboard park, volleyball pit, bouncy house for the little ones and an inflatable obstacle course for big kids and adults. Food will be provided. This event and run are to raise funds for Pat Arthur, who has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The only cure is a lung transplant. He must raise $60,000 to pay for his share of the transplant. The race has a charge, however all the other activities are free. MORE INFO: www.raceto breathe5k.com
June 6
Dewey Dash WHEN: 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Morgan County Public
Library, 110 S. Jefferson St., Martinsville, Ind.
DESCRIPTION: This event is raising funds for the Morgan County Library. MORE INFO: mag7raceseries.com
Touring Ride in Rural Indiana Bicycle Rally WHERE: Spring Mill and McCormick’s Creek State Parks DESCRIPTION: This event will offer loop rides from two Indiana State Parks: Spring Mill and McCormick’s Creek. June is Limestone Month in southern Indiana, and routes will highlight the limestone industry in the region. Camp or stay in an Indiana State Park Inn; five breakfasts and five dinners are included, and served at the inns. Three-day (partial week) and six-day (full-week) participation is available. Routes are rolling to hilly with some challenging hills. MORE INFO: www.triri.org
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July Ride Across Indiana: Same Thing, Only Ride More (RAINSTORM) WHERE: Starts and ends in Richmond, Ind., at Earlham College DESCRIPTION: RAINSTORM offers an intensive week of cycling for riders preferring longer distances. Each day’s route is approximately 100 miles, and there are no layover days. RAINSTORM travels over hard-surfaced back roads in southern Indiana. Terrain ranges from rolling to hilly; expect to be challenged. Lodging in Indiana State Park inns (three nights) and nice hotels (two nights) is included in the tour fee. All accommodations offer comfortable beds, air conditioning, and free WiFi. Four breakfasts and three dinners are included; menus are carefully planned for
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sound nutrition and variety, and include options for vegetarian and diabetic participants. At the Indiana State Park Inns, buffets are served in the inn dining rooms. Dinners in Bloomington and Terre Haute are on your own. MORE INFO: www.triri.org RAIN (Ride Across Indiana) WHERE: Starts at St. Mary-ofthe-Woods College (West Terre Haute); ends at Earlham College (Richmond). DESCRIPTION: RAIN is an annual one-day, one-way timed ride across the width of Indiana. While a timed event, RAIN is not a race. The 160-mile route runs mostly on historic National Route 40. Mass start at St. Maryof-the-Woods College, West Terre Haute, Ind., finish line at Earlham College, Richmond, Ind. MORE INFO: www.triri.org
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April 2015 • INstride 21
SPOTTED
Create your own photo galleries at myINstride.com
Chris Howell | INSTRIDE
David Ellies, of Bloomington, rides an exercise cycle while working out at Anytime Fitness in Bloomington. Ellies rides four days a week for 45-50 minutes a day.
Chris Howell | INSTRIDE
Mike Walsh, of Bloomington, rides the recumbent bike while working out at Anytime Fitness in Bloomington.
Brenda Flynn works her way through the circuit at the Bedford Curves for Women. GARET COBB INSTRIDE
22 INstride • April 2015