By Dr. Steve Gangemi In the final part of SockDoc Stop Mindless Stretching series, we focus now on Stretching as Warm-Up and Injury Prevention. Stretching should not be the sole activity performed during a warm-up before or cool-down after your movement (or exercise) program. Should it be a part of your routine at all? Most of us…
Author: NickP
Nicholas Pang has published dozens of e-Book for the Amazon Kindle and Apple iPad. He has also co-authored two books in print for Oracle Press (“Oracle 9i Mobile”, 2002) and McGraw-Hill/OsborneMedia (“Mobile Macromedia Flash MX”, 2003).
While not tinkering with the latest Internet technologies for Silicon Valley start-ups in real estate, retail, and local government, Nick is busy fine tuning his running form and training hard for the National Senior Games and World Masters Athletics Championships. Nick is also a member of the USA Track & Field organization.
Yoga Flexibility, Yoga Stretching, & Mobility
By Dr. Steve Gangemi Continuing our 4 part SockDoc Stop Mindless Stretching series, we focus now on Flexibility, Fascia, and Your Nervous System. Contrary to popular belief, yoga is not Sanskrit for stretching. It actually means to join or unite, and it is a combined spiritual, mental, and physical practice. Assuredly, most yoga poses do focus on flexibility…
Flexibility, Fascia, and Your Nervous System
By Dr. Steve Gangemi Continuing our 4 part SockDoc Stop Mindless Stretching series, we focus now on Flexibility, Fascia, and Your Nervous System. Flexibility might be the ability of a joint to bend through its full range of motion, but in actuality, it’s the reflection of your nervous system and not simply the more you can…
Top 5 gifts for endurance athletes
By Jay Dicharry Jinge bells are out, mistletoe is up, and you are freaking out because you missed out on useless sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday…..uh oh. What do you do now? How about dig deep, and find a present for your fellow endurance athlete that’s actually worth its weight. This week, I’ll…
Stop Mindless Stretching and Move With a Purpose:
By Dr. Steve Gangemi In this 4 part SockDoc series, you’ll learn the advantages of movement, the myths of flexibility, the confusion over stretching, and the perils of being misinformed about such a controversial topic. What truly makes you flexible? Should you ever stretch? PART I: Move With a Purpose: Stop Mindless Stretching – Stretching…
Wanted: American Marathoners to Compete with East Africans
By Dr. Philip Maffetone What will U.S. Olympic Marathon Team look like? We’ll know for sure in a few short weeks, but one thing for certain is America’s fastest marathoner Ryan Hall won’t be on this team. At 33, Hall, who ran 2:04:58 at Boston in 2011, announced his retirement recently, citing extreme fatigue and chronically low testosterone…
Get moving for a better body and brain
By Dr. Phil Maffetone Most runners intuitively know movement is necessary for a healthy body — nearly as necessary as air. But did you know it’s important for developing and maintaining a healthy brain, too? That’s because attached to our wiggling toes, bending knees, rotating spine and all moving muscles are nerve endings sending up to…
How to Work on your Running Form
by Jae Gruenke, GCFP When a runner comes to me for help with their form, one of the questions I ask before looking at how they run is, “Is there anything you’re trying to do with your form when you run?” Honestly, even though as a running technique teacher I’m of course very vigorously in…
Bill Katovsky 1957-2015 Long May You Run
We are deeply saddened at the recent passing of our friend and co-founder of the Natural Running Center Bill Katovsky. Yes, life can be short when you cannot get good help. Together with Minimalist Shoe aficionado and hi tech wizard Nicholas Pang we created the Natural Running Center site and FB pages http://naturalrunningcenter.com/ https://www.facebook.com/naturalrunningcenter Our…
Live Life With More “Vigah”!
Take The JFK/Freedom’s Run Challenge And Help Recharge The Change That JFK Envisioned For Our Country 70 Runners have completed the JFK/FR Challenge in 2015 and 2016. Are you up for the challenge this year? Challenge Shirt Logo Design for Completers In the late 1950’s a warning sounded. Almost 58 percent of American children were unable…
Tarahumara Documentary: GOSHEN
The new feature documentary, GOSHEN, reveals how the Tarahumara tribe’s ancient diet and active lifestyle can not only transform your personal health and fitness, but may be the key to preserving Tarahumara culture as well. Watch here via Vimeo. Own the DVD! GOSHEN is a powerful documentary depicting the diet and active lifestyle of the indigenous…
“runScribe” Will Examine Your Form in Great Detail
by Nick Pang. Wearable technology is making sports like football (not soccer) safer with concussion-prevention sensors embedded in helmets and mouth guards with live data via Wi-Fi on the field and sidelines. What about running? Even with all the latest shoe- cushioning technologies and research, runners are still get injured every year. Now Scribe Labs…
Shoe Review: Topo Athletic MT Mountain Trainer
by Nick Pang. The Topo MT offers the ultimate hybrid experience by pairing the best features of a trail and road shoe. A rugged lug outsole provides multi-directional traction and the three density sole platforms offers plating protection without sacrificing ground feel. Reduced weight and increased flexibility will help you maintain your pace when you…
Shoe Review: Skechers GOrun 3
Building on the success of the best-selling Skechers GOrun 2, Skechers has created another potential winner with the launch of its GOrun 3 running shoe. The Skechers GOrun 3 is the next generation of transitional (or bridging) running shoes. Designed for speed with innovative performance technologies to promote a midfoot strike, it fosters a barefoot-running…
Fat and Flat: Running Shoe Pendulum Swings from Minimalism to Maximalism
by Nick Pang. There is a dangerous swing (in my opinion) in the running shoe pendulum from minimalist to maximalist running shoes for 2014. The pendulum swung the opposite direction a few years ago. Which direction will it swing next and where will it settle? Make sure you understand the choices before diving in….
Casual and Dress Minimalist Shoes: Top Five List
by Nick Pang. The second generation of casual and dress minimalist shoes are finally here. Once a runner has transitioned away from large-heel, ample cushioned, and narrow toebox running shoes, he or she will almost never go back. But what about their everyday casual and work shoes? Does the same hold true here? Personally, my…
Minimalist Shoe Review: Puma FAAS 100 R Zero-Drop Racer
by Nick Pang. When Puma introduced the Mobium Elite earlier this year, it started to move into the minimalist running shoes category. The FAAS collection has been around for a while and Puma is filling in the opposite end of its spectrum with lightweight and lightly cushioned shoes. Now, the most minimal shoe in the…
Early Look at New Running Shoes from Summer Outdoor Retailer Show
Summer Outdoor Retailer 2013 trade show in Salt Lake City just finished and most shoe companies have announced their Spring 2014 models. Some of these models won’t be available until December or January at the earliest with some as late as March. However, some will be available in a few weeks. We will get a definite…
The Split-Toe Running Shoe: Topo Athletic RR Racing Shoe Reviewed
by Nick Pang, The long awaited product launch of Tony Post’s (ex-CEO of Vibram FiveFingers) new company, Topo Athletic, which was previewed last April, is finally here. Topo Athletic called their approach to design, ‘innate amplification‘. They are in awe of the genius of human biomechanics, and to that they respectfully bring their modern constructions, materials and designs…
Running with the Tarahumara
by Roman Urbina, Race Director of La Ruta Ultra Run. The Tarahumara have this wonderful expression that I learned to appreciate after recently spending several days with them, the first time in Costa Rica last November and the second occasion recently in Mexico. Both times centered on 100-kilometer running events, each one incredibly difficult and…
VIVOBAREFOOT ONE Shoe Review
by Nick Pang. The VB ONE is VIVOBAREFOOT’s ultimate on-road or in-gym barefoot performance shoe. The uppers feature a lightweight and breathable hex mesh with V Web lamination for stitch-less lateral support. It is also lined with a soft-fit performance lining containing environmentally friendly Aegis to provide active moisture management, anti-stink, and a pure barefoot…
Skechers GObionic Trail Running Shoe Review
by Nick Pang, NRC shoe review editor. Building on the success and experience with the original GObionic road running shoe, Skechers has created another blockbuster with the launch of its GObionic Trail running shoe. I have worn my original GObionic road shoe for a lot of my trail running mileage but small debris keep getting lodged…
Under Armour’s Toxic Six: New “Natural Collection” of Minimalist Running Shoes
NRC Shoe Editor Nick Pang reports: Under Armour continue its move into natural running motion with the launch of its “natural collection” of minimalist running shoes: Toxic Six. The collection offers the athlete an extension of the foot to deliver a superior, natural, protective ride. The ultra-flexible, anatomical Micro G midsole helps your foot move naturally. A glove-like…
Altra Zero Drop The ONE
Altra Zero Drop The ONE is a fast, light, and slightly cushioned do-it-all performance shoe that launched recently. But it is also one of the most anticipated shoe on my 2013 list as I wanted to see something between the Altra Instinct 1.5 and Altra Adam. –Nick Pang, NRC shoe editor From Altra’s literature, “From…
Merrell’s M-Connect Series of Running Shoes for Those Transitioning to Minimalism
by Nick Pang. Merrell recently launched its new M-Connect series of running shoes. It is a complete collection featuring running, training, and hiking shoes in addition to apparel. They have everything for the beginning transitioning runner to the advanced minimalist runner. This is Merrell’s biggest introduction to date and is a complete solution addressing the…