From the desk of Dr. Mark Cucuzzella…
(caution: in this honest and raw story some language may not be suitable for children) Today is the release date of Star Wars Episode 9, the modern Hero’s Journey tale. Three years ago we wrote about the amazing Hero’s Journey of Betsy Hartley who had lost over 200 lb and completed a 100 mile race. …
Two weeks ago it was a privilege to run with my friend Travis Muehleisen during the final half of his 4th attempt at the JFK 50 mile. I wrote about Travis on this blog 3 years ago. and also in Blue Ridge Outdoors Travis is in inspiration to us all with his amazing story of…
On one October weekend, the barrier of 2 hours for a marathon was cracked by the super human Eliud Kipchoge and then 24 hours later, the 16 year-old marathon mark of 2:15.05 set by Paula Radcliff was decimated when Brigit Kosgei torched a 2:14.04 in Chicago. Both were amazing performances and both runners were in…
Sharing a short interview with my good friend and colleague Jay Dicharry formally of University of Virginia now at Rebound Physical Therapy in Bend Oregon. Jay has just developed an amazing new training tool called the MOBO. Jay and I have taught courses all over the country together and I have learned so much from…
Restore Athletic Health At Healthfit U this Fall ! We’re happy to announce the HealthFit U courses for fall 2019. I am proud to partner with friends and fitness experts Dr. Phil Maffetone, Jeff Vernon, and Robin Desjardins and have teamed up to bring you the best in education, information, coaching certifications, and continuing education credits….
Campers run up the “Rocky Steps” in Shepherdstown WV Camp River Runners Summer Youth Run Camps are back in Shepherdstown, West Virginia for their fourth year in 2019. In 2018 almost 150 youth enjoyed the High School and Middle School camps and the staff is excited for another great year. The Middle School Day Camp…
This week sharing the continuing story of my good friend Mick Brown who is a constant source of interesting and challenging information in my life. He has also been an uber volunteer for our race Freedom’s Run. Thanks Mick for sharing! ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. It’s more than 18 months since first posting on this website http://naturalrunningcenter.com/2017/05/19/mick-brown-aka-aussie-clydesdale-natural-running-odyssey/ for…
“At every crossroads on the path that leads to the future, tradition has placed 10,000 men to guard the past.” Maurice Maeterlinck “Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results.” Narcotics Anonymous (also attributed to Albert Einstein) “Follow the Money” Henry Peterson to Senate Judiciary Committee (also attributed to Deep Throat in All…
Sharing the presentation and resources from our talk last week at The Running Event Austin with my friend Lorraine Moller, 4 time Olympian and Bronze Medalist and 1983 Boston Marathon Champion. We share the timeless principles of Arthur Lydiard for health and a life of running. Amazingly in the 1960s Lydiard even understood “fat adaptation”…
Sharing the full article from the 2018 Marine Corps Marathon Program ……………………………………………. Originally from Ellicott City Maryland, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mark Cucuzzella was just an “ordinary, super active kid”. He played most sports and admits that he never considered running until he joined his older brother, who was on the high school cross…
Today I share the ultra adventures of two amazing ladies Sarah Hodder and Katie Nolan Thompson who make our local running community what it is today….one of the coolest places to discover your inner beast and not get hurt in the process 🙂 Just this year they co-directed an amazing intro to ultra, the Miners…
Our friend and NRC co-founder Bill Katovsky used to say “release the hounds” whenever we would share a newsletter or ebook. Bill sadly passed away before this latest release but in his honor I want to share a loud “RELEASE THE HOUNDS”. Thank you Bill for the inspiration we miss you 🙁 After 4 plus…
When my friend Mick Brown floated the idea of running Comrades again in 2018 there was little hesitation to commit. Having run the “up run” in 2013 one needs to do the “down run” to complete the circuit. What was special was when my weekend running friends Bill Bondurant and Jared Matlick took up the…
We’re happy to announce the long-awaited HealthFit University website is now up and running! I am proud to partner with friends and fitness experts Dr. Phil Maffetone, Tawnee Prazac Gibson, Ian Adamson, Jeff Vernon, and Robin Desjardins and have teamed up to bring you the best of the best in education, information, coaching certifications and continuing…
This Saturday June 30 at 830 am join Bushel and Peck for their first annual Farm Fresh 5K! This isn’t your average 5k. Here’s how it works. You will be given a bag at registration and you will soon see why this bag is important. The race will start like any other but just as…
“In time, the Navy would compile statistics showing that for a career Navy pilot, i.e., one who intended to keep flying for twenty years… there was a 23 percent probability that he would die in an aircraft accident. This did not even include combat deaths, since the military did not classify death in combat as…
Camp River Runners Summer Youth Run Camps are back, bigger, and better for 2018. We had a blast in 2016 and 2017 with over 40 young runners in each of our Middle and High School day camps. We are super excited about our overnight High School Camp July 22-25. We continue our Middle School Day…
In reflection Boston 2018 was probably one of the most enjoyable days I have had on the course (this was my 24th Boston) . I had great fun with friends. Lots of laughter at the conditions and finding the biggest puddles. But it was nothing for the runners like what it was for anyone giving…
Welcome to Boston! Monday will be my 24rd running of the Boston Marathon and 18th consecutive. I’ll be out there this year trying to come in under 3 and that will make it 31 consecutive years of of running a marathon under 3 hours. 33 consecutive years is the world record so my kids are keeping…
To celebrate April Foot Health Month something new and something old (and timeless). The living legacy of Dr Wikler is my good friend Dr Ray McClanahan. Ray is sharing what Dr Wikler so simply and elegantly described in 1961 in the book excerpt below (the book has been long out of print). For something new…
Imagine …. Whenever I am in NYC I jog through Central Park West and find the Imagine Mosaic which marks the site where John Lennon was killed. All who gather there are each imagining something. It seems we all want to attack each other and discredit the good work people are doing to create a…
We often get emails that make us smile. This one from physician colleague Dr Jacob Hofer caught me by surprise in early November. Good Morning Mark, I thought you might be interested. . . our cross country team won the class C sectional race (see below) and will be going to the state championship next…
It’s a pleasure to share the amazing story of Two Rivers Treads very own Sarah Hodder who in addition to helping community runners every day, achieved a rare ultra-running feat in 2017. Sarah not only tamed the BEAST series, she was the top female finisher! Tell us a little about your sports/athletic background before finding…
Runners and athletes are often not embraced with a sympathetic ear in medical offices. “Stop running it will wear out your joints”, “you must take this cholesterol medication”, “you need these meds for life”, and other non -evidence based opinions can be imposed on you and you feel in a position of having to argue…
This week I share the amazing story of my Oregon ultra running online friend Betsy Hartley. Betsy and I share things frequently over Facebook and her story is one that will change your life if you are facing similar challenges. Read on and you will understand the nothing comes easy, but if you believe you…