Category: Dr. Mark’s Desk

We all learn from our travels. By witnessing amazing accomplishments and the spirit of others trying to change the world in places of need, there is much to learn and appreciate. I recently had the privilege of returning to South Africa to teach an International Sports Medicine Symposium with Dr. Tim Noakes.  Dr. Noakes has…

April 21 was my twenty-first running of the Boston Marathon. The week before, I wrote a Dr. Mark’s Desk’s piece challenging runners to be fearless on race day just as the bombing victims have been fearless in their journey back to health. At last year’s marathon, I had already finished the race and was with…

April 21 will be my twenty-first running of the Boston Marathon. That’s a pleasing symmetry, but I also know that I will be experiencing unpredictable emotions. At last year’s marathon, I had already finished the race and was with my family, safe in a nearby hotel a block away, when the terrorism attack occurred. The bombings…

All movement, whether it is walking, running, dancing, or lifting, requires balance and symmetry to do it safely.  What we measure in gait labs looks at things the eye cannot see. These include specific forces, timing of phases of gait which are fractions of seconds, and the gait differences from right to left.  One of…

A common currency in the world is running and physical activity. A simple pair of shoes can set you free and take you on great adventures, meet new people, and share in the joy of simple movement and health. I recently spent two weeks traveling 25,000 miles and visiting three continents to teach healthy running,…

Join Jay Dicharry, Ian Adamson and myself  for one of our “Healthy Running” conferences and courses in 2014. Our courses are now approved for 16 hours AMA Cat 1 Continuing Medical Education (CME) hours. The three of us have been leading these medical-education courses for two years now. We have refined the content to create a two-day experience…

I recently came across this video of an interview that two West Virginia University journalism students Sean Manning and Robert Kreis produced. The Shepherdstown Chronicle ran an accompanying  article on Two Rivers Treads and healthy running. Enjoy.

I ran my 22nd Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday (2:47, 83rd overall, 2nd in my age group to my Marine friend, Alex Hetherington, 46, in 2:42). I will respect the post-race recovery period. I was sore on Monday, but it was not too bad. I went for an easy jog with my dog. It was…

For a few nail-biting weeks, uncertainty clouded the future of the 38th Marine Corps Marathon. But it’s all systems GO! for 30,000 runners now that the U.S. government shutdown has ended. The world’s largest marathon without prize money will be run October 27 through the nation’s capital as scheduled. “Runners, we are on,” director Rick…

There are runners, and then there are runners who push the known limits of human endurance. My friend and fellow West Virginian Jamie Summerlin is one of these amazing athletes. Jamie Summerlin is a Gulf War-era veteran, having served in the United States Marine Corps for six years. Currently, the Marine veteran serves as the…

In just five years, local volunteers and our race committee have taken an idea to start a race in a small town that would highlight both health and history.  Our race course for Freedom’s Run takes runners past many important Civil War and Historical landmarks. Each year, the event has grown, with runners now wcoming from all over…

After a brief end-of-summer hiatus of travel for family fun, I’ll be hitting the road for several events this fall. This will provide me the opportunity to speak more about running and health, as well as meet other runners.  And, of course, I get to race. In three weeks, there is the Air Force Marathon. …

As a recreational golfer, it was with great anticipation that I received Dr. Phil Maffetone’s new book in the mail. In a departure of Phil’s previous titles, this one was centered on golf.  Phil’s work has significantly  influenced my life, running, teaching on health, and practice of medicine. I was eager to see what he…

It is always a challenge being a director of a race. You are always faced with things you did not anticipate.  Twelve hours before the event here in West Virginia, we were hit with a thunderstorm of massive proportions.  Most of the course markings of the run which was 40% trail were gone.  Water from…