Two bold, young documentary filmmakers, Dana Richardson and Sarah Zentz, left their home in Big Sur, California, and traveled to the depths of Copper Canyon in Mexico in search of the “seeds of health.” They lived among the Tarahumara who suffer almost none of the modern illnesses of Westernized Society. The Tarahumara are famous for…
Category: Dr. Mark’s Desk
From the desk of Dr. Mark Cucuzzella…
3 Common Misconceptions About Minimalist Footwear and Running Form
We are happy to share the following essay from my friend and colleague Jeff Gaudette, who is the founder of Runners Connect, which is a team of expert coaches dedicated to helping runners train smarter, stay healthy and run faster. Jeff is one of the forward thinkers in natural running movement as well as a…
Real-Meal Revolution
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…
Interview with Gait and Exercise Experts Drs. Kevin and Heather Vincent
It is a privilege to share additional insight and expertise from Drs. Kevin and Heather Vincent on the process (and outcome) of their position paper, “Selecting Running Shoes,” for the American College of Sports Medicine’s (http://www.acsm.org/docs/brochures/running-shoes.pdf ) The published document was big news for all runners and walkers, as it represented a dramatic change in…
Reflections on Boston
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…
Run Fearless in Boston
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…
Learn Run Form, Rhythm and Balance on Motorless Treadmill
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…
Exercise and Health ‘Round the World
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,…
“Healthy Running” Conferences and Courses in 2014
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…
You Have a Foot Size, Not Shoe Size
The Latin expression, nihil novi sub sole, which translated means “there is nothing new under the sun,” came to mind when I first come across Dr. Phil Hoffman’s study of feet from the Philippines and Pygmies of Central Africa from the early 1900s. Neither group ever wore shoes. Their feet were healthy. As for the…
Vivobarefoot Kids Shoe Free Giveaway 2013
Thank you to our friends at VivoBarefoot for supporting the return of the Minimalist Kids Shoe FREE giveaway at Two Rivers Treads in Shepherdstown, WV. The giveaway was held last month and like in years past, we were overwhelmed by parents and their kids who loooooove the minimal shoes and reject all others. Two Rivers…
“1-2-3 Run” Form Skills
I recently posted a Dr. Mark’s desk piece outlining “5 Tips on How To Improve Your Running Form.” As a followup to that instructional article, here is a short, helpful video as part of the United States Air Force Efficient Running Project. As you focus on form, not speed, here are 3 steps to get…
5 Tips on How To Improve Your Running Form
For the past 12 years, I have dissected and modified hundreds of shoes, taught running form clinics around the country, opened a minimalist store in my home town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, directed races (from 5K fun runs to marathons), got local children excited about running, and most importantly listened with all my senses –starting…
Recap of Minimalism and Healthy Running
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.
Marine Corps Marathon 2013 Report
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…
Semper Fly 2013: Marine Corps Marathon Race Day Strategies
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…
Jamie Summerlin’s 100-Day Freedom Run Across the U.S.
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…
Freedom’s Run…Through Civil War History
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…
Air Force & Marine Corps Marathons; Austin Eat & Run; Freedom’s Run
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. …
Documentary on Mountain Runner Anton Krupicka; and Freedom’s Run
I am looking forward to seeing the new documentary, “In The High Country”, which is the result of a yearlong collaboration between mountain runner Anton Krupicka and filmmaker Joel Wolpert. The 30-minute film will be shown in Shepherdstown, West Virginia on Friday, October 11, and the screening will be held at the historic Shepherdstown Opera…
Natural, Minimalist Golf: New Book by Dr. Phil Maffetone
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…
“Posing” the Question of Proper Running Form: Natural Running vs. Pose Method
Natural running is not some ideal, archetypal running form; it’s what happens when you let your own body figure out what works best for you when you minimize interference between the foot and the ground. It’s what happens when you let your own muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones do all or most of the work….
What I Have Learned From Barefoot and Minimalist Running
In June 2013, the second Barefoot Connections conference was held in England, and most fittingly, it met inside the prestigious Natural History Museum which is located just outside London. Several leading practitioners and thought leaders in natural lifestyle and barefoot activity (walking and running) gave talks there. Family commitments kept me from making the trip…
Comrades “Marathon”: What Goes Up…Goes Up
Why would I travel half way around the world to run The Comrades “Marathon” in South Africa? Not sure. Anyone who has ever run this race, which is the oldest and largest ultra run in the world, talks about it with a reverence and describe the amazing emotional and cultural experience. This run has brought…
Race Report:Harpers Ferry Half Marathon
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…