The timing is perfect. And intentional. The New York City marathon is taking place this weekend. And in the New York Times Sunday magazine, Chris McDougall has written a wonderful article on natural, injury-free running with this rather emphatic headline: “The Once and Future Way to Run.” It’s available online here. It begins with an…
Category: Dr. Mark’s Desk
From the desk of Dr. Mark Cucuzzella…
Semper Fly: How to Go Fast in the Marine Corps Marathon 2011
As a Lt Col in the U.S. Air Force, I have been an Air Force Marathon Team Member since 1988. This will be my 20th Marine Corps Marathon with two Masters wins and two top-five overall finishes. This Sunday, I will be competing again in the Marine Corps 26.2-mile race which is held in D.C. While I…
The Cucuzzella Kids Can Run!
Two weekends ago, our small town of Shepherdstown, West Virginia was bustling with activity and runners. It was the third annual Freedom’s Run, of which I am the race director. From the start we intended to make this a small town event with scenery, history, fun, local flavor, and low fees compared to the big…
Get Your Kids Into Minimalist Shoes to Ensure Natural Foot Development
As a family physician, I firmly believe that children should play in their bare feet or in activity shoes that complement natural foot development and proper biomechanics of movement. Runners, walkers, coaches, and the medical community are all awakening to the benefits of allowing proper natural foot motion to occur in all of our daily…
First Lydiard Coaching Seminar Attracted Running Legends
by Dr. Mark Cucuzzella. I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the first Lydiard Invitational Coaching Seminar in Boulder, Colorado this past weekend. It was humbling to be in the room with running legends of the past and present, hear their stories, and listen as they shared lessons learned and “secrets” they figured…
VivoBarefoot Kids Shoe Giveaway
On Sunday, less than 24 hours after Hurricane Irene roared through the region, the day was calm, the sky blue, and the sidewalk outside Two Rivers Treads in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, was filled with excited kids and their parents. They were there for the VivoBarefoot Kids Shoe Giveaway. Earlier in the week, I had sent…
Small Town with a Large Foot Print: Natural Running Video Filmed in Shepherdstown, WV
A short music video created by Two Rivers Treads kicked off Newton Running’s Special Event on Monday August 8 at the historic Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado. Before an invited crowd of 300 runners, company executives, specialty running retailers, and past running greats such as Olympic Gold Medalist Frank Shorter and World Champion Zola Budd, …
White-Line Comfort for Barefoot Running When the Asphalt is Pipin’ Hot
What does a runner who likes to occasionally go out in his bare feet dream of on a scorching-hot summer day? Cold beer? Watermelon? A dip in the Shenandoah river? All of these are great but a fresh white line of paint is even better. This is the main road near my home in Shepherdstown…
ABC’s of Minimalism: Dr. Mark’s Reply to Jeff Galloway’s Views on Running and Injury
With all his books, coaching experience, training methods, racing achievements, and Ironman-like durability with just over a half-century of miles on his legs, Jeff Galloway is a respected fixture in the running community. And along with many other runners, I’m a subscriber to his email newsletter .But his take on minimalist running shoes in his…
Natural Running Roundup
Short, new video put together by Zero Drop‘s Bill Katovsky with Born to Run author Chris McDougall and Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, owner of Two Rivers Treads, who lead local runners through natural running drills. Filmed on location in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Running While Jumping Rope Prevents Overstriding
by Mark Cucuzzella, M.D. My six-year-old daughter taught me this drill and I became immediately aware that this was the perfect practice to create rhythm, balance, posture –and most importantly prevent overstriding. Jumping rope as a drill helps wake up elastic recoil and rhythm. You always land aligned and balanced. When you add a little…
Greetings from NRC Director Mark Cucuzzella
Welcome to the Natural Running Center. Our overall message is simple: Learn, Evolve, Run! With the information, education, and expert advice you will find on this site, it’s our hope and mission that all runners, beginners or veterans, fast or slow, the formerly injured or those hoping to get back in the game, will learn…
Grassroots Revolution in Natural Running Has Taken Off
As a family physician who has worked in primary care clinics for 20 years, I entered the field of medicine since it seemed to be the area where one can have the most influence and impact on healthy lifestyles. I offer the prescription of daily exercise to almost every patient who sees me. I ask…