Click on a date below to see news about our Elite Running Team

11/4/08     40 Year Old Foot Solutions Team Member Dominates New York City Marathon With Masters Level Win

Well this is a great day for all of those that trained, entered and finished the 2008 NY Marathon on Sunday Nov. 2nd. Some will be shelving another finishers T and some who entered have just finished their 1st Marathon - and in both cases - is an outstanding mental & physical accomplishment. I recall as an endurance athlete the feeling that comes over you when you finish your 1st. Those whom remember their 1st likely have had a similar experience and could give you every detail. Go ahead and give your experience whether is your 1st or 25th Event with a comment below. You may inspire others to go for it as well...

Today Meseret Kotu & Sergey Kaledin - whom are 2 members of the Foot Solutions Team, had great events as well... Congratulations to both for their efforts and Sergey's Masters Win!!!

All coaches and athletes know we are always looking for the edge. In my days of Triathlons and Biathlons there were weekends that I called secret racing. I will share that at another time...

Just a few of Sergey's Secret to a his wIn.

• Biomechanical Advantage - Custom Orthotic
• Training & Recover Shoes - Chung Shi
• Nordic Poles - Balance Walking

I have included the great write up below on the Runner's Web which is always a great source for Endurance Athletes. They include great articles, tools and inspiring results. Oh, and some neat calculators

Click here to view full article with results

 

06/13/08     Foot Solutions Gabriela Trana is going to the Olympics

Foot Solutions Gabriela Trana is going to the Olympics

By Nicole Degner No longer an Olympic hopeful but an Olympic participant, Gabriela Trana of Costa Rica is going to Beijing this summer. With Costa Ricas shortage of long distance road races, Gabriela has had to travel abroad in order to prepare for her Olympic marathon debut. Race after race, she has consistently improved and revealed her vigor for world-class competition.

As her home country has limited races beyond the 10,000-meter distance, Gabriela has discovered her talent while coming to the United States and other countries. At the age of 12 the young girl began running and has continued to excel, as she has become an unstoppable competitor. She has yet to lose a race over the 10,000-meters distance since 2003 in her home country. After Gabrielas debut marathon in 2007 at Disney race, she realized that she could go the distance and that she had a chance to compete in the Olympics. Her first place finish ignited her passion to compete in the most esteemed event for all athletes. The vast richness of the Olympic spirit is incomparable and a opportunity to participate is an honor for the best of the best.

Gabriela has developed a strong running history in a variety of distances both in sprinting and long distance. Her marathon success is extraordinary as she has been able to evolve from the 400-meter sprint to 26.2 miles. These two extremes in racing both require different skills with the fast and slow twitch muscles. Although she has only raced three marathons, she has placed well in all, with her first place win at Disney and then seventh in the Venice, Italy Marathon for 2007. In her third marathon she placed fifth in the 2008 Jacksonville, Florida Breast Cancer Marathon. Among these, she has raced in many half marathons and most recently broke the Fargo Half Marathon record in 1:20:04.

As marathoners simply do better with age and experience, the young 28 year old is ready to make her mark in the international playing field for her country.

 

04/20/08     2007 Male Boston Marathon Masters Winner and the Reigning Female Boston Marathon Masters Record Holder Both Say The Help Theyve Received From Foot Solutions Is The Key To Their Success

2007 Male Boston Marathon Masters Winner and the Reigning Female Boston Marathon Masters Record Holder Both Say The Help They’ve Received From Foot Solutions Is The Key To Their Success.

Back again to defend their Boston Marathon titles are Oleg Strizhakov, 2007 Masters Boston Marathon Winner and Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova, the reigning female Boston Marathon record holder. Both runners say it is the help they have received from Foot Solutions, an international foot care health and wellness company, that has made it possible for them to keep running.

Both runners sustained painful running conditions due to poor biomechanics and both were able to get back in the race because Foot Solutions made their pain go away by fitting them with custom accommodative inserts in their running shoes.

Foot Solutions elite running team coach, Margaret Sue Bozgoz, said Sultanova-Zhdanova is one of the fastest and toughest master runners in the world. Like every long distance hard headed runner, she tries to ignore pain when she races. However, there comes a point in time where a runner can no longer ignore that pain.

"Thats where we come in." said Bozgoz.

A custom shoe insert was all Sultanova-Zhdanova needed to cure a serious case of Achilles Tendonitis and Plantar Fasciitus, conditions that sometimes sideline serious runners for good.

Sultanova-Zhdanova said the custom arch supports along with Foot Solutions unique Chung Shi shoes, which reduce impact and jarring at the heel strike, has made all the difference in the world. I am truly running and walking pain free now.

Similarly, a simple heel lift was the answer to the painfully tight calves Strizhakov was experiencing. Now, I can run without having to worry about my legs tightening up, said Strizhakov.

Both runners also say wearing Chung Shi shoes, which reduce impact and jarring at the heel strike, has also positively impacted their training and recovery.

The shoes, exclusively available at Foot Solutions, have a uniquely patented angled sole that allows the body to stand and walk in a more aligned position. Additional benefits of the Chung Shi shoe include improved muscle coordination, improved balance and increased core stability.

Strizhakov said they are the shoes every runner should wear when they are not running because they allow the body to recover in a natural way.

Nordic Pole Walking, which Sultanova-Zhdanova also incorporates in her training, similarly exercises the body in a non-impact fashion.

Pole Walking, often described as cross-country skiing without the skis, exercises the entire body encouraging an upright posture and balance without placing unnecessary stress on the muscles, ligaments and tendons. Participants use their arms to push off from their flexible poles, engaging the entire range of upper-body muscles. The poles relieve lower body strain and tone the shoulders, arms and back.

Bozgoz, said Balance Walking, the combination of Nordic Pole Walking with Chung Shi shoes, is gaining popularity among runners at all fitness levels. It is also great for novices because it is low impact, easy to do and allows for social interaction, Bozgoz said.

The poles used for the exercise do vary from traditional skis used for the slopes. They are lighter and contain straps that enclose the palm of the hand, similar to fingerless gloves. And they have removable tips.

Bozgoz said there is a specific technique used to gain maximum benefits from the exercise.

Nordic Poles, Chung Shi shoes, complimentary instruction and free foot analysis is available at more than 240 Foot Solutions locations worldwide. Additionally, Balance Walking classes are available at many Foot Solutions locations.

Foot Solutions, a recognized world leader in specialty footwear, custom inserts and technology driven health and wellness products, is one of the first companies to introduce Nordic Pole Walking in the US and is the only company offering the revolutionary Chung Shi shoes that enhance the workout experience due to its unique curved sole.

For more information, visit www.footsolutions.com or call 1-888- FIT-FOOT for the location nearest you.

 

12/21/2007     Marine Corps Marathon Winner Sets New Course Record

Fayette Front Page 1/9/07 (12:09 a.m.)

Fresh off his win at the Marine Corps Marathon less than a week earlier, Tamrat Ayalew smashed the previous 5K course record of 15:25 by 11 seconds with a time of 15:14. His teammate, Luel Nguru, also broke the record by 9 seconds finishing close behind in second place with a time of 15:16. Rounding out the top three was another teammate, Amrare Grure, with a time of 16:08.

All three hail from Ethiopia originally and are members of the elite Foot Solutions Road Racing Team. They are coached and managed by retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Sue Bozgoz, herself a former All Armed Forces and All Army Track and Marathon standout and Fayetteville resident.

The course record of 15:25 was set last year by yet another Foot Solutions athlete, Fikadu Deme, who broke the previous record of 15:40 set by Olympic Trials qualifier Ryan Emery in 2002. This Fayetteville, GA race started in 2001 and has grown to attract world class athletes every year and this year was obviously no exception. On a day made for breaking records, that’s exactly what Tamrat did. Gorgeous blue skies and temperatures in the upper 40’s made for ideal conditions for running and Tamrat took full advantage of the opportunity.

Ayalew, who is literally running for his life, is currently seeking political asylum in the United States. He escaped from his native Ethiopia after he was shot in the leg, imprisoned, and tortured. His time of 2:22:20 (a 5:30 per mile pace) at the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 28, earned him first place among over 20,000 other runners. His winning time just six days later at the New Hope Harvest Classic race was run at a pace of 4:55 per mile. The course is flat or slightly downhill for the first couple of miles but a rolling uphill for the last mile. It meanders past tranquil lakes resplendent in their surrounding fall foliage and along verdant pastures and farms through the countryside.

The first non-professional athlete, who finished fourth overall behind the elite Foot Solutions runners, was Eric Boykin, the overall winner in 2004 and 2005 with a time of 17:18. Local Fayette County High School track and cross country star Ryan Kennedy, now at Georgia Tech, was next in 18:44.

In the womens division, Teresa Winterhalter, 43, of McDonough, GA took top honors with a time of 22:10. Anna Sasser, 30, of Jonesboro was second in 23:47, and Tiffany Wade, 20, of Thomaston, FL, took third in 24:31. In the Master division (40 and over), Jan Bankieris of Fayetteville won in a time of 25:25, while Mark Hamilton, also of Fayetteville took the Men’s Masters honors in a time of 19:42.

Other notable runners included Jeanne Daprano who won the womens 70 & Over age division with a time of 27:05. Jeanne holds numerous American and World Records at various distances in Masters running and earlier this year set a world record by being the first woman over 70 to go under 7 minutes for the mile with a time of 6:47. Roger Keel and Kathy Givens, who have been the reigning champions of the Run and See Georgia Grand Prix series for most of the last decade, were also in attendance, both winning their respective age groups.

The race was part of a week long festival at New Hope that included a Trunk or Treat on Halloween night, a Wild Game dinner on Thursday evening, a day long family festival with music, food, and a car show on Saturday, culminating in a spectacular fireworks show that evening. Plans are already underway for next year’s celebration to make it even bigger and better.

by Bob Dalton

 

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