Foot Prints Page 1 Foot P rints The Quarterly Newsletter of IndyRunners Fall 2007, Volume 12, Number 4 What’s Inside: That Time of Year That Time of Year Again 1 President’s Page: Thanks for the 3 It’s that time of year again-time to renew your Indy Runners membership for 2008! You’ll find the 2008 Walkers Section: Walking Friends 4 membership form on page 12 of this newsletter, or you can go www.indyrunners.org and sign up online. Medical Report: The Joy of Rehab 5 It’s also time to sign-up for spring race! By the time Indy Runners Chicago Marathon 6-9 this newsletter reaches you, the mini marathon may already be sold-out. However, there is no need to Mini Training Program Registration 10-11 worry; if you don’t run the mini this year, there are 2008 Indy Runners Membership 12 plenty of other races around the same time. Another Form race to put on your calendar for 2008 is the Sam Costa Club Apparel 13 half-marathon and quarter-marathon on March 29th (an Indy Runners event!). For more details on this race and Weekly Club Runs 16 other spring races, check out the race calendar tab on the Indy Runners website. If you’re planning on running or walking the mini or another race this spring, be sure to sign-up for Indy Runners Mini-Marathon training program. The program features 12 different pace groups, recovery snacks after every run/walk, free pizza nights, seminars, a commemorative shirt, discounts at local running running stores and a 2008 Indy Runners membership, not to mention training with over 350 other participants. The training program meets every Tuesday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Butler’s campus. Packet pick-up is Tuesday, January 15th and the first training run is the next Tuesday January, 22nd. See the registration form on page 10 for more details or sign up online at www.indyrunners.org. Page 2 Foot Prints Foot Prints is a quarterly publication of Indy Runners and is Indy Runners and Indy Walkers one of many membership benefits. Foot Prints is mailed to the primary address for each membership via third class mail. Board Members Address corrections should be mailed to: Indy Runners PRESIDENT—Todd Oliver P. O. Box 30617 (317) 407-7253 Indianapolis, IN 46230-0617 [email protected] Opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and not VICE PRESIDENT—Bethany Gehrlein necessarily those of RRCA or USATF of which Indy Runners [email protected] is a member. TREASURER—Brian Cake (317) 876-7253 Submitting material to the newsletter is open to all members. Articles, letters, or any related information may be submitted [email protected] by e-mail to: [email protected]. SECRETARY—Wanda Black [email protected] Photos, original artwork, and advertising are always welcome. MERCHANDISE—Norm Simard The editor reserves the right to edit or decline submissions (317) 410-1222 due to lack of space or inappropriate content. The schedule [email protected] for submittals for the newsletters is: INDY WALKERS —Wanda Black Deadline Issue [email protected] MEMBERSHIP—Bethany Gehrlein September 15, 2007 October 2007 [email protected] MINI TRAINING PROGRAM—Brian Cake [email protected] NEWSLETTER —Angie Micinski Foot Prints [email protected] Newsletter/Layout Editor RACE DIRECTOR—Will Huiras [email protected] Angie Micinski RACE DIRECTOR—Terry Townsend This Edition’s Contributors (317) 259-0708 Larua Burton [email protected] WEBMASTER—Chad Martin Kevin Caraher [email protected] Marcia Gascho MEDICAL LIAISON—Brian Schuetter [email protected] Mike Niederpruem MEMBER-AT-LARGE —Rick Parker Kara Potts [email protected] SOCIAL DIRECTOR—Curt Canter Brian Schuetter [email protected] A Place For Every Pace Indy Runners is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit member asso- ciation that promotes personal fitness and health through running and walking activities including train- ing programs, races, track workouts, fun runs and walks, and other social events. Membership is open to every- one, regardless of ability or age. Foot Prints Page 3 THE PRESIDENT’S PAGE Thanks for the Memories by Mike Niederpruem it seems like only a year ago Runners website. Well, since I joined Indy Runners, and even shorter since I became club vice- president back in February, 2004. So, imagine There is always more that can be done, and my surprise to realize that I’ve been the club I have no doubts that the Indy Runners president for almost three years now! How- Board will continue to shepherd the club ever, change is constant, and the time has effectively into the future. come for me to move on to the next stage in my life. By the time you read this, I will have In addition, I made a lot of friends, and I relocated to Chicago, and hopefully become hope you all think to contact me in Chi- involved in the running scene in the Windy cago if you ever find your way up here for City in some way, shape, or fashion. The good a running event. In fact, if you participated news is that the club is in the capable hands of in the Chicago Marathon this year, even in a highly effective board, now under the sea- spite of the highly unusual weather, you soned leadership of a new club president, may have heard my wife Alexe cheering Todd Oliver. everyone on. A lot has been accomplished these past four So, I wish all of you the very best, and I years. For me personally, I ran my first full hope that you continue to pursue and ac- marathon because of Indy Runners. For the complish all your walking and running club, a few of the highlights: goals. ●We enhanced the Indy Runners Mini Train- Take care, ing Programs by adding additional incentives Mike Niederpruem such as gloves, socks, and the most popular incentive, FREE pizza; [email protected] ●We started a highly successful marathon training program over the past few summers to facilitate group training for fall marathon enthusiasts; Please recycle this ●Our most recent accomplishment has been a newsletter complete overhaul and re-launch of the Indy Page 4 Foot Prints THE WALKER’S PAGE Walking Friends by Marcia Gascho Walking is a great activity you can do phone number online. alone or with friends and family. ●Arrange to meet at a hosted walking event or a It’s nice to be able to meditate, wrestle with problems charity walk, or at a local track that is frequented or enjoy nature by yourself. Sometimes the walk can by many walkers and runners. seem long and boring, especially if you have walked that route a thousand times before. I don’t listen to ●Suggest that each of you brings along another music when I walk for safety reasons. I would much friend or spouse for your first walk together. rather walk with a friend or my husband. It’s a good ●Ensure that others know where you are going, way to catch up on news or make plans. Also some- with whom you are meeting, and when you should times it’s safer to walk with someone in certain places return. or at certain times. ●Carry a cell phone and arrange to check-in by It’s easy to find a million excuses not to walk! Hav- phone with a friend or spouse during your first ing a walking friend can be a great motivator. When walk with your new friend. someone is counting on you, you feel an obligation to ●Use caution in giving personal information such be there for them. If you find a dependable buddy to as your home address, etc. until you have met the walk with on a regular schedule, you can set exercise person and reassured yourself about them. goals more easily. Many people enjoy training for the ●Do not get alone into a car with anyone you have Mini or other long distance events with one or more just met. training partners. Some of those multi-hour 9 or 10 mile training walks are a lot more pleasant when I’m Agree Upon Ground Rules For Your First walking with someone. I think I read somewhere that Walk: Set expectations before your first walk to- people in a training group have a higher success rate gether. Politely discuss walking speeds, distances, completing the training and the event than someone what you like or don't like for conversation, etc. who trains alone. Say that you know not everybody is compatible and agree to not take offense if it doesn't work out If you don’t have a regular walking friend or relative, be cautious about finding someone to walk with. Safety in Numbers: For a first walk-together, it is best to meet at a hosted walking event and enjoy it I found the following helpful information about this together. This gives you an easier "out" if it turns topic on this website: http://walking.about.com/od/ out that your walking speeds or personalities are clubs/a/newfriendsafety.htm not compatible, you can each continue on the route If you are looking for new walking friends, it is al- solo. I have met most of my walking friends at ways good to play things as safe as if you are going walking events hosted by AVA walking clubs, on a blind date. What is there to be wary of? The vast which are open to everyone and many are free. It majority of those seeking a walking partner simply is best if each of you can bring along another want somebody to walk with them.