Soles 4 Soles
Ridge Runner Sports is an official drop location for Soles4Souls, a nonprofit created to address the need for shoes abroad and in the United States. Last year Ridge Runner Sports shipped more than 160 pairs of shoes. You can drop off your gently used athletic shoes at 3057 S. Fremont. Ridge Runner Sports sends the donations to the S4S distribution center, which is currently providing shoes in 45 states and 61 countries. Ridge Runner Sports is the only donation location in the region.
Mary Goss-Crowson, owner of Ridge Runner Sports, feels this program is a natural fit for her business, since runners change shoes frequently. “Runners typically go through 2-4 pairs of shoes a year. An old pair might not be good for training anymore, but they’re still in good shape. Instead of just throwing the shoes away, runners can bring them to the store.”
The idea for Soles4Souls began in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina. The mission of Soles4Souls is to impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes. People locally can help others all over the world by simply cleaning out their closets.
For more information about shoe collection at Ridge Runner Sports, contact Mary Goss-Crowson at (417) 882-5590. For more information about Soles4Souls, visit www.soles4souls.org.
link to articles:
Escape the Ergonomic Danger Zone
For more information, go to http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=1225
New One-Day Record for Katy Trail
Girls Just Wanna Run
If you ran in this race and want to view your photographs, please go
to www.tammyb.instaproofs.com.
There is also a very entertaining video of the race on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5sE713D2R8.
This was a record year with over 600 women in attendance. The race continues to grow, and the expo for packet pick-up is one of the best in the area.
Trail Mix
As I have observed, running shoe experts now admit that the line between street shoes and trail shoes is beginning to blur. What used to feel like a cinder block, now feels more cushioned, only it is called a trail shoe. Instead of the huge segmentation between the two categories like before, they are now thought of as a running shoe for the trails. The trail category shoes are now more flexible and lightweight. This is due to customer expectations and new technical materials. This is the trend for most of the leading brands such as ASICS, Montrail, Vasque, and Merrell. The biggest difference to look for if you are hard core -- the rock plate.
Concrete Men & Women
We were pleased to have over 300 entrants in this year's Concreteman Triathlon. The rain was just short of a nightmare, but how bad can it be to huddle under the tent with a cup of Starbucks and visit with your buddies? Most people stayed, but I could not fault anyone for leaving.
The rain made the check-in process more complicated, as we tried to provide shelter for all of the workers. Without the wetness, we would have had plenty of room to spread out and do the marking and chip disbursement.
Once again, the Sunrise Optimists received a donation from the proceeds.
We are very proud of this event and will keep making improvements.
Looking to Fall
We will likely revamp our course for the Mizuno/RRS 8K downtown on October 3. We love the existing course, but it costs nearly $1,000 for police assistance. We will get something finalized next week. It will be a quality event with a fast course, technical shirts, Mizuno awards, and a pancake breakfast.
We are planning a new event for November, and more details will be available in my next update. Our calendar overflows the next few months with one to four events each weekend and several cross country meets in the middle of the week. I think it's my favorite time of year.
Craig and I enjoyed some adventure last week in Telluride, CO. I tried keeping
with him, my oldest son Geoff, his girlfriend Sara, and some of their friends on mountain bikes and came back with superficial wounds to my arm and a possible broken rib. Sadly, I would do it again, but maybe reacquaint myself with my mountain bike first. We climbed Mt. Sneffles two days after that, and at times, it seemed that every boulder I was anchored to was moving.
I hope you all had an adventure of your own this summer. It is going to be a great fall.
Chris
Yates Wins LAF 5K in San Jose, CA
Local runner and RRS employee Chris Yates won
the LAF 5K in San Jose, CA this past Sunday, July 12. There were
over 1,500 runners in the race, and Chris ran a 15:50 with a strong
finish. We are very proud of Chris and thrilled to share in his
excitement.
Bass
Pro Training Begins
Training for the annual Bass Pro Fitness
Festival events has begun. If you wish to train with a group for
any of the running events, please contact RRS, and we will steer you in
the right direction. There are long group runs, led by Chris and
Linda Revoir, speedwork here from the Store, and organized trail runs,
led by John Montgomery.
We hope that you will join a group to keep you going.
Bass Pro 2009 training groups
Why Weight?
Here is a link to a great article from the National Strength and Conditioning Association for any runners (athletes) who are interested in more information about incorporating resistance training into their cross-training program. Includes rep ranges, periodization, and example routines. Enjoy!
Nick Meinhardt
LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION - 2010
Chris Yates is on his way to Seattle, WA this time to run the LAF 5K. Last year (see article below) he won this event in San Jose, CA. We applaud his efforts to raise money for cancer research.
LAF Fundraiser - 2009
Here is an update on Chris Yates' effort to raise money for cancer research for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Local runner, Chris Yates, who runs for Drury and works at RRS is going to San Jose next month to run in the LAF road race. Chris lost his father, Rick Yates, to cancer a little over a year ago. Chris set his fundraising goal at $1,000, but thanks to local runners and supporters, he is at $1,600. Now, his goal is $2,500. If you still would like to donate, stop by either RRS location. Below is a picture from our Sunday fun run and fundraiser.
Ridgerunner News
Diva Night
I think the pictures speak for themselves.
We all had fun. It was our night to be frivolous.
Thanks to:
Absolute Health Solutions: Chena Anderson, naturopathic doctor
Linda Bamber, B.S., Food Science and Nutrition
Diane Dean, naturopathic doctor
Body Kneads Therapeutic Massage: Jenitia VanSickle, LMT
Ceci Drake, LMT, CIMI
MAC Cosmetics: Melissa Henning, makeup artist to Barak Obama (really).
Noevir Skin Care: Janice Markley, Distributor
Wellness Concepts: Jill Aleman, L.Ac. & Tania Reavis
Akins Natural Foods Market,
Vino 100.
RRS FOOT CLINIC AND 8K
FUN RUN
by Mary Goss-Crowson
In 1976, I began my running career. There were not many races back then, but we were able to do Saturday morning fun runs, which were put on by Floyd Johnson through the National Jogging Association.. I still remember my first five mile run through Phelps Grove Park. We earned a patch for reaching various milestones.
This preceded the forming of the Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners Club, which happened around 1978. I was one of the original 12 charter members.
In 1982, when we started Ridge Runner Sports, our mission statement was "to promote running and health through physical fitness in around the Springfield area."
Saturday, February 21, was a return to these running roots. First, we had a very fun run throughout the downtown area. Then Craig had breakfast ready for us when we returned to the RRS downtown store.
Finally, Dan Mostrom did a superb job on the foot clinic and nearly everyone stayed to listen. I am certain that there was a run on pectin that afternoon, as we all learned it would help us to rebuild our collagen, which helps prevent injuries.
I have posted some photographs below.
Stay tuned for our next running adventure.
CONGRATULATIONS DRURY CROSS COUNTRY
TEAM!
We are so proud of the Drury Cross Country team. Not
only have they had a strong season overall, but on September 27, they won
the Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, MN. Three RRS employees run
for Drury -- Chris Yates, Case Van Arkel, and Matt Van Arkel.
Congratulations to coach Jon Van Arkel as well! There is a link to the
Drury Cross country website on our links page.
Chris,
Case, and Matt
LUELLEL HICKMAN WINS BERRYMAN 12-HOUR
OFF-ROAD DUATHLON
On August 23, the Berryman Off-Road Duathlon kicked off at
7 a.m. for the 12-Hour individual racers and teams. The 6-hour racers and teams started at 9 a.m.
The Berryman Trail is located near
St. Louis, MO.
The 12-hour race unfolded as a two-man battle. Local athlete Lullel Hickman, who won the race in 2007, raced neck and neck with Eric Buckley, a veteran endurance athlete for almost 11 hours straight. Lullel Hickman won by three minutes and retained the title of 12-Hour Off-Road Duathlon Champion!
Congratulations to Lullel, who failed to mention this to anyone. (I got this information from Bonk Hard Racing.)