It’s been a long road to recovery, but I will be back.

by Antonio Vega on November 18, 2011

This has been a very difficult period for me as I have been unable to run until recently. Obviously, I haven’t been able to race at all for more than a year and needless to say, have really missed the pure joy of competing against the best runners in the country.

During my downtime, I had to find other ways to push myself to satisfy my competitive instincts. The first two weeks after my hip surgery were brutal since I couldn’t do much, other than use a stationary hand cycle and watch television.

But competitive guy that I am, I began timing how long it would take me to hobble  on crutches a half mile to my local fitness center.  As I got stronger and more confident on my crutches, I timed how long it took to get to the fitness center and I quickly got faster and faster.

One cold, rainy day, I did my normal routine of working out on the hand cycle and doing my physical therapy exercises, followed by a hard sprint home on my crutches. I was on record pace to get home when the one stop light on my route home turned yellow. Since my watch keeps ticking even if I get stopped at the light, I decided to push my luck and try to make the light.

I was so focused on getting across the intersection that I wasn’t paying attention to the curb. I misjudged it and, in the rainy weather, slipped and fell right in front of four cars waiting for the light to turn. 

Fortunately, some good Samaritans stopped their cars and helped me up. Other than being covered in mud and having a badly bruised ego, I was OK. But after that humbling incident, I decided that unofficial world record for crutching a half-mile would stay at 7 minutes and 48 seconds. If only I hadn’t gone down, my record would’ve fallen.

That was four weeks ago and I am no longer on crutches. I am happy to report that I am currently six weeks out from surgery, and everyday my hip continues to feel better and better.

This week my doctor gave me the green light to start some very light running. My first run was—believe it or not—only 10 minutes long. Two weeks ago, I couldn’t do that. Right now, I am on the road back. It’s been a long road to recovery, but I will be back.

I have no doubt about that.

Brett Gardner Supports Bronx Schools

by Mizuno USA on November 16, 2011

MLB.com shared an inspiring story about Brett Gardner and his efforts to renovate school in the Bronx school system. Read the full story on MLB.com.

My Magical Marathon Journey

by Jennie Finch on November 14, 2011

The entire Marathon process was such an incredible journey from the beginning, truly magical.  Committing to a marathon when you’re 25 pounds heavier and with a little miracle inside of you is where it began.  Running a marathon was something that I had always way in the back of my mind considered as a possibility, but I thought it would happen way, way after softball. I wasn’t planning on it to be within a year and half of retiring and 4 months after giving birth to Baby #2! I was asked (it was a dare and challenge in my mind) by Timex and the main reason for saying “Yes” was that for every person I passed Timex would donate  a $1 to the New York Road Runners Youth Program.  It added to the challenge.  It wasn’t enough just to run 26.2 I would have to pass as many people as possible.

So it was a Go! Praying my delivery went well, Baby D was healthy, & my body was responding well, I was going to run! 2 weeks after giving birth I was hitting the road one foot in front of the other focused on the goal of 26.2 and money for the kids!  The Lord was so evident throughout the entire process. We even picked up a 5th family member, a stray dog who ran 10 miles with me all the way home to find himself a home. Ace was thrilled and named him Bullet and he has been just the sweetest addition to our family. Besides the many holes dug, boots chewed, possums brought to our door, overall he is a sweet little mutt and one of us now.  Getting out there and running also helped me meet an amazing local running group who have so graciously opened their arms and have treated me as one of their own.  From spin classes, telling me all about GU, getting the “right must have” socks, hitting the lonely roads with me at all hours of the day, and most importantly lifting me up in prayer.  They are an answered prayer for me being new to Louisiana and our friendship and runs will go way beyond any marathon!  Truly a blessing!

Its been so fascinating to tap into the “Running World” and having one of the world’s Top Athletes and a mom herself as a guide. I had the extreme honor of training under Coach Susanne Davis.

With her guidance I went from running 3 miles max and at a pace of over 10 minutes a mile to running 26.2 holding the pace of 9:35 through the bridges and crowds of NYC. She was incredible! I have to admit it freaked me out at times to look to the next week of workouts, or even for that matter the next days workout.  Slowly but surely I was getting them done one run at a time and building confidence daily seeing my progression.  I couldn’t of asked for a better Coach to help pull off this amazing feat.  For goodness sake running a marathon is equal to running to 1st base over 2,400 times. That tells you just how much I was out of my comfort zone!  Working with the Timex GPS Run Trainer allowed me to track all my workouts constantly look at my numbers, pace, heart rate, distance, cadence, more numbers than I knew what to do with.  It’s truly a wearable computer on your wrist! I was able to log all my workouts and upload them to Training Peaks where Coach Davis could then see, critique, and plan.  For me it was accountability too, I wanted to impress her and make sure I was doing her workouts just as she had planned.  I have to admit too selfishly it was a little about getting back into my skinny jeans.

After a 12 week crash course transforming me into a marathon runner we packed up both boys and headed for the Big Apple. I had three days of media, interviews, a signing, and a photo shoot for Women’s Running Magazine.  It was a marathon even before the marathon began.  I had the extreme honor of representing Timex for the race, along with my long time sponsor, Mizuno, and worked with Catalyst Public Relations, too.

New York has an energy like no other, it was a blast going from one studio to the next, one office to another, even if our days did start at 5 am and end many hours later.  We went over to the expo to check out the Timex booth and say hello to my friends at Mizuno.  Holy Cow I was in runners heaven.  Wall to wall running gear, body glides, GU’s, head phones, compressions, sleeves, everything and more.  Being a rookie, I was taking it all in, learning all the must haves, and getting exactly what I needed or was told I needed for race day.

We met up with my Godsend of a team at 5am the morning of the marathon. Coach Susanne Davis, Kelly Fillnow (my pacer/angel), and dear friend Dina Kwit the Chicago Bandits Team

photographer/marathon stud!  The Timex bus filled up quickly and we headed over.  I have to say it took me back to the Olympics heading over to the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing.  There was an endless line of busses, a pile of credentials, thousands of people.  My stomach sank and my heart started racing.  It finally hit me, I had to run 26.2 miles and not only run that far but I felt the pressure of wanting to pass as many people as I could for a great cause.  It was the ‘game day’ feeling. The pressure was piling.  I was trying to stay calm knowing I still had 5 more hours to go before I would start.  As the people started piling in by the thousands, getting out sleeping bags, foil blankets, beanies, gloves, they set up shop trying to stay warm.  Bands were playing throughout the crisp New York air, it was the Woodstock of Marathons.  Luckily we were blessed to have a tent set up with snacks, coffee, gatorade, and a heater.  We got comfortable, waited and waited some more.  I was able to mingle with the other athletes, Apollo Ohno, Mark Messier, Dr. Andy Baldwin aka The Bachelor, Trista & Ryan Sutter, trying to help pass the time and help distract my anxious nerves.  Finally hours later the tent cleared out and everyone had left.  It was my turn to run, I was starting dead last out of over 47,000 people.

Read more

My Magical Marathon Journey

by Jennie Finch on November 14, 2011

The entire Marathon process was such an incredible journey from the beginning, truly magical.  Committing to a marathon when you’re 25 pounds heavier and with a little miracle inside of you is where it began.  Running a marathon was something that I had always way in the back of my mind considered as a possibility, but I thought it would happen way, way after softball. I wasn’t planning on it to be within a year and half of retiring and 4 months after giving birth to Baby #2! I was asked (it was a dare and challenge in my mind) by Timex and the main reason for saying “Yes” was that for every person I passed Timex would donate  a $1 to the New York Road Runners Youth Program.  It added to the challenge.  It wasn’t enough just to run 26.2 I would have to pass as many people as possible.

So it was a Go! Praying my delivery went well, Baby D was healthy, & my body was responding well, I was going to run! 2 weeks after giving birth I was hitting the road one foot in front of the other focused on the goal of 26.2 and money for the kids!  The Lord was so evident throughout the entire process. We even picked up a 5th family member, a stray dog who ran 10 miles with me all the way home to find himself a home. Ace was thrilled and named him Bullet and he has been just the sweetest addition to our family. Besides the many holes dug, boots chewed, possums brought to our door, overall he is a sweet little mutt and one of us now.  Getting out there and running also helped me meet an amazing local running group who have so graciously opened their arms and have treated me as one of their own.  From spin classes, telling me all about GU, getting the “right must have” socks, hitting the lonely roads with me at all hours of the day, and most importantly lifting me up in prayer.  They are an answered prayer for me being new to Louisiana and our friendship and runs will go way beyond any marathon!  Truly a blessing!

Its been so fascinating to tap into the “Running World” and having one of the world’s Top Athletes and a mom herself as a guide. I had the extreme honor of training under Coach Susanne Davis.

With her guidance I went from running 3 miles max and at a pace of over 10 minutes a mile to running 26.2 holding the pace of 9:35 through the bridges and crowds of NYC. She was incredible! I have to admit it freaked me out at times to look to the next week of workouts, or even for that matter the next days workout.  Slowly but surely I was getting them done one run at a time and building confidence daily seeing my progression.  I couldn’t of asked for a better Coach to help pull off this amazing feat.  For goodness sake running a marathon is equal to running to 1st base over 2,400 times. That tells you just how much I was out of my comfort zone!  Working with the Timex GPS Run Trainer allowed me to track all my workouts constantly look at my numbers, pace, heart rate, distance, cadence, more numbers than I knew what to do with.  It’s truly a wearable computer on your wrist! I was able to log all my workouts and upload them to Training Peaks where Coach Davis could then see, critique, and plan.  For me it was accountability too, I wanted to impress her and make sure I was doing her workouts just as she had planned.  I have to admit too selfishly it was a little about getting back into my skinny jeans.

After a 12 week crash course transforming me into a marathon runner we packed up both boys and headed for the Big Apple. I had three days of media, interviews, a signing, and a photo shoot for Women’s Running Magazine.  It was a marathon even before the marathon began.  I had the extreme honor of representing Timex for the race, along with my long time sponsor, Mizuno, and worked with Catalyst Public Relations, too.

New York has an energy like no other, it was a blast going from one studio to the next, one office to another, even if our days did start at 5 am and end many hours later.  We went over to the expo to check out the Timex booth and say hello to my friends at Mizuno.  Holy Cow I was in runners heaven.  Wall to wall running gear, body glides, GU’s, head phones, compressions, sleeves, everything and more.  Being a rookie, I was taking it all in, learning all the must haves, and getting exactly what I needed or was told I needed for race day.

We met up with my Godsend of a team at 5am the morning of the marathon. Coach Susanne Davis, Kelly Fillnow (my pacer/angel), and dear friend Dina Kwit the Chicago Bandits Team

photographer/marathon stud!  The Timex bus filled up quickly and we headed over.  I have to say it took me back to the Olympics heading over to the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing.  There was an endless line of busses, a pile of credentials, thousands of people.  My stomach sank and my heart started racing.  It finally hit me, I had to run 26.2 miles and not only run that far but I felt the pressure of wanting to pass as many people as I could for a great cause.  It was the ‘game day’ feeling. The pressure was piling.  I was trying to stay calm knowing I still had 5 more hours to go before I would start.  As the people started piling in by the thousands, getting out sleeping bags, foil blankets, beanies, gloves, they set up shop trying to stay warm.  Bands were playing throughout the crisp New York air, it was the Woodstock of Marathons.  Luckily we were blessed to have a tent set up with snacks, coffee, gatorade, and a heater.  We got comfortable, waited and waited some more.  I was able to mingle with the other athletes, Apollo Ohno, Mark Messier, Dr. Andy Baldwin aka The Bachelor, Trista & Ryan Sutter, trying to help pass the time and help distract my anxious nerves.  Finally hours later the tent cleared out and everyone had left.  It was my turn to run, I was starting dead last out of over 47,000 people.

Read more

The Running Nutritionist: Nancy Clark Answers Your Questions

by on November 14, 2011

Quick turnaround

Q: I'm running the New York City Marathon in early November and then doing another one in January. So a quick recovery from New York City is very important for me. Other than rehydrating properly, is there any good dietary strategy I could be following to help me recover quickly? Angie Machado, Great Neck, New York

A: Clearly, a very important part of recovery is to give your muscles plenty of time to rest after the first marathon. Your muscles need this time to heal and refuel. They also need tools (i.e., premium nutrition) to heal and refuel. So, make sure you eat wholesome foods consistently throughout the day after New York, with even sized meals. (This means your breakfast and dinner have similar caloric value.) Your muscles will recover best with a constant supply of carbs to fuel; protein to build and heal and vitamins, minerals and other bioactive compounds to fight inflammation and enhance the recovery process.

On a daily basis, (not just when you are recovering), you want to enjoy high quality foods, so your body has a stockpile of good nutrition upon which to draw. I highly recommend you include generous amounts of dark colorful fruits and vegetables and/or their juices, including blueberries, pomegranate, cherries, figs, mango, broccoli, spinach, kale, etc. By choosing a rainbow of colorful fruits and veggies, as well as nuts, peanut butter and whole grains, you’ll offer your body the anti-inflammatory foods it needs to achieve a speedy recovery.

Dessert lover

Q: Hi Nancy. I am trying to lose weight in my running program. My problem is I like dessert. Actually, I love desserts. I know I should probably cut back, but are there any good desserts you can suggest that wouldn't add on too many pounds?Cindy Armstrong, Virginia Beach, Virginia

A: Dessert is one of life’s pleasures that you don’t have to give up. You can certainly enjoy a small portion of dessert every day. Just balance the dessert into an overall wholesome food plan, so you end up eating 90 percent quality foods and 10 percent “whatever.” A trick for dieters is to enjoy your dessert at lunch or in the afternoon, when you likely have better control over the portion. Evening eating can get carried away…My Sports Nutrition Guidebook (and my iphone app Nancy Clark’s Recipes for Athletes have several yummy recipes that are also nutritious.

Here’s one that I love: Peach & Gingersnap “Sundaes”

This is delightfully different and yummy-good and a welcomed snack for kids as well as an easy dessert for company dinner. You can prepare the yogurt and gingersnaps ahead of time, and then add the warm peaches at the last minute. You can also easily cut the recipe and make a single serving just for yourself.

This is just one of many recipes found on www.eatsmart.org and can be easily adapted using different fruits and flavors of yogurt.

1 tablespoon margarine or butter

1 15-ounce can diced peaches, or 2 cups fresh or frozen peaches, diced

2 tablespoons brown sugar

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

12 gingersnap cookies

4 6-ounce containers vanilla or peach yogurt, lowfat or fatfree

1. Melt margarine in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the diced peaches, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 5 minutes, or until the peaches are hot. Remove from heat.

2. Meanwhile, place the gingersnaps in a sturdy plastic bag; seal the bag. Crush the cookies to course crumbs with a mallet or rolling pin.

3. To serve, spoon the yogurt into the bottom of 4 dessert dishes. Sprinkle with gingersnap crumbs, dividing evenly. Top with the warm peaches, and enjoy.

Yield: 4 servings

Nutrition Information: Total calories: 1,100

Calories per serving: 275

Carbohydrate 47 g

Protein 8 g

Fat 6 g

Prehydrating for Boston Marathon?

Q: I am training for the Boston Marathon this spring. I know I have to drink on my long runs, but where I run there isn't any available water. Can I prehydrate adequately enough so I don't have to drink on the long runs? If so, will it make a difference if I prehydrate with Gatorade or just water? Phil Leonard, Nashua, New Hampshire

A: Your body is like a sponge and can absorb just so much fluid at one time. Then, it starts to seep. While you want to enter the race fully-hydrated (that means, drink plenty of fluids the day before your long runs), the better plan on long run days is to drink plenty up to 1 ½-2 hours before the start of the long run. Then stop drinking, so you’ll have plenty of time to eliminate the excess. Then, drink again within 15 minutes before you start the long run.

To enhance fluid retention, eat something salty with your pre-run breakfast: add some salt to your oatmeal, enjoy some soup or have salted rice or potato. These foods offer far more sodium than you will get from any sports drink. (Compare labels and you’ll discover eight ounces of Gatorade has only 110 mg sodium, whereas a Thomas’s bagel has 400 to 500 milligrams, depending on the flavor.)

I also suggest you hide bottles of sports drinks or water along the running route. Part of training is to train your intestinal tract. To go from drinking nothing during training to consuming fluid during the marathon might be asking for transit trouble.

Calf cramp solutions

Q: I cramp a lot for an hour or so after my marathon training runs. I usually cramp in my calf muscles and it's quite painful. I drink on my long runs, but it doesn't seem to help. What am I doing wrong and is there anything I can take, such as salt pills, that will help alleviate this?Clarence Fullmer, Mesa, Arizona

A: You might not be doing anything wrong. Muscles can cramp simply because they are tired or need to be stretched. Yet, you want to rule-out nutritional factors that might contribute to cramping, such as dehydration. Post-run, be sure you drink enough so you can eliminate a significant volume of light-colored urine. You might want to enjoy some salty foods, to help replace the sodium lost in sweat. You are unlikely to need salt tablets. Just sprinkle some salt on your food if you are craving salt.

Anecdotally, some people say taking a Tum will alleviate the cramp. Others suggest pinching your lip and pulling it will relieve the cramp. If you are taking a cholesterol-lowering medicine (such as a statin), also take coenzyme Q-10. That can help relieve cramps and muscle pain associated with the medication.

Salty dog

Q: I think I'm a pretty fit runner. I don't have any real health issues, but I am wondering whether it's OK or not to salt my food? I like to eat to salt my foods like chip and hot sauce, popcorn and potatoes. Will this hurt my health in the long run? Beth Anne Carrlson, Burlingame, California

A: Good question and I’m not sure I have the answer. Health professionals debate the role of long-term, high salt intake in health. I would suggest you look at your family’s health history. If your relatives have high blood pressure and die from stroke and heart disease, I’d suggest you curb your salt intake. If your relatives healthfully live to 100 years, then you may be able to get away with a higher salt intake.

As a runner, you do lose some salt in sweat, and if you crave salt, you should consume salt. (There is such a thing as a salt craving.) You also want to look at your whole day’s salt intake. If you eat primarily natural foods (as opposed to canned and highly processed packaged foods), your overall salt intake could be on the low side. You can likely enjoy some salted popcorn without angst. Strive for balance and moderation; that is generally the safest plan.

If you have a sports-nutrition question for Nancy Clark, send your question to shoeguy@Mizunousa.com. We’ll pick five questions a month for Nancy to answer. If we pick your question, you’ll receive a Mizuno te

The Planet Wave: In Search of A PR?

by Bob "Wish" Wischnia on November 8, 2011

Several years ago, a former Boston Marathon champion told me, “Whenever I see a golf course now, I think how great it would be to play a round, rather than what a beautiful place to run. When I started thinking like that, I knew I was finished as a runner.”

I’m not there yet. Part of my daily pre-dawn run takes me through 10 holes of a local country club. It’s my own private training sanctuary—smooth, soft surface, rolling terrain, no traffic—and the only living things out there are the deer, possum, armadillo, fox and occasional rattler if I venture into the deep rough. Simply, I have the absolute perfect place to run.

As I run, I also envision what it would be like to play golf on this spectacular, perfectly manicured course. What would it be like to stripe a drive 320 down the middle on the tough par 5? Could I reach the impossible par 3 over the water? Could I get out of the brutal trap and down in two?

It’s just dreamland for me. Even though I love golf, I can never afford the green fees at this exclusive club without dipping into my daughters’ college fund.

Which is just fine. I prefer the muni courses on the weekends anyway. It’s much more democratic, friendlier, cost effective and I don’t have to conform to a snooty dress code to play.

Our Sunday routine rarely varies. First, comes a long run or race, followed by a couple of breakfast tacos. From the taqueria, we head directly to the course for our standing 11 a.m. tee time. We make an odd foursome: Skinny wimps, wearing race T-shirts, Mizuno hats and running shoes.

My friends are pretty good golfers. I am not.

A few Sundays ago, we were in the middle of a round, waiting on the teebox, when one of the guys asked me, “Would you rather shoot 70 in a round or PR in your next marathon?”

Hmm. Since I had just melted down in the Chicago Marathon, it was—on the surface--a very good question. But since I couldn’t shoot 70 in miniature golf, it was kind of like asking would I rather have dinner with Scarlett Johansson or Katy Perry? And a marathon PR? Unfortunately, those days are over. (I might have a better shot with Katy.)

Even so, it was fun to contemplate (I’m talking running here). But in the end it was no contest. Give me one more PR in the marathon and I’d sell my soul.

Golf is fun. Even though I suck, it’s a game I enjoy playing every week. If I break 90, great. If I don’t, doesn’t matter much. But running is so much more than mere fun.

Running is how we define ourselves. It’s our identity. It’s what gets us up before dawn to run 20 miles. We put so much of ourselves into it. Our devotion and commitment is extraordinary. It’s what unites us.

Non-runners don’t understand a thing about us. Defining why we run to them is fruitless. We eat different foods, we go to bed before Letterman, get up before Morning Joe. We speak a different language, live in a different culture. That’s why we tend to group together. No explanations are necessary between us why we do these things.

We train every day. We seek out the biggest hills and run on the hottest/coldest, wettest/snowiest, most rotten days. It doesn’t matter.  What matters is being out there, doing it.

But in golf, if it’s too windy, too hot, too cold, too wet, too cloudy—too anything—I don’t play because it’s not as much fun.

None of that matters to runners. We run. That’s what we do. We’re runners. That’s who we are.

Running isn’t necessarily loads of fun in the same way golf is. But I’ve never found anything more satisfying than a good, hard long run or a great race and the inner glow that comes along with it. That sense of accomplishment is something that we don’t ordinarily get in our hum drum,  ordinary lives.

But just one PR, that one magical race can carry us for weeks, months. The search for a new one can last for years.

My 4th World Cup by Ryan Millar

by Brynn Murphy on November 8, 2011

This month has been about gearing up and getting ready to begin the qualification process for the upcoming Olympic Games.  That will begin on November 20^th in Japan at the World Cup.  The top 3 teams out of the 12 participating will qualify.  Personally this will be my 4^th World Cup with Team USA, the previous 3 we have finished in 4^th place.  We have finished one spot away from qualifying each time.  I am definitely looking forward to breaking that streak this time.  We had our first practice today and it was great to get back into the gym after being in Russia.  We tried to work out the kinks of long travel and recently played matches with all the many club teams we are playing for.  We are trying to get everyone on the same page so we can hit the ground running when we arrive in Japan.  The qualification process is not easy by any means.  Like I already stated, trying to qualify at the World Cup is tough enough.  If that doesn’t happen, you must win your zone qualifier which will be held in May.  If you do not win your zone qualifier, you are put into random pools of the remaining teams trying to qualify and you must win that to qualify.  We have three chances to get to London.  I look forward to making that process as short as possible.  Wish us luck!  Go Team USA

Ryan

New Roots In The Rain

by Serena Burla on November 2, 2011

Last week our move became official and we left the St. Louis area for Northern Virginia. Although we missed all the real wild weather here on the east coast, it has been raining cats and dogs since we’ve arrived. When I used that expression with my son Boyd (now 2 years 8 months), I had to explain that it meant it was raining a lot and hard. He took it as an invitation to find all his dog stuffed animals and play with them - we had quite the lovely evening playing doghouse, dog store, and dog hockey.

One thing I love about east coasters is that the weather never seems to slow them down; there are just as many people out and about, only with umbrellas and ponchos. I did have to laugh when I was out on the trail in torrential downpour and a fellow runner smiled and commented, “This is loony,” while neither of us broke stride. I might fit in just fine on the east coast after all, once I learn to parallel and back-in park only that is.

As I arrived back home after my morning run yesterday, soaking wet from the rain, the first thing  Boyd asked me was, “Did you run with your mouth open today? Like this (then he opened his as wide as he could and stuck his tongue out too).”  I replied, no, I hadn’t, and then it hit me, I knew the reason for his question. Several weeks ago, back in St. Louis, my friend, Andy, had invited us up to the local high school track to help cheer on a Fleet Feet Summer Speed work session. Upon seeing the track and the runners, Boyd informed me that he had to do his workout (such a runner's kid) and proceeded to begin running out in lane seven (which eventually turned into lanes six and seven - we’ll have to work on staying in lane one at a later date). His run went something like this: run - stop - run - stop - stretch - run X 4 laps.  During his “run” the clouds gathered and it rained. The rain did not deter his spirit; it invigorated him. He told me “I love running! I love running in the rain!” Since we were talking, cheering, singing and playing games on our journey around the track, I challenged him to catch rain drops in his mouth as he ran. The image of my son running around the track soaking wet, mouth open, face to the sky was a snapshot in time I will never forget. Pure joy in life and running.

As I peeled off my wet socks and shoes, I pondered what it would have been like to “run with my mouth open”. One of these days I will try it.  Then I laughed to myself as I thought of how I’d run through the puddles feeling like I did as a kid catching frogs in rain boots. On this rainy day, I, much like Boyd, had lived in the moment and indulged in one of life’s many simple pleasures - splash, splash, splash! Newspapers in the shoes trick were needed after that run.

Maybe this rain was Mother Nature’s reminder that change is necessary for things to grow and that us Burla’s will establish new roots here in Virginia and grow even more in character and in life’s endeavors. Or, maybe it was meant to occur so that we’d stay inside and all the boxes would get unpacked. Whatever the reason, a new chapter in our life has begun and interestingly enough, here comes the sun.

Patrick Rizzo Finishes 8th in Pan Am Games Marathon and Serena Burla Qualifies For The Olympic Track And Field Trials In The 10K

by Bob "Wish" Wischnia on November 2, 2011

October 30 - Running at 7,300 feet, Mizuno Racing Team Member, Patrick Rizzo placed 8th in the Pan Am Games Marathon.   Patrick was the top US finisher with a time of  2:21.58.

October 29 -  Racing on the track for the first time in over 2 years, Mizuno Racing Team Member, Serena Burla, won a 10K in Indiana in a time of 32:48.   Placing 2nd was Mizuno Racing Team Member, Clara Grandt,  in a time of 33:27.   Clara's time meets the trials qualifying standard but is not one of the top 24 times in the US,    Clara may try again later this spring.    What is very positive about  Serena and Clara's performances is that they are in marathon strength training and not 10K track speed shape and they both raced very well.

World Cup by Alisha Glass

by Brynn Murphy on November 2, 2011

Greetings all!  The team is back in Japan and getting ready for World Cup, the first attempt at Olympic qualification.  We came to Japan a little bit early in order to acclimate ourselves with time change, climate change, etc.  We trained and competed hard against each other in order to prepare for the tough schedule ahead.  This will be our last venture together as a team before we head to our professional teams.  We first stayed in a beautiful city called Otsu.  Our hotel overlooks the largest lake in Japan, Lake Biwa.  Although we prepared ourselves for a colder climate than Southern California, we found this place to be sunny and beautiful for the time we were there.

Our next destination is Nagano, Japan.  It’s supposed to be a little colder than the last place.  It’s also a 5+ hour drive from the last city we were in.  The bus was pretty quiet, everyone was either tuned into their ipods, watching a movie on their laptop, or reading.  It was my goal of the trip to finish my book.  I was reading, “Long Walk To Freedom”, by Nelson Mandela.  It’s a wonderfully inspiring book that I recommend to all.  It also had taken me quite a long time to read, so it was nice to accomplish my goal.

It’s November 2^nd, and we play on the fourth against Brazil.  It’s going to be a tough start to play such a strong team right off the bat, and we also face Serbia and Korea, so there won’t be much of a let up.  It is World Cup, there isn’t really such a thing as a weak team at this point!   Our practices have been really competitive and we’re playing high level volleyball on a consistent basis. I see no reason for that not to continue throughout this tournament. 

Keep us in your thoughts as we represent our country and we work to secure a trip to London in 2012.  We’ll take all the support we can get! Thanks!

- Alisha

Luke Donald Wins the PGA of America Player Of The Year Award And The Vardon Trophy

by Iver Maple on November 1, 2011

Coming off his recent victory at the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, Mizuno Brand Ambassador Luke Donald’s remarkable year continues as he has received the 2011 PGA of America Player of the Year Award and the Vardon Trophy.

Donald becomes the second native of England to win the PGA of America Player of the Year award, joining Nick Faldo (1990); and he is the second Briton to capture the Vardon Trophy, first presented to “Lighthorse” Harry Cooper in 1937.

The PGA Player of the Year, first presented in 1948, and the Vardon Trophy, which originated in 1937, are The PGA of America’s premier season-ending awards for excellence by a PGA Tour professional.

In dominating the Vardon Trophy race, Donald registered 73 complete rounds with an average of 68.86 to garner the award that is presented to the player with the lowest adjusted season scoring average. Runner-up Webb Simpson averaged 69.25 based upon 98 rounds, and Steve Stricker was third with 69.36 after 70 rounds.

The PGA of America has honored the game’s best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award since 1948. The award is presented to the top touring professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings, and scoring averages. The PGA Tour also recognizes its annual Player of the Year, with the winner determined by a vote of the membership. The PGA Tour Player of the Year, who receives the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, will be announced by the Tour in December.

Since 1948, The PGA of America has honored the game's best players with The PGA Player of the Year Award. The award is currently presented to the top touring professional based on a point system for tournament wins, official money standings, and scoring averages.

The Great Move!

by Clara Grandt on October 31, 2011

We moved during the weekend!  Jason and I packed up our belongings in our small apartment in Morgantown to a much roomier townhouse about two miles outside of Morgantown.  The actual move went quite quickly.  We rented a moving truck on Friday evening and had everything moved in by Saturday.  By the end of Sunday, the majority of our things were put away and unpacked, leaving me slightly sore from some heavy lifting, but pleased with how quickly it went. 

One of the great things about a bigger place is that I have more space to store my Mizuno shoes and running clothing!  I have definitely been putting the extra space to use.  I now have a walk-in closet, which is amazing, and a whole section of that closet is reserved for my Mizuno outfits!

Another great plus, is that we have our own washer and dryer.  I now fully appreciate having a washer and dryer in my home after having to do laundryomat laundry on a regular basis during our time in our old apartment.  For me, that is quite a big deal due to the amount of running outfits I go through in a week! 

Of course, my first and biggest question about this move was, will this be a good place to run?  It was hard for me to imagine a better location for running than from our old place.  I used to run from my door for direct access to the track, miles and miles of rail trail, an arboretum with shaded dirt paths, and nice neighborhoods around town to run through. 

Well, I’ve learned quickly that the thing with living outside of town is that you always have to go back into town for one reason or another.  So, driving a couple miles into town hasn’t really been any less convenient if I want to go back to any of those running routes. 

So, not only have I not lost my access to those choices, but I’ve also acquired new paths!  Many places I used to go only every once in a while to run are much closer and more accessible now.  I feel as if I am in a more centralized location for all my favorite runs.  We now live right beside a golf course (which I have already used to do morning run on the cart paths before any of the golfers are out), a lake called Cheat Lake that has its own short but beautiful crushed gravel trail, and two miles up the road is a place called Cooper’s Rock, which has many hilly dirt trails and park roads to run along. 

Therefore, although most would think moving can be tiring and hard to adjust to, I feel it has been very beneficial to my training! The extra room for my shoes and the ease of doing laundry now is wonderful, but most of all, I feel the thing I was most worried about being affected has actually been improved!  I’ve spiced up my running routes by bringing in some very scenic (and quite hilly) running paths, and I still have the very familiar routes nearby.  This move has been a fantastic way to add new excitement to my Trials preparation! 

Thanks for reading! -Clara

JPX-800 Swing to Win Challenge Recap

by Mizuno USA on October 31, 2011

Meet the winners of Mizuno's national sweepstakes, the JPX-800 Swing to Challenge, and relive their experience of playing a dream round of golf with Mizuno PGA Tour Stars Luke Donald and Charles Howell III.

Teacher Says…

by Serena Burla on October 27, 2011

In the last month I’ve done a lot of learning around here.  I can tell I’ve been acquiring new information through the process of reflection and by looking in the mirror. You see, I’m almost positive that the folds and wrinkles of my brain have expanded onto my forehead for more space.  It was Boyd, my two and a half year old son, who drew me to this detail. With my cheeks squashed between his little hands he questioned, “Mom, what’s that line on your face?” As I reached up to my forehead like he was referring to something I could wipe off, I realized he was talking about my new deep set wrinkle.  I told him it was a wrinkle and that my hair was going to turn gray too.  Unfazed he told me, “When I get old my hair will be blue.”  See, you learn something new every day.

The things I’ve learned lately may be more appropriately described as indicators we are starting to settle in here in Virginia. I’ve learned how to get to the trails, the grocery store, school, the bank and a few other places without the use of GPS. My training partners no longer have to point which way at every intersection on the trail (although Friday we ran the loop in reverse, and I realized I still have some learning to do).  Our neighbors, their kids, and their pets know us by name and vice versa. I’ve learned how to wash dishes by hand with Boyd’s help. I’m even learning a few words each week in other languages thanks to my faithful and patient friends and Boyd, who is learning some Spanish in school.  It’s really quite amazing how much living and learning one can do in a months’ time.

Boyd is in school for the first time and fortunately he shares what he learns with us on a daily basis. Almost every night between books and prayers, as if on cue, but unprompted, he’ll begin the sentence, “Teacher says…” I’ve now started a list in his quote book of all the things that his teacher says and teaches him. My personal favorites so far include “eat your chicken” (Boyd is not a meat eater), “shake your bushy tail” (from a song about squirrels), and “purple is morado.” It’s interesting to hear what he reflects on ashisschool learning experience for the day. As a former early childhood educator, it is a learning experience for me to be on the parent side.

 I can only imagine what Boyd shares about his learning experiences at home.  Boyd’s always been interested in running but lately he’s been even more inquisitive.  Will his teachers realize that when he lies on the floor and announces that he is doing his exercises, it means he is stretching? What a conversation it will be when he shares that his mom puts 20 pounds of ice in her bath and then we play color changer cars to pass the time (These cars change color in hot and cold water-genius until they start doing cannonballs into the frigid water and I have to fish them out with my non frozen hands). I wonder if he’s modeled his high knee drills yet? Does he line up the cars at school on a starting line and broadcast, “Runners start your engines” like he and I often do at home. I am looking forward to finding out during his parent-teacher conference next week.

Speaking of Boyd and running, he just did his first big kid fun run.  He was so excited to get a race number and line up on a starting line. He chatted with the other kids on the line and cheered with the announcements.  I made sure his number was pinned on and  his shoes were secure. I think I had the chills.  It’s funny how invigorating this environment was for me as a runner mom. It was awesome to see so many kids enthusiastic about running. When the word “Go!” was shouted, Boyd began his trek with mom in tow. The environment and sites along the short route was half the fun. My chatter box of a son talked almost the whole way and when we passed dad he stopped to tell him, “I run very fast Daddy.” When we came around to the uphill finish, Boyd ran through the finish line and took the turn to do another lap. Then he ran 20 meters and stopped at the tent that had sample juices set up- I guess this was Boyd’s version of a fluid station.  I was probably most proud of the comments I heard from the volunteers on the course, “That boy smiled the whole time.”  What a wonderful reminder to enjoy ones running journey and to cherish the gift. Never take a step for granted. It also reminded me to say an extra prayer of thanks today for beating cancer and my ability to continue to run.  Thanks for the memory Boyd!

Yes, it’s been a fun month on learning and I’ll take all the wrinkles that come with it!

Taking on Osaka 2011: On the Road to Recovery

by Mizuno USA on October 27, 2011

So it’s almost Wednesday, and I’m almost ready to get on that plane! My running gear is all set (it always is), laundry is drying and I’m heading to the bank to pick up some Yen.

I endured an unbelievable massage earlier today with Bob at the Toronto Athletic Club as part of my pre-race ritual; however this massage was a bit more specific than my usual fare.

As I mentioned earlier, there was an unfortunate encounter with an overzealous cab driver late in my training and about 5 weeks ago at this point. Since that incident, my entire right side from the waist down hasn’t been working so well, but with the help of Ian Murray and Bob (Toronto Athletic Club), things are a lot better than they were. Bob worked his magic today and although very sore…  I feel looser than I have in weeks.

It was last week that I finally broke down and emailed the good people at Mizuno and admitted that I wasn’t sure how I would perform on Sunday. Being the incredible hosts that they are, they assured me it didn’t matter and that together we would all go to Osaka and represent the energy and spirit that they stand for, regardless of finish times.

Amazing right?  I was so relieved and can now concentrate on making sure I’m getting better rather than getting through.

As for the “cab incident”, it’s actually a rather puzzling funny incident to hear recounted:

As I was running along the sidewalk, a cab came out of a hotel driveway rather hastily looking the opposite direction in order to pull into traffic. I saw the car easily and slightly altered my course to the left to get around back of the moving car. It’s that human instinct of just switching gears to avoid trouble. However given the two rates of speed we were traveling, I was unable to prepare or foresee the cabbie slamming on his breaks at the last minute. Technically, I ran into the cab’s trunk side and rolled over the back. Landing on my feet, and rather shocked at the entire 2 seconds it all took… I looked at the driver with a very stunned “WTF-look”, with which he gave me a shruggy sorry, and we both went our separate ways. I ran the rest of the way home completing the 18 miles and quickly hydrated and ate something. About an hour later while sitting upstairs checking emails, I jumped up to answer my phone, and my leg was locked tight. From that point on, it’s been a series of ups and downs with progression, but very little distance.

Having said that I assure you all, between myself and the amazing people making this journey, there will be enough energy and laughter on the course to run 10 marathons.  I can’t wait to be back in a race atmosphere representing the folks at Mizuno and the shoes that got me there, AND finally giving myself the ultimate test of seeing how far I can get with 5 weeks of physio and serious leg work.

Bob asked me what my goal was on Sunday… I said “to finish”. He said, “Starting is pretty amazing as well.”

I smiled in agreement.

-=Ryan

New PGA Tour Workshop

by Mizuno USA on October 26, 2011

Mizuno unveils their new PGA Tour Workshop to Tour Staff Members Luke Donald and Charles Howell III.

The Baseball Zone: RIck Johnston Talks Mizuno

by Rick Johnston on October 26, 2011

Rick Johnston is the Co-Founder and Director of Baseball Operations at the highly successful Baseball Zone (www.thebaseballzone.ca) in Mississauga Ontario.  Rick is one of Mizuno's biggest supporters and is truly someone who believes in the Mizuno Brand.  Rick has worked with some of the best talent Canada has produced in the game of baseball.  Whether it is big leaguers coming home in the off-season or a youngster just picking up the game, Rick demonstrates a unique ability to teach any skill level and get the best out of each player.  Rick is also an avid golfer and loves his custom Mizuno irons!  Rick will be blogging for Mizuno Canada , this is his first entry.  Rick also blogs for the Baseball Zone and his entries can be found here: http://www.thebaseballzone.ca/baseball-instructors-rick-johnston-toronto.html. - Adam Vella Mizuno Canada

"I was first introduced to the Mizuno Brand Baseball product line in 1987 as I prepared to play for Canada and compete in the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, USA. It was then, that I absolutely fell in love with the Mizuno Brand of gloves, shoes, pullovers and batting gloves. My first Mizuno glove was a GOC 6 World Win that I used for the remaining summer and subsequently at the University of British Columbia as I played with the National Baseball Institute. The next year while playing for Canada in the 1988 Olympics, I had the opportunity to use the Mizuno World Win GOC7. I truly cannot speak enough about the quality of each glove. The only significant difference with the gloves was the actual size. The shape, finger slots and lacing were virtually seamless from each other. When I retired as a player and subsequently inducted into the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame, I donated the GOC7 glove as part of my contribution to the Hall.

Why then do I believe in the Mizuno brand of baseball product? First and foremost, the quality of the workmanship put into each piece of equipment is top drawer. The Mizuno manufacturing group spends countless hours in their research and development of every piece of equipment that leaves the assembly line. Their gloves are manufactured with the best leather making for the best feel and durability of any glove on the market. Similarly, the Mizuno baseball or coaching shoes are made with each foot in mind, with soft breaking in material that allows for maximum performance and comfort. Professional baseball players are not unlike the amateur player, in that, when a piece of equipment feels right on their hand, on their feet or on their body, it is expected that performance will be as good as the equipment feels or looks.

Recently Mizuno came out with a new revelation to the glove industry that has become paramount to how gloves are broken in. Many consumers purchasing gloves fail to understand the importance of a really how stiff a good glove is when it leaves the Mizuno factory. Thus, the Mizuno Steamer, that is, a machine that the consumer can place the glove into and have it essentially moulded to the shape of their hand, but more importantly allow the glove to break in the way it is designed to break in. It is highly recommend that when purchasing a Mizuno glove, if the opportunity arises that you have this opportunity to steam your glove, go ahead and do it. It will do wonders to the break in period and overall feel of the glove.

The Mizuno bat line, all I can say is WOW. From Ash to Maple to Bamboo, a great selection of wood that meets the needs of different players in both ability and strengths. The Mizuno line of bats performs with the MLB players in mind but they have the look and style that meets the needs of any aspiring player. The cool RUNBIRD logo stands out amongst its competitors in aesthetics, performance and durability. After all, aren’t these three items most important?

Mizuno, without question is the industry leader in the product line of baseball worldwide. Check with your nearest dealer to get fit to the Mizuno product that best fits your needs."

Men's National Volleyball Team In Tough VS. Brazil

by Adam Vella on October 25, 2011

Courtesy of Ahren Cadieux at Volleyball Source Magazine.  Follow them @ http://volleyballsourcemag.com/_1./Home.html or check out their coverage on Facebook.

Men's National Baseball Team Looking for Gold Vs. USA

by Adam Vella on October 25, 2011

Monday, October 24, 2011

Courtesy of baseball.ca and Adam Morissette (Media and Public Relations Coordinator)

Lagos de Moreno, Mexico-A 5-3, semi-final win over host Mexico has propelled Canada into Tuesday’s gold medal contest at the Pan Am Games. Canada will take-on the Unites States and attempt to win the countries first ever gold medal in a major international baseball event at the senior level.

Over 5,000 raucous Mexican fans were sent home disappointed as the Canadians celebrated the victory.

“It feels great,” said Canadian Manager, Ernie Whitt of the win over Mexico. “Our goal at the beginning of the tournament was to win gold and we’ve put ourselves in a position to do so.”

Things did not start well for Canada as Mexico took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on the strength of a three-run homer off Canadian starter, Shawn Hill (Mississauga, ON).

“You hate to get behind that early, but we had the confidence to come back,” explained Whitt. “We knew that we had eight more innings left to play.”

Canada answered back in the top of the second with two runs to cut the lead to one. With two runners on, Jamie Romak (London, ON) ripped a double to left field to bring in a run and a wild-pitch followed that scored Brock Kjeldgaard (London, ON) from third base.

Hill shook off the homerun he let up in the first and settled in nicely allowing only two base runners during the remainder of his outing. Hill threw five innings total and fanned three batters along the way.

“Pitching is about throwing a hitters timing off and Shawn did that tonight,” said Whitt.

Before Hill’s outing was complete, Canada had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth. Chris Robinson (Dorchester, ON) and Tim Smith (Toronto, ON) hit back-to-back singles and Jimmy Van Ostrand (Richmond, BC) walked to load the bases.

Mexico decided to make a pitching change and Shawn Bowman (Port Moody, BC) greeted the new pitcher with a single to centerfield to score Robinson with the tying run. With Smith now standing on third, a wild-pitch allowed him to score the go ahead run to quiet the Mexican crowd.

Canada added another run in the sixth when Skyler Stromsmoe (Bow Island, AB) belted a solo homerun over the fence in right field.

“I’ve been struggling a little bit so it was nice to get that one,” said Stromsmoe. “It gave us a little momentum and shut theirs down.”

Dustin Molleken (Regina, SK) came on in relief of Hill and provided Canada with two solid innings on the mound. Molleken worked his way out of a jam in the sixth where runners were on the corners with two out by getting an infield pop-up that was caught by Bowman.

After Molleken threw a scoreless seventh Chris Kissock (Trail, BC) came on and pitched a three-up, three-down eighth that saw Stromsmoe make a defensive gem for the second out of the inning that saved a sure hit.

In the ninth with the Mexican crowd at their feet, the lead-off hitter reached first base when Jonathan Malo (Joliette, QC) committed an error at shortstop. Malo redeemed himself on the very next play as he fielded a ball and flipped to Stromsmoe to start a double play.

Kissock then caught a comebacker to the mound, threw to first to end the game and send Canada to tomorrow’s gold medal final.

Canada will now turn their focus towards the United States who defeated Cuba 12-10 earlier today.

“The US has been swinging the bat extremely well lately,” commented Whitt. “We’re going to have to pitch well, play sound defence and hopefully our hitters will come through.”

Notes: It is expected that Andrew Albers (North Battleford, SK) will start for Canada in the gold medal game which gets underway at 7pm CT…Unfortunately there is no television coverage or live streaming of the gold medal game in Canada…The following link: http://deportesmx.terra.com.mx/rumbo-a-2012/guadalajara-2011/ will have a live stream of the gold medal game, but is not available in Canada…Live scoring can be found by visiting www.usabaseball.com…You can also receive LIVE in-game updated by following Baseball Canada on Twitter: www.twitter.com/baseballcanada

Taking on Osaka 2011: One Week to Go!

by Mizuno USA on October 25, 2011

Meet Ryan - Our Wave Prophecy Video winner! Follow along with him as he ventures to the Osaka Marathon.

Hey Everyone!! My name is Ryan, and I’m the incredibly lucky winner of the trip to Osaka with Mizuno. My video for the Wave Prophecy won a few months ago!! It’s been a crazy couple months but now it’s time I get on that plane for Japan!!

I asked Mizuno if I could document the entire trip and all the amazing experiences the group is sure to have over there, and so along with my Facebook posts, and Tweets, I have a blog of sorts that you can read right here to see how everything is going on our week long adventure. 

I promise some sort of brevity for the remainder of the posts, but for now, let’s catch up with how we got to this moment…

Months ago, my friend Jason Lewis and I were talking running and all things “shoe” related when he mentioned the newest addition to the performance shoe market for Mizuno…  The Wave Prophecy. It was a huge release for Mizuno and they were having a contest to promote its arrival. I was on his list of people to take part and so after running in the shoe for several weeks, and formulating my opinions, I set out with a camera and a few ideas. Exactly 10 hours later I was finished with my Wonder Years spoof video, and the results are obvious.

Jason called me several weeks later to inform me that he had forgotten to give me a “Release” form that would allow Mizuno to use the video should they want to, which was part of the deal, and if I didn’t get it in that day, I would be disqualified. I rushed to meet him and make sure my video was still in the running. However, when he finally showed up that beautiful day in Brentwood, CA…with a camera guy, a bundle of balloons, and a TON of excitement…it took me only seconds to realize I had been set up, AND that I HAD WON!!!!

Since then, it’s been a long road to the big day, including an unfortunate minor accident late in the training, but this coming Wednesday I will be getting on the plane to San Francisco, where I’ll be meeting the rest of the group, and heading on to Osaka. The race on October 30^th is just a small part of this trip, and when the itinerary showed up today in my email with all the amazing things planned, and the summary of sites and things to do, I got super pumped to make this the trip of a lifetime. I’m unable to predict my performance as far as the running goes (due to the accident mentioned above), but I will keep the updates coming.

So please, if you want to experience Osaka with me and my Mizuno North America friends, follow along!

-=Ryan

Luke Donald Wins PGA Tour's Final Event and Money Title

by Mizuno USA on October 24, 2011

Mizuno PGA Tour Staffer and World #1 Golfer Luke Donald finished off his remarkable 2011 PGA Tour season in grand fashion, winning the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Trailing by five shots entering Sunday, Donald fired an 8-under 64 in the final round, starting off the back nine with six consecutive birdies. He went on to finish 17-under for the tournament, winning by two shots.

"After the eighth hole, it wasn't looking good," said Donald. "My caddie and I talked Saturday night that I hadn't really gotten on a run yet this week. What better time to get on a run than the back nine on Sunday. It's nice to do it under pressure when I need to."

With this victory at the CMNHC, Donald earned the 2011 PGA Tour money crown, netting $864,000 for this win, and bringing his season total to $6,683,214. This is Donald's second PGA Tour victory of the year, having also won the WGC Accenture Match Play in February. Donald led the PGA Tour in scoring average with 68.86, earning him the Vardon Trophy.  He also had 14 top 10 finishes out of 19 total events played in 2011, making a clear statement to become the 2011 PGA Tour Player of the Year.

"This was a tremendous year for me," said Donald. "A lot of critics questioned whether I should be No. 1 in the world. To play well under this kind of pressure is great."

Now, Donald sets his sights on the Race to Dubai, the European Tour's money title, where he leads by 1.3 million Euros. Donald is trying to become the first player to win both money titles in the same year. 

Tops Volleyball's Jeff Chung

by Adam Vella on October 21, 2011

Jeff Chung will be blogging online for Mizuno Canada in efforts to grow volleyball in the GTA.  Jeff runs the very successful TOPS Volleyball Academy and has a serious passion for Mizuno.  Jeff was a 4-time ALL-CANADIAN during his time at U of Toronto.  Jeff competed both on the national level and international level as one of the nations best amateur and professional players.  We're very excited to have Jeff on board with Mizuno to offer his insights online for our passionate readers, thanks Jeff!

Jeff Chung

Founder & Director

TOPS Volleyball Academy

TOPS Volleyball Academy is entering its fourth year with the Ontario Volleyball Association providing elite volleyball camps for athletes across Ontario.   The philosophy of this academy derives from the name itself, T.O.P.S, which stands for Toronto Ontario Player Skill development camps.   It has been a passion for Jeff Chung and his staff to give back to the volleyball community while implementing a high performance-training atmosphere to challenge athletes and advance them to the next level of play.  TOPS has grown beyond traditional camps and now offer specialized setting and passing clinics along with personalized tutoring for individual athletes and club teams.

The reputation that the TOPS Academy has established would not have been possible without the branding and sponsorship of Mizuno Canada.  TOPS strives to be one of the best volleyball academy for young athletes.  The fusion with Mizuno has accelerated the academy’s success and TOPS is extremely proud that they are under the Mizuno culture providing a commitment to excellence for athletes across our province and the nation!

TOPS Volleyball Academy would like to extend its great appreciation to Mizuno for believing in us and helping our program enrich the lives of our volleyball community.  Please follow us at www.topsvolleyball.comfor updates and upcoming events.

The Cabrakan Jacket: Perfect for Long Running this Winter

by Bob "Wish" Wischnia on October 21, 2011

Now that chilly, fall air is beginning to remind us that winter will soon be here, it’s time to give some thought to what you’ll be wearing on those crisp winter runs.

Mizuno makes plenty of winter-specific running apparel, but one of my favorite pieces of apparel is our Cabrakan Jacket.

This jacket from our Inspire Collection (there’s one for men and one for women) definitely stands out as uniquely different from any other running jacket you may have on your clothing rack.

If you’re at all like me, you’ll agree that many of the running jackets are too heavy and bulky—and way too warm. Newbie runners might think staying warm is a good thing, but as we know during a winter run, especially a long run, the body generates so much heat that the problem isn’t staying warm enough—it’s staying cool enough so you don’t overheat. This is especially true when the air temperature is slightly above freezing or just around it.

Mizuno took that into consideration and developed the Cabrakan Jacket for that exact situation. Most of us need a light jacket for the first few miles of a winter run, but once you warm up, often wish you hadn’t worn one. But what do you do with it? The only solution is to tie it around your waist until you get back.

Not so with the Cabrakan Jacket. 

Once you warm up and want to ditch your jacket, the Cabrakan has a unique feature. It packs easily into a back pocket on the jacket and then fits into an elastic strap that you comfortably wear around your arm. That way it won’t get in the way of your run. (It won’t chafe either.) Then, when you finish the run and are starting to get the chills, the Cabrakan unpacks in an instant.

It is made out of a ripstop polyester and is one of the lightest jackets on the market (just 80 grams) with plenty of ventilation. It’s also water and wind resistant. Even though the Cabrakan is very light, it provides just the right touch of warmth you need.

The Cabrakan is a great transitional piece of winter running clothing but what I like most about this jacket is its incredibly versatile. I travel quite a bit and run in all different types of weather. The beauty of the Cabrakan Jacket is it’s perfect for the traveling runner because it packs into practically nothing in my suitcase. Then, on the road, it works extremely well in the varying degrees of cold winter weather I experience. Plus, it looks great.

Quite simply, the Cabrakan Jacket is a great piece of winter running wear that every runner needs.

Mizuno Cabrakan Jacket - available in wen's & womens, black or orange.

Ian Kinsler Sparks 9th Inning Rally for Rangers in World Series Game 2

by Mizuno USA on October 21, 2011

Mizuno Brand Ambassador Ian Kinsler started the rally for the Texas Rangers in the top of the ninth inning in Game 2 of the 2011 World Series. Trailing the St. Louis Cardinals 1-0 entering the inning, Kinsler led off with a bloop single into shallow left field, then stole second to get into scoring position. Kinsler would eventually score the first run of the game for Texas on a sacrifice fly, and then watched from the dugout as his teammates tacked on another run to take a 2-1 lead. The Rangers held on for the win over the Cardinals, and tied the series at 1-1. The World Series now shifts to Texas for games 3, 4, and 5.  Kinsler plays with the Mizuno Pro Limited GMP41 Ball Glove, wears custom 9-Spike Vintage G6 Cleats and 5 inch Mizuno Wristbands, uses the Global Elite Batting Gloves, and swings the Mizuno Pro Maple MZM243 Bat.

Congratulations Ian!

Runner's World Sits Down with Mizuno Team Member Patrick Rizzo

by Bob "Wish" Wischnia on October 20, 2011

Runner's World recently sat down with Mizuno Team Member Patrick Rizzo. "A Brief Chat" by Jon Gugala was published to Runner's World Racing News.

Read the full article here: http://racingnews.runnersworld.com/2011/10/a-brief-chat-with-patrick-rizzo.html

Q&A with PGA Tour Staffer Charles Howell III

by Mizuno USA on October 20, 2011

Below are a series of interview questions from Mizuno PGA Tour Staff Member Charles Howell III.  Charles reflects upon his 2011 PGA Tour Season, talks about his mental preparation for golf, and how he works to improve his game.

Charles reflecting upon his 2011 PGA Tour Season.

Charles talking about how he mentally prepares for the game of golf.

Charles discusses how he works to improve his golf game.

Norceca's by Jordan Larson

by Brynn Murphy on October 20, 2011

This last month has been a wild ride but a good one! We ended up going undefeated and winning Norceca's.  It was a great all around tournament for us.  We continually got better as the tournament went on and we proved why we are #2 in the World.  It was fun to go back to Puerto Rico to see everyone.  I played there my first season overseas and it was great to go back and see all the wonderful people that I met and played with.  As with every tournament it brings its challenges.  It was my mom's two year anniversary since her death on the 16th of September.  The 16th of September was also the most important day in the tournament.  We had to play Cuba to go to the finals and qualify for World Cup.  Cuba is a very dangerous team because they can turn it on and become unstoppable.  On this day I struggled with remembering my mom but also being there for my team.  I wanted to reflect on the memories I had but I knew that she would want me to focus on the game.  She never wanted me to worry about her when she was here and I know she would not want me to worry about her now but just know that she is with me wherever I am.  I felt like she was with me that night guiding my heart and giving to my teammates.  

After winning Norceca's we got a week off!!!! Yes I SAID IT! ONE WEEK OFF! :)  This was a much needed break both physically and mentally for me.  This week started out right with a trip to Omaha with the besties! We were able to shop a little and grab lunch.  Two of my best friends were also my teammates and former senior captains of the 2008 Nebraska Volleyball team.  Every chance I make it back to Nebraska I try and see these two lovely ladies.  We have shared in a lot of important things in each other's lives such as winning a national championship, participating in each other's weddings and now Rachel Schwartz (Culwell) is pregnant and we can not wait to spoil her little girl.  Getting to spend some good quality time with family and friends was amazing. 

While at home I also got to help celebrate my cousins 21st birthday.  We went out to dinner and then followed and finished the night off with heading downtown.  It was great to spend time with them and help celebrate this momentous occasion. Happy birthday Megan! So glad I got to spend it with you and your friends! :)

My husband Luke and I got to help celebrate our friends wedding that weekend.  Luke was in the wedding and got to stand a long side one of his great friends.  We could not be happier for them, and it was great to get out on the dance floor with everyone and let go a little.  We Love you Katie and Nick and wish you many years of happiness together! :) 

To top the weekend off I made a trip up to my home town, Hooper.  I do not make it back often because I am usually only home for quick weekends at a time.  I went back to the church that I went to as a child.  They were doing a special dedication to my mother who had been a  member for many years.  After her death the donations received were given back to the church because we knew that is what she would have wanted.  They had bought eight beautiful banners that they will display for holidays and or special occasions.  It was great to go back to see everyone from my childhood and to see the impact my mom had on people.  I was very emotional that day because Sunday church was something my mom and I would always do together.  I actually sat in the same pew as her.  I did not realize it until after I was sitting there for a while but I felt like she was with me that day.  I miss her, but know she made me the person I am today and I am so proud to call her my mother. 

This was quite the eventful week for me, but it filled me so full of joy and makes me thankful for the people I have in my life.  I could not be happier and more blessed.  So this is for everyone in my life who has impacted me and made me the player and person I am today, I could not have done it without you and even though I may not see a lot of you or talk to you often you mean the world to me.  :)

Dream Big & Never Settle

Jordan

Q&A with PGA Tour Staffer Luke Donald

by Mizuno USA on October 18, 2011

Below are a series of interview questions from Mizuno PGA Tour Staff Member Luke Donald.  Luke reflects upon his 2011 PGA Tour Season, his relationship with his equipment manufacturer Mizuno, and the true inspiration in his life, his daughter.

Luke talking about his 2011 PGA Tour Season

Luke talking about his relationship with his equipment manufacturer, Mizuno

Luke's true inspiration, his daughter

Hip Surgery Was My Only Option

by Antonio Vega on October 17, 2011

It's been a rough month for me. The hip pain which has plagued me all year never fully went away and just when I started to get back into it and increase my mileage, it returned with unwavering vengeance. I was determined to get back into racing shape, but the same hip and groin pain I've been dealing with finally forced me to consult with doctors.  After visiting with a couple of specialists and reviewing an MRI, the final conclusion was the root cause of all my problems was a torn labrum in my hip.

Unfortunately, a torn labrum does not heal easily or quickly and and my best option was surgery. In early October,  I underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn labrum.

The recovery time for this type of surgery varies, but hopefully I'll have luck on my side and recover quickly. But for right now,  I am walking around on crutches. Staying in shape? All I can do is work the arm bike at my gym, while doing the New York Times Cross Word puzzle.

It's been hard, but but I am trying to remain optimistic. Everyone asks me about whether I'll be at the US Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston in January, but I'm hesitant to answer because I most likely won’t be in the best shape. Still, I'm still hoping I can run.

Needless to say, this has been the most challenging year of my running career. Even so,  I am no less determined to achieving my goals. As I spend the next couple of months peddling away on the hand cycle, I know that all this hard work will not be in vain.

Once I recover from this hip injury and get back on the roads,  I know I can still have have a long and successful running career.  

Mizuno Ambassador Stacy Lewis Lewis spreads message on early detection of scoliosis

by Iver Maple on October 17, 2011

The Clubhouse shares a story on Mizuno Ambassador Stacy Lewis and her journey to spread the word about early detection of scoliosis.

Read the full story here: http://www.theclubhouse.com.my/2011/10/lewis-spreads-message-on-early-detection-of-scoliosis/