Hello Healthy Runners! This week is filled with some incredible content for you. We have a double dose jam packed inspiring episode here with not 1, but 2 guests to talk to you about a very important topic!
I was fortunate enough to hear Nicole Ver Kuilen’s amazing journey and story first hand and how she started a non-profit advocacy organization, Forrest Stump, with the mission of promoting equitable access to physical activity for individuals with disabilities.
In this episode I sit down with Nicole and triathlon coach Doug Levens from Gaylord Sports Performance Associations’s paratriathlon team and Nutmeg Youth Triathlon Team.
Click the video below to watch the LIVE video within the Healthy Runner Facebook Group
You will hear some pretty inspiring stories from athletes with amputations, visual impairments, spinal cord injuries, and neuromuscular disorders. Despite what you may believe, this is not what “disables” them. They are disabled by the outdated, discriminatory healthcare policies that deny us access to an active, healthy life. Nicole discusses the phrase “running for those who can’t” and explains how this may not mean what people think it does!
Forrest Stump recently launched a national campaign called #WeJustFeltLikeRunning and petition to Congress for the rights of Americans with disabilities to exercise.
Find out more and take action here: www.ForrestStump.org/Take-Action
Connect with Nicole Ver Kuilen at Forrest Stump:
Connect with Coach Doug Levens:
Help us fight for the rights of individuals with disabilities to exercise!Join Forrest Stump’s national advocacy campaign for disability rights called #WeJustFeltLikeRunning. Sign our petition and register for our race to deliver it to Congress on October 3rd.
I hope that you enjoy this week’s content and take some time to look into this amazing cause!
Thank you (running friends) for taking the time to read and I hope you enjoy the podcast episode!
Warmest regards,
– Duane
Duane Scotti, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS
The SPARK Healthy Runner Program includes:
– 100% customized training plan developed and monitored by myself as your running coach and physical therapist!
– 100% customized strength plan developed and monitored.
– Modifications to your plan as needed.
– LIVE on-boarding coaching call by phone or video chat.
– Weekly workout analysis and accountability.
Click THIS LINK for a FREE 20 minute phone consultation and let’s chat to see if this program is a good fit for you!
Have you been laid up for a while and it caused you to not run for a year? Have you battled an injury and were told to stop running? Did you have surgery? (Could be injury related or unrelated to running) Have you been “cleared” to run by your doctor, surgeon, or PT but… View ArticleRead More
Do you get stiff and achy knees with running? Does your knee cap pain get worse when you go up and down stairs or when you try to do squats? Do you want to get back to running with no knee pain? We flip the roles for today’s episode. I was fortunate… View ArticleRead More
What are macros and how do they fit into a runner’s diet? We are talking about the basics of nutrition for running with registered dietitian Brooke Czarnecki on the Healthy Runner Podcast. Brooke is our healthy runner go to expert when it comes to running nutrition and she will discuss how carbohydrates, proteins, and fats… View ArticleRead More
You can teach an old dog new tricks!!! I have never considered myself a runner and I knew I needed to be smart about it because I am no spring chicken. Spark preached getting strong and healthy to be injury free and they practice what they preach. I am soooo glad I made the investment in me! I finished my half marathon last weekend and couldn’t be any happier! The program fed me all the steps I needed to essentially learn how to run long distance, build strength, nutrition help, a forum of other runners and probably most important was the 1:1 coaching. I had no idea how to tackle training for a 1/2 marathon and this program broke all of it down, had it individualized for me and we tweaked as we went to make sure I was staying healthy and strong. I had so many questions the week prior to my race and Coach Cat was always there for me and answering all the questions and issues I had-and believe me there were a lot! The biggest benefit I think I got was the strength. I am strong and fit. But most important was what I gained emotionally. I built confidence and strength I didn’t know I had, even at my age. Honestly could not have done this without Spark Healthy Runners!
My Healthy Runner journey started after I had battled bilateral achilles pain for a few months and was frustrated how it affected my running. As soon as I talked to Duane I knew I had made the right decision. His positivity, enthusiasm and genuine care are infectious. The training plan that was tailored to me included specific exercises to rehab my injury and I was so excited that I didn’t have to stop running. It took patience to only run slow for a few weeks but I trusted the process and it got me me to where I am now: running pain free. We made adjustments to the plan throughout whenever needed having someone in your corner that is always there with guidance and support throughout the process was invaluable.
I just ran my second half marathon, both with Duane’s coaching, and PR’d by over 9 minutes! I got all choked up in the last mile when I realized that I felt strong and could still kick it up a notch.
I’m so thankful for the Healthy Runner program, community and the entire coaching team for all the support!
Wanting to run more consistently, and to increase my long run distance and total weekly mileage, I was concerned about hip pain due to hip alignment issues. This is an issue I had when I trained for my first half marathon several years ago. Having listened to the Healthy Runner podcast for the past couple years, I knew Duane Scotti could help. I signed up for the four-month strength and running training program and am extremely happy with the results.
The program Duane and Coach Whitney developed for me was exactly what I needed. It was tailored to my needs and to my target race. Coach Whitney was very helpful, and with the biweekly coaching calls, we were able to fine tune the program based off my performance and feedback.
At the end of the program, I completed a 10K trail race feeling strong and pain free.
I highly recommend Duane Scotti and the Healthy Runner training programs.