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Boston Marathon

Old Sandwich Road Race gives half marathoners a chance to finish “Boston Strong”

OSRR waives entry fee for Boston Marathon participants who were unable to finish due to tragedy

PLYMOUTH, MA…

Many runners dream of not only participating in, but completing the Boston Marathon. Due to circumstances beyond their control, many Boston Marathon participants were unable to cross the finish line. Though it’s impossible to bring that opportunity back, the Old Sandwich Road Race (OSRR) is trying to make it better by waiving the $50 entry fee to participate in the half marathon for those who ran in the Boston Marathon and could not finish.

“An entire region had its heart broken with the devastation that came with the events at this year’s Marathon. But one of the blessings that came with this tragedy is how everybody pulled together to both capture the perpetrators and begin the healing,” said Steve Dubin, communications director for the Old Sandwich Road Race. “This gesture cannot undo the damage that was done and the lives that were lost. But in a small way, it’s part of the healing process.”

One person, Julia Daly, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, has already accepted the OSRR’s invitation.

“Words cannot describe how I felt that day. I was running to raise money for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. My disappointment in not being able to finish meant very little compared to what was going on just a few miles ahead of me,” said Daly. “I’m grateful to have my family, friends and self come out of that day healthy and alive. I think the best way to honor those who perished and were hurt is to keep running and that’s what I plan to do in Plymouth this June and back in Boston next year.”

Boston Marathon runners can RSVP by e-mailing the following information to the OSRR Race Director at runosrr@gmail.com:

  • First and last name
  • Address
  • Age on race day
  • Cell number
  • Email address

The fourth annual Old Sandwich Road Race takes place on Sunday, June 2. Beyond the half marathon, OSRR includes a 5k and 10k. While the race may not have the history of the Boston Marathon, the course does.

Originally a trail used by the Wampanoag Native American tribe, Old Sandwich Road later became the nation’s first true public road and a stagecoach route to ferry passengers and mail back and forth between the Massachusetts towns of Plymouth and Sandwich. Today, the road remains pretty much as the Pilgrims left it–a wide, scenic, dirt road bordered by beautiful tall pine trees and towering oaks. It offers perfect views for runners and a dirt road surface that’s far kinder to the body than asphalt or cement.

“Besides history, the OSRR has a national and international flavor as well. As well as drawing runners from 28 states and four countries over the past two years, we had our first international winner—Kenyan Moninda Marube—setting a course record for the half marathon of 1:08:13 and winning a $3,000 winner-take-all purse,” said Dubin.

In addition to the winner-take-all purse for the half marathon male and female winner and special edition finisher’s medals for all half marathon participants, this year’s race includes:

  • Newest available timing technology.
  • Sponsor gift pack – Over $500 in discounts and coupons.
  • Great top finisher and age group awards.
  • Personalized finisher announcements.
  • An awesome high quality tech shirt!
  • Free food to all runners and their screaming fans!
  • Full uniformed Boy Scouts manning the water stops.
  • Professional, broadcast finish announcer.

OSRR’s early bird rate for the 5k ($22), 10k ($35) and half marathon ($50) ends on May 1. Prices will increase for runners registering at later dates.

The Old Sandwich Road Race benefits area charities, including The Home for Little Wanderer’s South Campus in Plymouth. The Baird Center School is a year-round residential and day school treatment program for youth aged 10-18 with a wide range of emotional, behavioral, educational and psychiatric issues.

If you would like more information or are interested in running the 2013 Old Sandwich Road Race, please visit www.oldsandwichroadrace.com. If you or your company is interested in sponsoring the race, please contact Craig Valentine Brenner at 617-680-4230 or info@oldsandwichroadrace.com.

You can visit the Old Sandwich Road Race Web site at http://www.oldsandwichroadrace.com. Selected by Runner’s World, as “one of the five races not to miss in 2010”, The Old Sandwich Road Race also has pages on Facebook and Twitter.

Old Sandwich Road Race gives half marathoners a chance to finish “Boston Strong”Read More

Brendan Carman of Mass Bay Spine & Sports shares Marathon training tips in Metrowest Daily News

With the Boston Marathon around the corner, Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC, director of rehabilitation at Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy in Marshfield, shares his insight

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/boston_marathon/x271615120/Tips-for-avoiding-injury-during-Marathon-training#ixzz1prjnsmUQ

Brendan Carman of Mass Bay Spine & Sports shares Marathon training tips in Metrowest Daily NewsRead More

Training for the Boston Marathon? Mass Bay Spine & Sport PT Shares Tips for Avoiding Injury

Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC
With the Boston Marathon around the corner, Brendan Carman, MPT, ATC, Director of Rehabilitation at Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT), shares his insight on the causes of running injuries and how to avoid them.

Carman, who oversees the state-of-the-art orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice in Marshfield, has treated countless injuries in runners who are training for marathons and half-marathons over the years.

Below, Carman outlines the causes of certain injuries when training:

Over-training. Achilles tendonitis (painful inflamation of the achilles tendon), Plantar Fasciitis (which exhibits as heel pain) and shin splints (front of leg pain) are all serious injuries resulting from over-training. When training for the Boston Marathon, runners often focus more on endurance and stamina than on overall strengthening of the entire lower body. The first indicator of over-training is aches and pains.

“When a patient presents with aches and pains, its best to deal with it sooner than later. If caught early, one to two days of rest is usually all that is needed. But, aches and pains that are ignored can become more significant. The tissues break down and can become an injury if not addressed promply. Then, it can take weeks to resolve the issue,” explained Carman.

Achilles tendonitis in particular can get progressively worse and result in degeneration of the tendon if left untreated.

Abrupt changes in regimen. Adding five miles to that daily run or altering the pace are actually abrupt changes in regimen that can spark an injury. It will become worse if symptoms start and a runner tries to work through it. Achilles tendonitis is most often the result.

Poor footwear. Old, worn, broken down sneakers offer no support. Wearing the improper size sneaker also creates problems. If the size is too large, then there is an increase in the lever arm so force through the calf muscle is increased and the tendons break down. Improper footwear can also cause Achilles tendonitis. It is generally recommended that running shoes be changed for every 350 to 500 miles trained, depending on body type and training style.

Muscle imbalance. The fundamental problem most of the time is muscle imbalance or weakness that doesn’t get addressed. Training goes beyond just running. Training should include a strengthening and stretching program for the whole lower half of the body, including the muscles of the core.

According to Carman, “At Mass Bay Spine & Sport, we focus on a lot of functional movement type activities with empahsis on balance, that engage the muscles all the way through the hip. This is a significant component. Weak hips will cause problems with knees and ankles because they are not stabilized. Hip weakness is often a key contributing factor to the onset of shin splints and Plantar Fasciitis.”

About MBSSPT
Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy (MBSSPT) is an orthopedic outpatient physical therapy practice. MBSSPT, a state-of-the-art facility owned and operated by a physical therapist, has earned a reputation for superior clinical care and delivery of services to South Shore community members as well as physicians from Boston to Plymouth.

The practice’s highly trained staff is committed to providing clients with an experience that will ensure their condition is resolved effectively and efficiently, while empowering them with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent future problems and maintain optimal health. All of the practice’s physical therapists are trained to rehabilitate a variety of conditions utilizing treatment techniques that include soft tissue massage/mobilization, therapeutic and strengthening exercises, neuromuscular reeducation, gait training, patient education, and lumbar stabilization, to name a few. MBSSPT accepts Medicare, Workers’ Compensation, auto insurance, and most private insurance plans.

Mass Bay Spine & Sport Physical Therapy is located at 506 Plain Street in Marshfield. For more information, visit www.massbayspineandsport.com or call (781) 319-0024.

Training for the Boston Marathon? Mass Bay Spine & Sport PT Shares Tips for Avoiding InjuryRead More