Big national, international names to appear at symposium in conjunction with Spring Runoff

January, 2002 Fit to be Tied Column

From the Pueblo Chieftain
by Gary Franchi

Big national, international names to appear at symposium in conjunction with Spring Runoff

A chance to go on a fun run with Mike Pigg in Pueblo? And Mark Plaatjes, too? Can this really be happening?

It certainly can! What’s more, such a scenario is only a bit part of the upcoming health-related symposium that will be held in conjunction with The Pueblo Chieftain’s Spring Runoff this year.

Titled “Sports and Fitness – For the Health of It!,” with a tagline reading “Sports Medicine in the New Millenium,” the symposium will feature a number of high-powered and well-known speakers. It will be held March 1-2 at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center before the March 3 Spring Runoff, and the two-day event is being sponsored by the Southeastern Colorado Area Health Education Center (SECAHEC).

In its broadest terms, the symposium will include medical and athletic tracks, but the crossover applications will make every session worthwhile for everyone who attends. Target audiences are coaches, athletes, trainers, educators, physicians, nurses, dietitians, physical therapists and even “common folk.”

The agenda will include sessions for keynote speakers and a number of breakout sessions. One of the conference focuses will be how to get the kids of our nation more physically fit.

Known keynote speakers will be:

• Pigg – Former world-class triathlete at all distances, including the Ironman.
• Plaatjes – An elite international marathoner for several years and the 1993 marathon world champion.
• Dr. Phil Maffetone – An internationally known fitness, health and training expert who develops programs for world class athletes and has authored several endurance training books .
• Pete Saccone – An elementary school teacher who has gained national notoriety for his “It’s Funner to be a Runner” program for teachers and kids.
• George Dallam – An assistant professor at the University of Southern Colorado and former coach of the USA Triathlon national team who still coaches elite U.S. triathletes.
• Gayle Davis – A sports psychologist who has worked with world class athletes and is a member of the U.S. Figure Skating Association staff.
• Darlene A. Herfurt – A renowned speaker and author on asthma and exercise who is director of the Colorado Asthma and Exercise Clinic in Denver.
• Dr. Rocky Khosla – Pueblo sports/family medicine physician who has been on the medical staff of a number of national and international sporting events and also is a triathlete and skier.
• Bob Seebohar – A registered dietitian and a competitive Ironman who specializes in sports nutrition and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a triathlon coach.
• John “The Penguin” Bingham – He’s not a definite yet, but it would be a real treat to have this celebrity who is well-known for having lost a ton of weight by following Maffetone’s diet and chronicling his “common man” running insights for Runner’s World magazine and in public speaking appearances.

Information regarding the fun runs with Pigg, Plaatjes and Saccone, along with other symposium specifics, will be forthcoming, but plan now to attend. This is going to be one Spring Runoff weekend to remember.

Speaking of the Spring Runoff, note that planning is well under way for the 23rd annual version on Sunday, March 3. One notable addition this year is a 1-mile fun run that will be held in the 10:30-10:45 a.m. timeframe. Look for the above-mentioned Saccone and possibly other symposium speakeres to accompany the group.

Running notes

OK, “Peak” fans, your time has come! Entry forms for the Pikes Peak Ascent and Pikes Peak Marathon can now be downloaded from the Triple Crown of Running web site – www.pikespeakmarathon.org. If you are serious about running either (or both) of these races, I wouldn’t dawdle. Both races have limited fields and fill up early. The races will be held Aug. 17-18.

Speaking of marathons, there will be at least two new marathons in Colorado in 2002 with the additions of two races in Fort Collins, one in the spring and the other in the fall. A group that includes former Puebloan Steve Cathcart wil be conducting the Old Town Marathon on May 19, and a different group has scheduled the Easy Street Marathon on Oct. 6. Details for both are still forthcoming.

Whenever you need local racing information, you can find it on the Southern Colorado Runners web site – www.socorunners.org. Click on “Calendar” from the menu on the left side of the page.

Triathlon note

The world’s first known off-road Ironman triathlon will take place in Colorado in 2002 when the inaugural Off-Road Endurance Challenge is held July 20 in Rifle. This includes a 2.4-mile swim in Rifle Gap, a difficult 112-mile mountain bike leg in the Roan Cliffs area north of Rifle and a marathon (26.2 miles) on Hubbard Mesa.

Registrations for this are limited to the first 200 entries who sign up via the www.Active.Com web site. The entry fee is $175.

Upcoming Pueblo Races

* Feb. 2 – Frostbite Five, 5M, Pueblo City Park, 10 a.m. (543-5151).
* Feb. 10 – Valentine’s Twosome, 1.6M each partner, Pueblo City Park, 9 a.m. (947-3682).
* Feb. 17 – Spring Runoff Tuneup, 10K, Pueblo City Park, 9 a.m. (564-0847).

Send comments and fitness information to Gary Franchi via e-mail at [email protected].

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