Friday, October 1, 2010

Care to Walk 5k - Frazeysburg, Ohio

Registration is now open for the Care to Walk 5k.  The event will be held at the Longaberger Homestead in Frazeysburg, Ohio on Saturday October 30 starting at 9:00 a.m.

The first 100 registrants will receive a special Longaberger travel mug.

You can register by visiting Speedy Sneakers Racing

Special Announcement: Ipico Sports Timekeeping

Special Announcement:  Beginning in spring 2011, Speedy Sneakers Racing will begin offering chip timing services to augment our existing manual timing service.  The new offering will allow us to service larger races while still being able to assist our smaller races.

We have chosen to use Ipico Sports Timekeeping.  Ipico is an award winning timing system that has been used in the London Marathon, the Bolder Boulder 10k and the Nike Women's Marathon to name a few.

For more information about Ipico visit their website - IPICOSPORTS
For a quote, please visit Speedy Sneakers Racing

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

All Ohio Balloon Fest 5k - Registration now open

This is one race you cannot miss.  The All Ohio Balloon Fest 5k will be held at the beautiful Mill Creek Park along the Jim Simmons Trail in Marysville Ohio on Friday evening August 13th.  All participants receive a dry fit t-shirt and a weekend pass to the All Ohio Balloon Fest on August 20th and 21st.
In addition, winners will receive $25 gift cards to Kroger and a combo meal card to Wendy's.  So lace up those shoes and get training.


See you there.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Ohio Hills Folk Festival 5k

If you are around Quaker City Ohio on July 10, 2010 plan to come out to the Ohio Hills Folk Festival and run or walk with us in the festival 5k.

The Ohio Hills Folk Festival is one of the oldest festivals in Ohio and you'll love running in this race.

Register at Speedy Sneakers Racing

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Race for the End: Poverty 5k

The Race for the End:  Poverty 5k is this Saturday June 5, 2010.  Please take a moment to thanks these sponsors.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Race for the Cure - Columbus, Ohio

The Columbus edition of the Race for the Cure is about to take place this Saturday, May 15.  What started out as an 800 runner/walker event held at Ohio State University a few years ago has grown into one of the largest events in the country. 

Some 45,000 or more runners and walkers are expected to line up on Saturday morning to wind their way through 3 miles of downtown Columbus to finish in front of the State Capital.

What's really fun about this race, are the people who come out to cheer you.  At various parts of the course you will be greated by a rock band and who can forget the bikers reving their engines at about the last mile.

This race is not about running fast times, but rather about contributing to the efforts of those who are trying to make break throughs in cancer treatment, or who are trying to make others more comfortable in their last days.

So, if you are near Columbus this Saturday come on out and witness the party.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Alcohol at the Races

Is it just me or are there others who feel that alcohol should not be served as a post race beverage at the end of a race.  I have seen a few races that have promoted their event by offering alcoholic drinks at the end of the race.  Luckily this has not become the norm.

Locally in my hometown of Columbus Ohio there was one particular race that promoted tequila drinks at the end of their race.  The race had 500+ participants who braved cool temperatures to run in a 4 miler and then enjoy a post race alcoholic beverage.

The question to ask, are these races promoting healthy lifestyles or has the sport become so corporate that the phrase "healthy lifestyle" simply is just a tag line that is used to create a perception that we are in it for the right reasons.

I am against alcoholic drinks at these events for two reasons;

1.  I don't believe that alcohol promotes a healthy lifestyle and is inconsistent with the healthy messages we are trying to promote in the sport.

2.  Will offering these drinks at events create an expectation that other races offer drinks likewise in the future much like the post-race buffet has become norm even for small races such as a 5k.

I will end it at this, but should a dialogue develop out of this post I will be happy to dive into the subject a little more.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Join the Columbus MFTC and Speedy Sneakers

Are you planning on running or walking in either the full / half marathons at the Columbus Marathon on October 17, 2010.  If so then join Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women and the Columbus Marathon for the Cure team.  The Columbus MFTC team link is up and running so you can join now.  There are also tons of incentives to join.  Get more info



Sponsors are starting to come in for Race for the End:  Poverty 5k to be held at Glacier Ridge Metro Park in Dublin on June 5, 2010.

The latest addition is Downtown Dermatology which is located at 500 East Main Street Suite 310 Columbus Ohio.

Please visit their website and thank them for being a sponsor. 

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Thanks EAS

Thanks to EAS for sponsoring us with Myoplex drinks for all finishes.  We appreciate your support.

See you all at the Race for the End:  Poverty 5k.  Dublin, Ohio June 5, 2010 at Glacier Ridge Metro Park.  You can register at www.speedysneakers.com/racing


Monday, April 19, 2010

New Logo for the "Run for the End" Poverty 5k

Take a look at the new logo for the Run for the End:  Poverty 5k.  It's pretty awesome and I can't wait to see how it'll look on the race t-shirts.
June 5, 2010
Glacier Ridge Metro Park
9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Poverty 5k - June 5, 2010 - Dublin Ohio

Speedy Sneakers Racing is please to announce the Poverty 5k.  The sponsoring organizations are the International Development Collaborative and Grandma's Gifts.

The event will be held on June 5, 2010 at Glacier Ridge Metro Park starting at 9:00 a.m.

Register at Speedy Sneakers Racing

Saturday, April 3, 2010

George Roulett - FrontRunner - Thanks

Thank you to George Roulett of FrontRunner in Columbus, Ohio for coming out to talk to our group in Dublin this morning.

George spoke on the topic of injuries and specifically the common causes of injuries.

Here are the high-level points of the talk

Five Common Causes of Injuries

1.  Overuse - running too much, too fast or over training
2.  Tight or fatigued muscles
3.  Muscle imblance
4.  Bad running surfaces, too hard, too soft, too slippery
5.  Improper foot strike - over pronation or under pronation

Thanks again and if you are interested in attednding one of our meeting, take a look at our schedule on our club website at http://www.speedysneakers.com/

Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

3rd Annual Stirrup Hope Fund 5k - Registration Open

The 3rd Annual Stirrup Hope Fund 5k has opened registration for the August 21, 2010 event.  This year the event is set to be an evening event which should be a lot of fun.

To register for the event, visit the race website - Stirrup Hope 5k


Westerville Speedy Sneakers - 2010 Season Kick off

Westerville Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women kicked off the 2010 season today at Sharon Woods Metro Park.

After a short speech by Peter Engelbrecht, Jessica Kielmeyer the group leader led club members out for a great workout.  Conditions were perfect to start off the season.  Hopefully there will be more good weather after a winter of cold, ice and snow.

If you are interested in joining Speedy Sneakers, but missed the kick off don't dispair new members can join anytime of the year. 

Speedy Sneakers offers it's members the opportunity to walk or run with others who are of equal ability and fitness.  We are currently training for the Race for the Cure which will take place on May 15 in Columbus.

Interested members can get more information on our website at http://www.speedysneakers.com/

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

George Roulett - FrontRunner - Westerville, Ohio

George Roulett of FrontRunner will be speaking to the Westerville Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Club for Women on Saturday April 24, 2010.

The talk will be held at Sharon Woods starting at 7:45 a.m.  All attendees will be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate.

See our website or Facebook page for more details.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Good Deal: Nutrisystem - Two Weeks Free Food

Here is a deal I just had to pass on.  From Nutrisystem, two weeks of free food.  Enjoy.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Sharon Woods Metro Park Profile: Westerville, Ohio

Sharon Woods Metro Park will be the new home of the Westerville Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women.

Located off Cleveland Ave, it's situated on 762 acres which includes a lake (Schrock Lake).  The park has a fabulous mix of paved and nature trails so that all types of runners and walkers can enjoy running and walking in a variety of beautiful settings.

In a few weeks, on Saturday March 20th, 2010, Westerville Speedy Sneakers will begin a new era.  Join us as we startup this new club.  We hope that we'll have the same success in the new club as we have with our first club location in Dublin.

If you are interested in joining, visit our club page Speedy Sneakers.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Spring Time is on it's Way

With all the snow and ice you sometimes wonder if spring will ever get here.  Here is a little daily inspiration.

New Feature: Guest Columnist

A new feature has been started on Speedy Sneakers.  We'll have a guest columnist and our first is Diane Raymond of Blue Sky Gym.  Diane is an ACE-Certified Personal Trainer and holds undergraduate degrees from Ohio State University in Exercise Science and Journalism. 

You can read Diane's first article of many more to come at SpeedySneakers.com

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Strength Training for a Better Runner

When I was 14 years old I had an injury where I could not run so one of my friends who ran the sprints at school asked me whether I wanted to go to the gym with him to lift weights. I thought he was crazy, I am a middle distance runner why would I want to bulk up by lifting weights. He then explained to me that I would not bulk up since we would not be lifting heavy and that if I incorporated a program of weight lifting into my training regimen I probably would not get injured as often and would likely run faster due to the increased strength I would have gained. This was all music to my ears, especially the run faster part. I cautiously went with him to the gym and from then onwards was never afraid to lift a weight. In fact, afterwards found out that all runners of every distance lift weights for primarily two reasons, to avoid injury and to run faster by being stronger.


Every runner of every distance persuasion can benefit from a strength training program which uses weights, or other mechanisms to increase overall strength. From the weekend 5k to the end of season marathon runner, all will be better runners by being stronger.

Let us dispel some myths before moving on.

Myth - Lifting weights will bulk me up.

Lifting light weights with more repetitions will increase your endurance. If you not eating a diet rich in protein then the chances of gaining weight through more muscles is very minimal.

Myth – Lifting weights will decrease my flexibility.

Running long distances will decrease your flexibility if you do not incorporate stretching into your fitness program. All runners need to stretch to maintain their flexibility, especially as they age. So lifting weights will not decrease your flexibility, not stretching will decrease your flexibility.

Lifting weights can also be described as resistance training. In this training method you are attempting to condition your muscles to bear an increased amount of resistance against it. Over time the increased muscle strength gained will allow the runner to better handle the weakening muscles caused by fatigue during a race.

Lifting weights will also allow a runner to work muscles that are routinely not fully exercised during the running motion. In many instances these muscles can become imbalanced from the other opposing muscles. In a racing situation the opposing strong muscles will have to work harder than the weaker muscle. By increasing the strength of all the muscles the resistance placed on them will be more evenly distributed and will allow the runner to effectively run stronger for longer.

If you have any concerns about starting in a weight lifting program, start light. Lift light weights and gradually over time increase the amount of weight and gauge how you look and feel. If it works for you, continue and if it does not, then stop. However, give it a try and I expect you will see the same benefits I saw many years ago.

Written by Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women.  With club locations in Dublin and Westerville Ohio, Speedy Sneakers offer a non-competitive training environment for runners and walkers of all abilities and fitness levels.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Dr. Dana Winchester - April 17, 2010

Dr. Dana Winchester of the Winchester Institute will be our guest speaker on Saturday April 17. Dr. Winchester is well known in the Columbus area for public speaking and health promotion. She has been featured on Fox news and published in newspapers and magazines. We are looking forward to hearing her

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Speedy Sneakers Racing and Facebook

Speedy Sneakers now has a fan page on Facebook.  Join us on Facebook by going to our website at www.speedysneakers.com/racing and keep up to date on all that is happening with Speedy Sneakers.

Speedy Sneakers Racing is affiliated with Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women with locations in Dublin and Westerville Ohio.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Westerville Speedy Sneakers

Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women is pleased to announce that starting March 20, 2010 Westerville Ohio will be the location for the second running and walking club in Central Ohio.

Speedy Sneakers currently has a club in Dublin, Ohio which has been in existence since March 2008.

Walkers and runners interested in joining can do so through the Speedy Sneakers main website at http://www.speedysneakers.com/

Dublin Life Magazine

Checkout Speedy Sneakers in the latest issue of Dublin Life Magazine. In an article on Dublin Running Clubs, Speedy Sneakers is included as one of many running clubs in Dublin, Ohio.  Enjoy and let us know what you think.  http://www.columbuscityscene.org/keep_on_runnin039.html

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Start Training Now

If you are looking for a successful spring this year perhaps even running a personal best time then nothing will be more important than to start training now. You still have time to begin building up your training to avoid getting injured and to actually become fit for the onslaught of 5k that will predominate this spring time.


So what do you do? Start slowly; run for 10 minutes if that is all you can do. Run every other day, add a day each week, and add more 2 minutes to your running time. Whatever you do, do it slowly and methodically and you will find success.

I know that many times the urge to run hard, run far and run fast lingers in our mind as we feel that this is what we should be doing. Maybe it is, but not right now. Right now is all about building up your mileage and the time you spend running. Even the most elite of runners follow this method to ensure their success.

To help you along the way, here is a great tip. Write down on a piece of paper your spring time goal, find a race that you want to run and write down the date, place and time. Put the piece of paper in a place so that you can see it every day. I think two places work best, the bathroom mirror and the refrigerator. Every time you see your goal you will think about it and hopefully if you are motivated enough you will do something about it, like go for a run.

So what are you waiting for? Now is the time to start running.

By: Speedy Sneakers Walking and Running Clubs for Women. With location in Dublin and Westerville, Ohio we are dedicated to promoting women’s health and fitness through running and walking programs. Visit us at www.speedysneakers.com

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Speaker Announcement

Speedy Sneakers is pleased to announce that Dr. Patricia Stafford, Medical Director of Solis Women's Health in Dublin, Ohio has agreed to come and give us a talk on Saturday May 8, 2010.  So mark your calendars.  Dr. Stafford is a Boston Marathon finisher, current Board member of Komen Columbus and on top of this is a great speaker.

For more information, visit http://www.speedysneakers.com/

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Gahanna Speedy Sneakers

Now Columbus east side residents have a Women's only Walking and Running club option as the west side had with the Dublin club.

Starting on March 20, 2010 at Blendon Woods Metro Park, Gahanna Speedy Sneakers will kick-off.

To get registers just go to http://www.speedysneakers.com/