TX PODIATRIST: NO REASON FOR YOUNG SISTERS NOT TO RUN ENDURANCE RACES

DR. MARK SANDS, TEXAS PODIATRIST AND TREATING PODIATRIST OF TWO YOUNG ATHLETES STATES " KATHLYNN WELSCH 12 AND HEATHER WELSCH, 10 ARE MARATHONERS.  DURING THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, KATHLYNN HAS COMPETED IN MORE THAN 90 ENDURANCE EVENTS.  ABOUT A DOZEN MORE THAN HER LITTLE SISITER.  BOTH GIRLS ALSO COMPETE IN TRIATHIONS, AN AMALGAM OF LIMB EXHAUSTING SKILLS WHERE THEY TYPICALLY SWAM 500 METERS, CYCLED 13 MILES, AND ENDED UP WITH A 3.1 MILE RUN."

DR. MARK SANDS, THE GIRLS' PODIATRIST, SAID "THERE WAS NO MEDICAL REASON TO KEEP THE SISTERS FROM RUNNING AS THEY DID.  YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE EVERY CASE ONE BY ONE, BUT THESE GIRLS ARE  MONITERED FOR INJURIES, AND THEIR PARENTS WATCH THEIR NUTRITION."  PODIATRIST SANDS SAID, "RUNNING HAS NO MORE RISKS FOR THEM THAN ANYONE ELSE." HE ADDED: "AND THE GIRLS REALLY LOVE IT.  YOU CAN TELL BY HOW THEY TALK."

RUNNING IS A GREAT ACTIVITIE FOR CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS.  IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET STARTED WE SUGGEST THAT YOU START OUT SLOWLY AND STRETCH BEFORE AND AFTER.  SLIOWLY BUILD UP YOUR MILAGE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT FOOTWEAR.  OUR CLINIC RECCOMENDS CUSTOM ORTHOTICS FOR ALL RUNNERS AS THIS INCREASES YOUR BALANCE, STABILITY AND REDUCES YOUR RISK OF INJURY.  FYI MARZ IS AN AVID RUNNER AND MANY TIMES JOGS HOME FROM WORK, ABOUT 10 MILES.