By David Freeze
Winter Flight Postponement and Chiropractic for Runners
The expected extreme cold and snow forecast caused race officials to postpone Salisbury’s signature running event last Wednesday just a few hours before I wrote this column. What started as a normal race day forecast of low 40s and partly cloudy quickly deteriorated to as much as six to eight inches of snow and windchills not good especially for course volunteers. Hosts Catawba College and the City of Salisbury quickly helped us pivot to a two-week postponement.
New race date for the Forum Fitness 43rd Annual Winter Flight benefiting Rowan Helping Ministries is now Sunday, February 15th. The half mile fun run, open to anyone is free and begins at 1:30 pm, the wheelchair 8K and 5K both start at 1:58pm, with the 5K and signature 8K heading out at 2pm. All races finish on the track inside Shuford Stadium. All finishers in the 5K and 8K get a commemorative hoodie, a participation medal and a chance at age group awards. Additional awards go to NC State Championship winners. For more information on the Winter Flight races and how to register, go to www.salisburyrowanrunners.org
I’m a believer in Chiropractic for better performance in sports. At least three times, I have had severe sciatica and Dr. Andy Jeter at Jeter Chiropractic helped me get back on the road each time. Chiropractic treatment just recently helped me with a nerve issue in my right leg. I was concerned about getting chiropractic treatments after my broken back recovery, but Dr. Eline’s staff gave me the go ahead. It was my first chiropractic treatment in nearly two years, and it brought immediate improvement.
I asked Dr. Jeter, a former college swimmer, what are some of the other injuries that he sees often with runners/walkers? He said, “Sprained ankles, hammer toes, claw toes, runners knee/jumpers’ knee, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis to name a few!”
In most cases, they can continue running/walking during the healing process. Dr, Jeter said, “Yes, we want people to stay active in their recovery. It may be slightly restricted in the beginning with a ramp up to normal activity over time. Get back in the game of life, let alone the respective activity!”
He continued, “Proper alignment means less wear and tear on the body. No differently than if you had your car’s front end out of alignment and ran new tires in that condition. Soon, the tires would show wear and tear. Did you know that there is a high chance that one of your legs is longer than the other? Just two mm or the thickness of two credit cards can make a significant impact on your lower body, hips, and lower back! We help runners stay fit in their form with ankle, knee, hip and low back alignment! Function equals form and form equals function. You can’t have one without the other. Don’t be crooked.”
“There’s a saying in the Chiropractic profession: Chiropractic adds years to life and life to years! If you have teeth, you need dental care. If you have a spine, you need chiropractic care. It’s that simple. People spend more time, energy, and effort taking care of their teeth and mouth than they do any other area of their body. However, you can live without your teeth. You cannot live without your spine!”
I typically feel an extra boost in my step after an adjustment. Dr. Jeter said, “You’re never too old to start taking care of your body! Athletes around the world know this, which is why there are chiropractors involved as part of the healthcare for sports teams around the globe. Every major university, professional sports team, and many major industrial corporations have a chiropractor working for them. It just makes sense! Some side effects of chiropractic care include more energy, better breathing, better digestive habits, and better sleep to name just a few. If you ever wanted to know if Chiropractic could help the condition that you were suffering from, just google it! There is a ton of research out there that supports chiropractic care for many conditions you would never ever think Chiropractic could be helpful for. Try it!”
Feel free to call or text me at 704-310-6741 about Winter Flight questions. It’s a great celebration of running and walking in Salisbury, nationally recognized as a runner friendly community, but made better if you are there.