RI-Based New England Distance Project’s 1st Newsletter

October Newsletter

Dear Shareholders & Friends of NE Distance,
 
This is the kick-off installment newsletter of the NE Distance project,
your community-based distance running project.  September was an
incredible month.  NE Distance officially launched in earnest with the
arrival of our first athlete, David Goodman. 

David Goodman
 
David arrived in Woonsocket, RI after driving 3400 miles in a borrowed van on Saturday, September 1st. 
By Tuesday he was already moved into his apartment and working with the
youth of Woonsocket.  By his third week with us, he was already up to
running 100 miles per week and has discovered great running routes such
as the unpaved Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT), Lincoln
Woods, the Blackstone River Path and the East Bay Bikepath.

When he is not training, David is working part-time with NeighborWorks
Blackstone River Valley’s after-school program YouthRAP.  On his first
day, he had elementary school kids climbing him as if he were a tree.
 
David is collaborating on his training plan with Coach Bob Rothenberg
who is monitoring weekly speed workouts either in Lincoln Woods or on
the Brown Stadium track.  He’s fitting in well in Rhode Island and has
already met Senator Whitehouse, Rep. Cicilline and Mayor Taveras
(twice).  We’ve also been able to connect him with some great local
runners so he’s not running alone.
 
David is looking to compete this winter in the 3000 meters indoors and this summer outdoors in the Steeplechase.
 
NE Distance currently has funding for one additional slot in our program.  Interested athletes should visit our web site www.nedistance.org/athlete.html or contact us at info@nedistance.org

Foundation Performance
 
Our Sports Medicine sponsor, Foundation Performance, is offering a
great raffle to benefit NE Distance.  They are offering an Ultimate
Prize package which will include:

one slow motion running assessment with 30 min. consultation

one 1-hour massage

one 1-hour training session

two 30 min. Alter G sessions

one “grid” foam roller

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at Foundation Performance (545
Pawtucket Ave, Pawtucket) at Rhode Runner (657 N. Main Street,
Providence) or online at www.nedistance.org/fp.
 
Michael Silva performed an intensive gait analysis of David Goodman and
is donating a weekly physical therapy session to help him prevent
injuries as his training intensifies.

 
USATF-New England
 
We are grateful to the USATF Association of New England for their
generous Gold level sponsorship $500 donation to NE Distance.  NE
Distance’s Nich Haber and Dan Flynn were invited to speak at the annual
USATF-New England meeting in Waltham MA to over 150 USATF members on
September 23rd. 

T-Shirts!
 
Made in the USA, screen printed in Woonsocket, RI by our friends at
RiverzEdge.  Show off your New England pride with an NE Distance
T-Shirt!   For sale at Rhode Runner, 657 N. Main Street Providence or on
our web site: www.nedistance.org/Tshirt.html
 
 

Looking Forward to October

 
Look for David Goodman’s Half Marathon debut at the ING Hartford Half Marathon on Saturday October 13th. 

NE Distance will be partnering with the Thundermist Health Center on
their ThunderKids Wellness Program.  The Program targets children ages
ten through thirteen years of age through an intensive, therapeutic,
multi-specialty intervention. The ThunderKids Wellness Program has
targeted 50 children among Thundermist patients for membership for the
program that runs the entirety of the school year. Each of the patients
fell above the 85% BMI for age at a recent Thundermist physical exam.
For these 50 children, the program offers free gym membership to the
YMCA. The program incorporates frequent physical exams by a
pediatrician, lab work that gauges parameters of nutrition and health,
lectures by a health educator once a week, and structured physical
activity twice a week with an NE Distance athlete.  We will be
introducing the New York Road Runner’s Mighty Milers program to ThunderKids.