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DYNAMIC DUOCURTIS & VALERIE BLAIR

WORK OUT ATPOLE GREEN PARK

+ ʻFIT FOR LIFEʼ INSPIRES FIT4KIDS | ʻHOT SHOTSʼ GALLERY: DOMINION RIVERROCK

DOWN & DIRTY:THE HENRICUSDAUBER DASH

PAGE 5

Gail GrassoTRAINS FOR

THE HALFMARATHON

PAGE 15

FROM STROLLINGTO SKY DIVING,NBC12 ANCHOR

RYAN NOBLES & OTHER

AREA RESIDENTSARE GOING OUT

AND GETTING FIT.

FREE

JUMPSTART .............................................................................. 5Night Time is the Ride Time: The Anthem Moonlight Ride; Letʼs Get Dirty!:The annual Henricus Dauber Dash; Two Local Companies, One Popular Event:Richmondʼs favorite running event is now titled the Ukropʼs Monument Av‑enue 10k presented by Martinʼs; Itʼs Time to Make Race History: the PatrickHenry Half Marathon; Richmond Sweats It Out as Americaʼs 11th Fittest City;Hoops Anyone?: The Allen & Allen Hoopla 3 on 3.

BODYSMART ..............................................................................7ASK THE SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIAN: One Hour or Weight: The hard truthon how much exercise is needed to actually lose weight and maintain anideal body weight is shocking.

Dominion Riverrock Hot Shots ..................................................8A gallery of this yearʼs Dominion Riverrock digital photo contest imageswhich document the personality, competition, activity or venue of thisuniquely Richmond event.

Fit4Kids Formed to Lead Fight for Healthy Children ..............12Targeting childrenʼs wellness with an emphasis on reducing the incidencesof childhood obesity within the region, the newly formed organization,Fit4Kids, will promote physical activity and healthy eating habits for areayouth. SBQ had a chance to talk with Interim Executive Director TownleyGoldsmith‑Ray.

Are You Ready for the Dragon Boat Festival? ..........................14Beautiful Rocketts Landing is the location for Richmondʼs first‑ever DragonBoat Festival that takes place on July 31.

Nowʼs the Time to Sign Up for the Half Marathon Training Team Program ............................15If youʼre thinking about giving the half marathon a try, thereʼs still time tojoin the Half Marathon Training Team (HMTT).

Out and About ........................................................................17Ranging from the extreme experience of sky diving to the simple and effec‑tive activity of a nightly stroll, area residents are stepping out and shaping up.

The Water Walker ....................................................................28Paddleboarding is a relatively new water sports phenomenon that allowsyou to tailor the workout to your fitness level.

Play Ball! ................................................................................30While an amateur adult baseball league may not seem capable of harboringa strong pulse, rest assured it does̶a pulse that beats more than 200 play‑ers strong here in Richmond, believe it or not.

SBQnow.com | 3

j u l | a u gV O L U M E 3 • I S S U E 5 • 2 0 1 0 • N U M B E R 1 5 SBQ

Sports Backers Quarterly: Athletics, Recreation & Healthy Living

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Sports Backers Quarterly: Athletics, Recreation & Healthy Living is pro‑duced six times a year (4 regular issues and two special event issues) byPalari Publishing LLP (P.O. Box 9288, Richmond, VA, 23227 Phone 804‑355‑1035), Sports Backers (100 Avenue of Champions, Suite 300, Rich‑mond, VA 23230 Phone 804‑285‑9495). All rights reserved. Reproductionin whole or in part of any text, photograph or illustration without writ‑ten permission from the publisher is prohibited.

General comments, story suggestions and letters to the editor for publication consideration should be directed to

feedback@SBQnow.com.

SBQ is published by Sports Backers and Palari Publishing LLP

To Advertise in SBQPublisher | Executive Editor

Dave SmithermanPublisher | Art Director

Ted RandlerContributing Writers

Taylor HodgeTeresa Stadler, MD, FACSM

PhotographyChris Owens

Kacy Smitherman

AdvertisingChris Woody

JUL|AUG VOL. 3 ISSUE 5NUMBER 15

SPORTS BACKERS QUARTERLYAthletics, Recreation & Healthy Living

Join our Fan Page on

ContactChris Woody 804.822.1422 Officechris@richmondgrid.com

WWW.SBQNOW.COM

J U M P S T A R TSPORTS BACKERS QUARTERLY JUL|AUG 2010

SBQnow.com | 5

Night Time is the Ride Time

Last year, the first moonlight biking event in the

Richmond area brought hundreds of thrill‑seekers

together with the promise of an exciting and

unique nighttime adventure. Much more than just

a bike ride in the dark, riders even decorate their

bikes (and themselves) in hopes of winning the best

bike costume award. And because itʼs a nighttime

event, there are even prizes for the best decorative

bike lights.

The Anthem Moonlight Ride starts and finishes

at Sports Backers Stadium and features a short

"Half Moon" (8 miles) or a longer "Full Moon" (17

miles) route through the Northside and near West

End. At the end of the ride, stick around to enjoy a

free concert and a complimentary soft drink or Blue

Moon beer. To add to the fun, there will be plenty of

exhibitors, food, and interactive activities. It's a

great way to spend a summer evening!

One of the most popular eventsanywhere is a good, old‑fashionedmud run, and thatʼs just part of the

annual Hen‑ricus DauberDash (Satur‑day, August7, 2010), arace thatshowcasesthe ruggedbeauty ofDutch Gapand the his‑

torical splendor of Henricus Park.Just like the Daubers that built the

mud walls and houses of the Citieof Henricus, you have a chance torelive your childhood with plentyof messy mud on hand.

The course is a unique 5 mile trailrun that will have you climbing,crawling, and weaving throughseveral fun obstacles that of courseincludes a huge mud pit overlook‑ing the James River.

So get your grungy clothes and oldtennis shoes ready for this always‑entertaining event. And donʼt for‑get a towel!

Letʼs Get Dirty!

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Thanks to an exciting partnership be‑tween Ukropʼs Homestyle Foods andMartinʼs, Richmondʼs favorite runningevent is now titled the Ukropʼs Monu‑ment Avenue 10k presented by Mar‑tinʼs. The announcement was made at aFirst Friday Forum hosted by the RetailMerchants Association, Rick Herring,President of Giant/Martinʼs, and BobbyUkrop, President & CEO of Ukrop'sHomestyle Foods.

“Weʼre thrilled that Martinʼs is partner‑ing with Ukropʼs to sponsor the Monu‑ment Avenue 10k,” said Bobby Ukrop,president & CEO of Ukropʼs HomestyleFoods.

“One of the signature events in Rich‑mond is the Ukropʼs Monument Avenue10k,” said Rick Herring, president,Giant/Martinʼs. “It is an event that makesRichmond a national destination andbrings everyone̶from young toold̶together as a community. I am de‑lighted to announce today that Martinʼswill be the presenting sponsor of the2011‑2013 Ukropʼs Monument Avenue10k.”

“The success of the Ukropʼs MonumentAvenue 10k has been a community ef‑fort that involves thousands of volun‑teers, city leaders and great sponsors,”said Sports Backers executive directorJon Lugbill. “The combined commit‑ment of Ukropʼs and Martinʼs ensuresthe eventʼs impact on the communitywill continue to grow.”

The event is the nationʼs 10th biggestrunning race of any distance and the26th largest in the world. The 2010event had a record of more than 37,000entrants. The 12th running of theUkropʼs Monument Avenue 10k pre‑sented by Martinʼs will be held on April2, 2011.

Two Local Companies, One Popular Event

Recently, Richmond was ranked the 11thhealthiest and fittest city inAmerica in a study called theAmerican College of SportsMedicine (ACSM) Ameri‑can Fitness Index, cre‑ated in partnership withthe Wellpoint Founda‑tion. ACSM developedthe program in 2007 toprovide an evidence‑ andscience‑based measurementof the state of health and fitnessat the community level throughout theU.S. Communities, organizations and in‑dividuals will be able to assess factorsthat contribute to health and fitness andmeasure the progress.

“Rankings are fun to talk about, butif Richmond really is the 11th

healthiest region in America,that is something to

cheer,” says Jon Lugbill,executive director ofSports Backers.

The strengths andadvantages of the Rich‑

mond area include moreparks, playgrounds, recre‑

ation centers, and tenniscourts per capita and a lower

percentage of people with illnesseslike asthma and diabetes. This is the firsttime Richmond landed on the rankings,so hopefully next yearʼs placing will beeven higher.

Richmond Sweats It Out as Americaʼs 11th Fittest City

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Hanover County is fast becominga favorite of athletes, especiallybikers who wind through thecountry roads every weekend.For runners, thereʼs the annualPatrick Henry Half Marathonthat consists of a 13.1‑mile racethat starts off at Poor Farm Parkand winds along the rollingcountryside and even along Ash‑landʼs scenic railroad district.

The race is named for HanoverCountyʼs famous Colonial‑era pa‑triot, Patrick Henry, who pro‑claimed the Revolutionary Warʼsrallying cry, “give me liberty orgive me death.” So runners get toactually mix in a little historywhile getting their race on.

The fun takes place on Saturday,August 28. Donʼt miss it!

Itʼs Time to Make Race History

B O D Y S M A R T

I am in desperate need of advice tolose weight. I eat well and run 3miles three times a week and Icanʼt seem to drop a pound. Nowthat I am in my 40s, itʼs time to getrid of this “baby weight” once andfor all. I even trained for a race andI think I actually gained weight!Truly, Frustrated by Fat.

Greetings Frustrated,The hard truth on how much exer‑cise is needed to actually lose weight andmaintain an ideal body weight is shocking.For years the American College of SportsMedicine has made strict recommendations.These recommendations were confirmed ina study published in the March, 2010 Journalof the American Medical Association. Theamount of cardiovascular exercise (that getsyour heart rate up like running, biking, orswimming) required to lose or manage a de‑

cent size is frequently underestimated. For simple weight maintenance we

should all be doing “30‑60 minutes of cardio‑vascular exercise on all or most days of theweek.” For real weight loss, we need to do“60‑90 minutes of cardiovascular exercise onall or most days of the week.” That is 4‑7 timesa week. Thatʼs like taking on a second part‑time job. Yes, that is what it takes to get theweight off, then keep it off for the next 50years or more.

Most Americans are not ca‑pable of running enough tomeet even the minimal require‑ments for weight maintenancewithout suffering from an over‑use injury. But, with cross train‑ing nearly everyoneʼs joints andmuscles are capable of putting inthe time. Even if that means get‑ting into the water up to yourchest and just walking. Water ex‑ercises and group exercises, likespin classes, are a great way to

knock out those minutes without beating upyour body.

For the more adventurous, Sports Back‑ers Marathon and Half Marathon TrainingTeams are starting now for this fallʼs events.Check it out at sportsbackers.org.

Teresa Stadler, MD, FACSM is Medical Director of Com-monwealth Sports Medicine, Ironman finisher, activemember of Richmond’s athletic community, and mom ofthree small children.

ASK THE SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIANOne Hour or Weight

BY TERESA STADLER

Water exercisesand group

exercises, like spin classes, are a great way to

knock out thoseminutes without

beating up your body.

Richmond's most competitiveand exciting 3 on 3 basketballtournament comes back to theDominion Resources campus inthe Innsbrook Office Park for thethird straight year, but this year itbrings with it a new name. TheAllen & Allen Hoopla 3 on 3 is setfor July 24‑25, 2010, and will beplayed on a specially constructedbasketball playground made justfor the event.

"We are proud to partner withthe Sports Backers on this greatevent," said Doug Barry, Presi‑dent of Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen."We really enjoyed being thesponsor of the Allen, Allen, Allen& Allen Arena Court last year, sowe are very excited to be takingour involvement to another level.We look forward to helping growthe event to its full potential."

The Allen & Allen Hoopla 3 on 3offers basketball players of allages and skill levels competitivegames in a great event atmos‑

phere that features music, food,and sponsor giveaways. Thethree skill levels offered are theelite, competitive and recre‑ational divisions, with male, fe‑male, and co‑ed teams in allthree. Co‑ed teams must haveone player of each gender onthe court at all times. There willalso be three age divisions:Youth (Ages 8‑13), High School(Grades 9‑12), and Adult (Ages18 & older).

Highlighting the big event will bean Arena Court, which will hostthe high energy elite divisiongames and the rim‑rattling actionof the Slam Dunk Contest. Youthand high school players will enjoycompeting on the Youth Champi‑onship Court, which will alsoserve as the site of the Kid's SlamDunk Contest. Then, all weekendlong, the competitors and specta‑tors can also show off their free‑throw shooting, three‑pointshooting, and ball handling abili‑ties on the Contest Court.

Hoops Anyone?

SBQnow.com | 7

Highlighting the big event will be an Arena Court, which willhost the high energy elite division games and the rim‑rattlingaction of the Slam Dunk Contest.

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DOMINION RIVERROCK

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GREG GARNER TOOK

THIS FIRST PLACEIMAGE OF THE 2010DOMINION RIVERROCK

DIGITAL PHOTO CON‑TEST WHICH ENCOUR‑AGED PHOTOGRAPHERS

OF ALL SKILL LEVELS TO

DOCUMENT THE PERSON‑ALITY, COMPETITION, ACTIVITY OR VENUE OF

THIS UNIQUELY RICH‑MOND EVENT. THE PANEL OF JUDGES

LOOKED FOR IMAGES

THAT CAPTURE THE

SPIRIT OF DOMINION

RIVERROCK. CASH

PRIZES OF $500, $250& $100 WERE AWARDED

TO THE FIRST, SECOND

AND THIRD PLACE CON‑TESTANTS. MAYBE YOUR

PHOTO WILL BE HERE

NEXT YEAR!

HOT SHOTS

10 | SBQnow.com

SBQnow.com | 11

On the opposite page:The top image by Antonio Sanchez is the 2nd place photo ($250 prize).

The bottom image is by Dave Parrish who earned 3rd place ($100 prize).

Photos this page feature the Honorable Mention images taken by:Top row: Josh Norris, Nick Ghobashi, Tommy Lynch

Middle row: Henry Stern, Tommy LynchBottom image: Tommy Lynch

12 | SBQnow.com

TARGETING CHILDRENʼS WELLNESS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON REDUCING THE INCI‑DENCES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY WITHIN THE REGION, THE NEWLY FORMED OR‑GANIZATION, FIT4KIDS, WILL PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY EATINGHABITS FOR AREA YOUTH. SBQ HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH INTERIM EXECU‑TIVE DIRECTOR TOWNLEY GOLDSMITH‑RAY.What is the overall objective of the program?Greater Richmond Fit4Kids is a new non-profit organization that is solely focusedon improving children’s health and re-ducing childhood obesity. Fit4Kids wascreated to be the organization that ad-dresses the problems facing children inthe Richmond region and coordinatesthe effort of other community partners tomore effectively take part in this fight forthe health and wellness of kids.

The overall objective of Fit4Kids is toimprove the health and wellness of chil-dren by increasing physical activity andpromoting proper nutrition. There arestaggering figures that describe the stateof emergency that is childhood obesity.For instance, more than 23 million Amer-ican children (or nearly one in everythree) are overweight or obese. The cur-rent generation of children in Americahave shorter life expectancies than theirparents. Additionally, one in three Amer-ican children born in 2000 will developdiabetes if they adopt the nation’s inac-tive and overeating lifestyle.

Among other areas, Fit4Kids willwork with local schools to address op-portunities for change in physical edu-cation curriculum, better food options inschool cafeterias, nutrition programs forchildren and their parents with localcommunity partners that have devel-oped programs to encourage physicalactivity outside of school. Fit4Kids willfocus its initial efforts on impacting chil-dren from kindergarten through thetwelfth grade. By establishing a coordi-nated front to promote physical activityand healthy eating habits and develop-ing sustainable programs, a true changein lifestyle and improved wellness all be-come more attainable goals.

Development and enhancement ofprograms will lead to a larger effort byFit4Kids in the future to provide leader-ship to advocate for change in the fields

of health, nutrition and phys-ical activity. To promotemore change across Virginiain the long term, Fit4Kidsmay ultimately lead an ef-fort to lobby government of-ficials. The organizationwill also recognize teachersand members of the com-munity who are doingthings right in their little cor-ner of the world to improvethe health and wellness of the childrenin their lives.

How will that be achieved?During the 2010-2011 school year,Fit4Kids will evaluate existing programsin the community that focus on improv-ing the health of children through phys-ical activity and nutrition and therebyreducing childhood obesity. The assess-ment will follow programs that supportchildren from kindergarten throughtwelfth grade in the Richmond region. Inorder to conduct a thorough assessmentof all the existing programs in the Rich-mond region, Fit4Kids will work withlocal school systems, parents, local gov-ernment, the healthcare industry, healthand fitness centers, higher education,health departments, Central VirginiaFood Bank, American Heart Association,Boys & Girls Clubs and other commu-nity organizations.

The project aims to research pro-grams that affect children from allover Richmond, Henrico, Hanover,Chesterfield and the Tri-Cities. Oncethe assessment is complete, Fit4Kidsstaff and Board members will workwith local partners to determine thebest communities to establish newand enhanced programs. The planwill be to incorporate as many com-munities as possible in the implemen-tation of Fit4Kids programs.

Several school systems, including

Chesterfield County, have started to mon-itor students' height and weight propor-tions. Early results indicated that 33% ofall students were either overweight or atrisk of being overweight. Using schoolsystems and other community organiza-tions as outlets for health, nutrition andphysical activity initiatives will providethe most impact on youth ranging in ourtarget age.

Who is on the Board and how werethey chosen?While the Board is still in its infancy, theobjective has been to get an initialgroup involved that could help steer thedevelopment of the organization. TheBoard is a diverse and impressivegroup of individuals. In order to affectthe most change in the Richmond re-gion, we knew it was important for thisgroup to represent different areas of thecommunity that all serve to promotechildhood health and wellness. We haveBoard members that represent thehealthcare community, education,school systems, nutrition, hospital sys-tems and the corporate community. Weexpect to expand the Board as the or-ganization continues to grow.

How did the program originate?Over the years, the success and impactof Sports Backers events have helpedmake the Richmond region known as ahealthy and active community. Drivingimproved health and wellness through

FIT4KIDS FORMED TO LEAD FIGHT FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN

SBQnow.com | 13

Call us to get started on your next event.

804 -264 -6621CommonwealthEvent.com

We have your rental needs covered: tents, staging, tables & chairs etc.

training teams for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, Mc-Donald’s Half Marathon and the Ukrop's Monument Avenue10k has helped the Sports Backers make a difference in thelives of many people.

To more specifically encourage physical activity in chil-dren, the Sports Backers launched the Fit For Life programin 2005. Fit For Life is a 10-week training program, which en-courages children to run or walk 26 miles. This programreached 8,000 kids during the 2009-2010 school year. Eval-uating the impact and opportunities for the Fit For Life pro-gram led to the development of two conferences on youth

obesity, whichprovided speakersand examples ofbest practices fromaround the countryto local teachers,health departmentsand the healthcarecommunity.

From these con-ferences, the SportsBackers realized thatin order to truly im-pact the fight againstchildhood obesity,there needed to be afocus on nutritionalong with physicalactivity. Not havingthe expertise to ad-dress the area of nu-trition, the challengebecame findingpeople who did. Theoutcome of thissearch was to createa separate non-profitorganization.

When did theprogram kick offand are there anyevents/actionitems currentlyscheduled?The organization of-ficially formed inApril 2010. Once theassessment of exist-ing programs hasbeen conducted,

Fit4Kids will determine which programs can be enhanced ordeveloped. It may take three to five years for Fit4Kids pro-grams to be conducted throughout the community on a reg-ular basis.

We are currently in the process of developing a logoand website for the organization. In the meantime, we en-courage people to visit www.sportsbackers.org and checkout the Youth Programs section to find more informationabout Fit4Kids.

Current members of the Board ofDirectors include:Edward AcevedoProfessor and Chair, Health andHuman Performance, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityTom ByrdFounder, Take Care Group LLC: Past President, Anthem Blue Crossand Blue Shield in Virginia; Chairman of Fit4KidsAdele JohnsonExecutive Director, Richmond PublicSchools Education FoundationJon Lugbill Executive Director, Sports BackersGeorge Martin Partner, McGuire Woods, LLP; Secretary of Fit4KidsVictoria MillerPresident, Virginia Association forHealth, Physical Education, Recreation and DanceHeather RiceFederal Tax Manager, KPMG; Treasurer of Fit4KidsBruce Rubin Jessie Ball duPont Professor andChair, Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth UniversitySchool of MedicineIvan Schwartz Administrative Director of Sports Medicine, Bon Secours Richmond Health SystemsRobert UkropPresident, Ukropʼs Homestyle Foods

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DRAGONBOATING

@ ROCKETTSLANDING

PAGE 14

DYNAMIC DUOCURTIS & VALERIE BLAIRWORKOUT ATPOLE GREEN PARK

+ ʻFIT FOR LIFEʼ INSPIRES FIT4KIDS | ʻHOT SHOTSʼ GALLERY: DOMINION RIVERROCK

DOWN & DIRTY:THE HENRICUSDAUBER DASHPAGE 5

Gail GrassoTRAINS FORTHE HALFMARATHONPAGE 15

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This ancient Chinese sport hasbeen gaining popularity in NorthAmerica over the past twenty

years and has actually become theworld’s fastest-growing water sport.Dragon boats are 40-foot human-pow-ered canoes decorated with ornate Chi-nese dragon heads. Led by the rhythmicbeat of a drum, teams consisting of 20synchronized paddlers, one drummer,and one steersperson race the canoes500m down the river. All teams are guar-anteed at least three races.

Aaron Soroka, COO of GWN DragonBoat (which produces races all overCanada and the US) is confident folkswill take to the sport. “Richmond is per-fectly located between the majorhotbeds of dragon boating on the eastcoast. With a very active community inthe Carolinas and Florida and one in theNew York/Philadelphia area, this eventwill attract visitors from the north andsouth. Locally, considering the support forevents currently run by Sport Backers,this fun festival fits nicely with the localoutdoor adventure enthusiast.”

According to Chris Miller, vice presi-dent for the Richmond Chapter of CreditUnions and committee chairperson forthis event’s sponsor, WhatIfCreditU-nions.com, this is an ideal activity for thearea. “Richmond has a tremendous assetin its physical beauty, a year-round enjoy-able climate, and the James River. Out-door activities help to showcase all theregion has to offer.”

“We are so pleased that this ancientsport is coming to Richmond and Rock-etts Landing,” says Jason Vickers-Smith,COO of The WVS Companies, the devel-oper of Rocketts Landing. “The JamesRiver is Richmond’s greatest resource,and I can think of no better way to show

it off than this spectacular event.” Hirschler Fleischer wasted no time

signing up for the event. “We have 24 par-ticipants, ranging from attorneys to para-legals to administrative staff, and a fewfamily members,” says Judith Harrison, HFMarketing Director. “We are hoping forgreat weather and just plain fun whilesupporting and raising awareness forbreast cancer, a great cause. The diseasehas affected a number of people in ourHirschler Fleischer family.”

The WhatIfCreditUnions.com Rich-mond International Dragon Boat Festivalwill be the sixth event of the MajorLeague Dragon Boat Series. Not only isthe event expected to draw in experi-enced participants from across the con-tinent and overseas, but it should alsoattract first-time racers from right here inRichmond.

So why did WhatIfCreditUnions.combecome involved? “Credit unions exist to

promote financial health,” says Miller. “Webelieve physical health is vitally impor-tant too, and an active lifestyle is a criti-cal component. Making smart healthydecisions, whether about money orhealth or exercise is part of what we do.And we will definitely encourage ourRichmond and Southside Credit Unionsto form their own team for this event.”

As the sport continues to gain mo-mentum, Richmond will be countedamong the innovative cities that helpedpave the way for this new activity. “Dragonboating in the United States still has along way to go,” Soroka admits. “Whilemany communities have embraced thesport, there are still large parts of the na-tion that have not been exposed to thistype of event. The potential is endless; it isjust a matter of exposing communities tothe sport and the positive benefits.”

For more information or to register ateam, visit www.gwndragonboat.com.

Led by the rhythmic beat of

a drum, teams consisting of

20 synchronizedpaddlers, onedrummer, and one

steersperson race the canoes 500m down the river.

BEAUTIFUL ROCKETTS LANDING IS THE LOCATION FOR RICH‑MONDʼS FIRST‑EVER WHATIFCREDITUNIONS.COM DRAGONBOAT FESTIVAL THAT TAKES PLACE ON JULY 31. ACROSS THECOUNTRY, GROUPS AND BUSINESSES HAVE EMBRACED THE SPORTOF DRAGON BOATING BECAUSE IT BUILDS CAMARADERIE AND ASENSE OF “TEAM” THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE EVENT.

ARE YOU READY FOR THEDRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL?

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EACH YEAR, MORE AND MORE RUNNERS DECIDE WHETHER TO SIGN UP FORTHE 26.2‑MILE SUNTRUST RICHMOND MARATHON, OPT FOR THE 13.1‑MILEMCDONALDʼS HALF MARATHON, OR CHOOSE THE HCA VA 8K. IF YOUʼRETHINKING ABOUT GIVING THE HALF MARATHON A TRY, THEREʼS STILL TIME TOJOIN THE HALF MARATHON TRAINING TEAM (HMTT).

T he 14‑week training program startsin early August with a detailed writ‑ten schedule thatʼs easy to follow.

Youʼll also get personal guidance from vet‑eran coach Ro Gammon and her team. “Thecoaches were all friendly, helpful, and ap‑proachable,” says Gail Grasso of last yearʼsprogram. “The training journal, includingfacts related to training, was helpful and funfor tracking my progress.”

According to Sue Reynolds, “The HMTT train‑ing log helped tremendously. It gave you abreakdown day by day of what you are sup‑posed to run.”

This year, the events take place on Saturday,November 13, and that is just a few monthsaway. Tackling that kind of challenge takesplanning and conditioning. No matter whatyour fitness level, youʼll need to prepare your‑self physically, and lots of folks find that theHMTT program helps them get in shape forthe big day.

“I decided to join the HMTT and get ʻback inthe saddle.ʼ I was a little hesitant whether Icould do it,” says Gregory Barch. “I was on lastyearʼs HMTT and thoroughly enjoyed the ex‑perience,” adds Tom Cantone.

People are sometimes hesitant to take thefirst step and sign up for the program, butmost everyone is ecstatic with the results. “Isigned up for it because I had never run ahalf,” says Grasso of her experience on the

HMTT last year. “I felt I needed the structureand commitment to get the job done. My ex‑perience truly was life‑changing. A safe, sys‑tematic plan brought my fitness to a newlevel.”

Reynolds had a similar experience. “After at‑tending the first HMTT clinic with myboyfriend, Coach Ro persuaded me into com‑

NOWʼS THE TIME TO SIGN UPFOR THE HALF MARATHONTRAINING TEAM PROGRAM

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ing out on the next Saturday morning to seeif I could do it. I never felt pressured intodoing the training team; it was a chance forme to see if I could do something I neverthought was possible. The coaches nevercomplained that I was the last person in al‑most every week,” Reynolds remembers.“They waited around and made sure theirwhole zoo of animals came home each week(Penguins, Cheetahs, Zebras, Falcons, SplittingHares, Red Belly Cooters, and few others).”

Bill Nawrocki had some success with otherraces, but never got the performance he waslooking for until he joined last yearʼs program.“I signed up for the HMTT and everythingchanged,” he says. “This was the first time Ihad formal running guidance and ran withcoaches and others that were all trying to ac‑

complish a similar goal.” Reynolds attributedher success partly to the clinics. “Each clinicwas a wealth of knowledge that a new per‑son could absorb. I also believe a lot of theveteran runners were able to get valuable in‑formation.”

As a testament to the programʼs results andthe camaraderie that it provides, a large num‑ber of people join again the next year. “I amplanning to join the HMTT again this August,”adds Grasso. “I would sign up for the MTT, butI am training for my second triathlon.”Reynolds says, “The coaches try to get to

know you on a personal level. Even thoughthere was a big group, the coaches made anattempt to learn your name and somethingabout you. “

“I was a part of the inaugural (HMTT) in 2009coached by Ro Gammon,” says Barch. “And itwas such a great help to have her as well asmy Red Belly Cooter teammates and coachesbehind me 100% to finish that race.”

Others like Cantone decide to move on to thefull 26.1‑mile course after they have the halfunder their belt. “Almost a dozen of my Fal‑con HMTT folks from last year are on mynovice MTT. Only one has completed a fullmarathon, so weʼll be getting through theaches and pains together. My primary goal isto complete my first marathon.” Nawrockiagrees, “Iʼve made a lot of great friends fromthe HMTT and now there are 8 of us doing theMTT together! Iʼm so glad I signed up for theHMTT and canʼt believe Iʼm going to run amarathon! Amazing!” Reynolds is also tack‑ling the marathon. “I will miss the coachesand teammates of the HMTT this year. I dohave plans to return to the HMTT in 2011 andyears to come.”

And the great news is that you donʼt have tobe left out. If you decide you want to give theMcDonaldʼs Half Marathon a try, you havetime to find out what everyoneʼs talkingabout. Just make the commitment, follow theprogram, and youʼre part of one of the mostexciting events in the Richmond area. Grassosums it up best. “I was SO ready for race day.I came within 90 seconds of making it into thenewspaper. I still feel like I could shout fromthe rooftops about my experience.”

“Who would have thought a non‑runnercould finish a half marathon with just threemonths of training,” Reynolds asks. “CoachRo and her group of HMTT coaches didfrom the start! I can not thank them enoughmuch for this experience.”

• 14‑week training program starting onSaturday, August 7 at 8 a.m. with a de‑tailed written schedule for you to follow.• Personal guidance from veteran coachRo Gammon and her team of experi‑enced coaches.• Organized and supported weeklygroup Saturday morning runs fromSports Backers Stadium, located next toThe Diamond.• A special Sports Backers HalfMarathon Training Team technical raceshirt to wear during the race.

• Entry in the 2010 McDonaldʼs HalfMarathon and all associated race benefits.• Special clinics on subjects like nu‑trition, running attire and other re‑lated topics.

To register, sign up online. For additional

information, call the Sports Backers at

(804) 285‑9495. All Training Team entry

fees must be received by August 21.

Ready to sign up? Hereʼs what you get:

BillNawrocki

Tom Cantone

Who would have thought

a non-runnercould

finish a half marathon

with just three

months of training?

SBQnow.com | 17

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Motivation

is a key factor in all

successful wellness

regimens. Where you

work out can be as

crucial to your

motivation as when

and how you choose

to maintain an

ongoing program.

Fortunately, the

region has a wealth

of open‑air options

to enjoy the warm

weather as you

exercise.

Local athletes,

at all levels of

experience, offer

ideas and locations

to enhance that all‑

important “me time”

to get fit, de‑stress

and enjoy the long

days of summer.

Ranging from the

extreme experience

of sky diving to the

simple and effective

activity of a nightly

stroll, area residents

are stepping out

and shaping up.

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The BlairsPole Green Park, Mechanicsville

“We motivateeach other and it

helps us stay evenmore connected.”

SBQnow.com | 19

Staying fit is really essential for this busy couple. Married for13 years, Curtis Blair Jr., an NBA Referee, and his wife Valerie,an optician with Grove Ave Eye Center, have two children.

Valerie says, “As a mother of kids ages 9 and 5, working, andhaving a husband who travels for his job, I need all the en‑ergy I can get to keep up. So staying fit and healthy is veryimportant to me.”

Part of her summer workout is the P90X (12 wk program) andmaintaining all year‑round at the gym. “Diet plays a big parttoo (high protein and low carbs). Most importantly, settinga good example for my kids so that they can make goodchoices in life.”

“My job requires me to stay fit all year round,”Curtis explains.“Iʼm constantly running up and down the court, probablyabout 3 miles per game. In the off‑season, I like to incorpo‑rate P90X and Insanity in my workout regiments. Diet playsan important part in my overall fitness. “

“Both of us are getting ready to hit a milestone in our lives(The Big 40) so staying fit and healthy is very important,” Va‑lerie notes. “Curtis's job requires him to travel 6 months outof the year, so we take full advantage of him being home forthe summer by working out together. We motivate eachother and it helps us stay even more connected. We also feelvery strongly about setting a good example for our kids sothat they make good choices in life.”

Motivation & Milestones

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Matt McLaren

Family Home on the Chesterfield / Powhatan Border

Matt McLaren, who works for Hanover County Economic De‑velopment, doesnʼt have to travel far to stay fit. “Summer inRichmond is my favorite time. It opens up so many differentways to stay active outdoors. With the longer days, I can gorunning, swimming or biking later in the evening when it iscooler. Along with great weather comes great, fresh foodfrom the garden. There is nothing better that an awesomeworkout outside followed up by a meal with fresh food fromyour own backyard!”

Homegrown Gym

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Ann Marsh RutledgeMonument Avenue, Richmond

Ann Marsh Rutledge, Learning Center Manager for CollegeNannies & Tutors, keeps fit by jogging in the Fan and workingout at the Downtown YMCA. She enjoys running in the neigh‑borhood, on Monument Ave, or down to the YMCA. “I lovethe active lifestyle that living in the Fan lets me have. Besidesbeing able to run outside, I love being able to walk to dinner,the market, or to get my haircut. Itʼs motivating to see somany other people in the Fan running or walking.”

City Synergy

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American Family Fitness

Short Pump

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[opposite page l to r]: David Neal; Bryan Lane; Brittney Popelier and Ben Anderson.

Going to the gym may seem like a bit of a bus manʼs holiday for theseassociates at American Family Fitness. Fortunately, they are just aspassionate about their training as they are about their clientsʼ well‑ness activities.

“Over the summer I focus on strength training. I do a lot of run‑ning to build my base track workouts. I also do road races and SportBackers summer series to stay competitive,” explains David Neal a run‑ner and NSCA Personal Trainer.

All four have diverse training interests. Fitness counselor Ben An‑derson takes outdoor activties to new heights with skydiving.

Assistant Fitness Director Bryan Lane takes it to the streets withpickup games of basketball. “Promoting fitness and a healthy way oflife is what I love to do. Basketball is a great way to get you moving to‑wards that cardio‑fit body you've always wanted,” he says.

“I basically try to get into the pool whenever I can,” explains Brit‑tney Popelier, the Aquatics Director. “Based on my crazy schedule, Iʼlleither swim with my coach Dudley Duncan with Quest swimming orhop in an American Family Fitness pool and create my own workout.I've recently added weights to my training as well in hopes of drop‑ping some time in future meets.”

When Working Out is Your Work

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Robert HarmanMidlothian

As a father of 5 with a full time job, Robert Harman,Service Director, Brownʼs Buick Volkswagen Jaguarfinds it important to implement exercise into his dailyroutine. “Weather permitting I run 6 miles a day onaverage outdoors, completing a vigorous run simplyon a lunch break at work,” he explains. “If weatherdoes not permit an outdoor run, I schedule my workout indoors at the local gym. The rewards of a healthydiet and exercise are well worth the effort.”

Midday Miles

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Ryan NoblesRichmond

NBC12 anchor Ryan Nobles works both social andfamily relationships into his fitness mix. “My biggestphysical activity is a weekly pick‑up basketball gamewith a bunch of us from local TV stations,” he says.“We push it hard in the heat, usually Saturday morn‑ings.” As for his family time, Nobles takes to thestreets. “My wife, Karey, is pregnant and we alsohave a 6‑month‑old daughter, so as a family we aretrying to walk as much as possible. We try and go 3or 4 times a week.”

Friends & Family

“As a family we are trying to walk as much as possible. We try and go

3 or 4 times a week.”

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Lori Lamb

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Robious Landing Park, Midlothian

“Never think thatyou canʼt do it.

Persistence andpatience are key.”

SBQnow.com | 27

How and why did you get into tri‑athletics?I got hooked on spinning in the winter of2009, then thought “I spin, I run, why not addthe swim and I can do a triathlon?” The Mid‑lothian Y was hosting the 1st Pink PowerTriathlon that August, so I hired a swim coachand signed up for the race. This race was a dis‑aster for me personally̶I seriously overesti‑mated my swim time, lost my timing chip inthe pool, and could barely run; however,these mishaps inspired me to do anotherrace̶and to hopefully do it better. I signedup for the Napier Realtors Sprint Triathlon in

October 2009 and had a much better race and expe‑rience. And it just continues.

How are you training or your next event?My next race is the I Love the Tavern Triathlonon June 27, 2010. I train 5‑7 days a week andgenerally alternate days of aerobic train‑ing̶swimming, biking, running̶with daysof strength training̶TRX, weighlifting. Thesummer months are nice because I like to dothe aerobic training outdooors.

What have been the challenges and rewards?Time is, of course, a challenge̶making thetime to do the training. My biggest challengeinitially was learning to swim and practicingthat. Now my biggest challenge is improvingmy running speed. The rewards have defi‑nitely outweighed any challenges̶triathlonhas changed my body and my life. An addedbenefit is that, at age 44, I am picking up mod‑eling again. I have just signed with Liquid, anagency founded by Richmonder, Kim Alley,my cousin.

Where do you workout and train in Richmond?

I workout at the Midlothian YMCA. I love theatmosphere, the staff, and the people there. Ialso enjoyed road biking and mountain biking.

What advice would you give to others who are interested in tri sports?Never think that you canʼt do it. Persistenceand patience are key. If you put in the trainingtime, you will reap the benefits̶physically,emotionally and spiritually.

Challenges & Rewards

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PADDLEBOARDING IS A RELATIVELY NEW PHENOMENON THAT ALLOWS YOUTO TAILOR THE WORKOUT TO YOUR FITNESS LEVEL.

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TRY IT!: GEAR & RESOURCES

A fter moving to the Richmond area 3years ago, fitness enthusiast KenPeace was looking for a new way to

exercise on the water. Already a Red Crosslifeguard instructor and a water safety in‑structor, Peace wanted to combine his love ofwatersports with the need to keep fit.

“I got interested in the sport about 3years ago. I had seen the sport on TV, a surf‑ing show about Hawaii, and decided to lookinto it,” Peace explains. “I tried searching thesport on the internet, but had no luck. Onlyone site came up and that was in Hawaii. Notlong after that, I was visiting my sister in theOuter Banks and decided to check with thelocal rental companies about the boards.Kitty Hawk Sports had just gotten one in andlet me try it out for the day. My kids and I hada great time playing around on the board inthe ocean and in the pool. I was hooked.”

Over the next 2 years, he rented severalboards and learned quite a bit about thesport. The boards that Peace used had thecurve of a surfboard and were difficult to bal‑ance without a lot of practice. “About a yearago I began to search the internet again for

paddleboards. This time, quite a few sitescame up. I saw a company in Texas that haddeveloped a board mainly for flat water, riversand lakes. I ended up getting a couple ofthese boards and they are great,” he says.

“Paddleboarding is a great sport for al‑most anyone. It is a great cardio workout anda core workout. You can paddle as hard oreasy as you want.”

Peace usually goes early morning or lateafternoon. “The convenience of the sport isalso great. All you need is the board and thepaddle. It is easy to put in at any public land‑ings and easy to take out. The turn aroundtime compared to skulling or kayaking ismuch shorter, which works out great for me

and my schedule. I take the kids out with mequite a bit too. I usually get a lot of looks andattention from walkers and spectators alongthe river and the reservoir with the biggestcomment being "I thought you were walkingon the water.”

According to him, paddleboarding is agreat cross‑training sport, since it worksmany different muscles and develops bal‑ance. “Itʼs fun and easy. It is intimidating toa lot of people who first see it,” he admits.“But you must experience it to feel the re‑laxing nature it provides.”

Peace compares the sport to Tai Chi,that he also practices to a small extent.“They share many of the same benefits,”he explains.

Heʼs planning to promote the sport lo‑cally. “I have been traveling to a lot of littlerivers and waterways in the state and hopeto offer a paddleboard tour opportunity forindividuals soon, including a lot of beautifulspots right here in Richmond. I am alsogoing to participate on a 12‑mile paddlerace in July taking place in Virginia Beach tobenefit Autism.“

The boards range in size and shape. Nine to10 feet is usually for surf and 11 to 14 feetboards are for racing andopen water. The 12 footboards are a little morestable and can be usedin both surf or flatwater.

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30 | SBQnow.com

WHILE AN AMATEUR ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUE MAY NOT SEEM CAPA‑BLE OF HARBORING A STRONG PULSE, REST ASSURED IT DOES̶A PULSETHAT BEATS MORE THAN 200 PLAYERS STRONG HERE IN RICHMOND,BELIEVE IT OR NOT. KYLE TAYLOR, A 25‑YEAR‑OLD REALTOR WITHREMAX COMMONWEALTH, CANʼT QUITE SEEM TO ACCEPT IT EITHER.

I’ve always had a passion for the sportof baseball,” he says, “so when Istarted to get this going in Richmond

[in 2008], I was surprised how fast it tookoff.” He adds, however, that it was evenmore surprising to find that anything sim-ilar didn’t already exist. “To see theleague grow as quickly as it has, has beena huge success in my book.”

NABA Richmond, affiliated withthe National Adult Baseball Association,is an amateur wood bat baseball leaguefor people aged eighteen or older. Theseason, which runs from June throughSeptember, is not limited strictly to Rich-mond fields. “Our teams have opportuni-ties to play in Atlantic City, Las Vegas,Florida, and many more,” says Taylor.

“My main goal is to see the leaguegrow so that we are the [right] size and

strong competition with the DC and Vir-ginia Beach League,” Taylor explains, “andso that our league holds a strong pres-ence in the city of Richmond. I hope tosee our teams grow and that the teamswe send to tournaments are able to com-pete nationally.”

Prospective players and eager spec-tators can find NABA Richmond teamspracticing and playing in fields through-out Henrico. “Henrico Recreation andParks has done an amazing job in allow-ing us to use the high school fields in the

county,” says Taylor. Currently the teamfrequents fields at Deep Run, Hermitage,Henrico, Highland Springs, and Varina, aswell as Dorey Park. The Championship,announced by Bill Knarr, is held at Bowl-ing Green Stadium.

The first of the NABA’s interleaguegames begins this summer in DC, inwhich Richmond teams will be playing.

Don’t let the talk of championshipsand competition intimidate you, how-ever serious as it may seem, the leagueis, ultimately, all about baseball. “Theonly requirement to enter the league isthat you must be eighteen years of age,”explains Taylor.

Those interested in joining theleague or just looking forward to catch-ing a summer game can visitwww.nabarichmond.com.

PLAY BALL!

BY TAYLOR HODGE

Anthem Aug.21 8Moonlight Ride

PM

sportsbackers.org

Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names

and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Howl at the full moon and celebrate the joy of cycling at the Anthem Moonlight Ride. Let your wild side show by decorating your bike

and winning the best bike costume award. There will also be prizes for the best decorative lights for your bike. The Anthem Moonlight

Ride starts and finishes at Sports Backers Stadium and features a short (9 miles) or a longer (18 miles) route along Hermitage Road and

Monument Avenue. A free concert awaits riders as they finish the ride. There will be activities before and after the ride,

including live music, exhibitors, food, and interactive activities.

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