www.eytr.ca @EYTRunners on twitter"

What’s been happening and what’s coming up with East York Toronto Runners

Issue 4, Sept. 2014

For a list of local races, check out: http://www.runguides.com/toronto/runs"""

The Benefits of Massage for Runners

Some are still of the mindset that massage therapy is an unnecessary indulgence that someone gets at a spa. However, it is quite the contrary; massage therapy has taken on a very therapeutic aspect when it comes to training and recovery. If you are a runner, your calves, hamstrings, gluteals, knees, hips and lower back can become extremely stressed due to fatigue without sufficient recovery time. Although it is very important to stretch, it is also important to have your muscles massaged regularly to avoid muscle tissue breakdown and endure increased stiffness. Massage therapy enhances circulation, increases flexibility and reduces pooling of lactic acid.""Areas that massage therapy can be very beneficial are:"· Breaking up scar tissue and adhesions."· Improve vascular circulation to the muscles."· Loosen muscles that have become overused."· With the improved blood flow, allows for more oxygen to move into the muscle."· Improve the lymphatic flow, which aids with the healing process."· Improve range of motion and muscle flexibility resulting in improved power and performance."· Shorten recovery time between workouts."· Maximize the supply of nutrients and oxygen through increased blood flow."· Decrease post-event muscle soreness."· Help to relax the mind and increase your sense of well-being.""Pre-event massage therapy is beneficial for getting warming up your muscles and getting your focused for your event."Post event massage therapy is beneficial in decreasing muscle spasms and tension, increasing circulation to the muscles which facilitates getting nutrients to the cells and removing the waste products and toxins. It also relaxes the mind and eases the general muscle tension."You do not need to be injured to benefit from massage therapy, be proactive and book your massage today. To find a Registered Massage Therapist in your area go to http://www.cmto.com or http://rmtfind.com""Josée (JC) Séguin, RMT and aspiring runner"

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Featured Runner – Fong Fong has been a member of East York Runners since its beginnings in 2009. She continues to motivate and inspire us with her skill, determination, humour and generosity. Growing up in Malaysia, Fong wasn’t the most athletic kid. She describes herself as “klutzy, but a great cheerleader to her sporty friends”. However, she found a sport that didn’t require much co-ordination, just perseverance, patience and tenacity…running. She has fond memories of running through the jungle and rubber estates with her high school cross country team. "

For Fong, completion of any race is a source of pride, though she says finishing her first marathon proved to be more a source of pain than pride at the time. Nursing her wounds at the end, she swore she’d never run another one. Ten half marathons and three marathons later, she’s still running. Her daughter has participated in a few athletic endeavours with her including the CN Tower stair climb. Fong predicts her proudest moment as a runner will come if and when her daughter decides to train and they can complete a half marathon together."

What keeps Fong motivated other than being able to eat chocolate cake and dill pickle chips? It’s the feeling that she gets when she’s running, “ Running helps with those stressful days that everyone encounters. There is nothing like just you, the road, some music on the MP3 player and a long, long run. I get a lot of thinking done and problems get solved when you give yourself a chance to stay quiet and just think. After a long day at work, more often than not, there is nothing more tempting than to vegetate and watch TV. Then I remind myself that there is no such as thing as bad run and I lace up my shoes and go.” "

On top of the meditative nature of running and the stress relief benefits, Fong enjoys the sense of community and getting to meet other people."

Advice for new runners? Get into a routine, be patience and persevere. “If you can keep it up, the payback is huge” , she says."

Ahead for Fong is the Paris Marathon this spring. We wish her all the best as she represents EYTR in Europe!"""

www.eytr.ca Issue 3, April 2014