FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andrea McMaster
402-559-7037
Or
Susan Smisek
Marathon Director
402-630-2282
Barefoot Runners: New Category for Omaha Marathoners
Their outfits will look like any of the other runners participating in the
Omaha Marathon, except for their footwear. "Due to a request and growing
popularity of the sport, a barefoot runners category has been added this
year," said Susan Smisek, Omaha Marathon race director.
One of the men who plan to kick off his shoes for the race is Rick Roeber.
The Omaha Marathon is the first of three marathons, the Kansas City man
plans to run this fall to raise money for the Kansas City Rescue Mission.
Barefoot running is not new idea for the 51-year-old project manager of a
telecommunications company. Roeber has been running barefoot for four
years – that includes 46 marathons and more than 9,000 miles of hitting the
pavement.
Barefoot Rick, as he is known in the running world, says he runs in any
condition shoeless, even along rainy streets, snowy trails and sweltering
asphalt. He averages 50 miles a week.
So what motivates Roeber to run barefoot? "I get asked that question a
lot," said Roeber. "I use the illustration that it's like somebody using
gloves their whole life and working with something and then taking their
gloves off. And the revelation of feeling like wow, this feels really
good, actually."
It was barefoot runner Ken Saxton who piqued Roeber's interest. Roeber
heard about Saxton through his Web site, www.runningbarefoot.org.
"Like anything else, it's a new activity," says Saxton on his site, "Start
slow and gradual." There is a proper technique. "I recommend that runners
start on soft, grassy surfaces such as soccer fields or golf courses," said
Roeber.
Roeber also has a Web site (www.barefootrunner.org) to share with his
followers about why he does what he does. On the site, he lists the six
reasons he continues to run barefoot. Among those reasons: it feels
great, he no longer has to support the running shoe companies and he
believes it is how humans were created to run.
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