Sports Medicine Experts to Provide Training Tips for ING New York City Marathon Runners

In the Home Stretch: Optimizing Your Last Month Before the Marathon

Physicians and therapists from Hospital for Special Surgery’s Sports Medicine Service and the Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Center will provide tips for beginners and experienced runners as they approach the finish line of their training for the ING New York City Marathon.

Topics will include common running mistakes during marathons, last-minute tips for aches and pains, effective nutrition habits, and opportunities for stretching on Marathon Monday.

The event will also feature special guest Amani Toomer, Super Bowl Champion and former New York Giants wide receiver, who will discuss his experiences training for his first marathon as a Timex athlete.

Hospital for Special Surgery is an Orthopedic Consultant to the New York Road Runners for the ING New York City Marathon.

• Jordan D. Metzl, M.D., sports medicine physician
• Riley Williams, M.D., sports medicine orthopedic surgeon
• Polly de Mille, R.N., RCEP, CSCS, exercise physiologist
• Robert Maschi, PT, DPT, CSCS, rehabilitation specialist
• Heidi Skolnik, M.S., CDN, FACSM, sports nutritionist
• Amani Toomer, Super Bowl Champion and former New York Giants wide receiver

“Distance running puts high joint loads on the hip, knee, foot and ankle - so it's obvious that is where you'll see most of your running joint injuries,” said sports medicine orthopedic surgeon Riley J. Williams, M.D. Because of the repetitive nature of the motion involved with the sport, there are a wealth of injuries that are specific to runners, according to Dr. Williams, who is a member of the Sports Medicine Service at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

The threat of injury continues as race day approaches, when many runners begin to worry they have not trained enough and put themselves at risk for overextension. However, not all serious running regimens will inevitably result in injury, according to Jordan D. Metzl, M.D., sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery. A running plan that includes proper tapering and stretching can help runners avoid injury, maintain fitness and ensure the body is rested and ready for optimal performance.

"Our idea of making your training program as healthy as possible is: how do you set proper goals, how do you keep yourself running for life, how do you recognize when there's an injury… and how do you work on prevention going forward?" Dr. Metzl said.

With just one month left until the ING New York City Marathon, runners will receive insightful tips about injury prevention, nutrition and tapering from all the speakers.

If you are interested in attending the event or if you would like to talk with the participating Hospital for Special Surgery experts, please contact Public Relations staff at Hospital for Special Surgery, 212.606.1197. We also invite you to contact us throughout the marathon season if you would like to interview members of the HSS Sports Medicine Service team when you are writing and need background on sports medicine and preventing athletic injuries.