By Dr. Theodore Strange/For the Staten Island Advance
The Army Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis Run is Sunday, June 9, and Dr. Theodore Strange wants to help you get ready. His column will run for the next few Mondays until the big day.
We’re on the heels of the third annual Army Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis Run, scheduled to kick-off at 8:30 a.m. on June 9, near the corner of New Dorp Lane and South Railroad Avenue. It also serves as the first leg of the Triple Crown Series on Staten Island.
This run/walk was created in memory of Ollis, who heroically sacrificed his life in Afghanistan to protect another soldier.
The SSG Ollis Freedom Foundation was created to honor all of our nation’s veterans and service members, and raise funds for the various programs they support.
Our servicemen and women are an elite group, but this run was created for everyone to honor SSG Ollis and all veterans of this great country.
Even though this event is a 5K Run & 2-Mile Walk, it doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park.
The most seasoned runner needs to know their body. There are many that would be considered to be in tip-top shape. Even when you’re physically fit, your body changes year-to-year. It’s extremely important to be medically evaluated before undertaking any strenuous activity.
Seasoned runners also need to have an annual check-up for any changes that may have occurred over the year.
Notably, this past November at the NYC Marathon a seasoned national marathon runner collapsed at the 16-mile mark of the New York City Marathon. The runner’s heart stopped and I was nearby to aid in the resuscitation by performing CPR and getting access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
This immediate response helped save her life.
You don’t have to be a medical doctor to save a life. Anyone and everyone can do basic chest compressions to help save a life.
The American Heart Association has instructional videos online to demonstrate this method. I encourage everyone to learn this basic life-saving technique for their everyday lives.
We’re four weeks out until the run, follow up with us next week as we tackle having fun while doing a safe good run. In the coming weeks, we will discuss stretching, footwear and endurance to meet our goal, and most importantly have fun
To learn more about the Army SSG Michael Ollis Run, and register for the run/walk, visit: https://runsignup.com/ollisrace
Here’s a great way to start our journey.
Week 1: Running Regimen
Monday: Walk 5 minutes (warmup); run 1 minute followed by walking 2 minutes. Repeat this run/walk sequence 9 more times.
Tuesday: Walk for 30 minutes at a comfortable yet brisk pace.
Wednesday: Repeat Monday’s workout.
Thursday: Repeat Tuesday’s workout.
Friday: Repeat Monday’s workout.
Saturday: Repeat Monday’s workout.
Sunday: Rest or walk 30 minutes (your choice).
Week 1: Walking Regimen
Every day start with a 15 to 20 minute walk at least 5 days, for a total of 100+ minutes. Keep the pace steady and comfortable. Consistency is more important than speed at this point.
Next week, we’ll work on preparing for spring weather conditions. We’ll also introduce the second installment of our training program.
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(Dr. Theodore Strange is an avid runner who can usually be seen hitting the pavement on the streets of the borough’s South Shore. He is vice chairman of primary care at Northwell Health, of which Staten Island University Hospital is a part, and vice president of medical operations at the Prince’s Bay campus of SIUH.)