Are you an F.O.C.?

Last month, I was interviewing local Minnesota running community standout Staci Bennett about her Run n Fun racing team teammate, Cindy Brochman, who is battling stomach cancer.

It was for an article called Rock for Broc, the latest installment of my 'Minnesota Running' column in Silent Sports magazine's September issue.

[FYI: 'Rock for Broc' is a phrase rumored to have been coined by Perry Bach of Run n Fun, that has taken on a life of its own for Cindy's fight.]

Bennett and I were discussing the Minnesota running community's reaction to Brochman's diagnosis. Neither of us were surprised at the vast outpouring of support people have shown Brochman since her diagnosis. We attributed it to at least two (of many possible) things: her longevity as a member of this running community and also the fact that everyone who meets Cindy quickly begins to feel they know her. (She loves to tell stories about her life!)

Bennett mentioned that some members of the running community had dubbed these people 'F.O.C.s.'

Excuse me? F.O.C.s? What, may I ask, is an F.O.C.?

Of course an F.O.C. is a ... Friend Of Cindy.

F.O.C.
Run n Fun teammates Mercy Ray (left), Brochman & Kristi Larson (right) at Challenge Cancer 5K on June 6, 2009 - Brochman's 44th birthday. [Photo courtesy Gary Westlund, Charities Challenge.]

"We'd be on runs and Cindy would always be telling stories about a friend of hers. Or if someone else was telling a story, Cindy would know the person being mentioned and would note they were a friend of hers," laughed Bennett. "She just knows everybody. We joked about all the people that are 'Friends of Cindy.' 'F.O.C.' was shorter."

I was lucky enough to get the chance to talk to a number of F.O.C.s for the Rock for Broc article in Silent Sports. Everyone has stories to tell about Cindy. Hope you enjoy reading the ones in this article!

Rock for Broc
A Run n Fun team member debuting the 2009 team uniform with the "Rock for Broc" tagline as she climbs up to the Ford Parkway bridge in Saint Paul during the Get in Gear 10K in April 2009. [Photo courtesy Chris Fuller, The Sporting Life.]

Barefoot running?

The only times I've run barefoot (since childhood) have been a couple of sessions of strides on grass after hard workouts (in shoes).

But I've definitely seen people running, even road races (ouch!), sans footwear.

This article in The New York Times explores the increasingly heated debate between shoe manufacturers, physicians and barefoot or minimalist enthusiasts.

Chris has jumped on the minimalist bandwagon, purchasing Vibram FiveFingers and Nike Free shoes, at least as additions to his extensive running shoe collection. [see photo, courtesy of Chris Fuller of The Sporting Life, at left.]

Me? I tend to over cushion my runs, but I'm slowly learning I can step down to less cushion with no adverse reaction to my workouts, recoveries or lower limbs. However, I don't think I'd ever go all the way to bare feet for running on roads.

What do you think?

75 Marathons in 75 Days

In 1996, Terry Hitchcock ran from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. to Atlanta, Ga. to raise awareness about the struggles of single parents.

Before he started his journey, he had never run a day in his life.

That journey is now chronicled in a book, "A Father's Odyssey" and a documentary, "My Run."

This article: "Good in the long run" in the Minneapolis Star Tribune gives more information about Hitchcock, his life and his struggles.

Hitchcock's story is a fascinating one. I'm looking forward to reading the book and seeing the documentary.

You can become a fan of the documentary on facebook and/or follow updates on twitter.

Minnesota readers, note there is a book signing in Uptown Minneapolis at locally-owned, independent book retailer Magers & Quinn on Wednesday, September 2.

I'll be there, will you?

More of NYT's "Roving Runner"

Who wants to go to NYC with me to recreate the Roving Runner's running tours?

This first column is fun for me because writer Brian Fidelman's introduction reminds me of the stories my dad would tell me, when I was young, of how he would ride the bus to County Stadium (Milwaukee, WI) when he was young to watch the Milwaukee Braves.

The Roving Runner: Baseball Nostalgia in the Bronx
I like this second one because it illustrates what I have heard from many people who have lived in NYC. No matter how long you've lived there, there are always many places you've never been. It seems running may be a great way to explore New York City.

The Roving Runner: Roosevelt Island

And this one on running around the U.S. Open (tennis)complex. Fun!

The Roving Runner: A Tennis Tour on Foot

Kristin Armstrong on body image

This is a great article from Runner's World, written by Kristin Armstrong, about young girls, body image and self-esteem.

Read the article here: Runner's World "Mile Markers" column.

This is such an important subject and it was interesting to read the fun activities she led the girls through.

Armstrong was right on point when she contacted Molly Barker, founder of Girls on the Run for help planning this talk because building self-esteem and self-respect is the mission of Barker's organization.

Fastest 8 year old in Minnesota?

I love this story about J'ianna Cager, an eight-year-old girl from North Saint Paul, who is tearing up the track at local and Junior Olympics meets.

twincities.com/Pioneer Press

Interesting that people are so shocked that a girl from MN can run so fast! Huh?

And the best part is she's doing it because she loves to run (and win!) not because anyone is pushing her.

She'll be fun to watch in the coming years!

RIP Diane Goulett

I'm sorry to say I didn't even know Diane Goulett was not well until I read this obituary.

Minneapolis Star Tribune

I remember her from some of the earliest Race for the Cure (Twin Cities) races. When I did a quick search of race results for her, I saw that she ran that race in 2003.

The obituary says she stopped running in 2003. RFTC could have been one of her final races.

RIP Diane.