With over 325 individuals registered to participate, the 2011 Race to Educate was a huge success.  First and foremost, we must thank all those who came out to participate in the race.  Registration was more than double that of last year and we raised more than $10,000 for special grant programs for Howell Township schools.

The success of this year's race was due in large part to the members of the Howell Township Education Foundation (HTEF) Board of Directors and their tireless efforts to plan the race.  None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary guidance of Chad Schwarz and John Reagan, our race coordinators.  These two gentlemen were the brains behind the entire operation.  We also extend a note of gratitude to Ron Sanasac for his incredible tenacity in getting everything that we needed for race day.  A huge debt of gratitude is owed to the Howell Police Department for their efforts to assure the safety of our runners and the residents of our town.

Of course, we a delighted to acknowledge our race sponsor, Dr. Hal Ornstein and his team at the Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center of Howell.  We extend our gratitude to all our other sponsors and vendors.   All of these names will be listed on the HTEF website in the near future. 

Appreciation is also extended to the Freehold Area Runners Club, for sanctioning and staffing the race.  Results and official times are available on their website, www.farcnj.com

Thank you all and we look forward to seeing you next year for the 2012 Race to Educate. 

With over 325 individuals registered to participate, the 2011 Race to Educate was a huge success.  First and foremost, we must thank all those who came out to participate in the race.  Registration was more than double that of last year and we raised more than $10,000 for special grant programs for Howell Township schools.

The success of this year's race was due in large part to the members of the Howell Township Education Foundation Board of Directors and their tireless efforts to plan the race.  None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary guidance of Chad Schwarz and John Reagan, our race coordinators.  These two gentlemen were the brains behind the entire operation.  We also extend a note of gratitude to Ron Sanasac for his incredible tenacity in getting everything that we needed for race day.  A huge debt of gratitude is owed to the Howell Police Department for their efforts to assure the safety of our runners and the residents of our town.

Of course, we a delighted to acknowledge our race sponsor, Dr. Hal Ornstein and his team at the Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center of Howell.  We extend our gratitude to all our other sponsors and vendors.   All of these names will be listed on the HTEF website in the near future. 

Appreciation is also extended to the Freehold Area Runners Club, for sanctioning and staffing the race.  Results and official times are available on their website, www.farcnj.com

Thank you all and we look forward to seeing you next year for the 2012 Race to Educate. 

All the preparations are complete. The course is marked. The amzaing Howell Police Department is ready to start blocking the streets.

We hope you all had a good dinner and are now settling in for a good night's sleep.

A few reminders.

• The race will take place at Howell Middle School South, Ramtown-Greenville Road, Howell.
• Volunteers should report at 7:00
• Check in for particpatnts begins at 8:00
• Last minute registrations will be accepted at 8:00
• The race will begin at 9:00 Sharp!!!

We look forward to seeing you in the morning. And most importantly, thank you for your support of the Howell Edcuation Foundation.

All the preparations are complete.  The course is marked.  The amzaing Howell Police Department is ready to start blocking the streets.

We hope  you all had a good dinner and are now settling in for a good night's sleep.

A few reminders.

• The race will take place at Howell Middle School South, Ramtown-Greenville Road, Howell.
• Volunteers should report at 7:00
• Check in for particpatnts begins at 8:00
• Last minute registrations will be accepted at 8:00
• The race will begin at 9:00 Sharp!!!

We look forward to seeing you in the morning.  And most importantly, thank you for your support of the Howell Edcuation Foundation.

The Howell Township Education Foundation "2011 Race to Educate" Planning Committee is working feverishly to finalize preparations for this years 5K Run/Walk.  We are most grateful to our Event Sponsor, The Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center and Dr. Hal Ornstein.  A member of the Center’s staff recently sent us this important article on Shin Splints, which is a common problem for runners and walkers alike.  It’s our pleasure to share this information with you today…..

Shin Splint Rx

Shin splints is a general medical term for medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS), a slow-healing and painful condition in the shins, usually caused by exercise such as running, jumping, swimming, cycling, dancing, or other high impact sports. Fifteen percent of running injuries are shin splints. On the list of running injuries, shin pain ranks as one of the most annoying.

Specifically, the pain associated with shin splints is a result of fatigue and trauma to the muscle's tendons where they attach themselves to the tibia. In an effort to keep the foot, ankle and lower leg stable, the muscles exert a great force on the tibia. This excessive force can result in the tendons being partially torn away from the bone.

Many cases of shin splints may be due to inappropriate footwear, or muscle imbalances in the legs where the shin muscles are not conditioned to withstand pounding on hard surfaces, such as wood floors, concrete, or hard ground. The onset of shin splints is most common after exercise, caused by high-impact training, excessive training, poor technique or biomechanical problems such as pes planus (flat feet) or pronation. Some studies have suggested that shin splints are more common in women.  Standing for long periods of time and wearing high-heeled shoes may also induce shin splints. Dehydration and certain vitamin/mineral deficiencies may also contribute to the development of shin splints.

If you think you have shin splints, it is best to see a specialized foot and ankle physician to diagnose your condition, treat the injury, and give you tips on preventing the problem from returning. At Affiliated Foot and Ankle Center, in Howell, we have the all tools to diagnose and treat this irritating injury. Custom orthotics will help prevent the injury from recurring.

Control the pain with this proven three-step regimen:

Step 1:  As soon as you sense any shin pain mid-workout, cut back on the training or change the routine to non-impact cross training, like the elliptical machine, cycling, or swimming.  Less pounding and stress equals quicker healing time. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) post workouts.

Step 2: STRETCH. Tight calf muscles can increase your chances of developing shin splints. To loosen them up: find a leather belt.  Lie down on your back with your legs fully extended, and place the belt around the ball of your foot, slowly lift the leg straight up while pulling your toes to your nose and hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on each leg 3 times. To stretch the shin muscles: Sit on your heels to open up the anterior compartment of the shin

Step 3: Reduce the wobble in your feet. Stabilizing your arches will lessen the stress on your shins. Custom orthotics will help stabilize and decrease the amount of stress on your shins whether you have flat feet or not.  Get Fitted!