Shoes may not be the biggest choices in life, but if you run, they should definitely rank pretty high on your “most important” list. Running in shoes that make your feet achy and you risk injury.

There are several factors that you should consider before you put on your running shoes. One of the biggest things you have to ask yourself is which is more valuable? Is it worth more to save money on your shoe purchase or to save money on doctor bills? That pair of running shoes on the discount rack may look like the best choice, but if you put it on and it’s not comfortable you could risk trouble with your feet, ankles, knees and hips by running in them.

Next is where it gets complicated. You need to look at other tennis shoes you have worn over time in order to see where the wear shows up the most on them. If most of the wear is toward the inside of your shoes you need running shoes that will even it out because you overpronate. If the wear is on the outside, you need a more neutral cushioned running shoe because you under pronate. Neutral strides will need stability based shoes because you don’t wear any one area of your shoe more than the other.

You need to consider your arch type next and after that take run to see if you can figure out how your foot lands against the ground. Does the outside of your heel strike first and then roll in hard toward your arch? If so you unquestionably need a shoe for stability. If your foot strikes smoothly against the ground, you need a neutral shoe. If your foot lands on the outside and it doesn’t roll toward the inside at all you will also want to consider a neutral shoe.

Beyond all this, the shoe should fit your foot snugly but not be tight on any part of your foot. Choose a size that gives you room to press your thumb above the longest toe and the end of the shoe. Happy feet will make your running experience much more enjoyable, and if you don’t find that perfect shoe the first time, you may need to try again.

In our recent election for the new position of Secretary for the Northwest Athletic Trainers Association-District 10, Cari Wood was elected as the secretary.  Cari began her duties in St. Louis at the NWATA District Meeting.  Cari is currently the head Athletic Trainer at Redmond High School.  A 1993 graduate of Eastern Washington University, Wood brings a wealth of experience to the position of Secretary.  She was the President of the Oregon Athletic Trainers Society (OATS) from 2003-2007.  Cari also served OATS in the capacity of Vice President (1999-2003), Public Relations Committee Chairperson (1997-1999), and Secondary Schools Committee Member (1997-2003).  Cari is also Co-Chairing the 2009 Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposium of the NWATA in Seaside Oregon.  She is an energetic, enthusiastic, creative professional whose contributions at the board level will serve the membership of our association allowing us to continue to improve our associations mission.  In her application Cari stated, “I believe I am qualified for this position because of my excitement!   I am eager to learn and anxious to apply my leadership skills to the Athletic Training profession through the NWATA Secretary position.”  The membership through its vote of support affirms that excitement and welcomes her to the board.

Nominations are open

The nominating committee of the NWATA is currently seeking nominations for the position of Treasurer.  The elected person will assume duties in June of 2009 at the San Antonio Meeting of the NATA.  This candidate elected will fill the vacancy created by Russ Richardson as he assumes the role of District Director in June of 2009.  Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest as well as a current vita to Tom Koto, chairman of the Nominating Committee at tkoto@aol.com.  The Treasurer shall receive and be accountable for all funds belonging to the Corporation, pay all obligations incurred by the Corporation when payment is autho­rized, main­tain bank accounts in depositories designated by the Board of Directors, and render periodic financial reports.  The Treasurer will also chair the investment committee of the Corporation.  The election will be held this fall in order to facilitate training and timely transfer of corporate finances.  If you have any questions about this position feel free to contact District Director Barrie Steele or District Treasurer Russ Richardson.  Contact information can be obtained on our district website at NWATA.net .

In addition, candidates are being sought for the positions of District Hall of Fame/Honors and Awards Committee Chair as well as the District 10 representative to the Secondary Schools Athletic Trainer Committee.  If interested in either of those appointed positions, please submit a letter of interest along with a current vitae to Barrie Steele.  If you have any questions about either of those positions please feel free to contact Todd Sandberg or Tony Fitzpatrick (currently holding those positions).  Their contact information can be obtained on the District Contacts page.

• The NWATA would like to take this opportunity to announce the following officers for the District 10 Athletic Training Student Association for 2008-09:

  On behalf of the NWATA’s Board of Directors and the membership of our association, I would like to welcome these new leaders and encourage them as they become the future of our association.  We are excited about the energy you bring to our association and would like to encourage you as you grow and develop as young professionals.  I appreciate the commitment that you are making to become servant leaders for the future of our association.  Good luck in your endeavors on our behalf.

  Barrie Steele
  Director/President
  NWATA – District 10

• The NWATA Board of Directors is pleased to announce that the following people have been selected to serve our association.Dr. Susan Verscheure has been appointed to head the College and University Athletic Training Student Committee.  Susan is the Director of the Post Professional Athletic Training Program at the University of Oregon.  Susan is replacing Mike Ediger and will represent the NWATA on both the district and national level.

  Bryce Gillespie has been appointed to serve as the NWATA’s representative to the NATA’s Career Center.  Bryce is the Head Athletic Trainer at Canby High School.  Bryce replaces Mike Coco.

  Congratulations to our new representatives and thanks to all of you for your continued efforts to serve our association.

One of the highlights of the NWATA clinical symposium is the Athletic Training Student Forum.  Students from Athletic Training Education Programs in District 10 are given time each year during the annual meeting to present research and provide instruction or methods learned to their peers.

In higher education, one of the most respected accomplishments is scholarship, or presenting information to your peers.  A good presentation shows that you can research a topic, organize the information, and clearly articulate the subject matter to others in a timely manner.  The Athletic Training Student Forum is a terrific opportunity for you to gain valuable experience speaking in front of your peers, and it is a great addition to your resume.  You will have fun, learn a lot, and grow as a professional.  Please consider presenting at this years district meeting.  If you have any questions please talk to your program director or email me directly at susankv@uoregon.edu (College and University Athletic Training Students’ Committee chair). For information on a athletic trainer career follow the link.

Guidelines and Pertinent Information for Presenting at District 10 Athletic Training Student Forum

Important dates:

In order to increase the recognition of women athletic trainers in our district, I am attaching a list of potential candidates in your state the WATC has assembled for the Hall of Fame, the Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, and the Athletic Trainer Service Award. This list of names indicates that the potential candidate has fulfilled only the time requirement for a nomination.

I have asked that this be sent out to all members of our district because those of you out there who know these candidates will have a better understanding of the qualifications of these potential women.

We as a district need to take a more active role in recognizing the work of all of our fellow athletic trainers. All nomination forms and criteria can be found on the NWATA website for our district awards. The deadline for these awards is December 30, 2007.

We would also like to recognize our distinguished members on a national level. All nomination forms and criteria can be found on the NATA website for these awards. http://www.nata.org/honors/index.htm  All nominations need to be submitted by November 15, 2007 so there is time for the candidate to obtain their material before December 01, 2007. Sadly, this date has crept up on us quickly, so please make any attempt possible to get your nomination in.

Meetings

NWATA and NATA Annual Meeting Schedule
and other CEU opportunities

NWATA Annual Meeting Schedule:

Because our meeting this year is in Seaside, there is no single property that can house all of us like other properties.  This means that there are no room blocks set aside for NWATA-D10 Members.  We do however have an “open block” of rooms available for you at 6 different hotels that have given NWATA-D10 members a discount on room rates.

The reason you need to make your room reservations now is that 1) our meeting is during spring break for many schools in Oregon and Washington and Seaside is a POPULAR Spring Break Destination and 2) there is an AAU Basketball tournament that same weekend in Seaside.

To find out which hotels we have available to you, please click on the link below.