The Athlete's Lawyer

When I followed professional football as a teenager in the 1970s, only Bubba Smith weighed more than 300 pounds.  Now, “super sized” linemen are commonplace.  Can you imagine a 300 pound person falling on top of you ?  How about 2 or 3 ?!!?  What about the health effects on these gigantic players, making sudden movements with all that weight, hitting each other and running anaerobically ?  And what happens to these large men when their playing days are over, and they are no longer professional athletes looked after by a team of doctors, trainers and dietitians ?

According to a report in the New York Times, there are more than 500 300-pounders presently.  A 1994 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study found that former offensive and defensive linemen had a 52% higher rate of death from cardiovascular disease than did the general population. Since then, the players at these positions have only gotten bigger, with the average weight in the NFL 252 pounds.  A 2005 University of North Carolina study found that more than a quarter of the NFL’s players fit the category of Class II obesity, Read the rest of this entry »

Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., was runner up in his age group at the Reston Town Center New Year's Day 5k road running race

In a new addition to the New Years Day racing lineup in Northern Virginia, our friends at Potomac River Running (“PRR”) have come up with a New Year’s Day 5k in Reston. The 5k started on Market Street at the Reston Town Center at the very civilized hour of 10 a.m.  One of the advantages of this venue is that there is plenty of free parking available in the numerous garages at the Town Center.  The race was computer chip timed, and packet pick up was available at the PRR Reston store. Read the rest of this entry »

DC Running Coach, elite duathlete & National Road Running League founder Mike Hamberger, DC & Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau after competing in a 3km race in the Nation's Capitol

The National Road Running League (NRRL) has been formed to give runners in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia area a way to compete over the course of several local races in a team scoring format.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau attended the “pre-launch” event at Lulu Lemon in Georgetown after running in the Jingle Bell 10km.  There were representatives from the major running shoes stores, top runners, university clubs, road running clubs and other sports enthusiasts.  According to DC Running Coach Michael Hamberger, this is only running league in the country geared toward team competition across states.  Visit the NRRL website and be sure to watch the introduction video on the home page.

In 2011 the NRRL will only have 1 region competing in the U.S.; the Washington, DC metro area.  The DC area was recently ranked as the fittest city in the country for the 3rd straight year by the American College of Sports Medicine (“ACSM”).  Hamberger intends to grow the league until every city, town, or region in the country can be represented and a true “meet of champions” can take place each Fall.  The primary goal of the NRRL is to provide runners with a competitive outlet unlike anything to come before it, so that the team element of running can be put back into the sport.  This league is for everyone, not just the “elites.”   While there are “elite” male and female team divisions, there are also “weekend warrior” categories as well.  So check it out, put together a team (or join an existing group) and get ready to race !

At least at the start of the race when the canon fires.  That was Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau’s experience when he ran the New York City Marathon.  He and his brother both ran on other people’s sweat clothes, gloves, hats, mittens and other garments for what seemed like the first mile !  This surreal experience drove home the magnitude of the event and the logistical planning required by the New York Road Runners Club (“NYRRC”) to stage a world-class event in one of the busiest cities on the planet.   At the start on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, there will be 1,694 portable toilets, 42,000 PowerBars, 90,000 bottles of water and 563 pounds of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee beans, enough to make 45,000 cups. About 500 volunteers will collect more than 10 tons of sweat suits, sleeping bags and Snuggies, much of which will be cleaned and given to charities. The bridge must be cleared within an hour of the last runner’s leaving. More than 70 United Parcel Service trucks will take the athletes’ belongings to the finish line.

According to the New York Times, among the more than 6,000 volunteers on race day are medical workers at the 38 aid stations. They will have on hand 11,410 pounds of ice, 13,475 bandages, 57,059 salt packages and 390 tubs of Vaseline. They will have 435 cots and 30 defibrillators that, hopefully, will not be needed.

Sometimes, after running long distances in extremely cold conditions, Herndon Virginia sports injury lawyer Doug Landau, despite wearing layers, shows little brain activity !

When it gets dark earlier in the evening, and when glare and low sunsets compromise driver’s vision, it’s best to run off the roads or with a group.  Join a local running group in your area and enjoy your running.  Running off roads has its own set of special hazards.  For one thing, the uneven surfaces that I favor can cause twisted ankle in the low light conditions this time of year.  Also, the cold temperatures make soft cinder, mud and grass courses more unforgiving, leading to stress on the knees, IT bands and ankles.

If you run on streets, wear as much reflective and light colored gear as you can.  I understand that black clothing is “slenderizing,” but as a driver myself, I have a hard mew seeing runners in all black during “rush hour.”  If you can run during your lunch break, when the temperatures are higher and the lighting is better, try to do so.  It will keep your energy level high during the afternoon “doldrums,” and you won’t be so tired (or unmotivated) facing a workout after your commute home at the end of the day.  I tend to overdress in the winter with lots of layers, as I can always remove a light jacket, hat or open up some vents.  When there is snow on the ground, I like to wear high gators like mountain hikers wear.  It keeps snow and ice out of my running shoes and socks.  As long as my  extremities are warm (my hands, feet and head), then I can keep going for many miles.  But, as soon as I get wet and cold, I head for home,. hot soup and a bath.  Stay warm, run with friends, be safe and have fun this winter.

A month ago Sports Illustrated looked at concussions and their effects on professional athletes.  Instead of photos of swimsuit models or multimillionaire athletes, the popular sports magazine looked at a very serious subject, that of head trauma and permanent disability in the ranks of professional athletes.  The periodical looked at the hits no one is noticing, the “invisible” traumatic brain injury (“TBI”) and cumulative concussions, especially among professional football players. The SI article relates, “At the Veterans Administration hospital in Bedford, Mass.,  one of the world’s foremost experts on repetitive brain trauma slipped a slide into a microscope. Dr. Ann McKee, an associate professor of neurology and pathology at Boston University who has been studying the brains of deceased football players, wanted to illustrate the damage that repeated hits to the helmet can cause. This slide of a cross-section of a human male brain, magnified 100 times, showed scores, maybe hundreds, of tiny brownish triangular bits of a toxic protein called tau, choking off cellular life in the brain.”

“This is Louis Creekmur,” said McKee. “You can see there are hardly any areas untouched by the damage. Like with Wally Hilgenberg, it is widespread in Louis Creekmur. I would call it incredible chaos in the brain. Read the rest of this entry »

Doug Landau of the Herndon Law Firm ABRAMS LANDAU, at last year's National Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships held at the Prince Georges Sports & Learning Complex ("PGS&LC") in Landover Maryland

If you want to see how fast you are or you do not like running in the cold air, try an indoor track meet at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex (“PGS&LC”).  PGS&LC is convenient for track and field athletes from Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC.  While the track itself is not banked, it is fast, well maintained, and there are bleachers and a high ceiling so that you do not feel cramped or unable to breath.  Plus there is an outdoor track outside and plenty of space to warm up and cool down.

The facility is located on approximately 80 acres adjacent to the Washington Redskins’ FedEx Field in Landover, MD.  Indoor track meets are run throughout the winter months, with special events for masters athletes, kids and high school athletes.  The track features a newly installed 200-meter Mondo Super X Synthetic surface.  Competitors are allowed to use a maximum 1/4 inch pyramid spikes ONLY!  Be sure to check out the 2010/2011 indoor track and field meets scheduled, featuring the areas finest high school and collegiate athletes.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. has competed at the Complex many times.  Last winter the PGS&LC hosted the indoor Masters National Track & Field Championships.  The development concept for the Complex is a mix of publicly and privately owned and operated facilities on the site, which is owned by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Virginia Cyclists heading West from Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun County biking toward Leesburg, Sterling and Lovettesville need the protection of sensible, enforceable traffic laws

In response to the Sterling Road and W&OD Trail bike crash post, Bruce Wright of the Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling.  Mr. Wright sagely notes, “Another lesson is that Virginia’s crosswalk law needs to be strengthened.  Currently motorists are only required to “yield” to pedestrians (and bicyclists) in a crosswalk.  Also, in some states motorists on multi-lane roads are required to “stop and remain stopped if a pedestrian (or bicyclist) is in their half of the roadway.”  For example, see New Jersey’s new crosswalk law.

Here in Virginia there have been several recent attempts to strengthen the law, and each year proposed changes get closer to passing.  Cyclists can follow this year’s legislative session at the Virginia Bike website.  Hopefully, through education, advocacy and cooperation, the laws protecting cyclists in the Commonwealth can be improved and enforced.

The wonderful Girls on the Run program is having its 2010 Reindeer Romp 5K race at Reston Town Center December 4th, 2010.  Girls of all ages are encouraged to participate, no matter what speed, training level or pace.  Race organizers suggest that athletes arrive by 6:30am, as the race begins at 7:30am.  It will likely be cold at that early hour, so dress in layers – you can always peel off a layer or two !

When it is cold outside, Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau likes to wear long sleeved shirts that he can pull over his hands to stay warm.  Having studied sports medicine, sports injury lawyer Landau has seen how important keeping a safe body temperature can be to athletes of all ages and sizes.  Another cold weather strategy to keep his extremities warm includes holding the hand warmers that skiers often use, as well as socks over cold fingers !  A lightweight cap keeps the head warm, and can be tucked in the waistband in the back if one starts overheating mid-race.  Mrs. Landau, also of the Herndon law firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. favors the UnderArmor type mock turtleneck shirts, as they keep her core temperature up, stretch and do not constrict.   There may be as many as 7,000 Northern Virginia girls & their “buddy runners” as well as 3,000 supporters, well wishers and cheer leaders !  The race logistics include: 7,000 Bananas, 5,000 Feet of Steel Barricade, 130 Volunteers and 7,200 Finisher Medals !

Runners warming up for the start of the Ashenfelter NJ 8km road race championship in Glen Ridge, New Jersey on Thanksgiving

The Ashenfelter 8K Classic (A8K) is a United States Track & Field-NJ Championship Road Race which is open to everyone… walkers, joggers, runners and racers. The race is produced by the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation. This traditional Thanksgiving Day running event will be held on Thursday, November 25, 2010.  The 8K (4.97 miles) USATF-NJ MASTERS 8K CHAMPIONSHIP has prize money awards (Age Graded, Male/Female, for USATFNJ Members Only).  There are special mugs for finishers in the Top 100, male and female.  Since 2000, the top 100 male time has dropped from 35:54 (7:13/mile) to 33:43 in 2005 (6:47/mile) to 32 minutes in 2008 (6:28/mile average pace) !  Doug Landau of the Herndon Law Firm ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd. was still heading out when he saw the leader, sporting a Princeton Tiger singlet, heading for the finish line in under 25 minutes !  It’s a very competitive field.

To date, the Ashenfelter 8K Classic has raised over $100,000. Since 2005 the main beneficiary has been The Glen Ridge Educational Foundation, a not for profit 501(c)3 organization.  In addition, liek several other Thanksgiving time athletic event that Triathlon Trial Lawyer DOug Landau has participated in , this championship event was collecting used, smelly running shoes !  Joggers, walkers and runners could donate old or un-used athletic shoes to soles4souls.  Collection boxes were available at Fleet Feet Sports, Murdoch Shoes, and at the race Registration.