The Athlete's Lawyer

At the USAT&F National Cross Country Championships, the Pugsley and Shapiro family showed how Potomac River Running is a “family affair.” They were cheering at the kilometer mats, the tops of the hills and the finish line. Cathy and Ray Pugsley partnered with her sister, Margie Shapiro, and her husband Brandon to enter retailing with two Potomac River Running Stores in 2003. They have combined their experience providing business plans and market analysis to clients at Price Waterhouse, and their enjoyment of running and triathlons. (Margie won the ITU International Amateur Championships and the “Best of the US”.) Shown here are the Pugsley and Shapiro family members at the National Championships, where former Junior Champion Ray was the 2009 Masters Runner up.

The family chose sites in Ashburn and Burke in residential growth areas not served by an independent running store for their initial locations. They have now expanded; established a running group in Loudoun County, Virginia; and, continue private coaching & racing at the highest local, regional and National levels. More information on the Potomac River Running stores and club.

The 1988 Junior USA Cross Country Champion Ray Pugsley was 2009 USAT&F Masters Cross Country runner up at the Championship race in Derwood, Maryland this week. Pugsley, of Potomac River Running, was in the hunt for the National title on the hilly, slippery, icy and muddy course. Colorado’s Simon Gutierrez needed a big kick to pull away from Potomac Falls’ Pugsley to win the men’s 8K in 25:15. The 48-year-old Raymond Pugsley, competing for the Baltimore/Washington Athletic Club ran a close second in 25:20. Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau was not surprised by his friend’s tenacious race, as he has witnessed Pugsley’s tremendous speed and strength up close at local road running races.

Mud, ice, corn husks – Doug Landau realized 500 meters into the 8 km., 4-loop course, that good traction was critical at the 2009 National Cross Country running championships.  2004 Olympic men’s marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi won his third national cross country title while Emily Brown won her first at the USA Cross Country Championships on Saturday at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood, Maryland.  The men’s winner had 1/2 inch spikes on the front of his shoes and 3/8th spikes in the back.    Landau got to watch some of the other racing, including the Junior Girls competition (shown below at left) and see the Collegiate teams, including from New York City’s Columbia University, for whom his sister ran in the 1980s.

Highlights of the 2009 USA Cross Country Championships will be televised on February 15 during ESPN coverage of the Tyson Invitational. The championships consisted of six cross country championship races for men’s and women’s categories with national titles on the line for junior, masters and open divisions. The nation’s premier cross country event, the Championships featured $47,000 in prize money.  In addition to individual prizes, there were also team competitions, with the Herndon Reston area sports injury and disability lawyer racing as part of the DC Road Runners Club (DCRRC).  For more information on the 2009 USA Cross Country Championships visit www.usatf.org.

While looking over the rules for the upcoming National Championship races coming to the D.C.metropolitan area, Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau came across the following drug testing information on the National governing body’s site:

“The use of nutritional or dietary supplements is completely at the athlete’s own risk – even if the supplement label says “approved” or “verified.” USADA’s drug reference resources DO NOT provide information about dietary supplements.” (Drug Reference Line 1-800-233-0393)

Our prior post about the Kicker Vencil case is instructive…

Major USA Championships are Coming to the Nation’s Capital Region !

While you may think the excitement surrounding the nation’s capital came to an end after last month’s Presidential inauguration; the running/track & field communities have much to be excite about as two of USATF‘s premier championship events come to the area in the coming weeks.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau will be lining up with the best cross country runners in the country tomorrow, as a member of the DC Road Runners Club team and then competing at the Indoor Masters Track & Field Championships in March at the Prince Georges County Sports & Learning Complex by the Redskins Football Stadium in Landover, Maryland.

USA Cross Country Championships – Feb. 7th, 2009
The USA Cross Country Championships will be held February 7 in Derwood, Maryland.  Derwood is located 28 miles from Washington DC.  Six championship races will be contested (Open Men 12 km, Open Women 8 km, Junior Men 8 km, Junior Women 6 km, Masters Men 8 km, Masters Women 8 km).  The Open and Junior races will serve as the sole qualifying event for the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships (March 28, 2009 in Amman, Jordan).  The championships are being hosted by the Montgomery County Road Runners.  Stay tuned !

Sometimes the stuff we like to think about the least proves to be important before a major event.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau was impressed by the number and placement of the portapotties at recent New York Road Runner Club (“NYRRC“) events.   The NYRRC has races with several thousands of runners on many winter weekends.  Nevertheless, they have portajohns, road closure signs, computer chip timing grids, PA systems and mile markers  set up with efficiency.  Just as when we prepare for trial at ABRAMS LANDAU, Ltd., we try to take care of the the important planning and less glamorous details for a successful trial for our clients.   Knowing where the bathrooms are before trial at the Courthouse or a running race, can sometimes be an important consideration.  Sometimes it is not necessary.  But at the Landau Law Shop in Herndon, Virginia, we would rather not have to take the chance.  Don’t you agree ?!!?

The United States Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships will be contested in the D.C. Metro area March 20-22, 2009. Inspired by the performances at the 102nd Millrose Games in New York City, Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau is signed up to compete in middle distance events and is a Gold Sponsor. More than 1,000 competitors between the ages of 30 and 100+ are excepted to compete at the 2009 USA Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships. The championships will be held March 20-22 at the Wayne K. Curry Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Maryland. At last year’s championships in Boston thirty seven (37) American records and seven (7) world records were set. The Herndon Reston area Athletes Lawyer hopes to use this indoor meet to gauge his “top end speed” and see if his running form has any chance of success this summer. To enter the championships or to view a current list of entries visit the meet website.

Just like some people like to run in “Turkey Trots” before their annual Thanksgiving meal, thousands of people run in the New York Road Runners Club annual Gridion Classic.  Prior to this 4-mile run through Central Park, there was a football throwing contest, where the women’s winner tossed the pigskin 45 yards, and the men’s winner, a former Brown University quarterback, heaved the ball 60 yards !  As a boy in New Jersey, Doug Landau participated in the “Punt, Pass & Kick” competitions.  Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau managed to overcome the cold to finish 312th out of 5,256, in the top 10% of male finishers in just under 7 minutes per mile pace.

Landau finds it extremely difficult to compete in cold weather, as his forte his hot and humid conditions.  Nevertheless, the lawyer who helps injured athletes, participates in winter events like this in order to build up his pre-season fitness.  He also intentionally “overdresses,” so that his body will become accustomed to overheating during competition.  It takes years of practice and training, but it is hoped that this strategem will again lead to success in 2009.  Stay tuned…

Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau was thrilled to be joined this year by his friend, and top New York City Trial Lawyer Stephen Peskin and his wife Victoria. The 102nd Annual Meet was notable for numerous false starts in the 60-yard dash and exciting races at the mile distance over the 11-lap, steeply banked wooden track. Landau first ran indoor track for Boston University on a similar wooden, banked track. In Meets at M.I.T., Harvard University and the University of Virginia, he raced in the 600, 800, 1500 and mile. The Herndon Reston area injury and disability lawyer hopes to race in the USAT&F‘s National Master’s Indoor Track and Field Championships in Landover Maryland in March.

Stephen Peskin, a past president of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, has been featured in Who’s Who in American Law and is a senior member of the board of directors of the American Association for Justice. Landau has worked with Peskin and other New York City lawyers in his office on injury and accident cases. Peskin and Landau have also gone hiking together and their wives have shared adventures together as well. Steve is a partner at the Tolmage, Peskin, Harris, Falick law firm and his talented and beautiful bride, Victoria Bond, is an accomplished composer and conductor. From 1986-1995, Victoria was conductor of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and Roanoke Music Director. Landau and Peskin compare notes and trial strategies at Virginia and American Trial lawyer meetings and conventions. Doug Landau makes the annual trip to New York for the Millrose Games, which are considered by many to be the premier indoor track and field meet in the world.

Shown here before a recent road race in Central Park, Herndon injury and disability lawyer Doug Landau is dropping off his warm up gear. Knowing where you can safely store supplies and post event needs can be important in trials and triathlons. Triathlon Trial Lawyer Doug Landau has gone to court with cases full of books and files, and, for other clients, little more than a computer, travel printer and a Bindertek notebook. But in every case, it is important to try to get a preview of the courtroom just as it is enormously helpful to view the race course before a major competition. That is why Doug Landau invites clients, prospective clients and their families and friends to see him and the ABRAMS LANDAU team “in action” both in court and at the races. Call our office and come see us at future cases and races.