Days before the pinnacle of Phoenix road racing, Bill Rodgers, one of the world’s most acclaimed long-distance runners, will speak at the first-ever Runner’s Seminar hosted by Steward Medical Group as part of this year’s 3TV Phoenix 10K/Half Marathon. Prominent physician and race founder Dr. Art Mollen, and other Steward Medical Group physicians who provide expert running and fitness care, will also present.
The Runner’s Seminar will take place on Monday, October 29 at 7 p.m. at the J.W. Camelback Inn & Spa’s The Lincoln Restaurant, located at 5402 East Lincoln Drive in Scottsdale.
“I’m very happy to be inducted into the Arizona Runners Hall of Fame and to join with Dr. Art Mollen and Steward Medical Group’s health and fitness leadership group at the seminar,” said Rodgers. “I made many good friends over many years in Arizona and am hoping to meet many runners and walkers at this new event.”
The seminar is free of charge to all 3TV Phoenix 10K/Half Marathon entrants. The 43rd 10K and Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, November 4th. Steward Health Care is the presenting sponsor of this year’s race. The event supports The Mollen Foundation, which is dedicated to preventing childhood obesity (www.mollenfoundation.org)
“We are thrilled to have Bill Rodgers join us for our premier Runner’s Seminar,” said Mollen, race founder and internal medicine practitioner at The Mollen Clinic, a Steward Medical Group practice. “He is an icon in the field of running and has dedicated his life to highlighting the importance of fitness and healthy living as well as persevering goals. He’s a terrific role model for runners of all ages.”
During his racing career, Rodgers won the Boston and New York marathons four times each, twice breaking the American record on the 26.2-mile course in Boston, in 1975 and 1979. He was also on the U.S. Olympic team in 1976. Overall, Rodgers won 22 marathons in his career. He is an inductee of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame located in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1998, Rodgers was inducted in the first round to the National Distance Running Hall Of Fame in Utica, New York.
Rodgers and Mollen will be joined on the panel by Steward Medical Group physicians Daniel Schulman, DPM, a podiatrist with the Arizona Institute of Foot Care; Family Medicine physician Amy Overlin, MD, and acclaimed orthopedic surgeon C. Dain Allred, MD, both of the Steward Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center. Allred is also a team physician with the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury.
The 3TV Phoenix 10K/Half Marathon has grown to more than 6,000 participants since its founding in 1976. The Runner’s Seminar will bring a new aspect to the event, said Dr. Mollen.
“While it’s important to take part in healthy activities like running, it’s even more important to know how to prevent and treat running injuries,” Mollen said. “This is a great opportunity for people to hear from one of the pre-eminent athletes of our time, as well as some of the most highly-trained and skilled physicians who can keep top athletes and recreational runners in their best shape.”
Steward Health Care’s presence in Greater Phoenix includes more than 3,500 employees, 30 Steward Medical Group practices, the Steward Health Choice insurance organization, and four hospitals including: Mountain Vista Medical Center in East Mesa, Temple St. Luke’s Hospital in Tempe, and St. Luke’s Medical Center and St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Center in Central Phoenix. Steward is also a partner with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks as part of the D-backs Give Back Youth Jersey Program, a community outreach program that will provide branded jerseys and corresponding caps for 110 youth baseball and softball leagues and 65,000 players and coaches across the state of Arizona in 2019. Additionally, the Steward Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center serves as the official team doctors for the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury.
Runner’s may sign up for the 3TV Phoenix 10K/Half Marathon at https://admin.chronotrack.com/r/37256. Full details about the race are available at www.phoenix10k.com.
