Displaying items by tag: running

Thursday, 07 March 2019 13:53

Former Blue Streak Breaks 4-Minute Mile

Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS/SYRACUSE N.Y - Saratoga Springs High School alumni Aidan Tooker recently became the latest sub – 4 miler on Syracuse University’s track team.

In 1954 Roger Banister became the first runner to finish a mile in under four minutes, with a time of 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. This year, Tooker made the notable achievement of running a mile in 3 minutes and 59.39 seconds.

“It was one of those reliving, ‘finally’ moments,” said Tooker. “I was very excited about it.”

Tooker fell in love with running in the fourth grade when he and his father began participating in charity 5k runs. Running was something that came naturally to Tooker, and his competitive nature drove him to start running for sport in school when he was in the seventh grade.

While running was something that Tooker took to instinctively, his small stature often had people initially doubting his capabilities. This experience is what sparks Tooker’s admiration of USA distance runner Dathan Ritzenhein.

“He’s proportionally about the same height as me – a really skinny dude,” said Tooker. “I really looked up to him because a lot of people doubted me and didn’t really give me much respect for how tiny I was. But I would watch that guy and think he was very, very good.”

While his size may have created doubt for some people, Tooker’s former coach Art Kranick, certainly was not one of them as he was the first person to tell Tooker that he has the potential to break a four-minute mile.

“I was in 7th grade at the time, and that seems like a pretty absurd thing to say to a 7th grader. But I took it to heart honestly. That was a big moment in my life."

For many, running would be their least desired aspect of fitness. But for Tooker, that certainly isn’t the case. As he's been running competitively for almost nine years, his dedication has him running nearly 365 days a year, and sometimes twice a day.

“It (running) just seems like the most raw form of competitiveness. It’s just you and your brain and whatever you had that day,” said Tooker.

Tooker ran his personal best mile time at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Classic meet. Syracuse runs in this meet every year, and for the past two years, Tooker has been running his mile in 4 minutes and two seconds. This year, Tooker took to the track with the same attitude he does every meet.

“I just try to keep a smile on my face. Usually, if I’m having fun with it then that's all that I need to be doing,” said Tooker. “Most of the time I’ve put in weeks, months of really hard work and the hardest part when it comes to getting closer each time is keeping your head in the right place.”

The world record for the mile run was set in 1999 by Hicham El Guerrouj with a time of 3 minutes and 43.13 seconds. Tooker says that’s not a goal for him to actively pursue, but working towards one's personal best is the nature of competitive running.

“That’s probably the coolest thing about the sport, you’re always shooting to run as close to zero minutes as possible in whatever event you’re doing,” said Tooker. “I’m gonna keep competitively running for as long as possible and my mile time will hopefully come down.”

Published in Sports

Matla 5K

Photos provided.

MALTA — On Saturday, September 8, the Roundabout Runners Club, will host its’ 9th annual 5K road race, starting at 8:30 a.m., in Malta’s two technology parks: NYSERDA’s Saratoga Technology and Energy Park and Luther Forest Technology Campus. GLOBALFOUNDRIES is proud to be the title sponsor of this event which last year raised well over $37,500 to support the VetHelp and Malta’s emergency first responders. The event starts at Hudson Valley Community College TEC Smart located within NYSERDA’s Saratoga Technology & Energy Park (STEP). The course then takes participants south though Luther Forest Technology Campus (LFTC). Once through LFTC, participants get the privilege of going through the Global Foundries campus. Almost 1 mile of the 3.1 miles will be on Global Foundries campus. All participants will finish their 9/11 tribute under a giant American flag hoisted by the Round Lake Fire Department. Participants are encouraged to stick around after the event to enjoy post- race food provided by Hannaford. Fleet Feet Malta is our official prize sponsor and is providing cash prizes to our overall male and female winners. There will be over 54 award categories of all ages donated from local companies. The 1st 750 runners/joggers/ walkers are guaranteed a long- sleeve shirt. Interested participants can register from 3-8 p.m. on September 7th at Fleet Feet in Malta and the day off at TEC Smart at 7:30 a.m. Anyone registering the day of the race is urged to arrive at TEC Smart no later than 8 a.m. to ensure an on time start.

Published in Sports

Let the Buyer Beware: A Closer Look at Ordering Eyeglasses Online

Purchasing eyeglasses online may offer convenience to consumers, but according to the American Optometric Association (AOA), the consequences of making an incorrect or uninformed purchase could cost patients more time and money in the long run.

Eyeglasses are an investment in your health and must be custom-fitted not only to be comfortable, but also to meet particular prescriptive needs, which only an eye doctor and optician can determine.

“Without visiting an eye doctor, patients run the risk of purchasing eyeglasses online with an improper fit or receiving the wrong prescription altogether,” said Dr. Alison Halpin. “Ultimately, patients can expend more time dealing with order mistakes and making returns than had they simply visited their local optometrist in the first place.”

An AOA study published in 2011 with the Optical Laboratories Association and The Vision Council reinforces the drawbacks of online orders. The study concluded:

• Of 200 glasses ordered online, only 154 pairs were received

• 44.8 percent had incorrect prescriptions or safety issues

• 29 percent had at least one lens fail to meet required prescription

• 19 percent of adult lenses failed impact resistance testing

• 25 percent of children’s lenses failed impact resistance testing

Purchasing eyeglasses from a local optometrist is the AOA’s first and foremost recommendation, but if patients are still interested in making a purchase online, be warned that consumers need to do their homework before making a final decision.

“If a consumer believes that ordering a pair of glasses online is in their best interest, it is important for the consumer to be fully informed regarding the potential pitfalls in doing so,” Halpin said. “The peer-reviewed study revealed that nearly half of all glasses ordered online had either prescription errors or failed to meet minimum safety standards. Personally, I find that very scary. Patients deserve better than that.”

Be advised to consider the following factors before making a purchase online:

The fit and material of
the eyeglasses

How the eyeglasses fit is critically important — if the fit is incorrect, not only can a patient experience discomfort, such as pinching and headaches, but can also cause additional vision problems.

Consumers also need to consider the various options available for the lenses, and what is best for their particular prescription and lifestyle. Lenses come in various materials, such as traditional plastic, as well as thinner, lighter materials. Other considerations are the different coatings and treatments available such as non-glare coatings and photochromic lenses.

The accuracy of the prescription

Just because the eyeglasses “look right” on a person’s face doesn’t mean the measurements are correct. Pupil distance (PD) determines where to place the center of each lens in your frames to customize the optics to your eyes. This measurement is necessary to ensure the eyeglasses serve your vision needs properly.

Consumers need an optometrist or optician to provide the PD and ensure precise measurements. However, the PD is not part of your prescription and not normally provided unless you ask for it. Your optometrist or optician can even legitimately charge for the service of providing your PD. The measurements needed for multifocals can only be accurately made once the frame is selected and properly fitted to your face, so typically this measurement is simply estimated for eyeglasses available online.

The retailer’s policies on purchases

• Returns: What is the website’s return policy if you are not satisfied with your purchase? How will the website deal with issues of prescription inaccuracies or other mistakes (wrong lenses coatings, wrong color, etc.)?

• Warrantees: Does the online retailer offer protection against lens scratching, how long this may be covered and what needs to be done to replace scratched lenses. How long is the frame warranty? What about children’s frames?

• Shipping: The cost and timeliness of shipments varies. Who pays for shipping returns?

• Pricing: Are protective eyeglass cases and cleaning cloths included, or are they “extras” added to the cost?

• Insurance: Some websites do not accept vision insurance. If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), check to see what’s required to accept this as payment.

• Maintenance: Some websites provide a contact for this and may offer online tips for minor adjustments, but it might mean shipping your glasses away and being without them until the service is completed and they are returned.

For more in-depth detail about factors to consider before purchasing eyeglasses online, visit www.aoa.org to read a brochure offered by the AOA.

As the leaders of primary eye care in the United States, doctors of optometry are crucial in helping patients achieve optimum eye health and vision, and are the best resource to offer the highest quality eyeglasses.

Susan Halstead is a NYS and Nationally Licensed Optician and the Owner of Family Vision Care Center on Lake Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Please feel free to connect directly with Susan for information or questions related the above article at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News