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Marathon Man
By Leah Ariniello
Podiatrist Lee Firestone of Potomac relies on chocolate milk to help repair muscles after running.
How a local podiatrist and runner stays on track
There are more than 50 million runners in the U.S., with almost 30 million people running 50 or more times a year, according to a 2013 report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
mike olliver
A runner since high school, Lee Firestone of Potomac is well-versed on the sport’s ability to boost overall health. And as a podiatrist since 1994, he’s also an expert on running’s downside. “Running is one of the toughest things our feet can take,” says Firestone, who has offices in Chevy Chase and downtown Washington, D.C. With each step, runners pound about two and a half times their body weight onto their feet, he says, and as a result, about 80 percent of runners will likely encounter some kind of injury. In college, Firestone himself injured tissue supporting the arch of his foot, a common problem known as plantar fasciitis, which caused pain in his heel. And three years ago he suffered a painful partial tear of one of his Achilles tendons. But Firestone says the benefits of running outweigh the risks, so he doesn’t plan to give it up. Instead, he follows a regimen that helps prevent or minimize injury, including strategies that aid form and ensure proper recovery. As a result, the 48-year-old Firestone continues to run 50 to 70 miles a week. Since recovering from his last injury in 2011, he has completed six marathons, for a total of 11 so far, and plans to complete his 12th in November. “I want to run as long as possible,” he says.
228 July/August 2014 | Bethesda Magazine HEALTH
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