Altus AFB offers free Natural Running Symposium Published Sept. 22, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Kenneth W. Norman 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Newton Running Company is slated to give a free three-day Natural Running Symposium, Natural Running Form Clinic and Natural Running Form Coaching Certification class here Oct. 4-6. The event is scheduled to be lead by Lt. Col. Mark Cucuzzella, Air Force Marathon Office chief medical consultant at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio; and Ian Adamson, director of research and education at the Newton Running Company. There is no fee for the symposium. It is free to all active duty, dependents of active duty members, Department of Defense civilians and affiliates. According to Karl Leonard, 97th Air Mobility Wing exercise physiologist, those who pass the coaching certification exam will be certified through the U.S. Olympic Committee as natural running coaches. Natural running is sometimes known as forefoot running and means landing on the mid-foot or forefoot instead of the heel. "This kind of running form will eliminate injury and will also improve running performance by changing your running form," Leonard said. "This type of running form does not happen overnight. There is a lot of training involved for reeducating the muscles of the body, but this is a very effective running form." For more information about how to sign up for the Natural Running Symposium contact the HAWC at 481-5013.