business
Doctor/runner uses bare foot as shoe model
■ His shop in West Virginia sells what looks like gloves for the feet, with a pocket for each toe.
By Victoria Stagg Elliott — Posted Nov. 8, 2010
Making sidelines pay
Doctors who branched out beyond running their practice tell why they did it, how they did it, and what you should know before you do it.
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Name: Mark Cucuzzella, MD
Location: Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Company: Two Rivers Treads, A Center for Natural Running & Walking (link).
Annual revenue: The shop opened on May 22, and Dr. Cucuzzella estimates that the store has averaged $25,000 a month in sales.
Why he started the business: Dr. Cucuzzella, a family physician with Harpers Ferry (W.Va.) Family Medicine, has been a runner for most of his life. But as a result, he has sustained numerous injuries.
Foot surgery in 2000 led him to research ways to run with less impact. He moved away from running in traditional, heavily cushioned shoes with elevated heels to those that mimic being barefoot as much as possible.
Such shoes are being produced by an increasing number of companies in response to the emerging trend of "barefoot" or "minimalist" running. Most look like traditional running shoes, although others appear like gloves for the feet, with pockets for each toe.
Some journals have published peer-reviewed research that says running in bare feet is healthier than using traditional running shoes, though the subject is one of much debate.
"We're not promoting that every runner go barefoot, because a lot are not ready to do that," Dr. Cucuzzella said. "But we can get you as close to barefoot as possible."
Two Rivers Treads hosts clinics on injury prevention and ChiRunning, which incorporates tai chi.
The store also serves as headquarters for Freedom's Run, a marathon, half-marathon, 10k, 5k and children's run organized by Dr. Cucuzzella at national parks in the area.
Why he still practices: "I want to bring the idea of treating the cause of injury and illness and not just the symptoms into our medical home model."
Words of wisdom: "Follow your passion."
