Neighbor News
Team USA Minnesota To Use TCO Eden Prairie Facility
Team USA Minnesota will be using the new Twin Cities Orthopedics state-of-the-art sports medicine center in Eden Prairie for training.
Committed to delivering the best performance training products and programs for exercise and athletics, Octane Fitness, LLC and Twin Cities Orthopedics (TCO) have partnered as a silver level sponsor of Team USA Minnesota. Founded in 2001, Team USA Minnesota is dedicated to training post-collegiate distance runners to compete at elite levels, including Olympic participation, from distances of 800/1500 meters to the marathon.
“We are very excited to welcome Twin Cities Orthopedics and Octane Fitness as a silver level sponsor of Team USA Minnesota,” said Pat Goodwin, Team USA Minnesota president and founder. “This unique partnership provides our athletes with a wide range of health, preventative and training support, along with innovative equipment like the Zero Runner, at TCO’s new state-of-the-art facility in Eden Prairie.”
Using Octane Fitness’ unique Zero Runner, the physicians and physical therapists at TCO will provide complimentary gait analysis and performance-enhancing regimens to Team USA Minnesota athletes at the new TCO Sports Medicine Center in Eden Prairie, Minn.
“Octane’s mission is to fuel athletes and exercisers with the absolute best products that deliver results,” said Tim Porth, the EVP of product development and marketing. “As a Minnesota-based company, we are proud that our Zero Runner plays a role in boosting the performance of Team USA Minnesota athletes and the clients of TCO.”
“Having leaders in health care and training equipment collaborating and discovering new ways to reduce and prevent injuries in our best athletes will carry over into how we care for the everyday athlete, the prospective college athlete, and the people trying to prioritize their health and wellness,” said Chris Bailey, director of therapy at TCO.
To kick off the relationship, Team USA Minnesota athletes will share tips to run like the pros at the grand opening of TCO at 12982 Valley View Road in Eden Prairie, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, February 28. The athletes will be available from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. The event also includes performance demos for golf, hockey, throwing and weightlifting; presentations from TCO clinicians on nutrition, injuries and sports medicine; and prizes and giveaways.
Zero-Impact Running
Unlike any other training machine, the Zero Runner has mechanical hip and knee joints that precisely replicate human biomechanics in running, with independent pedals that allow runners to utilize their natural running gait, just like outside. Users completely control their stride and pace, and the Zero Runner follows the runner’s movement through the initiate, pull-through, lift and extension phases.
For athletes, as well as recreational runners, the Zero Runner offers multiple benefits:
• Run without impact – runners can add mileage without risking overuse and injury
• Race preparation – longer runs can combine miles outside with Zero workouts to maximize stamina, maintain form and reduce impact
• Active recovery – the Zero Runner enhances conditioning but eliminates joint stress and “junk miles”
• Cross training – CROSS CiRCUIT®, which blends running with strength training and flexibility intervals enables runners to address weak links
• Longer career – the Zero Runner removes the harmful pounding that can limit longevity
