We’d like to introduce you to Eddie Miller, an avid runner and swimmer, who has returned to Fitzgerald PT as a patient with us on multiple occasions. He is a member of the Melrose Running Club, and swims regularly at the Torigian and Melrose YMCAs. He also enjoys hiking, travel, photography, and writing/performing (guitar, vocals). A Melrose resident since 2009, Eddie lives with his wife, Jessica, three girls, Anabelle, Dina, and Noa, and two Old English Sheepdogs, Levy and Lexi. He works at the University of Massachusetts Boston as a Professor and Chair of the Department of Gerontology.
Q: When did you discover your love for running?
A:
I discovered my love for running in high school while training for other sports, mainly soccer, wrestling, and lacrosse. Up until 2014, I had run regularly since my late 20s – typically 4 to 6 miles several days a week. However, due to back and neck issues (and life), I stopped running to focus on the pool and exercise bike for nearly six years. When COVID happened and everything shut down, I started running again. I began slowly by jogging around my kids’ elementary school field. I started adding mileage and did my first half marathons in 2020 and 2021. I then joined the Sunday morning long runs with the Melrose Running Club. After one particular 18-mile run, I realized that I was inadvertently training for my first marathon, which ended up being the Loco Marathon in Newmarket, New Hampshire, in October 2022. I subsequently signed up, trained for, and raised money to honor the memory of my mother by running the 2023 Boston, Chicago, and New York City Marathons for the Alzheimer’s Association. Since June 2020, I have put in more than 4,100 miles on the road. The races are great but the camaraderie and friendships I’ve acquired along the way are really what it’s all about.
Q: As a runner, what types of injuries have you sustained over the years?
A:
I have sustained a range of running injuries over the years. I had a particularly bad hip flexor injury playing soccer during my senior year in high school, which is the first time I saw a physical therapist- who also prescribed orthotics (I’ve been using some sort of foot inserts ever since). I suffered some knee, IT band, and foot pain in subsequent years, which limited my ability to run at various points thereafter. Other than some painful plantar fasciitis (in the arch) and some tightness and assorted minor injuries, I’ve been (knock on wood) in pretty good shape since taking up long distance running over the last four years. I attribute this relative good fortune to cross-training (lots of swimming) and limiting the number of days running to no more than three or four days weekly, even during marathon season.
Q: When did you first come visit us at Fitzgerald PT, and how did you hear about us?
A:
I first visited Fitzgerald PT back in 2019. I have severe spinal stenosis in my neck, which can cause pins and needles throughout my body and numbness down my arms. I had seen several physical therapists up until that point, but relief tended to be temporary, if at all. I believe I learned about Fitzgerald from my doctor. The treatment and stretching and strength training regime I received at Fitzgerald hepled me immesurably. I was even able to continue the latter after the shutdown. These issues have been much more manageable ever since.
Q: What was your experience like at Fitzgerald PT? What did you enjoy the most?
A:
I most recently visited Fitzgerald in 2023 due to persistent planter fasciitis and deep calf fatigue I picked up training for the Boston and Chicago Marathons. Holly and Alisha came to speak to the Melrose Running Club. This spurred me to seek treatment at Fitzgerald since I had up until that point been unsuccessful in addressing the issues on my own. I felt that as runners and athletes, they would have a good understanding of what I was going through and how to address it. This assumption was correct, as the issues eventually resolved. I was also able to apply the lessons learned to address the issue myself when they came up again a year later when training for the London Marathon.
Q: What would you say to someone that is hesitant to try PT or claims that “it doesn’t work”?
A:
I can understand why people might be hesitant to try PT if they haven’t used it before, given the potential expense and time committment. But I can state without hesitation that I’m proof that it absolutely works. The key is to find a skilled and empathetic therapist who is willing to focus in on your particular compaint and to meet you where you’re at to reach your therapy goals. This has been my experience with Fitzgerald PT.
Q: What is on your race calendar thus far for 2024?
A: I’m already set to run the London Marathon (April 2024) and Berlin Marathon (September 2024). Next year I hope to run the Tokyo Marathon to complete my goal to run all six marathon majors to support people and families facing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BerlinMarathon2024-EdwardMiller). I also have plans to run the 2024 Marine Corps Marathon, in addition to 4 to 6 half marathons and numerous shorter races. Racing is addictive and fun when you learn about and participate in them with your friends from the Melrose Running Club!
Q: Anything else you’d like to share?
A:
Peak performance stems from several factors. We can’t control everything. But what we can control is eating healthfully (more often than not), being physically active (on most days), getting enough sleep (when we can), and seeking help (when we need it). Fitzgerald PT is the go-to for me when I need help recovering from an injury.
Thanks so much for sharing you experience Eddie – we appreciate it! If you are a runner, and experiencing similar injuries, we want you to feel better soon. Visit our website here to learn more about our specialized services for runner. Or easily book your appointment online now!
