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Meridian & Butler March
March Meridian & Butler
NeighborhoodNews
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has remained the same, knowledge and customer service. “Our
mission has always been to properly fit people in running and
walking shoes primarily as a means of fitness,” Thom said. He
adds that large retail stores are just not going to fine-tune what
you really need in a shoe service.
Athletic footwear companies recommend new shoes every 400500 miles. Running generates an extra 3-4 times more body
weight when your foot strikes the ground. When worn too
long, the cushioning components of the shoe diminish due to
midsole compression causing a person’s feet to ache. He chuckles at the old adage “no pain no gain” and says that is nonsense.
“Pain is an indicator that something is going wrong and you are
overextending your body which leads to injury, general staleness
or burn out,” he explains.
Thom Burleson, Owner
FEATURED COMMUNITY
Sponsor
Athletic Annex Running Centre
Thom Burleson, Owner
1411 W. 86th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46260
(317) 872-0000
www.athleticannex.com
“Like” Athletic Annex Running Centre on
Facebook
football, basketball and baseball in high
school. Unfortunately, he found that
his small frame was a disadvantage for
playing football. But, even though he
was smaller than other athletes, he still
excelled because of his endurance. He
could run…and run…and run.
At age 61, business owner Thom Burleson has more energy than most 25 year
olds. Born to run, he has completed 36
marathons including 3 Boston, 4 New
York, and 5 Chicago. In addition, he ran
the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon (16
times) and competed in several “ultraraces (races that are 50 miles and above).
Thom began running in 1968. After
high school, he acquired a scholarship to
Butler University for cross country and
track. After graduating from Butler with
a degree in biology, he continued his education at Indiana University and received
a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology.
Thom says that for him, running is not
just an activity, but it’s a way of life.
He has always loved sports and played
In the early 1970’s he relocated to Oregon, the mecca for running. Thom had
the opportunity to participate in a club
that subsidized athlete’s training for the
Olympics. He remained in Oregon until
after the 80’s Olympic trials. Then, he
felt like he needed to get a “real job”.
But what would he do? Thom knew
about running and had a passion for the
mechanics of it. He also noticed that
there were limited shoe options at the
time. So, he decided to move back to
Indianapolis and open a facility which
combined his love of running with the
need for a good shoe store.
For those who are first time runners, or starting a running program again, Thom advises talking to someone who understands
the footwear. He says you can look great running, but the
best clothing in the world and bad shoes are going to get a bad
result. His advice is to walk first and be consistent with exercise
4 times a week. Slowly increase the running to walking ration
by walking 10 minutes and running 3. Over a month start to
gradually increase running intervals. Consistency is key.
When customers arrive at Athletic Annex and are in the market
for new shoes, the first step is for Thom to administer a basic gate
analysis. He watches the customer walk and studies their mechanics. After years of working in the industry, he can take a customer’s
old shoe, look at the wear pattern of that shoe, ask a few questions,
and decide what type of shoe would be the best fit for that person.
He is quickly able to form a composite of what that person needs,
and can eliminate shoes and narrow down a focus.
After a lifetime of running, Thom has come to a point where
most marathons and races do not excite him anymore. Been
there done that. He enjoys working with small groups and
coaches a running club every Saturday morning. The camaraderie and friendship motivates him now.
The idea worked. And 31 years later, just
like Thom, Athletic Annex continues to
run and remains healthy and fit.
But, there is one last goal. In 5 years, when he reaches his
50th year of running, Thom aspires to tackle the Pacific Crest
Trail. The run starts at the Mexican border and continues into
Canada. It skirts the Mohave Desert, passes through the Sierra
Nevadas, and around Lake Tahoe for a total of 2600 miles. It
would take the entire summer to complete.
Over the years Thom has studied many
different philosophies on how to fit a person for shoes, but his business philosophy
Thom says that if he can complete the PCT at age 66, it would
be a validation that running can positively affect a person’s
health and well-being.
Run,
Walk & Get
Moving!
YOUR LOCAL SHOE, APPAREL
AND ACCESSORIES SHOP
Athletic Annex Running Centre
1411 W 86th St Indianapolis, IN 46260
317-872-0000 | athleticannex.com
Store Hours: M-F 10-8 Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5