Venn Ambassador Spotlight: Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, Director of the Natural Running Center
Dr. Mark Cucuzzella MD FAAP is the author of Run for Your Life and the owner of Two Rivers Treads – A Center for Natural Running and Walking in his hometown of Shepherdstown, WV. Mark is a two time winner of the Air Force Marathon and has a marathon PR of 2:24. As well as being the race director of Freedom’s Run race series in West Virginia, Mark is director of the Natural Running Center, an education portal designed to teach healthier running. Mark is considered one of the world’s leading running doctors, and his pioneering work has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, Outside Magazine, Running Times, Runners World, Air Force Times, the Washington Post, JAMA, and other medical and media outlets.
Tell us briefly about your work, inspirations, and philosophy on health and fitness.
I firmly believe that every single individual can get healthier and even return to running if they wish. I have worked in a disease care model most of my life but we must focus more on preventing disease and restoring health.
When someone is healthy they have a lifelong pension plan and most individuals these days do not have that, sadly. It's not fancy. People just need to eat the right foods which are natural foods that we were designed to eat, mostly plants and animals, and we need to get out in the sun and play and move. The future economy depends on this too. We can’t afford the healthcare system we have now if we are all sick.
We're all about movement at Venn. What does a typical day for you look like through the lens of movement?
I try to move as much as possible through the day and start my day with a five minute mobility routine. I have a stand up desk, and I walk and take the stairs at every opportunity. I try to fit in a 30 to 60 minute run every day no matter what the weather. I also add in strength and mobility workouts.
Why and how do you use a Venn Air Chair? Where in your home, office or workout routine do you use it?
In my living room I have a Venn Chair and when I do want to sit, I sit on that. My children also like it. We also have one at my store, and when I’m fitting someone with shoes I like to use it.
What are your favorite Venn Air Chair positions and moves?
Simply sitting upright at the table with balance and posture.
At Venn, we zig when others zag. What's something in work or life that you approach differently - philosophically, physically, emotionally - than others?
In my medical career for eight years, I have been a strong proponent of the view that Type 2 diabetes is a dietary disease and fully reversible for most. When I first started teaching this and writing about it, it was not well accepted but now we are gaining ground and millions around the world are embracing healing through diet.
Follow Dr. Mark’s latest news on his website , watch his Principles of Natural Running video here, and get his book Run For Your Life here.
