Dallas Loop-the-Lake Foundation

New Year's Eve Fun Run

Special Guest Speaker at 13th Annual Run

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It’s a great honor to announce a special guest speaker at this year’s run.  Mr. Jack Towsley is a Board Member at Marathon Kids and a Divisional Senior Vice President with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (a long time Loop-the-Lake sponsor).

Jack Towsley is responsible for all provider network strategy in Texas, including fee-for-service negotiations, development of new value-based care models and delivery of ancillary contracting. He leads the effort across all product segments to develop and implement provider contracting and service strategies to ensure competitiveness, contain unit cost, improve member access and enhance provider satisfaction.

Mr. Towsley joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in the health care industry, including work in managed care organizations, alternative payment methodologies, provider relations, contracting and data analytics.

Previously he was the Senior Vice President, Payor Relations of Health Management Associates, Inc. Before joining Health Management, Mr. Towsley spent 10 years at Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). Most recently, Mr. Towsley served as a Corporate Vice President of Strategic Pricing and Analytics for HCA. In this position, he led the company’s managed care pricing and negotiation strategy with major payors in key markets. He also introduced the company’s effort to design, implement, and evaluate pilots of alternative payment methodologies, including accountable care organization (ACO) models, bundled payments, episode payments, gain-sharing and patient-centered medical homes. At HCA, Mr. Towsley also served as Regional Vice President and Market Vice President of Managed Care.

Prior to joining HCA, Mr. Towsley was the President and CEO of the Scottsdale PHO – a 440 physician- owned individual practice association (IPA). Mr. Towsley also served as Senior Vice President for Health Net of Arizona, leading the effort to improve the company’s relationships with physicians and hospitals, and as president and general manager for Cigna HealthCare of Georgia. Prior to that, he served four years as the CEO of United Healthcare of Arizona.

Mr. Towsley began his career in California where he held positions in network management with Prudential Healthcare Systems.

Mr. Towsley has been a member of many prestigious organizations and associations, including serving as president of the Arizona and Georgia Associations of HMOs, president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, and an advisory board member of Arizona State University School of Business, March of Dimes of Georgia and Utah Healthcare Coverage Coalition.

Mr. Towsley completed his undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins University and received his Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley.

Be sure to arrive early as parking will be a challenge with 400 runners in attendance.

 

2015 Photos (A)

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Just a few photos from 2015 Event.  More to come.

 

2014 Photos

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2010 Photos

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2009 Photos

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MetroPCS Dallas Half Marathon Winner to Run Loop-the-Lake

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We have some very exciting news to share with everyone participating in this year’s event.

Logan Sherman, winner of the MetroPCS Dallas Half Marathon will be the Elite Guess Runner for the Dallas Loop-the-Lake New Year’s Eve run.  Come out to meet him and test your speed against Dallas’ fastest.Screen Shot 2014-12-24 at 12.40.09 PM  He will be sticking around for a bit to answer any of your questions about running or about sports related injuries.

About Logan Sherman

Dr. Logan Sherman graduated from Parker University in August 2013. Logan is passionate about being a chiropractic sports practitioner and holds certifications in Chiropractic Clinical Neurology (CCN), Active Release Technique (ART), Graston Technique, and Rocktape Fascial Movement Taping (FMT 1 and 2). Dr. Sherman was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where he competed in cross-country, track and field, and hockey for JJ Pearce High School. Upon graduation, he attended Texas A&M University, where he studied business and was a member of the TAMU varsity track team.

During his athletic career, Logan regularly received chiropractic care to maintain high performance and prevent injury. After receiving his degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M, Logan pursued a career in chiropractic sports medicine, attending Parker University where he balanced education and road racing. Logan graduated with honors from Parker University with a Doctorate in Chiropractic. While at Parker, Logan served as class president and was awarded “Who’s Who” among students. He focused his studies on biomechanics and functional neurology and was selected to participate in a rotation at the Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital. His work at the VA gave him hands-on experience and an ability to help our wounded veterans, an experience he will always treasure.

In April 2013, Logan was selected to represent the city of Dallas in the Sendai International Half Marathon. Logan has continued his racing career, participating in numerous local events. In 2014, Logan was selected to participate in the USA Half Marathon Championships, and he placed first in The Cowtown Ultramarathon, The Metro PCS Dallas Half Marathon, and several other local races.

Professionally, Logan practices chiropractic sports medicine with Reagan Chirosport Center in Dallas and McKinney. You can also find Dr. Sherman volunteering with Luke’s Locker and other local running groups, as well as blogging on Facebook, communicating his passion for promoting and living a healthy lifestyle.

We are simply delighted to have Logan Sherman join us on Wednesday, December 31st for our annual run.  Please sign up and donate today.

 

Luke’s Locker and Loop-the-Lake Foundation – Genuine Grass Roots Partnership

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Matt and Don LucasWhen Beth Crider and I started the loop the lake project and we did our first collection for donations in 2006, Don Lucas, founder of Luke’s Locker, had known me for only a couple of years. But when I approached him and asked for help with raising funds to prevent childhood obesity, he simply said “what do you need?”

Since that time Luke’s locker has been committed to stepping up their contribution to the success of our Loop-the-Lake run year after year.  If you have run this event in the past several years you probably have a collection of running gear with the Loop the Lake label on it.  What you may not of known is Luke’s locker has provided those gear items, asking for absolutely nothing in return.

Just a few short years ago Matt Lucas came to me and said, “we want to find some more ways to give more to your event this year.”  He came up with the idea of giving away a $100 gift card to the highest donor and he came up with the idea to give away the sports bags with a $10 gift card tucked neatly inside.  Matt, just like his dad Don, continues the tradition of supporting Dallas non-profit organizations.  Their generosity has come to this organization at no cost to us.

Lukes Locker

Not only does Luke’s Locker support non-profit community organizations, but they also demonstrate a commitment to the community through grassroots fitness programs.  Since 2004 I’ve been running with Luke’s locker’s and am delighted and impressed with their never ceasing efforts to improve the experience of running in our communities. Quite frankly, their heart is in the game.

This January 2015, Luke’s locker is starting another spring training program catering to runners at every stage.  Honestly, if you want to become a faster runner, if you want to become a more consistent runner or if you simply want to become a better runner, I absolutely recommend Luke’s Locker Spring Training program.  No matter what stage of running you find yourself, whether you’re getting out there for the first time or you’re winner of a half marathon, their training programs will have something to fit your needs.  Every Saturday morning through mid-May the coaches at Luke’s Locker will beat you down and build you up.

Lukes Locker Dallas storeSo, if you are planning to join us on December 31 for the New Year’s eve run, wonderful!  Please sign up and donate here.  I would also urge you to make this run not just your last run of 2014, but also make it the beginning of your spring training with Luke’s Locker.

I’d like to offer a special thanks to Luke’s Locker for all they’ve done over the years on behalf of Dallas Loop-the-Lake Foundation, Beth Crider and myself.  The generosity Luke’s has demonstrated is just a small example of the same spirit existing in the Dallas running community at large.  Your support of our efforts to prevent childhood obesity in our community is overwhelming, we could not do what we do without you.  See you on New Year’s Eve.

2008 Photos

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11th Annual of Loop the Lake Prepares to Raise Thousands for Marathon Kids

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beth Crider
beth@loopthelake.org                                        

214-952-4177

 

DALLAS – December 11, 2014 – Grab your hat and gloves, Dallas’ Loop the Lake Foundation, Inc. prepares to host their 11th annual Loop the Lake New Year’s Eve Day run!

After exceeding their $10,000 fundraising goal last year, numbers have been set to reach their 11th anniversary goal of $12,000. Proceeds benefit Marathon Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of children by providing them with the motivation, tools, and support in order to live happier, healthier lifestyles.

“It’s great to see the Dallas community come together for the greater good, and give whole heartedly” said, Founder, Don Hunter. “Marathon Kids is a great organization to support. They’re efforts and resources are exactly what children today need, in order to remain healthy and active throughout their entire lives.”

What can runners expect for 2014? A new website at www.loopthelake.org, a new start and finish area at the Lot (maps included on website), matching gifts from Marathon Kids of Dallas Presenting Sponsor, Whole Foods Market, and as always, lots of running friends socializing with coffee afterwards.

What to leave at home? Any type of big expectations. This is and always will be a fun run. No gimmicks. No red tape. Just show up with your friends and enjoy a 9-mile loop around Dallas White Rock Lake.

All participants who donate a minimum of $35 will receive a gift that includes sponsor goodies. Snacks will be provided at the finish area and one water stop will be included along the course.   As always, you don’t have to donate to run and you don’t have to run to donate. You can simply show up, run and enjoy time with your friends.

Loop the Lake is supported by Luke’s Locker and The Lot. Special thanks to Whole Foods Market for their efforts in supporting this year’s fun run, on behalf of Marathon Kids.

The 9.2 mile event will be held on New Year’s Eve day, Wednesday, December 31 at 7:00 a.m. To register and to read more information, visit the events website at www.loopthelake.org.

About Loop the Lake Foundation: Loop the Lake Foundation (LTL) was founded in 2004 by Don Hunter and Beth Crider. Between the two of them, they have run over 30 marathons in the midst of being parents with multiple children. They have trained together and coached together and realized that healthy lifestyles start at a young age. Recent research shows that about one in four children are considered obese and are developing type II diabetes before they reach their 18th birthday. Don and Beth believe that nutrition is key in keeping the body lean and healthy and that learning about nutrition is best learned at a young age. Through fundraising efforts of LTL’s annual run on New Year’s Eve day, their foundation plans to support organizations that will help reverse this trend. LTL’s current beneficiary, Marathon Kids, is a non-profit organization that encourages students and families to complete a 26.2 mile challenge over the course of a school year. They serve over 300,000 kids nationwide.

About Marathon Kids – The mission of Marathon Kids is to improve the health of children by providing them with the motivation, tools, and support in order to live happier, healthier lifestyles. Marathon Kids will serve more than 250,000 children during the 2014-15-program year. Marathon Kids was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information visit www.marathonkids.org.

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2007 Photos

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