Positive Peer Pressure. <– I asked The Curvy RoadRunner to go for a run for me, since I am unable to do so. Here is her post about it! Go read!
Taping Plantar Faciitis again.
So I pulled the tape off that I have had on my foot for 4 or 5 days. The tape was not quite in the same shiny white condition it had been. In fact,I think the technical term would be – nasty. But I hadn’t been wearing it as a fashion statement, instead I had been wearing it as I had been able to walk mostly pain-free with the tape. Having removed it, my first question was how much it would (or wouldn’t) hurt to walk with its absence. so I was curious as to how it would do without the tape. The foot-log felt good with out the tape, so I tried walking. there was some uncomfortableness (is that a word?) when I walked – so I decided (With my wife’s brilliant input) to re-tape it. Well, that means I asked my wife to re-tape it and she agreed. Have you ever tried to tape your own foot?
I miss running.
Plantar Faciitis status report
I’ve been quiet lately, as using an elliptical isn’t terribly interesting to write about. The only good thing I can say about it, is that I am catching up on my Battlestar Gallactica episodes. If I continue with how I have been watching them – Watch a couple, don’t for several months – repeat.. — Then I should have the series completed by the time my daughter gets married, and she is only 8!
First I tape around the ball of my foot.
As for the title of the blog posting. I have been continuing to research how various people have “cured” plantar faciitis. Mine is better than it was, but has moved to a slow gradual improvement, rather than the quick improvement of the first few days. I have returned to wearing my Vibram Five Fingers as all of my other shoes actually bothered the PF more after those first couple of days were passed. I have it taped, using the instructions my doctor’s office gave me. The picture to the right shows the taping method that I used but with one difference.. Before doing the taping in the picture, the ball of my foot is taped by wrapping it all the way around my foot. This has been WONDERFUL as far as reducing the pressure on the plantar facia. Read more ›
Tagged with: foot log, footlog, Plantar Facia, Plantar Faciitis, Running Injury, The Stick, thestick
Posted in running injury
Posted in running injury
Race Report – Healthy Steps for Kids 5k
Unfortunately with my foot, I was unable to run the race I had planned on saturday. So I headed out to cheer on Derek, as well as a former co-worker. Derek was nice enough to write-up a guest post so we would still have a race report!
Derek (in white) 50 feet from the starting line - ahead of our former co-worker Tim (in the Orange)
Derek and Tim coming up the hill after the 1 mile mark. The 10 year old in the gren shirt came in third over-all.
The race started and I took off – I was running with the leader for just a little bit, but he started pulling away. For probably three fifths of the race I was in 5th place, behind what seemed to be two adult runners and two young kids. The kids where 10, but man could they run. Finally Tim (former co-worker) passed me again – Read more ›
Foot Log initial impressions.
I tried it out as soon as I opened the box.
So, this isn’t a full review as I have had it less than a day – but my FootLog arrived yesterday! My first impression was the same as when I saw it online.
It looks like a lego.
But I have learned to not judge a book by its cover, a wine by its label or sports equipment by its appearance – so I was still game to try it.
Wow. That is my first impression. Wow. It felt amazing. After using it on my foot with Planar Faciitis I was able to walk completely flat-footed. I can only imagine how wonderful this thing would be after a vacation day of 
walking around a city. Or after a trade-show of standing on your feet all day.
This thing is incredible. My wife is working at a local Chamber of Commerce Show all day today, and will be on her feet for over 8 hours. She is looking forward to using it at the end of the day today!
I don’t know yet how well it is going to work to help “cure” my plantar faciitis, but it certainly made it feel better last night! Well, at least until I went and spent two hours walking around the mall. I will keep you informed of how it goes!
Tagged with: foot pain, footlog, Plantar Faciitis, Plantar Faciitis treatment
Posted in running, running injury
Posted in running, running injury
Product Review – The Stick
Picture from thestick.com
So I got one of the “Stiff” sticks for Christmas from my darling wife and have mentioned it in many posts – yet I have never done a “formal” product review. In case you are not a daily reader of my Blog and found this site through googling “the stick product review,” let me start out by saying – I LOVE THE STICK!!! It is one of the greatest inventions in my humble opinion. (By the way, if you are not a daily reader of my blog, this is easy to remedy, just click the “Sign me up! button over there —> )
I was first introduced to it at the Marine Corps Marathon Expo. My family and I were walking around like tourists in NY city for the first time, when we went by the booth for “the stick.” The clever salesman asked me if I had any muscle issues – which those who have read my blog know my trouble spots are my calves. – and had me sit down. He started on my hamstring, as the muscle groups AROUND the trouble spot all contribute – since muscles work together. He then hit my calves.
picture from thestick.com
It. Was. Heaven.
The only way I can describe it, is that it was like a personal masseuse had appeared out of nowhere and decided to massage my tight, sore, and all-too-often-pulled calf muscles. The video below shows how to use this wonderful item. I have one that is longer and stiffer than the one in the video (no sexual innuendo intended,) as I ordered the one used on me at the expo. He demonstrates wonderfully how to use it on your calf muscles – but doesn’t show the hamstrings. Luckily it is pretty much the same thing – just higher up your leg! Read more ›
Tagged with: Calf Pain, Foam rolling, Mathew Nark, product review, self massage, The Stick
Posted in Product Review, recovery, running
Posted in Product Review, recovery, running
3 Mile Run, Doctor’s Visit – Plantar Fasciitis
Good Morning!
Gratuitous picture of my daughter and her cat.
Not related to anything in the posting.
So I have been quiet lately. As you may recall I went trail-running with Derek on Saturday April 7th, and ended up with a sore foot. Well, I took a week off of running, using my elliptical until Saturday April 14th. At that point the only “pain” I had was a dull throb in the front of my heel that felt like I had a rock in my shoe. (Yes, I checked. No rock.) I decided to head out for a short run of around 3 miles, with a plan of 5-7 on sunday.
The run felt awesome. My heel let up a bit, so that I wasn’t even noticing it. It always amazes me how great it feels to be out there after a break. I was enjoying it – until I passed the “mile 2” marker. My foot became more noticeable. It wasn’t excruciating, nor even bad enough to mess with my running form that I could notice. After I got back home, I stretched using static stretches held for 10 seconds. AFter showering it 
was tender enough that I was favoring it, so I sat down for a while.. When I stood up I almost fell over it hurt so bad. I had read descriptions of Plantar Fasciitis online where someone compared it to a nail being driven into their heel. I totally agree with this description.
Read more ›
Elliptical and the end of the movie!
So last night I needed to burn some calories. While my foot is mostly feeling better (just feels tight for the most part) – I decided to learn from last years’ repeated attempts at rushing back into running after injury (and getting re-injured.) So, it was an elliptical night. The good point of this, is that I got to finish watching “Season of the Witch” on Netflix. It wasn’t a bad movie, but I certainly have no regrets about missing it in the theater. Definitely not Nicholas Cage’s best movie.
My cheap curb-found elliptical does creak a lot as its used, but it is still much quieter than the treadmill. I did an hour and five minutes on it, and worked up a sweat – but never was out of breath. Due to the short stride of my elliptical I can’t really go at “running” speed, but it was still a good exercise. I think I am on the elliptical again tonight, perhaps friday as well. With the half marathon coming up the first weekend in May, I really want to make sure I’m not being stupid about jumping back in. In “Will Run for Margarita’s” latest blog entry – she mentioned using KT Tape for her Plantar Facia. I may toss that on tonight and when I do try to run again – just in case.
I’m thinking of picking up a pair of the Merril Trail Gloves for future trail-running.
Weekend in Review – Treadmill, Trail Run and pain on the bottom of the foot.
Friday was a nice day off with the kids (Easter Break started.) Since I had both of them home, my choice was to wait for my wife to get home (5:00 pm) or run on the treadmill. Rather than wait, I decided on the treadmill. I seem to be spending a lot of time on that treadmill lately. I did a nice easy 6 mile run, and an incredible Chest/Tricep/Shoulder workout. I started watching “Season of the Witch” on my wife’s tablet while I ran, but it wouldn’t connect to the wireless for the cool down run. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of it, and it certainly beats staring at the white wall – or watching the numbers on the treadmill go.
Followed it up with a lunch at Panera Bread. With their “you pick two” lunches, it’s really easy to get a healthy AND tasty meal!
Derek right before his run!
Saturday I met up with Derek, a coworker of mine that is bound and determined that I am not going to be faster than he is in a 5k. Personally, I think he doesn’t want to get beat by an “old man.” We headed up to Chenengo Valley State park to go for a run on some trails. Read more ›
Tagged with: running, Trail running, Treadmill, Vibram Five Fingers
Posted in running, running injury, treadmill run, vibram five fingers
Posted in running, running injury, treadmill run, vibram five fingers
Product Review: ifitness belt and hydration add-on.
Obviously not me wearing it. Picture is from ifitnessinc.com
So last August, Detroit Runner did a giveaway for an ifitness belt (edited on 8/15/2013 – the company name has changed to fitletic) which I was fortunate enough to win. I have worn it several times on runs and in races, although I haven’t said much about it. Well, today – that changes!
This is a running item I didn’t even know that I needed. I always found a place to stash my car-keys at races, and then just hoped they would still be there. Now I was fortunate and they always were, but it never stopped crossing my mind that it might not remain that way. I was able to pick from any of the colors of the single pouch neoprene running belts, and went with black/grey (it goes with anything after all.) I have found it to be Read more ›
Tagged with: Hydration pack, ifitness, ifitness belt, product review, running belt, running product review, Water bottle
Posted in Product Review, running
Posted in Product Review, running
2013 Was an amazing year, for me, So I am really looking forward to 2014!
Once and Future Runner 