Learning life lessons sucks sometimes, but you learn so much!

Back to Late December 2018.  So I make the decision to take time off of running.  It was absolutely the right decision and I should have done it a long time ago.  I am stubborn at times. 

Even though the separation was what my ex and I decided upon, it still doesn’t make the loneliness go away, or trying to date and the circus that is (not the people, just the whole process).  I have three amazing kids, a 9-year-old and 7-year-old boy/girl twins.  I love them so much, but they drive me insane.  Parents, you know what I’m talking about, except for those of you who have some sort of kid magic.  I do the best I can with mine, but if you have a magic kid, congrats. We have our moments, good and bad.

My Oldest and I hiking near Lake Tahoe in 2018

I would work all day, trying to impress everyone at work with the largest workload that we’ve ever had and shrinking timelines.  Trying to manage my team’s workload as well as my own.  My team is so awesome and really worked their butts off, which made my job more manageable.  They made me look good, 100%.  I feel like work was the one place that I was able to hold it together the best.  I somehow was able to keep the façade going long enough.  Inside I was so overwhelmed that I felt like I was living in a fog.

[Image pulled from https://thetempest.co/2019/05/17/culture-taste/brain-fog-depression/]

I started to just get so overwhelmed, not knowing what I was going to do with the house.  The day I decided to accept the offer from Zillow and started packing, the feeling of being overwhelmed lifted.  It happened so fast that sometimes I feel guilty.  But I fought that feeling for my family/kids, for my coworkers, and most importantly… for myself.  That is something I am learning… to show myself love (not like that…come on).😊 

I thought I was dealing with depression.  It took quite a while to figure out that I was doing so much in so many areas of my life (and kids activities) that I had exceeded what I was capable of handling.  It wasn’t depression, but a case of being severely overwhelmed.  It was working through all of my feelings and fears that I was able to have a breakthrough.  That will come in another post.

I am a better man because I walked through that, but I had no idea if it was going to be a day or a year before things were going to get better.  I feel very fortunate to have my long distance running that has sharpened my mental toughness.  I tend to do okay just putting my head down and putting one foot in front of the other until I reach the peak/finish.  I always make it to my goal, then I can take a break.  Those death marches (running term) on long runs when you are bonking and are hot, are the times when you learn what you are really made of…enter the tears…

I didn't take a selfie, but this isn't far off. J/K

Mental illness is a serious f*cking issue.  Be there for each other.  Open up to a friend.  You might just find out that they are struggling with stuff too.  Ultimately, I want to break this stigma that just because you have “mental illness” that you are a flawed human being.  With that being said…

I want to refocus Running Without Injuries.  Sure physical injuries are important and I will touch on those too, but I want to bring to light what people experience when they go through depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder. If we can see what people are experiencing (through their eyes) maybe, we can be empathetic. 

I have learned how strong I am in the past 2 years.  It has been the hardest 2 years of my life without a doubt, but I am so grateful to have been through everything.  I have learned so much and this is just the beginning.  I am not going to let my mental health issues hold me back and I hope you come along with me in my journey.  I plan on doing some different and fun stuff this next year.

Tomorrow I will focus on what the heck I have been up to since selling the house and moving into the apartment almost a year ago.  I might have a story or two in there. 

                                            Calming Hypelapse from Cannon Beach, Oregon.

The end of an era, the big race and Plantar Fasciitis wins.

So lets go back to when I went off grid, in terms of the blog (Summer 2018)…

About 2 years ago my wife and I decided to separate after almost 10 years of marriage.  I will not go into any details out of respect for her, and because quite honestly it isn’t anyone’s business (sorry?).  She’s an amazing woman, great mother and we co-parent very well together.  I had my faults in the relationship, as we all do in all relationships.  I have loved the opportunity to really focus on how I can be better in all aspects of my life since that point, even though that type of self exploration is usually not very comfortable. 

So in the two months leading up to my race, we were living apart.  I will share this because it was funny (she thought so too).  We had the house and rented a 1-bedroom apartment and would swap.  Yes…just like the show Splitting Up Together.  It actually was better than we both expected, and we wanted to minimize the impact to the kids.  That’s all I will say about that.

I was getting my training in on the days when I didn’t have the kids.  I had what I call a “unicorn race” because there were a few things that I had to work through, but it went so much better than I expected.  I got my 100 mile buckle and most importantly, my ex brought the kids out to see me finish.  It is still my happiest moment, running across the finish with youngest two and my oldest cheering right near the finish line.  My whole inspiration to run 100 miles was to show them that there isn’t anything you cant accomplish if you just put in the work.

After the race, I tried to keep running and even signed up for Miwok 100k and Javelina 100. I got into Miwok.  Unfortunately, my Plantar Fasciitis was getting much worse.  I wasn’t taking care of my feet and after 2 years of trying everything, and I mean everything, I was unable to even keep a 14-15 minute pace on a good day. I was always in pain and it was about time I practice what I preach.  It was time to stop all physical activity for 4 months.

YES!!! I said no physical activity for 4 months.  No swimming, no biking, no hiking, no strenuous walks.  I tried to eliminate running and only cycle, or only swim in the past.  It never healed fully but it did help for a few weeks.  At the end of 2018, I started my break from running.  I was up for a promotion at work, which I got, but finances and overall stress were starting to build.

I am going to move ahead for a little and jump back to tie it all together, so hang with me… I was able to start training again after about 4 months.  It was like I had never run before; I had no endurance.  I couldn’t run a mile without stopping.  I don’t even know if you could call it running honestly (in my mind).  The cool thing is that for the first time that I could remember, there was no pain in my foot.  It was scary and I was trying to be cautious.  I had a number of injuries in my return including a calf tear, back issues, turf toe, and pes bursitis in my knee.  I would have an injury, take a few weeks or so to rest and start again (doing PT in the meantime).  I worked through the weak spots. 

I was working with a Physical Therapist and doctor about all the issues as I was coming back and knew these injuries were common.  I knew I wasn’t going to race Javelina, but I am a part of this amazing community of runners (the Ginger Runner Crew) and a bunch of us met and hung out all weekend, cheering and supporting runners (crewing, pacing, entertaining).  More on that in another post…

The GR Crew waiting for our runners to come in.  Best time ever!!!

It was one of the most amazing trips.  I stayed at my Aunt and Uncles in Palm Desert on the way down and we chatted for hours.  They let me crash there last second when my previous plans fell through.  I got to run on some amazing trails around Phoenix with my awesome friend Chris (@aktrailrunner) and after the race I went to Meteor Crater and the Grand Canyon before seeing my friend in Vegas and heading home.  In my head I knew all along that I was probably going to have to sell the house.

Chris B. and I ran the Sidewinder Trail.  My first run in Arizona.  Love it there!

I held on to the house for as long as I could, working with the loan company.  I did have equity in the house, but the thought of trying to sell it was too overwhelming with work, being a scout leader, and everything else.  I also had to get rid of 20+ year of shit (yes, I admit it).  Not like on those hoarding TV shows, but how many freaking chemical sprayers or why did I still have the weed whacker when we had artificial turf for the past 5 years? 

I had exhausted most of my savings and maxed my some of my credit cards (for one more freaking time in my life).   I had reached out to Zillow who makes cash offers on houses.  I tried this in the past with other companies and they always offered half of the appraised value.  This all started I before my trip to Arizona, but I hadn’t heard anything back from Zillow yet.  If this didn’t work, what was I going to do? 

They made me an offer and even though, it was less than I wanted, it would have sat on the market for months like the houses around me.  I couldn’t afford to wait so I sold to Zillow and I will say that I had a great experience.  I picked a 2 bedroom apartment closer to my ex and our biggest fear was if my moving wouldn't allow the kids to stay in their school.  We got the transfers so they could stay there until middle school.  YAY!!! 

So… tomorrow we will jump back to when I quit running at the end of 2018, to rehab my Plantar Fasciitis and the places that took me.  I am not just sharing random bits of my life for no reason.  Just remember that its always important have some fun and do things outside your comfort zone.  Turns out you might like it.  

My Costume at 2019 Javelina Jundred: Captain Hook with Inflatable Alligator. 

Real Runner Reviews’ 2019 Gift Guide

So I have been off the grid for a while.  I promise to share all about it in the new year.  A lot has happened in my life, some good and some bad.  I plan on coming back with more content than reviews in 2020.  Don't get me wrong, there will still be reviews, but I want to really get into injury prevention and how injuries change our lives, within running and beyond.  Lets get to the good stuff though.

It’s that time of year when you may be looking for that perfect gift for the runner in your life.  It may be a $5 stick of anti-chafe or a $1,000 pair or recovery boots.  There are so many choices out there and everyone advertises their product as life changing.  While I won’t make any claims on any product being the best for every person or situation, I wanted to list a few of my favorite pieces of gear and why.

OOFOS OOriginal Recovery Sandals - $49.95

OOFOS makes the most comfortable recovery sandal around.  Maybe your boss will be okay with you wearing them to work?  Not only does OOFOS foam absorb 37% more shock than other materials, but they cradle your arches as well.  They are machine washable and float. Beware, once you put them on, you won’t want to take them off.   I can say that everyday when I get home, my work shoes come off and my Oofos go on…for over 2 years now…on the same pair.  These are especially great after a long run or a punishing track workout. 

SportHill Zephyr Long Sleeve Crew Shirt - $79.95

If you are not familiar with SportHill Direct, Inc. they are based out of Oregon.  Jim Hill was a track runner at the University of Oregon when he realized that clothing at the time was not very effective.  He developed 3SP fabric, which was the fasted drying fabric in the world.  They have clothing for all types of outdoor sporting activities.  The Zephyr Long Sleeve Crew is made with their SwiftDryPro which is a 91& Polyester to 8% Spandex blend that blocks wind to 25 mph and wicks moisture like a champ.  It has built in thumb holes and just feels good, even on those long stormy runs.  The price is higher than other long-sleeved shirts, but the fabric holds the secret and is worth the price of admission.  I was a skeptic when I first saw the price point, but it has jumped to one of my favorite long sleeve shirts.

Allett Nylon Small Coin Wallet - $35.00 (on sale for $28.00 right now)

When I was younger I could sit on my bulky tri-fold wallet with no problem.  I am not as young as I once was and have noticed that I cannot sit on a big bulky wallet anymore.  I am always in need of a pen and a place to put spare change or a stash pocket (not for that…its good for stamps, spare house key, etc).    Allett has been in my pocket for the past 5 years or so.  They have a range of slim wallets using different materials depending on your preferences.  The Nylon Small Coin Wallet is great.  It has an outside zippered coin pocket, has two slots that each holds 10+ cards, and a divided pocket for cash and receipts.  The Nylon is tear resistant and easy to clean. My favorite part is the micro pen that fits in a special slot on the inside of the wallet.  At the sale price, this makes my butt and my wallet happy.  I had to retire my old Allett wallet for this one.

Aftershokz Aeropex Bone Conduction Headphones - $159.95

So, one thing that kills me is watching people run on trails or on the shoulder of the road with normal headphones that drown out all noise.  It is vital to hear other runners, cyclists, or vehicles and most earphones don’t allow that.  It has been a few years since bone conduction headphones really started hitting the mainstream market.  Aftershokz explains it as “Transducers send mini vibrations through the cheekbones and deliver sound directly to the inner ear, bypassing the eardrum.”  This allows you to hear your surroundings.  I can listen to music and still hear my friends when they occasionally say when we are turning up ahead. 

I will state up front that the quality is not as good as some closed ear or in ear headphone, but the sound is good and is a safer alternative for sure.  I had the Trekz Titanium for the longest time before upgrading to the Aeropex, which is their newest and most advanced headphones yet.  You get better sound, battery life (8+ hours), and is waterproof (with an IP67 rating).  I love these and the battery life is amazing!

DryGuy Force Shoe Dryer - $50.00 

Do you ever run in wet weather?  Did you know that it can dramatically reduce the life of your shoes if you don’t dry them the right way?  Shoes are typically held together, at least in part, with glue.  If exposed to heat from a laundry dryer, your shoes can start to come apart. 

In the past, I stuffed my shoes with newspaper and let them dry naturally, which would take days.  There is a much better solution though, and the price is great as well.  The DryGuy Force Dry is a shoe and glove dryer that is compact enough to take with you on trips thanks to its fold flat design.  The DryGuy Force Dry can dry a pair of shoes in 1-2 hours according to the packaging and after several tests, it rarely took me more than 90 minutes, even with the most thoroughly soaked shoes. 

There is a timer that you can set for up to 3 hours so you can turn on the DryGuy Force Dry before you go to bed or head out to run errands and not have to worry about the dryer running too long.  Another thing that I like about the DryGuy Force Dry is that it’s fairly quiet.  Unlike a pair of snowboard boot dryers that I got 10 years ago, the DryGuy Force Dry can be in the same room as you while watching television without having to crank up the volume.  I use this to dry my shoes all winter long.  It’s great for gloves and kids shoes too.

   

Victory Sportdesign Bear III - $120 and Victory Sportdesign Kodiak- $180

So, to be completely honest and upfront, I have talked with Victor Ballesteros, the CEO of Victory Sportdesign, for a while at events.  He is a really nice guy.  I would see his vendor booth and would check out the bags and after a year or so, I finally got to test a few out.  Victor not only makes awesome bags for runners, but works with certified a fair wage factory and makes sure that each bag takes into account the impact on the environment that making the bags will cost, trying to minimize that impact.

The Bear III is a great drop bag or race day gear bag.  I use it mostly for runs after work or at lunch when I need to pack all of my gear.  You can fit everything into this well-organized bag.  It has numerous pockets, a detachable divider, a shoe bag all on the inside.  The outside of the bag has see-through pockets for your name (drop bags) or so see what you have stored.  The seams are taped, and it has a water-resistant outer shell.  You also get a shoulder strap. 

If you need something bigger or are looking for a travel bag for racing outside of your area, look no further than the Kodiak.  This beast is amazing as well.  It has the same water-resistant outer shell and taped seams but adds backpack straps with bottle holders that can be strapped together (attached) to make a duffel handle.  There is a see-through pocket as well as a few outer pockets.  On the inside, you really get to see Victor’s genius designing at work.  There are 9 separate see-through pockets in the top of the zippered opening.  There is a large customizable storage area that includes separators.  You can keep it open as one big compartment or make smaller ones.  I could go on-and on about these bags, but they would be at the top of my list for runners who travel to races or even who just like to have their gear organized on race day.

OPTP Stretch Out Strap with Exercise Booklet - $15.95

Stretching your muscles out on a regular basis will help you recover quicker, increase flexibility, and reduce the risk of injury from running.  The OPTP Stretch Out Strap is 6’4” in length and has multiple loops to make it easier to hold while stretching.  The included exercise book comes with 30 exercises to help you along the way.  I use mine almost every night.

With this being the time of giving, you now have a few items that are worthy of checking out for the runner in your life.  I hope you all have a happy and healthy holiday season and I am going to be coming back in 2020 to bring some exciting changes to the blog.  The long hiatus is over!

Note:  I received these product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.  I worked with Deep Creek PR out of Seattle on the Allett and SportHill items.  I have been working with Deep Creek PR for a few years and Cameron Ownbey really goes out of his way to represent their clients.

Rehband Knee Sleeve Review

There is much more involved with being an injury free and successful runner than just hitting the pavement or trails.  I have found that stretching, foam rolling, and strength training also have to be included in my training to not just become stronger, but reduce the risk of injury.  By strengthening the muscles in my legs, I become more stable and can really crush my runs.  I have really noticed my endurance increasing and I can handle climbing and descending hills much better.

I have been working out in the gym for over 25 years now.  I can’t believe that I can even say that.  It makes me feel so old!!!  I am not a gym guru by any means.  I’ve had some friends who are personal trainers work with me on my form and training plans to get the most out my gym workouts.  I have always had some knee issues, especially on heavy leg days. 

My friend and coworker told me about his favorite knee sleeves that he uses when he’s lifting.  He’s a pure animal and puts his gear through the ringer, but says his Rehband Original Knee Sleeves are amazing and will last forever.  I fully trust him and wanted to see if it would help with my knee pain. 

The Rehband Original Knee Sleeve is a 7mm thick knee sleeve that will provide support and stabilization while lifting.  It’s made of thick Neoprene with a seamless back panel and anatomical construction to really work with you when lifting heavy weights.  It does a great job of warming up your joints and muscles to prevent injuries.  When I say warming, I mean that it will make you sweat like crazy under the sleeve.

These knee sleeves are the go-to knee sleeve for people in cross fit from the research that I’ve done.  They are approved for use in Powerlifting, Olympic lifting, Crossfit, Strongman, and Elite team sports.

So my experience with the sleeves has been really good.  They fit great and stay put.  I have tried other cheaper sleeves that always slide down or cause irritation.  The Rehband Original Knee Sleeves do a great job of heating up my knees.  I throw them on before my 1/2 mile jog to the gym and am ready to lift heavy when I get there. I’ve not had any knee pain since I’ve started using my Rehband Original Knee Sleeves and have been able to lift heavier and longer because of the extra stability.

Here is my only issue and it has nothing to do with the product at all.  By the time I am done with my workout, the knee sleeves are drenched with sweat.  I just let them dry, but do have to wash them in the sink after every 2-4 workouts because they start to smell a little.  I could easily see these sleeves lasting for years, they are that durable. 

You can find them on Amazon for $39.59 each (sold per sleeve, not per pair) and they are eligible for Prime shipping.  I encourage you to go to their website and look at their injury guide for other products that may help with an injury you are dealing with (click here). 

Pros:

Extremely durable

Help with knee pain

May help you lift heavier and longer

Reduces the risk of injury

Stabilizes knee and surrounding soft tissue

Rehband’s Social Media Links

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I am a huge advocate for products that can help you reduce the risk of injury.  The Rehband Original Knee Sleeves are one of those products that can help you when working on increasing your strength and becoming less injury prone in whatever sport you are participating in.  I do not plan on having to buy another pair of these sleeves because they should last for quite a long time, but I would not hesitate to buy them again.  While I would be hesitant to spend $80 on a pair of sleeves, the fact that they will last forever and work so well, makes this a “no-brainer” for me. 

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.