Attack of the sport sock! It will eat your toes.... (Impromptu Product review?)

 Last week I had a bit of issue sneaking in a morning run....  You know how it goes... the day just starts slipping away and by the time the baby is down for her nap and everyone is dressed and I'm ready to go, someone wakes up early from nap or an appointment comes up...  You get the idea.

Anyway....  We decided that a family picnic style dinner at the park would be an enjoyable evening. And i could loop the park to get in my miles while my husband was playing with the kids.

I got a mile and I had this TERRIBLE pain in my foot!  It felt like the knuckles on my middle toe was being rubbed by the neighboring toes.  It sorta felt like there wasn't enough room on my foot for that toe!

I should probably preface this post that when it comes to my shoes, I'm sorta "the princess and the pea".  I have to sweep out my shoes before they go on and examine the socks for any strange snags or anything that's going to "rub weird" (like the sock seam at the toes!).

That's why I'm sorta surprised that I didn't notice this issue sooner, like when I put my sock on!  But I thought I was just being too sensitive and powered through it.  After that one mile, I wandered to the picnic blanket and took my sock off to adjust it.

My toe was trapped in thread loops like a little hammock!

Champion  "Duo Dry" Socks

After trying another mile, it hurt too bad.  Another examination on the blanket, and it became obvious that I had cuts on the toe from the threads rubbing.  I purchased these Champion Duo Dry Socks on the cheap at Target, and now I know to avoid them!!  When I got home, I turned every pair inside-out and all of them have this loopy issue.  Ick.  As if my life doesn't already have little things to stress about and big things to worry over, now I have to cut the loose threads out of my socks?  No thank you.  

I first purchased some Fitsok socks at Portland Running Company, and now I know that there are some things it's just best not to skimp on.  Love you Fitsok!  Thanks for not cutting my toes off!

At least the injury was short lived.  Today I got 10 miles done!  In the pouring rain.  I loved every minute of it.  Sometimes it's just good to get out and get a run in.

Any painful gear lessons you have endured?  Please share them with me!
What kind of socks have won your heart or helped your feet?  

Kinesio Tape and All That Hype

I haven't gone into a lot of detail about some of my physical struggles for two reasons:

1.)  Someone out there has it harder than I do and probably kicks ass, so what do I have to complain about? and
2.)  I don't want to come off as a whiny cry-baby.

We all have our struggles whether they are physical limitations, injuries, mental walls, negative thoughts or low motivation.  This post is about one step for me to overcome some of my physical limitations.

Let it be plainly stated now that I am not a doctor, have no medical training and am just some random person on the internet with an interest in running and prone to knee injuries.  My thoughts are only opinions and if you have any questions about any pain, injury, applying sports tape (of any name brand) or any other health issues, please seek the advice of a professional.  I'll let you decide if "professional" means a doctor visit, e-mailing for a physical therapist referral or visiting a big-box store on a day that they have personal trainers applying said sports tape.

So with that stated, let's begin my Kinesio Tape experiences and review of two brands.

Kinesio Tex Gold tape applied by my physical therapist on my left knee

This is Kinesio Tex Gold tape my physical therapist applied around my bum knee.  After wiping my leg down with alcohol (to remove skin oil, lotions or any other things that can effect the tape's ability to properly adhere), she took two strips and cut a slit down the middle of them, creating a "v" shape and placing on strip above and one below the patella.

I didn't notice a pain-free improvement right away, but by the time the day was drawing to an end, I was feeling much better about the ache and swelling that already existed from overdoing it that weekend (with a fundraiser walk in the morning and then a race that evening).

I was a believer in this whole "taping-thing" by that night.  I felt like my knee was stronger and less painful.  Placebo effect?  Mind over matter?  There certainly is some sticky issue over the science behind the tape.
Articles on the world wide web state that studies fail to find evidence that it works, yet so many people claim that it does help.

By morning however, my experience with Kinesio Tex Gold was over.  It had peeled off while I was sleeping!  I didn't shower with it,  I didn't run in it, I just did the normal routine-type stuff.

    It didn't even last 24 hours. 

A week passed and I ran another 5k race and wondered off to a health fair expo.  There, I found a booth doing free KT taping...

I confess that this roadrunner was NOT at my health expo.

Both my physical therapist and a friend's husband who is a physical therapist felt that the stuff available at most sporting good stores was not as good as some of the options available to licensed therapists.  So, with that in mind, I still decided to wait in line (over an hour) for this free taping.

KT Tape applied by a personal trainer on my right heel

KT Tape applied on my left (bum) knee by a personal trainer

 My physical therapist wanted me to keep the Kinesio Tex Gold on for three days-- that didn't happen.  I have awhile before my next appointment with her...  So I felt a little lucky when I found someone doing free taping at the health expo.  He used KT tape, and said that the tape is designed for an active life.  It can be sweat in, worn in the shower, and while swimming.

As you can see by my puckered up skin on my knee cap, he got me nice and tight while the knee had a slight bend to it.

(I asked him to get my ankle too since I had hit a cobblestone on a trail while training for the 5k I had that day.  I hit that stone and rolled my ankle weeks ago, but still had some slight pain in it.  The pain was mostly noticeable at night when trying to go to sleep, but an ache was always present.  After taping it, I immediately felt relief.)

I ran with this tape, showered several times, slept, ate, drank, played...  it stayed on.

After 4 days of it on, the only real wear of it was the "KT" starting to peel off the tape itself.

4 days after application

With no signs of the tape coming off, and my original therapy plan being three days with it on, I decided to peel it off.   I was told that it can stay on for 7-9 days.  Wow.  I suppose the Kinesio Tex Gold could have the same durability... but for some reason, the first go around had it peeling off right away.

Not being a scientist or reading up on all the reasons why this tape might be "junk science", I might not have a well-rounded opinion on this stuff...  but after my chronic pain being alleviated, I am a believer.  Placebo?  Maybe.  Would I recommend this as the only part of recovery or injury prevention?  Absolutely NOT.

Proper stretching, strength training and when needed, physical therapy are all vital to healing, recovery and injury prevention.   However, I feel that the pain in my heel is gone and the knee pain greatly subsided.  While running with the tape, I noticed that my knee did not flare up or swell.  So with the advice and direction of a medical professional, I will be using KT tape.

Is one better than the other?  Probably.  With both being in the same price range, I'll probably start using the one that is most accessible and go from there.  (Which happens to be KT tape available at my local running stop and every big-box store on the corner.  Sorry Kinesio Gold.)

Tell me below what you think of "sports tape", kinesio tape or athletic tape.  Do you use it?  Is it just hype?

What is that...? I think it's called.... the sun?

Well, all those April showers are bringing the May flowers in my neighborhood.  There are all sorts of beautiful colors, but I never realized just how pink my street is!  PINK everywhere!  ...Or I have pink on the brain since I am gearing up for my breast cancer charity walk.  I did my 4 miles on Sunday and was seriously in awe of how the breeze grabbed the cherry blossom pedals and made them dance in the air.  I would have imagined something silly like it was my victory lap and it was celebratory confetti, but my sore calves were killing my mood.  It did carry me home though.  I would just look for the next pink blossom and before I knew it, I was done with my 4 miles!

When I took this picture, I dropped my husband's white headphones...  It took him about an hour to help me find them.  Oops.

 These were very pretty, but full of bees!  That's okay, right?  Leave them alone and they leave you alone... or something like that.  I do know a running friend who got stung and then an infection!  Leaves me a little paranoid about them...  :)

  

This isn't a rose, but looks a lot like one!  Anyone know what it is?  It's very pretty.

This tree lost a lot of it's flowers from the rain and breeze... and let me tell you that it's huge, waxy pedals are very slick!  Don't fall when running through the flower pedals!  

Monday was a day of stretching and strength training, but I spent the evening at Portland Running Company and found my new candy store.  I love supporting local businesses and found the staff so incredibly helpful and great product selection.  I don't want to sound insincere, but I can seriously gush!  They know what they are talking about.  My helper was John, and he just ran a full marathon the day before!  Anyone who does that is freakin' amazing.  Anyone who gets off the couch and runs or walks is amazing in my eyes...  but this guy got it done in just over 2 1/2 hours.  Wow.  It took a bit of time to find the right pair for me, but I appreciate that he never lost patience and went outside with me with every pair of shoes to watch my stride when I ran.  

                                            

As you can see, my trusty worn out pair on the top have a HUGE, bulky heel.  I hated trying to run in them... so, not knowing anything about shoes or running, I flocked to the sparkly ones like a raven hoarding shiny things.  Aren't they nice for a run on a gloomy, overcast day?  They could be... depending on your pronation type.  It would seem that I over pronate, big time!  My heel rolls inward and this can cause further pain in my already iffy knees and aggravate my "runner's knee".  ...Which I happen to be in physical therapy for!

The garish rainbow shoes (that I am totally smitten with,)  have too much "flex" and it seems that I need to have that bulky heel to provide the support I need not to roll my heels.  This is made even more clear by examining my wear patterns on my shoes....  My worn out, over-loved, day-to-day shoes are worn out in the middle of the shoe while the edges still have some traction.  Exactly what is desired.  So....  after an hour and a half of running in all sorts of shoes (I was in denial about the bulky heel and hoped to avoid it...), I now introduce you to my new running shoes!  (Drum Roll please!)

Brooks Addiction 10th edition

If you haven't been fitted for a shoe with your running style evaluated, I highly recommend it.  And if you live anywhere near driving distance to the Portland Running Company,  please visit them.  They are so awesome.  And in true spirit of Portland, they have free beer and snacks after their group runs.  Check them out!