How Many Socks?

My new best friends – Wigwams!

I originally bought these for my first trail run. I wanted a cushiony sock that covered the ankles. Most of the trail socks have wool in them.
Wool = itchiness - > me!
Unfortunately, these wool free socks ended up being too thick for my Pegs.
When the cooler weather arrived, I dug them out and slipped them on.
Buttery soft with steadfast warmth. I never take them off!
(Well...just to wash 'em.)

Sock Trivia:

• By 1,000 AD, socks became a symbol of wealth among the nobility. (Wiki)
• Socks are foot specific. Huh, no one told me that…
• Some people run in socks. They call them Vibram.

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Got My AMBP On!

Product: “Anti Monkey Butt Powder is a new product for active people. Excessive sweat from running can cause irritation.”
The powder consists of Calamine, which contains zinc oxide, and Talc which is also a mineral. The talc is absorbing and the calamine has a mild antiseptic property.

Test: I don’t really have issues with Monkey Butt. But I do have sweaty feet – especially in the summer. This can lead to blisters, athletes’ foot, stink, etc.

“With more than 250,000 sweat glands each, your feet are among the most perspiring parts of the body. In one day, each foot can produce more than a pint of sweat!” - How Stuff Works

So I applied a generous amount of AMBP to my feet, then slipped on my socks and runners.

Pros:
Smooth to apply.
Does absorb wetness.
Has possible anti bacterial properties.

Cons:
A tad messy – for blondes like me.
Don’t inhale it!

Summing up:
Not sure how well it works in extreme sweaty conditions and chaffing, but definitely kept my feet dry. I would recommend runners check this product out.

Free:
I have 2 small sample packs to give away if anyone is interested in checking this product out. Just email me your mailing address.
(My Email address is in the sidebar.)

Thanks Christian for sending me a sample of this product – Anti Monkey Butt Powder!

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The Good, the Sad, and the Ugly

Race Recap - 10 mile Pear Blossom race

The Good

• Was able to connect with other runners in the race using Twitter. Extra fun - a local news station reporter set up a time to interview me via a tweet. (No, I didn’t get my 30 seconds of fame.)
• Maintained my half-marathon race pace to discover I had lots of steam at the end.
• I was dressed just right! The weather was perfect for running!
• Lots of police on motorcycles controlling traffic.
• Enjoyed seeing old buildings in the city.
• A young girl was handing out Twizzlers at the 9 mile mark.

The Sad

• The race organizers did not time the 5k entries. There were over a thousand runners.
• I did not sleep much the night before – despite bringing my own pillow.
• Discovered the lotion I used at the hotel, to massage my feet with, was hair conditioner.
• Witnessed an expensive iPod skip across the asphalt. I wonder if the guy had to run the rest of the race in silence.
• Spotting the halfway mark in the far distance, after climbing up and over the hill.
• The post race raisin bread – had no raisins just cinnamon chips. (But still tasted pretty good.)

The Ugly

• Despite maintaining my half-marathon pace and coming in sooner than expected, I felt deflated when seeing the final race results. I wasn’t even in the top half...

Swag

• Bright orange hand towel.

Fav T-shirt Words

“Paris Rome Frankfurt” For that international flavor.
“That’s How I Roll” Possibilities - roller derby gal, a pastry chef or a pot smoker?

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Shoe Saving Measures

Now with all this talk about saving money – let’s focus on our shoe allowance.

Two important Questions:

How much did you spend on runners last year? And how long did those shoes last?

"The rule of thumb is usually about 500 to 700 miles is a good distance to replace your shoes."

The life of your runner depends on:

• Your body weight – I’m a bantamweight.
• How many miles – I’ve got 43 miles on pair #3, 477 miles on #2 and 460 miles on #1.
• Your foot strike - So far I have no issues.
• The type of shoe – trail runners versus flats.
• What surface you usually run on. I run on a mixed terrain and avoid cement.
• Keeping them clean. I have been known to throw them in the washer on the gentle cold cycle when I want them to look spiffy for a race. I also sweep them off with this Whisk.

Tips on runner care:

• Spray on a Waterproof spray before you take them outside. (I have never done this!)
• Shoe cleaning foam?
• Replace the insole after 100 miles. Sounds like a good idea.
• Make sure you facilitate the drying of your shoes! If they are wet, tilt them over and place them somewhere warm. I’ve even stuffed them with newspaper to absorb the moisture. [I think shoe dryers are for the rich and famous.]
• Rotate your shoes. I really believe this accounts for the long life of my runners.
• Did I mention throwing them in the washing machine?

How do you extend the life of your runners?

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FALL Running Gear

Often, in the Northwest, there is transition from summer to fall – a gradual cooling with the shorter days. But this year it seemed too happen overnight.

My Checklist for Fall Gear:

1. Waterproof top and pants.
Today, in the pouring rain, I wore poly shorts and a technical shirt. These fabrics are not as bad as cotton, but I still felt heavy wet. (They do however dry faster than cotton.)
2. Waterproof holder for the iPod.
I ended up slipping my exposed played into my back pocket. It stayed relatively dry. (That’s how fast I run : )
3. New Gloves
I’ve yet to find a rain proof pair. I usually just pull down my selves in an attempt to keep dry.
4. A Bright Cap
A cap with a big brim to keep the rain out of the eyes. Just till winter – then I switch over to a headband.
5. New Socks
Still looking for a sock that keeps the feet warm while running – but are not too THICK.
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Looks like I’ve got a lot of shopping to do. I would love to hear what everyone else is buying this Fall.

“There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks. Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough, to pay attention to the story.”
- Linda Hogan
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Foot Strike Re-visited

What part of the foot do you land on when running?

Heel
Midfoot
Toes

During races I’ve noticed a lot of different running styles. From flat footed to just running on their toes.
Which is the most efficient?
There is a lot of information online about this topic.
I know on long runs, when I get tired, I tend to sit back and ride on my heels. So for me, heel running uses less energy. But when running faster, I take off and land on my midfoot – not toes.

"Keeping your stride short so that you land midfoot." -
Chi running

After reading this interesting article - "Heel vs. Midfoot vs. Forefoot: How do elite runners land?", I’ve come to a conclusion – Don’t change your style!
“Just let your feet land where and how they land, and worry about all the other things you can when you run!”

And if you have time – Watch this YouTube vid on Foot Mechanics. Not only does it clear up confusion about being a supinator or pronator. He shows actually foot strike while running at different paces. And something I had never thought of before - the difference between walking (heel first) and running (natural). Heel first means brakes!

A footnote (Forgive the pun)
The action of your foot striking the ground smashes red blood cells.
“The trauma associated with foot strike is thought to be the major cause of hemolysis after running.”
Another good reason to tread lightly.

Have a great day and Keep on Running!

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Foot Talk

This weeks Runners’ Lounge TIART topic is -> Care and Feeding of Your Feet!

I believe the number one cause of sore feet is improper fitting shoes! You know the routine – you try them on, run professionally around the store and then speed home with your new best friends under you arm.
At first try they are all of a sudden too stiff and your left heel is pinched…If you’re like me - you feel obligated to keep the runners.
$$$
Well I’m not doing that anymore! If I can’t return them I will use them for yard work or give them away.

Galloway’s tips for preventing for sore feet:

• Run lightly and keep feet low to the ground.
• Check your shoes. If they don’t fit correctly or are worn out replace them.

References:

Past post on feet – The Foot Refresher
Video on foot massage
New runners
More pics of my feet

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