Looking forward to 2018

I am looking forward to 2018. Many goals of mine for the New Year are still being made, and I will update this blog with it soon.  What is on your list? 

Happy New Year!

ShoeCue, shoe inserts to help in run form efficiency

        

            

Wanting to become a better runner and work on improving my foot strike, I thought I would give ShoeCue, a shoe insert for helping correct ones stride, a try.  Totally impressed with them first off.  Replaced my insoles in my running shoes to slipped these in the first day I got them for a two mile run.  The insoles can be cut down to size to fit your shoe. With my feet being size 13 and my shoe size being 14, I didn’t have to cut anything off the ShoeCue insole. 

                                                               

So what makes these inserts so special and why will they be able to help correct my foot strike and stride? Theres a patent pending heel plate with raised bumps. Let me say also, that these are a training device. 

                                             

                                                           

So what happens if, while running, you do land on your heel, landing on these bumps? 

If you land on your heel, you will feel a little sensation in your heel, which is then the trigger to not do it again, on the next stride and so on. Over time of training with them, your muscle memory will kick in to avoid you from heal striking. Landing with the heel first is a very inefficient form of running. With wearing these training insoles, I have improved my stride to be shorter and smoother.  I can tell it will help develop some muscles in my leg that will keep my mid-foot striking and having a more fluid stride. About once a week, to keep myself from the bad habit of heel striking, slip the inserts in for a few miles. 

 

Grand Canyon Trip of 2017

A total of nine of us made it to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up the next day. A great hiking trip in the making over a year ago.

Here are to two GPS maps captured as we took the South Kaibab Trail down to Phantom Ranch at the bottom, close to the Colorado River. The second video shows the Bright Angel Trail we took to return up to the south rim. 

Perfect weather and friends to talk with on the journey.
We all stayed the night in the dorms at Phantom Ranch and had dinner and breakfast down there.
Had a great time with all that came on the trip.
Cooled my feet off in the Bright Angel Creek, running along side Phantom Ranch, to prep them for the hike out the next day.  The ice cold water was just what my feet needed. If you have never been to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, I would highly recommend it, if not just viewing the Grand Canyon from the South Rim, it is all quite the site to see.

Relive 'Morning Hike' 

Relive 'Morning Hike'

No time goals of getting to the bottom, or any time goal of getting back to the South Rim. 

Training for this adventure was fun. A backpack with clothes and snacks as well as a hydration pack all weighing just about 15 pounds is what I brought with me. With the top of the canyon being colder, and a mile down warmer, I brought clothes that could be layered and wicked sweat. Only took my smartphone to capture video and photographs with.