Update on Plantar Fasciitis and Running on a Treadmill for Training

I can honestly say my plantar fasciitis is feeling the best it has in eight months, however it has not gone away.  My ankle and lower leg still feel a little stiff when first waking up getting out of bed in the morning, but nothing like early last fall. 

Stretching my lower and upper leg muscles along with icing with Frozen Peaz.  I am stretching not just muscles in my foot, but my calves, hamstrings and hips too. 

Needless to say, the foot and ankle doctors advice and help in ordering orthotics has not made the problem go away like I thought it would.  With that, I have left the one doctor I was seeing and am attempting to see another doctor to get his advice and help in dealing with the issue. 

I am almost wondering if the first doctor just had me going to him to buy the expensive orthotics that have not really helped at all. 

I have really focused this past month and a half on using the percussion massage on my soleus muscle. 

The calf contains a network of muscles and tendons on the back and sides of the lower leg including the soles muscle. A good five minutes with the percussion massager on my arch and ball of my foot then I move up to the backside of the lower leg.  This seems to be helping and doing the trick. 

On a happier note, at home we invested in a treadmill. It was in the budget and had the features we were looking for as a family to getting. 

I have had two sessions on it. I ran a great two mile run on it last night, testing out some of the features and got in a groove when I was on it. 

I hate to say it, but I had a fun run. My legs and knees liked the less stress pounding they took.  

I am looking forward to many more treadmill runs as I get back in running shape. 

TriForce with half-ball exercise

Working on stability and strength off the mountain bike. This exercise works the entire body and I've teamed it up using only a 2 pound weight on the one side of the TriForce device.  Sure, the device can be used with any or all of the weights it comes with, 2, 3 and 4 pounds. 

Finished the 465 Challenge

In a challenge I thought I was going to be able to take care of in the first 24 hours, I completed 12 days later. I finished the 465 Virtual Challenge. A total of 53 miles, which would be one time around the 465 Loop in Indiana.  

So now what? 

Well, I plan on continuing until the end of the calendar date of the challenge. Joining what they are using the term "Loopers", seeing how many times you can complete the 53 mile loop.  

WEND Waxworks, WEND chain wax

After a hard two months of putting it to the test, I am a firm believer in WEND Waxworks, WEND chain wax. It is easy to apply and keeps my chain clean even out on the mountain bike trails. The wax is a perfect chain lubricant. No noise as the chain spins around the drive-train and no mess of a lubricant slinging around, getting on other parts of the bike or myself. 

It comes in some flashy colors. I like the colored versions as I can tell where the product has been placed. 

It works hand and hand with the WEND chain WAX OFF, a chain cleaner and lubricant itself. I have been using it on a towel to not just clean older wax off the chain when fully cleaning, but rub in the WEND wax that is on the chain just after applying it, helping work the wax in the chain’s pins and rollers.