Join in on this Cyber Monday deal you can't pass up

Alpha Performance Inserts is Veteran owned and the product is American made.  

Jump in on this deal I can offer you.  Use the code "HACK30" and get 30% off your purchase. 

When you order from their website Alpha Performance Inserts, use the promo code when checking out. 

I have used these inserts in my daily walking shoes, my road running shoes along with my trail running shoes. They swap out easily, or if you don't want to do that, get yourself two pairs. 

I have also worn them in my cycling and mountain bike shoes. They feel amazing inside the show while pedaling. 

More on the insert. 

The shoe insert was made to reduce injuries and strengthen your feet. 

I initially tested and used them three weeks in every situation I could throw at them.  

After wearing them I could feel myself on the way to recovering from a terrible situation with Plantar Fasciitis. 

The ALPHA shoe inserts have made a difference. I am able to walk, hike and run with no pain during or the next day. In the first two weeks of testing the inserts I logged just over 24 miles on a treadmill. 

The ALPHA inserts come in many sizes, so check the web site for your shoe/foot size. They also are available in four different colors. Orange, grey, blue and black.  I chose orange, so a quick glance down at my shoes before putting them on, seeing and knowing with the bright orange color they are inside the shoe. 

Here is the update my video and blog. 

By the way, if you’re not subscribed to my YouTube channel, please do. 

Back on track with the ALPHA from Apex Gear Co.

The Apex Gear Company is Veteran owned and the product is American made.  

The shoe insert was made to reduce injuries and strengthen your feet. 

I have tested and used them over the past three weeks.  I am on the way to recovering from a terrible situation with Plantar Fasciitis. 

The ALPHA shoe inserts have made a difference. I am able to walk, hike and run with no pain during or the next day.  The two weeks of testing these inserts I logged just over 24 miles on a treadmill. 

The ALPHA inserts come in many sizes, so check the web site for your shoe/foot size. They also are available in four different colors. Orange, grey, blue and black.  I chose orange, so a quick glance down at my shoes before putting them on,, seeing and knowing with the bright orange color they are inside the shoe. 

Here is the update my video and blog. 

By the way, if you’re not subscribed to my YouTube channel, please do. 

Apex Gear Co.’s ALPHA performance shoe insert

I’ve talked a lot about suffering from plantar fasciitis over almost the past year.  The stretching and good supportive shoe are helping, however I am trying out the Apex Gear Co.’s ALPHA shoe insert. 

Apex Gear Co. ALPHA insert  was created by marathoners and pedorthists.  

So instead of you asking Google what a pedorthist is, I’ll tell you. 

Pedorthist

A pedorthist is a professional who has specialized training to modify footwear and employ supportive devices to address conditions which affect the feet and lower limbs. They are trained in the assessment of lower limb anatomy and biomechanics, and the appropriate use of corrective footwear – including shoes, shoe modifications and other pedorthic devices.

The company is Veteran owned and the product is American made.  The shoe insert was made to reduce injuries and strengthen your feet. 

The ALPHA inserts come in many sizes, so check the web site for your shoe/foot size. They also are available in four different colors. Orange, grey, blue and black.  I chose orange, so a quick glance down at my shoes before putting them on,, seeing and knowing with the bright orange color they are inside the shoe. 

Wearing these I am looking to improve my foot feeling and help eliminate the Plantar Fasciitis.

This should set me on my way to pain free walking and running. 

I’ll be trying these while running, walking and hiking over the next two weeks and update my video and blog. 

By the way, if you’re not subscribed to my YouTube channel, please do. 

Also check out the Apex Gear Co. site

100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge for 2019

As of today, 11/19/2019, I have logged already 137 miles of the 200 mile challenge. 

I’ve signed up again. It’s a good reason to keep active in the winter months, even though for me that was going to happen anyways. 

I live and work in Maricopa County, here in Arizona. I have signed up for their 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge. Helping promote getting outside and being active. With the holidays and busy schedules it sometimes is hard. The county’s parks provide over 420 miles of outdoor adventure. Many of the trails on in Usery Regional Park and San Tan Regional Park I have ventured on either running, hiking or mountain biking.  I try to keep my training from hitting lows during the time of year, but I took on the challenge wanting to keep up my training over the winter months. The miles are calculated using your GPS device or you can download their app they created for the challenge. Hikers and runners need to get in 100 miles while the mountain bikers and horseback riders need to reach a distance of 200 miles. There are some other requirements that must be met to finish the challenge. Take a look here for more info, or if you're interested in signing up yourself, for locals here in Arizona. 

100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge

Besides getting a t-shirt when you have finished the distance, some of the county parks hold a little celebration when it is over. Finishers also get their names entered in a drawing to receive a yearly county park pass. 

Since the challenge started on November 1, 2019 for this year, my mountain biking, put in the category where I would need to hit 200 miles. Hitting weekend morning 11 or more mile loops in the park I could get the distance in. 

Over this past three day weekend I was able to log over 50 mountain bike miles, really meaning around 25 that would go towards the challenge. 

ASHANKS collapsible tripod

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100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge here in Maricopa County

I live and work in Maricopa County, here in Arizona. For the first time, this year, I have signed up for their 100 Miles in 100 Days Challenge. Helping promote getting outside and being active. With the holidays and busy schedules it sometimes is hard. The county’s parks provide over 420 miles of outdoor adventure. Many of the trails on in Usery Regional Park and San Tan Regional Park I have ventured on either running, hiking or mountain biking. I was up for the challenge. My training hits a low during the time of year, but I took on the challenge wanting to keep up my training over the winter months. The miles are calculated using your GPS device or you can download their app they created for the challenge. Hikers and runners need to get in 100 miles while the mountain bikers and horseback riders need to reach a distance of 200 miles. There are some other requirements that must be met to finish the challenge. Take a look here for more info, or if your interested in signing up yourself, for locals here in Arizona. 

https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/things-to-do/activity/100-miles-in-100-days-challenge/

With the hiking I have done with my wife in San Tan or trail run training or racing I have done, it took a big chunk out of reaching the goal. With my mountain biking, I was put in the category where I would need to hit 200 miles. Hitting weekend morning 11 or more mile loops in the park I could get the distance in. 

Yesterday, Saturday, I was able to get in a great 25 mile ride in Usery, even hitting a new trail that opened up, called the Chain Fruit trail. The new trail is open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders. 

It’s been a great way to keep the training going over the winter. 

VENTURE 4TH Self Inflating Sleeping Pad

The VENTURE 4TH Self Inflating Sleeping Pad requires no pump at opening the valve starts the pad inflating by itself. There is a layer of foam inside that gives it great structure. 

You can, and I have, added more air into it by blowing in the valve to make the pad more firm.  With many camping trips we use to use an air mattress having to bring along an inflator to inflate it before going to bed. Not with this pad. The air mattress would alway lose air overnight with no visible leaks in it. So far, the VENTURE 4TH Self Inflating Sleeping Pad is staying inflated throughout the night. It folds and rolls small and will be part of our hiking ventures in the future. With the shape of it, it could be inserted inside your sleeping bag if you have a difficult time staying on top of it. It supports the body very well. We have had some difficulty folding and rolling back small enough like that it originally came like. I have come close, but they take up way less room than the old air mattress we used to use.  It is lightweight and very compact though. I would highly recommend the VENTURE 4TH Self Inflating Sleeping Pad. Although it is self inflating, I have added air to make it more firm. It is very comfortable and holds the air well. No carrying any inflators or batteries to inflate. 

Venture 4th Sleeping Pad

 #Venture4th #SleepingPad #selfinflating

 #camping #hiking #sleepcomfort 

Looking to do more on my blog with YouTube videos

As of now I have 99,500 or so some visits to my blog here.  Over on my YouTube channel I have 65 subscribers.  I am wanting to really focus a lot of attention on improving my blogs with videos while making them more regularly. I am looking for your help.  I am wanting to increase my subscribers on my YouTube channel.
Just like my blog, my videos focus on photography/videography, gear and techniques, and cycling, mountain biking, training, hiking and using a Traeger pellet grill. 

 2018 is going to be a great year, and I want you all to follow along. 

Scott Hacker YouTube Channel

2018 is here!

2018 is here!
I have some big goals and ideas I want to tackle here in 2018.  A big one is incorporating more weights in my workouts. Becoming stronger on the road and mountain bike. I have been putting together a workout and training plan that will help me improve not only my power on the bike but endurance as well.
As I get started with my training program for the year, I am continuing my roller workouts either at my house or bringing the rollers with me. 

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!

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. 

Up next....

Prepping for hiking the Grand Canyon at the end of this month.  Hiked 10 miles this morning with my wife at a local desert park. 

Xtreme Bright LED Camping Lantern

I have recently been using the Xtreme Bright’s LED camping lantern as I get outside my car and prep my mountain bike before heading out on the trail.  The small lantern, about the size of a soup can only weighs 6 ounces and is run by 3AA batteries. The handles on the top are very convenient and could be used to hang in a tree or attach a rope or clip to to suspend it. The light simply turns on my pulling the top of the lantern up, exposing the LED.  If you wanted to dim the light you could just not extend the lamp out all the way. I can foresee this lamp making its way into our backpacks to go hiking or camping.  The lamp is available in three colors red, black and gold. 

Full Disclosure: 

I received the product mentioned above using Tomoson.com 

I only recommend products or services I personally use and believe in.