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. 

Plantar fasciitis, update

Still dealing with Plantar Fasciitis. Limited time, but I am able to find it, is slowing my healing process down. After walking or standing on my feet for a full day, I pay the price the next day or so. 

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. I am keeping my treatments with the JigSaw massage gun (I’ve been able to go cordless, I’ll update on that later) too.  

I also have gone back to the foot doctor and had my feet casted for getting new orthotics. 

The two to three weeks before the orthotics come back from the lab can not come soon enough.

 

I am hoping and praying this will do the trick and knock out the issue for good or lessen the pain. 

Couldn't do it on my own

Couldn't do it on my own this time. Finally, I have made an appointment and seen a foot doctor to help with my right foot.  The intense pain in the heel had made it tough to walk around, let alone get my workouts in.  Stayed away from running for over well over a month and a half now. The stretching treatments I have been doing at home with a following up of an ice, Frozen Peaz, treatment has been making the pain go away, but it does return in time. 

The doctor taped it up with athletic tape for a week, starting today.  Doing this to help relieve the inflammation. I return in a week to see the progress and move on from there. 

I have been working on adding more foam rolling into my routine and will be very aggressive in doing it daily.  I need to not only work on my feet, but tight calves and hamstrings, as this is affecting my feet too.
Looking like it will end with getting a pair of custom orthotics to correct the issue all together.   

MCL Surgery, on the road to recovery

Who's happier in this image? My mom or me as I come out of anesthesia from the surgery. 

(Note: I was still a little out of it as you might notice I put my shirt on backwards) 

So for any of you that happen to follow me on Twitter (@timhakr), you’ll know that Wednesday I had my MCL in my left knee repaired. Surgery was at 7am so the night before I didn’t sleep very well.  I was a little nervous but mainly excited to get the surgery done so I could begin to heal. The 45 minute procedure was over before I knew it, after being put under.  Some physical therapy is on the books and slowly easing back into running and cycling. I injured by MCL back in January and had been nursing it with a lot of ice packs and kinesiology tape.  I am anxious to get back on my knee and leg and not having it hurt while running or recovering a few days later. 

So while the MCL was repaired my doctor cleaned up the arthritis.  

Later on during the day I have been able to go without using any stronger pain medication prescribed, as I am feeling pretty good. 

Heat for relief

About ten years ago I received a corn filled heating pad to help relieve aches and pains.  It works great.  Last summer it had a rip in it and had to throw it away.  A few weeks back, I picked up some jean type fabric and rice and had my wife sew me up a new one, well actually four of them.  This time we used rice inside the pad instead of the corn.  We throw them in the microwave for up to three minutes and there you have it.  The heat stays good for about 10 to 15 minutes sometime longer.

Now what is a pad used for you may ask. It can help relieve pain from muscle strain. It dilates the blood vessels around the are of pain increasing blood flow providing oxygen and nutrients to help heal the damaged muscle. It can be used all over the body, feet, neck, lower back, knees, you get the picture. 

I like to use them to warm my cold toes after a bike ride or run out in the cold.  My kids love to use them under their pillows in the their beds to keep warm with on cold winter nights.