Shoes…the new black

I got a new pair of shoes the other day. I have heard of the company, Inov8, from multiple sources as a great pose/Crossfit shoe. I was able to get the shoes with a nice discount … 48% off… so score.

I posted it on Facebook and this was the ensuing conversation…

 

After wearing them I stand by the statement. I have always just used my running shoes when I went to the gym. Whatever the exercise, no matter what, I used the same shoe. I was going with the attitude that shoes are shoes or well, I am not at the “level” that shoes really matter. I should have learned this lesson years ago with I used to play golf regularly. I was playing at least every Saturday, sometimes multiple times during the week. I was pretty good but I had the same attitude about my level of play. My sister was engaged at the time, now married, to a NCAA golf coach and thought, hey I could learn a thing or two from him.  He took me golfing one day and on a few holes he let my use his clubs. They were Pings, the upper echelon of the golf world. I couldn’t believe how well my game improved on those holes. Really it was like night and day. Yes, I should have learned my lesson because every day I was in the gym I was wearing the same shoe. Well, after I got my new inov8’s I wanted to hit the gym/road and try them out. I picked a doozy of a first work out. 5-5-3-3-3 squats in between those 5x5 Body weight dead lifts, beginning and ending with a 500 meter row for time and 10 basketball court sprints for time.

Here is the kicker, like when I used the Pings, my game improved dead lifts and squats seemed stronger. I felt like I had a better base. There wasn’t any shifting in the knees and I felt like I had better balance. My legs were smoked by the end of the work, that was for sure, but I felt better about the workout. I didn’t have the fear  I was going to injure myself. Before when there was the shifting and such I always had that in the back of my mind and it kept me from going for heavier weights. Just to let you know a subject of a future blog  I’ll give you a sneak peak…get your weight on your squats and dead lifts up and see your run times go down…that is a guarantee.

Next I took them sprinting around the block. It is easier to run pose in a shoe the is designed to run pose. Still trying to get used to the pose method, but it is coming along. I am mostly doing drills to get the muscle memory.

So the moral of the story is…take a look at your shoes. Take a look at your workout and see if they match. I am not saying  the inov8’s are the answer for everything, but I am saying  they work for me. Go do your research and makes sure you transition correctly, another future blog. I have even started wearing them everyday because they help my duck walk problem (normally I just wear sandals).  I’m working on getting a second pair…

 

Need to get a less bright set, maybe? 

Montage … Like a Chief!

Been a long time coming but I am really excited about this post. I like to think about inspirational things. I know it might be weird … maybe it’s growing up in the 80’s and all those 80’s montage films

Whenever I hear a song that gets me going, I think “how can I make this a cool music video?”…I know I am a dork. I am really digressing.  This post isn’t about 80’s montage music, but I think I have an idea for a future post. This post IS about something that inspires me and maybe needs its own montage. Something along the Rocky Training montage.

About one year ago, maybe a little longer…who is counting, a friend of mine was laying on the floor of his garage not being able to move because of the pain originating in his back.  He received medical treatment and started physical therapy. A few months later as he was rounding second base,during his class’s party in celebration of their impending graduation, he falls to the ground in agony and is taken to the hospital; this time surgery is required. All of this was within months of his plan to run in the Marine Corp Marathon.  An accomplishment within itself, but he wasn’t running just for himself, he was running for The Organization for Autism Research. He had to defer to the next year and undergo physical therapy.

Now this individual, I will call him “Frank”, was not a slouch by any means. Among training for a marathon, he was also on fitness team on our base. He works to train the future of the Coast Guard in Physical Fitness. Frank is also a Unit Health Promotion Coordinator. He helps those struggling to maintain weight standards to make weight and learn healthy eating and fitness practices. He is also the Chairman of the Base’s Wellness Committee. Most importantly to me, Frank is a good friend who has helped and encouraged me through my fitness journey. Being a father of an autistic child, he has helped me find resources to help my autistic daughter. He helps me mentally, giving me support and telling me of his journey with his son.He is simply a darn good friend. (My daughter loves him, by the way, probably more than me…you should she the way she smiles and bats her lashes at Mr. “Frank”) 

Through his time of rehab and healing he still showed up at 0530 in the morning to help the fitness team, still encourage me, and had the marathon training schedule posted in his cubical and the shirt from The Organization for Autism Research hanging outside so he would constantly see it.

When he was healthy he trained. Took it slow but he still trained. During  his time training Frank was advanced to Chief Petty officer in the Coast Guard, a pretty huge milestone in anyone's coast guard career. A Chief in the Coast Guard is more than just a supervisor, they are someone who all should look at for leadership and mentorship, which I do. 

So finally after a long struggle to get healthy…last weekend he ran 26.2 miles for Autism Research and, most importantly, for his son.

What was his time … it’s doesn’t matter. He finished.  He had to slow down and take it easy (although I don’t know how easy a marathon can be) to stay healthy, but he did tell me he beat the time Jared from the Subway commercials finished in.  And that made him happy.

So Chief “Frank”,  on behalf of my family and others in the same situation, I say Thank You. You have inspired me, helped me, pushed me. I think you need your own Montage…Like a Chief.