Regalia: Heel insoles

I’m not going to lie, I kind of have a WebMD addiction. The tiniest pain or ailment, and I’m looking it up on the symptom checker and self-diagnosing. I’m assuming my doctor’s hate this. So it was no surprise a few weeks ago when I diagnosed myself with an Achilles heel strain, and came up with a recovery regiment consisting of ice and massage, that I had hit the nail a bit too far from the head.

A few days ago I finally gave into the reoccurring pain, and took myself back to that little chunk of heaven, Road Runner’s Sports. Ah, the smell of rubber soles and moisture wicking sports bras.

After less than five minutes of analysis, I was told that no, I have not strained, hurt or ruptured my Achilles tendon.  I’m just running incorrectly and it’s hurting my lower Soleus muscle (pretty much my calf muscle). Luckily, I was speaking to a storeowner and he had no interest in making commission. He instructed me to take the original insoles that came with my shoes (I bought specialized ones to wear instead) and cut the heels off. Then place the cut up heels under my new insoles in my running shoes. If that doesn’t work, come back. I walked away with a sly smile attempting to imply “you sure do seem cocky about this little magic trick, but you’ll see, I’ll be back.”

Well folks, it worked. The pain is gone. Better yet, since I’m running on my toes more, my calves actually look better! I swear, they’re growing, and I'm a sucker for a big calve muscle. So the Running Regalia feature today is heel insoles. You can buy them, or just cut them out of some old insoles. If you decide to go the cheap route, make sure to use insoles that didn’t get much running action, otherwise they’ll be too worn down. If that doesn’t work, come back and talk to me. 

Rate: Live to learn

I found a new website that I love. Excited? Check it out here.  In my recharged desire to pursue my passions and honest interests, I would like to be making a more conscientious effort to become more informed with topics that don’t include headline news and TMZ tweets.

Although I have kept a pithy understanding of global awareness topics, health research and popular and important artists and leaders, I haven’t made quite the dedication to the topics that I would like. So today, after hours of Google searching, tweet reading and profile stalking, I have bookmarked five new websites and attempted to fill my head with all it can handle. I also seem to have the coffee jitters which makes it somewhat difficult to type. Keep your eyes peeled for today’s running update and a new Running Regalia piece is coming soon!

Rate: Running makes you smarter

Holy asthma attack batman! I sound like a dying aardvark, or at least what I think one would sound like if it were dying: raspy, low, deep wheezes accompanied by low congested breathing out the nose.  It sounds more like growling then breathing. I blame the allergy count and pollution, which means I am indirectly blaming the bizarre amount of rain we’ve gotten this year.

Pollen Count Today: High—But I kept running anywayJ

I have a new running motivator that I think the whole world should know about. Running makes you smarter. In Brain Rules, the nonfiction book that I am currently reading, John Medina explains that exercise is our evolutionary instinct and right. If we aren’t exercising we aren’t living up to our full potential. He goes on to scientifically explain the effects that exercise has on neurons, cells, brain waves, glucose consumption and other scientific jibber jabber. Through scientific explanation that I won’t bore you with (and am fairly incompetent at explaining), Medina concludes that exercise actually improves our cognitive functions. “Physical activity is cognitive candy,” Medina states. Cool huh?

Today, I got a little smarter. Here’s my workout recap:

Run:  33 minutes, varying from a slow to moderate pace (varying due to the asthma), 3miles.
Other: I am on the look out for a practical and successful ab work out. I really need to work on my core for a variety of reasons, including vanity. Today however, I am going to lay out by the pool with my sister instead. Tonight’s her baby shower, so I’m sacrificing strength training for her special preggers day ;)
Emotions/Thoughts/Concerns: This is the second time this week that asthma has really affected my run. I am a little bit concerned about spring. However if 33 minutes is my new slowest time for 3 miles, I shouldn’t complain. But I’m excited to get faster! and to stop wheezing. 

Rest: 2..4...6...8... Words are What I Appreciate!

I’ve cussed at my computer for less than this. I’ve rolled my eyes, grunted and ridiculed aspiring writers for similar happenings. So why, dear readers, would I leave my blog stale and static for two entire weeks? Because I’m still learning to manage my time, that’s why. That’s the honest truth, and I'm sorry. I started an internship, I succumbed to the 20-something blues, I rode my bike, I caught up on my reading, and I didn’t write in my blog. However, I DID continue to run. Due to the small injury and a schedule change, I have not been running quite as frequently as I was, but I have been running.

To sum it up, my schedule looked something like this:

March 28-April 2nd:
Biked three times, about 30 miles each
Ran three times, two 30 minute runs, one 55 minute run

April 2nd-present:
ran twice, 30 minutes (I know, tisk, tisk)

So now that we’re caught up, I do have a few little life lessons that I am going to share.

The last few weeks have been emotionally rough. Nothing very dire has really happened, but the post-graduate depression (as they like to call it) has seeped into my starry-eyed blood. It’s not too heavy, it’s just a general malaise. It’s funny, because I absolutely love my internship, you’d think that would put me in a good mindset. However it only reminds me of how badly I want to be past this stage of life, how badly I wish my internship were actually my job. And it’s not only that. I’ve started to feel like I’ve been going through the motions, actively hoping that I will become jaded and give up my impractical desires to write, read, run and be merry. Immediately after graduation, I was inspired, motivated and amped up on collegiate idealism. But after a couple months of no luck and a belittling glance from "the man", things somehow changed.

Well today, I gave my self a good old fashion kick in the arse. It's time to remember the things that I love. I am actively seeking freelancing gigs. I am applying for more internships. I am committing to finishing my short stories and submitting them to publications. I am looking for a day job that will let me have my evenings to write, decompress and cook. I am ardently diving into running and blogging again. I am going to actively make choices to not only make myself happier, but also to ensure that I don’t settle, give in or become jaded. Do I sound like a self-help book yet? Eh, being overly zealous is better than having no zeal at all.