Friday Favorites: Astym Therapy Review

In a bit of a departure today, I am going to review a service instead of a product.  



Back in 2011, I developed a nasty case of what they now call Plantar Fasciopathy.  I tried all kinds of treatments - wearing a boot at night, buying expensive orthotic inserts and shoes, endless stretches and exercises, ice treatments and massage.  One thing I didn't try was rest.  I was (and still am) a recovering food-a-holic, and 6-8 weeks with no exercise seemed like a disaster waiting to happen.

After about 8 months of this misery, my Zumba instructor shared with me the success she was having rehabilitating her previously torn calf muscle using a therapy called Astym.  At that point I was willing to try anything, so I called and made an appointment.

Good things about Astym:

1) It actually works!  It did take me about 12 sessions (6-7 weeks) due to the severity of my PF, but after treatment the pain was gone and has stayed gone for almost 2 years!

2) You can keep exercising while you heal - in fact, my therapist insisted on it!

3) Your insurance may pay for it.  Mine did.  I only had the office co-pay so ended up spending less for this than all the other things I had tried (that had failed) before.

Bad thing about Astym:

1) It hurts!  Do not be fooled by the cute videos showing what looks like a gentle massage.  The first few passes do feel kind of nice - but by the 100th you are ready to rise up off the table and smack your therapist!   However, the pain didn't seem to linger after the actual treatment - so if you can grin and bear it for 30 minutes, you are good to go.  Remember - no pain, no gain!



Sooooo.... fast forward to June 2012.  
I had just started running and my right ankle (not the foot I already had Astym on) was giving me fits.  This was not surprising.  I had torn some ligaments in this ankle (on a trampoline) when I was 15, and it had been flaring up and giving me problems off and on for 30 years!  I knew that if I kept running, it would only get worse, so I made an appointment with my Astym guy, Bryan.
Three weeks and 6 treatments later I was fixed!  It hasn't given me one lick of trouble in the past year since!

Conclusion:  I am totally and completely sold on Astym for soft tissue repair.  Honestly, I don't know how it works - and I don't even care.  I just know that, FOR ME - it has been a miracle.

Every time I read about another runner with a chronic case of plantar fasciopathy, achilles tendinitis, patellar tendinosis, shin splints, i.t. band syndrome, ankle sprains - or any other kind of sprains I want to hit the caps key and comment: "GET ASTYM NOW!!!"  However, I often keep my mouth shut because after a dozen or so pitches for Astym, I'm sure everyone in blog-land thinks I work for the company or something**. (because, you know everyone reads everyone else's comments and they all KNOW!)  I kid!

But seriously:  What are you waiting for?

** I received no compensation for this ringing endorsement other than a pain free foot and ankle.  However, if the Astym Powers That Be ever stumble upon this blog and want to shower me with unlimited future visits I will gladly accept!

Good Girls Don't Spit!

I spit when I run.
I am sorry if this offends you (as it apparently did a couple that was running in front of me during a 5K last fall.  They actually turned around and glared at me like I was grossing them out.  Maybe I was.)

Anyway, that's not my problem.  I mean, I guess it is a problem that this phlegm or whatever builds up when I'm really working hard on a run - but no more so than needing to pee or fart or blow my nose.  It's just one of those things.

No, my problem is that I don't know HOW to spit.  I was always taught that good girls don't spit in public, so my experience has been limited to spitting out toothpaste.   Today, during my run, I had to spit.  It was windy.  I bet you're smart enough to figure out what happened next!   I just can't seem to get any distance on my spitting.  I've hit my shoes, or had a whole spit-FAIL where I was left with a strand of saliva hanging from my lip that I ended up having to wipe off.

So today, I was running and wondering... how exactly do you learn to spit effectively?  Is this something I should just practice outside in my yard?  Should I make a habit of spitting during every training run whether I need to or not?  Are there any other female runners in this hemisphere that spit when they run?  Am I really as pathetic as I sound?

When I finished my run, my children were waiting on me.  They had finished their Taekwondo class and were running around playing near the tennis courts while their dad did his post-run stretches.  I ran up and my 6 year old daughter yelled - "Hey Mom!  Say something funny!" and then took a swig of water.  I knew what was coming.  Gracie had discovered the spit-take!

I said "You have a booger in your nose!" and she spit forth the water with all the gusto of a 14 year old boy! Then she did it again, and again and again - until Brian and I were sick of coming up with "funny" sayings and said "enough!"

And that's when it hit me.  The secret to learning how to spit!  Now all I need is a water bottle and "America's Funniest Home Videos" !!

Do you ever need to spit when you run? (please say I'm not the only one!)

Tuesday Tunes #4

Each week I share with you some of the songs on my running playlist.  If you are into Rap, R&B, Country or Electronic Music you might want to look elsewhere - but if you like Pop, Rock, Alternative, or Contemporary Christian Music you might find something you like!

Many training plans and running form clinics recommend a running cadence of 180 steps per minute (90 steps on each foot per minute).  Whether this works for everyone, I don't know.  But, I do find that I am a far more efficient runner - no matter the speed - if I am taking 175-185 steps per minute.   Here are some songs that help me maintain that cadence.

"Bang Bang" by K'naan featuring Adam Levine - 180 bpm (2X90)

O.K. - Maybe this could be considered rap, but I love it!!

What could be more worshipful than using our "fearfully and wonderfully made" body, powered by the Lord Almighty, to run surrounded by the beauty of His Creation?!

"Holy One" by Casting Crowns - 135 bpm

Here it is!  One of my all time most beloved running songs.  This song is based on my favorite chapter in the whole Bible - Psalm 63 and I am convinced that Casting Crowns wrote this tune just for me!  I have this on every race playlist and have been known to dance around when it comes on during my regular runs :)  Today, I am graciously sharing it with you (ha!)

Our final category is reserved for those songs that always make me pick up the pace.
Songs that put a huge grin on my face and a spring in my step!

The Sunshine Song by The Candle Thieves - 178 bpm (2X89)
This little tune just makes me smile every time I hear it!

May you run happy today!!!

Today It's All About Me!

(My two youngest children, Levi and Grace)

I am a mom.
That is it.
I do not have another job or any outstanding skills.  No one says: "This is Mendy.  She's a wonderful cook (or writer or volunteer or nurse or accountant, or hair dresser)"  They say "This is Mendy - she has 6 kids!"

I was a bright child with a limitless future.  I really could have been anything I wanted to be.  When I married my husband, I was a college sophomore on full scholarship studying to be a mathematician.   But all I really wanted to be was a MOM.

So I became one.  Not a great mom, but an adequate and prolific one!  I've homeschooled all 6 of my children from kindergarten.  Two of my offspring are married and have jobs.  One even gave me a grandson!

My Grandson, Julien, spent Mother's day with his MiMi!

Another son graduated from college on Friday and has already been employed in his chosen career for 2 years.  I have one daughter with  a few months left of high school work and - of course - the 6 and 7 year olds.

Son #2 - college graduate!

Husband, Son # 2, Son #3, Son #1 and Adorable Grandson!

Daughter #2, Son #2, Daughter #3 and Daughter-in-law

I think my kids like me.  I don't quite fit the "mold" of a homeschooling mom.  I don't like to cook, do crafts, go on field trips or do science projects.  I've never been a smothering type mother, in fact, I border on neglectful at times.  Yet all my children are well-adjusted, like-able people who function well in the world and with those around them.  They all love the Lord and are active in their churches.  I am very proud of all 6 of them.

That is why Mother's Day - as contrived a holiday as it is - is very important to me.  It is the only day of the year where I feel like I really have done something worthwhile with my life.  The one day where I stand in amazement of all that I have accomplished.

Daughter #1 cooking Mother's Day dinner for me at her very first house with her new husband.

Most of the time, I just feel guilt.  Guilt that my house isn't clean enough, that my children don't eat balanced meals, that I don't make them brush their teeth enough, that I spend too much time on the computer, that I don't teach them foreign languages or chemistry or calculus like other homeschooling mothers.

But not today.  On this day, I look at the six awesome people that would never have existed without ME and I feel a sense of accomplishment.  And thankfulness.  Thankfulness that God has always been there to fill in the gaps that I have left.  To pick up the slack when I was too lazy or forgetful or tired.

Truth is, I was never called to be perfect.  I was called to be a mom.
And TODAY IS MY DAY!

(Updated to add that just now - at 10:55 pm on Mother's Day - I found out that my Son and Daughter-in-law are expecting a second child!   Perfect end to an awesome day!) 

Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful moms!

May you run happy today!

My May Stride Box Has Arrived!

A couple of weeks ago, I signed up to get the StrideBox.  This is a "monthly subscription box for runners that delivers an assortment of running accessories, gear, and nutritional products to your door each month."   The cost seemed reasonable - $15 (which includes shipping) - and the whole idea struck me as FUN!

Today I got my StrideBox in the mail!

Water bottle for size comparison.

First of all - this WAS fun!  I just sat in front of the box for a minute and savored the moment.  Then I opened it s l o w l y.   (It really is sad how easily I am entertained)


Anyway....

I took my time taking each product out one by one.  Most of the items were fuel for the run.  The box also included Pro-Tec Blister Bands, a water bottle cleaner tablet (can't wait to try this) and a "Just Keep Running" sticker.  

The most expensive item was a Klitch Footwear Clip.  Here is my son demonstrating this nifty item:

My husband was actually pretty excited about the Klitch Clip since it allows him to clip his stinky running shoes to the outside of his gym bag.  The Clip seemed well made and it was really cool to get a $15 (retail value) item included in my $15 box!

The Stride Box included a card listing each item and its retail value:

Which I thought was handy since I didn't have to look up the value of each item online to make sure I was getting a deal (ha!)  My rough estimate is that I got about $27 worth of products in my $15 box.  NOT BAD!

Conclusion:
I am very happy with my first StrideBox.  It contained mostly products I have never heard of as well as a few I had been wanting to try.  Even if I end up not needing/liking some of the items, I still feel like I got a good deal.  Plus - the "fun factor" is worth at least a few bucks!!

Can't wait to see what the June StrideBox has to offer!

May you run happy today!