Success Warrior: The Blog That Embraces ADHD

VFF Komodo

 
So,

Trey, being the great kid that he is, hooked me up with a pair of Vibram Five Finger Komodos for Father's Day.  How cool is that?  I haven't had a chance to test them out yet for their intended purpose but I'm looking forward to it.  The Komodo is the cross-trainer of the bunch and made to hold up better against lateral motions.  I can't vouch for this, I'm just passing it on.

I will be using them for my morning exercise craziness and for martial arts training.  I can tell you right now that I like how they fit. 

 
There is a little bit of play in my Bikilas and Classics.  In fact, since I never cinch up my Classics, my heel has been known to pop out of the shoe when I manage to move in just the right manner.  In the defense of Classics, there isn't supposed to be much shoe there and what I was trying to do when my heel unseated is probably outside OSHA standards for Classics.

My VFF Flows are snug but most of that is probably due to the fact that they are made out of thicker material (neoprene).  Not only are they snug but they don't feel as flexible as the rest.

The Komodos are snug and I'm sure they will stay where they belong but they also have the lightness and flexibility that makes VFFs so dang comfortable.  The velcro strap over the top is extra wide for extra grip and there is a velcro strap around the back of the heel so they can be adjusted that way as well for the perfect amount of snugness.

I'm sure I'll be back after they have been through a good lateral-movement workout or karate class to let you know how they do.  Just from how they feel now though, I'm sure that they will outperform the others for these activities.

Working Legs and the Plan For This Month

 
So,

I made it to my training room (aka my garage that never has cars in it) this morning for the first time in about 10 days.  It felt good in a way that,uh, most people wouldn't consider good.  And I know that I'm going to be feeling it in the next couple of days but that's alright with me.

I need repost a couple of thank you's right here for a couple of people that made the morning that much better.

As stated, my training room is my garage.  I have lined the walls and ceiling with cloth to help reduce the echos and the floor is covered with karate mats and a wrestling mat.  I have all my dumbbells out there and the room has worked very nicely.  There is one drawback to it though that made it's yearly appearance this weekend. 

It gets cold.  I open the door from the house to the garage for a while before I go out there to try to get the temperature above freezing.  This morning, it was probably in the 50's when I was out there.  That's perfectly fine considering that I'm out there working up a sweat.  What doesn't warm up, even a smidge of a smackerel, are my dumbbells.  It's like grabbing a couple of very heavy ice cubes that have the power to resist allow my body heat to affect them at all.

What has two thumbs and hates the cold? 

This guy.

This morning, however, I was wearing a pair of Bionic Full Finger Fitness Gloves that Lynette sent for my birthday and they were an absolute life safer for someone as phobic about having cold hands and feet as I am.  These are my new best friends for the winter workouts.

Speaking of feet, I wore my VFF Flows this morning and they worked very nicely at keeping my feet warm.

The other thank you goes to Rick who sent me a docking station for my iPod.  I had a loaner but it just wasn't cutting it.  It was made for listening to elevator music in a cubicle at a volume that won't be heard by the other prairie dogs.  Played at a volume that could be heard (just "heard" mind you - not blasted in any way), the sound was so distorted that it hurt my ears. 

Since it was six in the morning, I wasn't able to turn the volumn up much but I did play it loud enough to hear over the panting and it sounded great.  Tonight is martial arts training so I'll be turning it up more and we'll see how it sounds when played at a level that can be heard over the yelling.

Both of these are going to make the winter more do-able for me.  Thanks again.

My plan for this month and I only have time to touch on it briefly today.  I was going to go into more detail but time has flown and it's already time to start gearing up for martial arts.

ADHD Moment: My stock in gold has increased by 40% since I bought it.  Too bad, I didn't buy enough to make that super cool but still . . .

My plan for the next four weeks is to do three Tabata workouts (Mon, Wed, Fri) that hit the muscles of my entire body.  On Tue and Thu, I will do punching and kicking in a very cardio fashion.  My goal is to lean up a little bit.  I know that's vague and can't really be called a goal.  My other goal is to stay healthy all winter.  It seems like I get sick in Nov and Dec of every year (except, knock on wood, I haven't been sick yet this year). 

My food intake has an equally vague plan to it.  I'll be drinking my Shakeology shake everyday, of course, but beyond that, my only goal is to cut back on portions a bit.  Last Nov and Dec, I gained about 8 pounds (but I was sick and my diet went completely to hell).  I'm not going to allow that to happen this year and it would be nice to take another inch off my waist.

Maybe that's how I'll make the goal more goal-like.  I'll measure my waist and make it a goal to lose one inch.

The Tabata workouts are cardio in themselves while dealing a brutal attack on the muscles to force them to adapt and get stronger but not necessarily bigger. 

So, there you go.  That's my vague plan that is starting to sound more like a solid plan with a real goal.

I always think better when I write out my thoughts.

And since I didn't get around to saying it last Thursday, I want to thank all my readers for being here and being a sounding board.  I always hope that something I say might be helpful to others but there is no denying the benefit that I receive from this blog.

Many thanks to all of you.

***

Follow me on Twitter to get updates on when new posts show up on this blog (plus get random thoughts on the life of Success Warrior) and feel free to "friend" me on Facebook.

Success Warrior is an Independent BeachBody Coach for BeachBody.com, a company that offers fitness programs, supplements, and equipment that have absolutely changed my life. 

Have you heard of P90X?  That's BeachBody.  They also have Insanity, Turbo Jam, TurboFire, RevAbs, Brazil Butt Lift, and many more.  They have some of the best exercise programs on the market.  These aren't just DVDs but are complete programs to transform your body.  They also have the hugely popular, and what they call "the most important meal of the day", Shakeology.  Go HERE to learn the most inexpensive way to get Shakeology.

They have equipment and supplements in addition to Shakeology and popular exercise programs.  Visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Shop" link to see everything they offer. 

There is also a business side to all this fitness that you can take advantage of.  Whether you're looking to just make a couple hundred extra dollars in fun money or are looking to take complete financial control of your life, BeachBody can help you get there.  If you have a desire to be more fit and would love to help other people do the same while making some money at it, visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Coach" link.  Team up with me and I'll help you reach your goals, in fitness and finance.

Vibram Ridge, Running for Fun, and a Metabolism Reset

Trey and I took the Vibram Ridge out for some practice at a ball field yesterday.  The Ridge is his favorite disk and he feels that he plays better with it than the other disks.  I may have to buy him one.  I think it would make a great first disk.  It's easy to throw for a kid.  It's more Frisbee-like than longer range disks.

I took my portable basket along with my Aviars, Sharks, and the Ridge.  I wanted to compare the three types of disks with each other.  There was a bit of a wind.  Not that it matters much when comparing all three disks under the same conditions but I was hoping for a calmer day.  It's always windy in Wendover though so I can't complain too much about the wind when it was gentle by comparison to most days here. 

The Ridge is softer than the other disks and is easier to grip.  It's got more of a rubber feel to it than plastic. 

I set the basket up at about 200 feet from where I was going to be throwing (best guess).  The basket was just to give me a target to aim at so that I could get a good feel for the disks.  I didn't expect to make any of my first shots into the basket.  A couple of them were pretty close though and I'm sure if I kept throwing, I would have eventually made an ace.

Here's an interesting note.  The disk that I did the absolute worst with was my new Star Shark.  I wanted to try the Star material because it's supposed to be better.  The disk kept slipping out of my hand early so that all my shots were way off to the left.  Way off.  Even though I was hitting the basket in one shot, I should have been getting an easy two.  I was far enough off with the Star Shark that it took me two putts to get in the basket.  Trey gets all my disks that I don't use and it looks like he has just inherited a Star Shark for his bag.

The rest of the disks were fairly evenly matched on the first shot.  The Shark had a little bit more distance on it, which was to be expected.  I never overthrew the basket with the Aviar or the Ridge.  I wasn't chucking the Shark out of the ball field, it just tended to go a bit farther if I put too much into it.  I played all the disks to the basket for practice and found out that I suck when I putt with the Shark.  The Shark is a good all purpose disk that a person could use if they were only going to buy one disk but I definitely putt better with the Aviar and the Ridge.

On the drive, there wasn't a whole lot of difference between the Aviar and the Ridge other than a bit more fade with the Ridge.  As it slowed down, it took more of a left turn. 

On the putts, the Ridge felt better in my hand but was a bit more "floaty" for me.  Now, mind you, I've been putting with the Aviar since I started playing disk golf so it is most likely the way that I'm throwing the Ridge and if I end up wanting to play with it as my exclusive putter, I'm probably going to have to drop practicing the with Aviar and stick solely with the Ridge.  It's something that I'm considering doing because I really like how the Ridge feels in my hand.

The drawback at the moment is that I've collected 5 Aviars over the years so they are great for practice sessions.  I can throw 5 disks before I have to walk to the basket to collect them.  I will have to build up my collection of Ridges if I want to be able to do the same thing.

I've been giving quite a bit of thought to running over the last couple of days because Trey starts school Monday and that means that I'll get to run a few times a week again.  I am going to take to the desert because the ground is softer and it's going to give me a chance to just goof off a bit.  I've got my eye on a hill not too far from here that is topped with boulders that I could climb once I get to that point.  I don't know how many miles of a climb it would be and I'm not even promising to run the whole way.  The focus is going to be on movement and enjoyment, not any kind of time scale. 

I am also going to be going for a hike next month, up a mountain and then back down.  I think that it's only a couple thousand feet up from where we are going to park the truck.  This first hike on this particular mountain is going to be from the end of the road and not up the entire mountain.  Just a little test and I might even take this test in my Bikilas.  Not sure on that yet but I might try it and have it my trail running shoes in the backpack, just in case the terrain is too rough.  The reviews that I have read on this particular hike state that the rocks can make the climb a bit harder than it would appear. 

Speaking of tests, I may head out for a short run in the desert in Bikilas today.  Time is going to be the factor here because I did not get anywhere close to enough sleep last night so a nap is going to be mandatory.  Tia didn't sleep well last night either so she's sleeping now while I keep Trey from bothering her.  She will return the favor later so I will have to see if there is enough time between when she wakes up and when I go back to bed, with some lunch in there somewhere as well.

To get ready for my 10 week training block, I am going low carb for a week.  Low, not "no".  I am still using orange juice in my Shakeology and I had a baked potato with dinner last night.  I want to get my body ready for what's coming but I'll start adding in plenty of fruits and vegetables next weekend because I'm going to need energy for the workouts, plus it's just plain good for you.

I have tried the edges of the spectrum, super low carb and vegan, and my conclusion is that the human body (at least mine) wasn't made for such extremes.  Plants and animals are here for humans to eat and I plan on eating them.  What wasn't put here for humans to eat are frankenfoods and I'll be trying to steer clear of those over the next couple of months (and pretty much for the rest of my life). 

The P90X program starts with a lower carb intake for Phase 1 to help get the whole thing kick started but it can lead to a bonk in the workouts and I want to avoid that so my "Phase 1" eating plan is going to end before I actually get into the tougher workouts.  I have 3 easier workouts planned for the next week, plus my running, plus I'm going to try to get my bike functional for this fall (the goathead thorns out here are killer on tires).  When I get into the ten week plan, I want my energy levels up so that the workouts are challenging based on the workout, not on energy depletion.

I'm really looking forward to everything that I have planned for this fall and I have a disk golf day planned for this Thursday.  I'll be taking the Ridge out into the real world to see how it performs (or rather, how I perform with it) out on a couple of different courses.

As always, I will tell you how it all goes.

Stay tuned.

Vibram Five Fingers Classic/Flow/Bikila Side by Side plus Injinji Toesox

I had my appointment with physical therapist today. 

An apology to new readers that came solely for the scoop on the VFFs but I tend to mix in journal type stuff with training stuff with my latest injury stuff with disk golf stuff and - well, you get the idea.  Read on.

Today, she concentrated on healing instead of seeking out new and cool ways to hurt me.  She still did a bit of that because we did some trigger point therapy.  By "we", I mean that she did all the work and she told me that my job was to relax and breath.  Tough stuff that.  I guess that some people stop breathing when they get hit with the pain.  I've learned that it's best to breath through the pain so I had no problems with my part of it.  She also did some ultrasound work on my neck and back then showed me a bunch of stretches.  These are some very passive stretches and she warned me half a dozen times not to go too hard on them.  I kid you not.  Half a dozen.  She even apologized for sounding like a broken record.  Do I look like the kind of guy that's going to go too hard?  (Don't answer that)

One of the stretches, I have to lay on my back with a towel rolled up running down the length of my spine with my arms laid out to the sides.  I'm supposed to "hold" this stretch for 5 minutes.  A couple minutes into the stretch, she asked me how I was doing.  "A couple more minutes and I'm going to be asleep," I said.  I mean, these are passive stretches.  I'll have to stay awake on that one though because if you do it too much, it can actually weaken things and I don't need that.

She decided that I was way too comfortable and convinced the doctor to give me about a dozen shots into the neck and back.  Trigger Point Injections.  They burn but they're not that bad.  Last time, I had amazing results with them so I'm hoping for more of the same. 

At one point, the doctor had me turn my head to the right so he could attack the trigger point from the best angle and I saw this rust colored stain on the curtain that was being used to keep me bare back (but not backside) hidden from other people in the physical therapy room. 

"Is that blood spatter?" I asked.

"I hope not," the doctor said.

"Hardly confidence inspiring," I said.

He was too busy to laugh at that but I did get a response out of him when he jabbed down on a trigger point at the base of my neck.

"Right there?" he asked, as my whole body tried to shrink away from the pain.

"Yeah, Dr. Spock, right there," I sad.

"The mind meld is next," he said.

 All of that has tightened up at this point and my wife has threatened to ground me from karate.  I'm going to try to heal in the next 2 hours by some miracle so that I can participate.  I'll still be teaching though, even if I can't get out there and play because my lead student is out on the Salt Flats in an ambulance waiting for people who are traveling at several hundred miles per hour to crash.  He's an EMT and works Speed Week on the ambulance every year.  He also did security work for Johnny Depp when they were out here filming Pirates.  Anyway, I'm in charge of the class today regardless of how my neck and back feel.

I don't know that I have a lot to add about the different Vibram Five Fingers (VFFs) but I thought that I could take a bunch of pictures to better illustrate what I've been talking about.  So, I did just that.

Here are my three pairs off VFFs.  Left to right, they are: Classic, Bikila, and Flow.  I went with basic black on the Flow on purpose.  I tried to get a different color of Classic but they were out of stock and I ended up with black.  This was the only color of Bikila in stock but it works for me.  All of them are a bit more flashy, which is normal for running shoes.  The Bikila also has patches of reflective material so that drivers will swerve toward me to try and figure out what the hell those glowing bits in the dark are.

 
Here's a closer look at the Flow, since the blackness seemed to make everything blend together in the last picture.  Notice that there is extra protection over the big toe already so maybe I won't have to do a patch job on them in the future like I did with my Classics.  All three have different ways to keep the shoes on.  These have a velcro strap over the top and another one around the back.  The Bikilas have a single velcro strap over the top.  The Classics have a simple elastic around opening that can be tightened with a clip at the back (but I never tighten mine).

 
Yesterday, I said that the biggest different between the Bikila and the Classic was that there was more to the Bikila.  Half of that can be seen here.  The Bikila covers much more of my feet, the rubber is a bit thicker, and there the velcro strap that keeps the shoe firmly in place.

 
The other half of that is the bottom of the shoe where the surface is broken up into pieces of thicker rubber.  One thing that my brother and I have noticed about the Classics is that walking on the cement gets old after a while.  I wonder if the tad thicker padding will help if I'm running on cement.  I can always run in the desert but that's dangerous if I have to run in the dark because the ground is so uneven and full of pitfalls (and scorpions and rattlesnakes).  My running times this fall will probably be during daylight hours so I may be able to do some desert running and some hills.  I'm still going to try pavement with the Bikila just to see how it feels but I'll try desert too.  The Classics actually don't work great in the desert because the sand and rocks end up in the very large opening of the shoe and then inside the shoe.  I have to stop and empty them out often.  The elastic higher up on the foot with the Bikila might stop much of that. 

 
I tried on my new Injinji toesox today.  They were easier to put on than I thought they were going to be and were very comfortable.  I haven't tried them with the Flow over the top of them yet.  I'm concerned that there isn't going to be enough room inside the toes of the Flows for the addition of socks.  It's going to be a tight fit.  At least the socks are comfortable so the next time I wear the Flows, I'll try them as a combo and report how it goes.

I think that I will be using my Bikilas for my morning workouts too, at least until the Komodo comes out.  I think the Five Finger design will make this possible where I would never do this with a pair of actual running shoes.  As always, I'll let you know how that goes.  The first test will probably be tomorrow morning.  We are still waiting to hear when my wife has to report to the hospital but if there is time for my workout, I'll be rockin' it in my Bikilas.

***

Follow me on Twitter to get updates on when new posts show up on this blog (plus get random thoughts on the life of Success Warrior) and feel free to "friend" me on Facebook.

Success Warrior is an Independent BeachBody Coach for BeachBody.com, a company that offers fitness programs, supplements, and equipment that have absolutely changed my life. 

Have you heard of P90X?  That's BeachBody.  They also have Insanity, Turbo Jam, TurboFire, RevAbs, Brazil Butt Lift, and many more.  They have some of the best exercise programs on the market.  These aren't just DVDs but are complete programs to transform your body.  They also have the hugely popular, and what they call "the most important meal of the day", Shakeology.  Go HERE to learn the most inexpensive way to get Shakeology.

They have equipment and supplements in addition to Shakeology and popular exercise programs.  Visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Shop" link to see everything they offer. 

There is also a business side to all this fitness that you can take advantage of.  Whether you're looking to just make a couple hundred extra dollars in fun money or are looking to take complete financial control of your life, BeachBody can help you get there.  If you have a desire to be more fit and would love to help other people do the same while making some money at it, visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Coach" link.  Team up with me and I'll help you reach your goals, in fitness and finance.

Vibram Five Fingers Bikila - First Impression

First, for everyone that has sent me an email, I'll get to you, I promise.  It might take me until tomorrow night because things are a bit busy.  I got home in time to unpack everything, throw a batch of clothes into the laundry (Trey's smelled of campfire), and then run off to city council meeting to override the mayor's veto . . . again. 

Tomorrow morning, I'm out of here at 7 in the morning to drive in for physical therapy, a wonderful 2 hour drive with another wondrous 2 hour drive home, for a 1 hour meeting at best.  I hope she makes it worth the drive.

The day after that, it's back into the hospital, this time for Tia. 

Crazy stuff but email is like ice cream, it melts into the cracks so I'll answer a couple tonight, a couple at 5 in the morning tomorrow, and a few more when I get home.  Eventually, I'll get through them all.

For those of you that are interested, I will have a new photo album up on Facebook with pictures from this trip.  They are uploading as I type this so they should be up some time tonight.

Okay, down to business.

On the way home, my secretary made a half a dozen calls around the Salt Lake area to see if anyone carried the Vibram Five Finger (VFF) Bikila.  I have to add right here that I have the best secretary.  She's blond, hot, and is great at making my phone calls when we're in the car so that I can focus on driving.  Odd, I know, to actually focus on driving while holding the steering wheel of a car going 75 mph.  I'm weird that way.  I don't talk on the phone or text while driving so it's absolutely great that my wife will do those things for me.  Anyone that has received a text from me while I've been in a car has actually received it from my wife.  She takes dictation as well as calling running stores looking for VFFs.

She found an REI that was only about 15 miles off our path that carried Bikilas and placed a hold on a pair for me.  We were trying to decide if we should just stop in and get them on our way home or if I should go get them after my appointment tomorrow.  We're going to have a babysitter tomorrow so we decided that tomorrow's trip would be as quick as possible. 

They had my pair waiting for me and I tried them on.  I was able to slip right into them, a feeling that I love and that you can't empathize with without understanding just how hard it was for me to get my Flows on last year.  This is completely different and even my Flows went on easy when I was up in Idaho.  Anyway, they fit in the same size as my Classics. 

I haven't gone running in them yet, which is what they were designed for so this is truly a first impression.  I've been wearing them for a couple of hours now (Why yes, I did wear them to City Council - why do you ask?) and here's what I think of them at this point.

First, other than the little bit that I wore my Flows, I've been wearing my Classics non-stop for about a week now.  I took some shoes and four pairs of socks with me on our trip.  I never wore the shoes or any of the socks.  I spent the entire time in VFFs, usually the Classics.  With that in mind, my first impression of the Bikila is that there is more shoe here.  The padding on the bottom is a little bit thicker and the shoe covers the whole foot (tomorrow, I'll do side by side comparisons of the VFF models that I own).  The toes feel more snug and the strap across the instep feels restrictive.  It's not "restrictive" in any way but after the freedom of the Classics, my foot feels trapped in these.  I can slip the Classics on and off without using my hands.  These are on to stay, which is obviously going to be a good thing when I take them out running. 

I've got something funky going on with the inside of my left big toe.  I'm not sure what that is and if it's something with my toe or with the shoe.  Other than that, these things feel extremely comfortable.  They are light weight of course and I'm chomping at the bit to take them out for a run.  That might not happen until next week but I might be able to get in a bit of a run on Saturday.  Maybe tomorrow night?  Hmmm. 

They have a bit more protection on the toe too, which reminds me, I washed my Classics tonight.  Remember that I managed to wear a hole in the top of the left toe while playing disk golf and that I did a patch job using ShoeGoo and a couple of patches that I cut to fit the toe.  I am happy to announce that the patches came through the wash and stayed in place.  Huzzah! 

The sales woman at REI said that Vibram was starting to put more protection on the big toe because people were getting holes there.  She mentioned it because she saw the patch job on my Classics. 

Other things to note: I picked up another 180g Shark disk golf disk, this time in the Star material because I, uh, needed? another Shark disk <shrug>.  I signed up for the REI customer program because I'm a sucker and it's supposed to bring me good luck or something (I forget the sales pitch).  My Vibram Ridge disk golf disk did not arrive as I hoped so you won't be getting a review on that today.  My Injinji socks did arrive so I will be no doubt be discussing them soon.

That's it for now but there will be more to come.

***

Follow me on Twitter to get updates on when new posts show up on this blog (plus get random thoughts on the life of Success Warrior) and feel free to "friend" me on Facebook.

Success Warrior is an Independent BeachBody Coach for BeachBody.com, a company that offers fitness programs, supplements, and equipment that have absolutely changed my life. 

Have you heard of P90X?  That's BeachBody.  They also have Insanity, Turbo Jam, TurboFire, RevAbs, Brazil Butt Lift, and many more.  They have some of the best exercise programs on the market.  These aren't just DVDs but are complete programs to transform your body.  They also have the hugely popular, and what they call "the most important meal of the day", Shakeology.  Go HERE to learn the most inexpensive way to get Shakeology.

They have equipment and supplements in addition to Shakeology and popular exercise programs.  Visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Shop" link to see everything they offer. 

There is also a business side to all this fitness that you can take advantage of.  Whether you're looking to just make a couple hundred extra dollars in fun money or are looking to take complete financial control of your life, BeachBody can help you get there.  If you have a desire to be more fit and would love to help other people do the same while making some money at it, visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Coach" link.  Team up with me and I'll help you reach your goals, in fitness and finance.

Yesterday's Disk Golf

I was up at the butt crack of dawn and out the door.  I had just barely written yesterday's post where I said that I would make sure to take some pictures and maybe even get some video.  Sometimes my brain isn't working at the butt crack of dawn and so I went out the door and left my camera charging on my desk.  It's fully charged now and has no pictures of disk golf on it.  I did take a few on the first round with my Droid and posted them in real time.  I can see the coolness of this and will probably do it again.  If you want to follow along, make sure you have me in your Facebook status updates or follow me on Twitter.  I'm still going to take my camera next time for more pictures and better pictures but it was fun doing the real time thing.  The lag time with the Droid was such that I didn't get any action pictures taken so I'm going to combine the two cameras next time and do some real time stuff and then take a bunch with my real camera to post when I get home.

While I was up at the butt crack of dawn, I actually waited until the local grocery store opened (6am) before really leaving because I wanted to pick up some ice for the cooler and some protein bars.  We don't take breaks for actual meals so I like to have a snack on hand.  In addition to the Big 100 bars that I like so much because they taste good and are filling, I've also started eating the Clif Mojo bars.  They have less protein but they sure taste good and when you're going out to play 4 hours of disk golf, carbs are a good thing.

The first thing that we noticed when we got to Taylorsville was that it was so much cooler.  We were starting a couple hours earlier in the morning that we usually did and it was very nice.  The second thing that we noticed was just how windy it was.  We had never played in this kind of wind before and it was going to add an extra challenge to the day.  The throws had to be a delicate balance between low and not-too-low.  When we threw the disks too low, the wind seemed to just drive them into the ground.  When we threw them too high, the wind got to pick where the disk landed and it usually wasn't anywhere near where we had intended for it to land. 

You might remember (but probably not) that after the last disk golf day, I said that we were going to actually keep score this time to see how we compared to par.  What a sucky day to do that because the wind made even putting a difficult endeavor.  We actually forgot for the first couple of baskets but an extra friend had tagged along for the day and it made our usual scorekeeping impossible and that reminded us that we were actually going to keep a real score count this time.

Now, you might also remember (and probably do) that I mentioned that I am slow to adapt to technology.  My mind just isn't there like it should be, or at least could be.  Anyway, the course brought us back close to the parking lot around  basket 3 or 4.  My brother thought that he had a blank scorecard from another course and asked if I had a pencil.  He grabbed the blank scorecard and I found a pen in my car.  We filled in the first 3 baskets and kept score for another 3 baskets.  I was taking pictures with my Droid and posting them to Twitter, which automatically posts them to my Facebook status (so freakin' cool).  He looked at me and said, "Doesn't Droid have an app for everything?"

"Yes, it does," I said, totally and completely clueless as I hit send on my latest tweet.  Helloooooooo?

"Don't you think it has a golf scorekeeper?" he said.

"Probably about a hundred of them," I said, completely catching on . . . finally.

I went to the Droid market, grabbed the first 4 star free golf score app that I came across and downloaded it.  Normally, I would read reviews and such but I didn't want to hold up the game and it was free so if it didn't work out, no loss.  It downloaded very quickly and man! Pencil and paper, schmencil and schmaper.  Once I had the names filled out, everything was a simple touch of a drop down menu and scorekeeping was incredible easy.  Where I had to hold the piece of paper in the wind on top of one of my disks so I could write the score with a pen that has been sitting in my car since pens were invented (you know the kind right? where the ink is more like dust?), now I just turned on the Droid where the app was already open and on the correct hole, tapped a couple of times and bam! we were keeping actual score.

How'd I fare?  Par for the course was 54.

On round 1, which we call the Practice Round even though it "counts" as much as any other round counts (very little), I won with a 64.  There was quite a bit of discussion on how to play the baskets with the wind factor.  10 over par seems pretty poor for what I can do but the wind did force me to change how I throw the disks and this is actually a good thing.  I started by changing how I putt because there was no way that my soft easy lobs were going to work in the wind.  What I went to was a martial arts move that I'm good at, only I was holding a disk as I did it.  It turned out to work very nicely and this will be how I putt from now on because after nearly 20 years of martial arts, this throw feels very natural to me.

On round 2, which we call the Real Round, my brother and I tied at 60.  This seemed better, still considering the wind.  We took what we had learned on the first round and applied it on the second round.  We each had a couple of birdies to help make up for the wind-caused bogeys.  We'll have to try this course again without the wind to see how it goes.

On round 3, which we call the Slop Round because we are usually pretty tired by this point especially since we tend to play in 95+ degree weather, I won with a 62.  I was just about spot on for the first 12 baskets even with the wind and then it all kind of fell apart on me.  Into the wind, I used my 180g Shark (which means absolutely nothing to readers who don't play or don't use Innova disks) so that I could throw straight despite the wind even if it meant shorter throws.  My brother thought that he would capitalize on this by continuing to throw his driver.  His theory was that if he got a good throw, he would be out-throwing me by 100-150 feet.  His theory was true except that the wind always picked up his disk and put it out into right field.  Quite literally.  On one basket, the wind got under his disk, took it up into the air, and then sailed it far, far to the left of the intended landing spot.  The disk flew over a 12 foot fence into right field of the nearby softball field.  I got to go get it for him since I was small enough to slip under the bottom of the fence.

All in all, considering the wind and the fact that I have never kept score before so this essentially becomes the basis for all future measurements, I was happy with how I played.  Trying a new throwing style on the fly can be a risky thing as far as scores go and it worked out nicely with me doing the best putting I have ever done.  On top of that, I found a Droid app that takes any kind of chore feeling out of keeping score.  I don't have to try to hold a sheet of paper on top of a disk and find the pencil.  My disk golf bag has a pocket that is perfect for the Droid and makes it very handy to retrieve, input the scores, and move on.

Now, the bad news. 

Apparently, sometimes when I drive, I pivot my back foot and drag the top of my toe across the cement pad.  This, as far as disk golf goes, is not a bad thing.  As far as Vibram Five Fingers go though, it's a very bad thing.  VFFs have a Vibram sole (they are famous for making soles for boots) and can be used for years . . . as long as you walk on the bottom of your feet.  The tops of the Vibrams are very soft and very breathable, which is a great thing, but also can't handle being dragged along the cement.  I ended up tearing a hole in the top of the big toe.  There's only a few weeks left of summer here so they are just going to have to make it to the end of the season.  Next year, I'll buy another couple pairs to replace it.  I've decided on at least two pairs because I want to be able to chuck one pair into the dirty clothes to be washed "whenever" and still have another pair to wear around.  I'm also going to be looking into a pair of the running Vibrams, the Bikila, but that will be a topic of another post.

In the Cool News section, there's this little tidbit tying it all together.  Vibram now makes putters for disk golf.  How freakin' cool is that? 

I was unaware of this fact until yesterday when my brother told me about them.  He said they plan on expanding their line to include all flavors of disk golf disks.  I, of course, ordered one today because I read this in the rule book and I quote:

"If you practically live in your Vibram Five Fingers AND you play disk golf AND you said something similar to 'How freakin' cool is that?' when you found out that Vibram now makes disk golf disks, you absolutely must purchase at least one disk immediately with consderation given to purchasing further disks in the future."

So, you see, I had to order one.  The Ridge, if anyone cares.

I'll take pictures or video when I take it out for play . . .

Unless I leave my camera charging on my desk.

***

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Success Warrior is an Independent BeachBody Coach for BeachBody.com, a company that offers fitness programs, supplements, and equipment that have absolutely changed my life. 

Have you heard of P90X?  That's BeachBody.  They also have Insanity, Turbo Jam, TurboFire, RevAbs, Brazil Butt Lift, and many more.  They have some of the best exercise programs on the market.  These aren't just DVDs but are complete programs to transform your body.  They also have the hugely popular, and what they call "the most important meal of the day", Shakeology.  Go HERE to learn the most inexpensive way to get Shakeology.

They have equipment and supplements in addition to Shakeology and popular exercise programs.  Visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Shop" link to see everything they offer. 

There is also a business side to all this fitness that you can take advantage of.  Whether you're looking to just make a couple hundred extra dollars in fun money or are looking to take complete financial control of your life, BeachBody can help you get there.  If you have a desire to be more fit and would love to help other people do the same while making some money at it, visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Coach" link.  Team up with me and I'll help you reach your goals, in fitness and finance.

Vibram Five Fingers Classic and Flow

One of the surprising things, at least to me since I think I have only mentioned them once, is how many people come to my blog looking for information on the Vibram Five Fingers.  My trip in for "The Procedure" (see the last two posts for more information on that bit of fun) gives me cause to mention these wonderful shoes again.

I wore my VFFs (as we Five Finger wearers commonly refer to them) to the clinic, which would come as no surprise to anyone that knows me because I practically live in my VFF Classics. 

No.  Really.

I took this picture today as evidence.

As a side note, besides the obvious VFF Classic tan line, there are two karate related aspects to this image.  The first, I'm not actually sure is karate related but it would have to be my guess, is the blood under my toenail.  I don't remember any trauma to that toe so I'm going to have to go with the assumption that it was Justin, my current #1 student, who has picked up the nasty habit of stomping on toes.  The second takes a bit closer look but around the ankle you will seeing the indents from sock ribbing, which means that while I say I live in my VFFs, I was apparently wearing socks just prior to taking this picture.  That's because I'm wearing an ankle brace around because I can barely walk today (and yesterday).  Every once in a while, it acts up but it has never been this bad since the day that it happened about a decade ago.  I was sparring with my then #1 student, Shannon, and he put me in some bizarre and accidental hold that placed more pressure on my ankle than it could withstand, which caused seemingly permanent nerve damage to that ankle.  I can't balance on that foot to this day and every now and again, I have to wear an ankle brace to keep me mobile.  Today is one of those days.

Now, back to the topic at hand (or foot).

I wear my VFFs all the time everywhere and I answer questions for people who interested in them.  I did this several times as I walked around the amusement park in Ohio. 

I wore them to the doctor appointment where it turns out everyone or their spouse (or in one case, both) had a pair of VFFs of one kind or another.  There were only four models when I bought mine but Vibram has added a couple more since then.  A couple of which I may have to give a closer look now that I know they exist.

Some of the users at the doctor's office had just recently bought them and wanted to know my thoughts.  I absolutely love the classics and even showed the tan line to him as proof.  Seriously, if I haven't mentioned it yet, I live in these from waking until bed in the summertime.  It's the next best thing to being barefoot.  My feet tend to sweat and get uncomfortably cold at the same time if I go barefoot so it's very rare that I actually go barefoot.  I love being barefoot though but usually wear socks indoors and sandals outdoors as being the best that I could do until Vibram came out with these wonderful shoes.

So, for people who visit this blog for information on Vibram Five Fingers, let me give you the scoop on the two that I have tried: Classic and Flow.

I think I have covered the classic fairly well so far so I'm going to start with the Flow and come back to where the Classic works better for me than the Flow.

The Flow is the cold weather VFF.  It has the famous Vibram sole, the individual toes, and a neoprene upper to keep your feet warm.  After wearing the Classics around all summer and absolutely loving them, I thought this would be the perfect answer for the winter.  I could wear them in and out of the house and still go around picking things up with my toes, even while wearing shoes.

It didn't work out quite that way for me.

First, they are kind of difficult to put on.  40+ years of wearing shoes has curved my pinky toe in so that it's practically under the fourth toe (I present the pic of my foot as Exhibit #1).  You can't just slide these things on like you do with shoes.  Each toe has to go in its own finger and for me it was like trying to put winter gloves on a two-year old.  It would take me about 10 minutes to get them on.  Once on, I would just leave them on all day so that part worked out.  They still have the VFF comfort but you don't just slip into a pair of shoes and head out the door.  These take a time slot in my dayplanner if I want to put them on.

Second, and I have admitted this many times here, I'm a complete puss when it comes to the cold.  I don't do well in the cold and winter is incredibly hard on me, physically, mentally, and emotionally.  To make it through this last winter, I actually wore several layers whether in the house or out (adding a couple more layers to go out).  I never went outside without a thick coat, gloves, and a hat, even if I was just going to get in my car to drive to work.  This actually made the winter a bit more bearable for me.  I tend to run around mostly naked in the summer and in previous winters tended to dress as light as possible but this last winter, I changed directions and covered up in layers of UnderArmour ColdGear and a wool coat. 

All of that to say that you can't wear socks with VFFs (actually, Vibram now offers socks for VFFs as I just noticed on their website).  So, bare skin was exposed between the bottom of my pants and the top of my Flows.  Sure, my feet were warm but my ankles weren't and the draft up my pants was no fun.  Now that I have seen they have socks, I am going to buy a pair to try this winter.  All the reviews I have read about using toe socks with VFFs have been bad but I wonder if Vibram wasn't able to overcome the problems people were having to compliment their own product.  I'm gong to order a pair this fall and give them a try.

Back to the Classic.

The two drawbacks that I have with the Flow are absent in the Classic.  The low cut of the shoe allows me to stick the tip of my finger between my fourth and fifth toe as I put the shoes on.  My feet slip right into them.  A quick flip around the heel and the shoes are on and I'm off and running.  They are nearly as easy to put on as any slip-on and take as much time to put on as a pair of sandals with straps.

Obviously ankle warmth is not a concern for a pair of summertime shoes.

There a couple things that you should keep in mind with the classics, since everything in life is a double-edged sword.

First, the low-cut-ness that makes these things so easy to get your toes into also makes it easy for everything else in the world to get into your shoes.  Dirt, small rocks, grass cuttings, and anything else that you walk through has a fair chance of ending up in your shoes.  This isn't much of a problem because they are so easy to take off and put on but I'll mention it for completeness.  I live in the desert and if I leave pavement to walk in the desert, I have to dump out the fine rocks that get into my shoes on such a walk.

Secondly, the coolest thing about these shoes is that you are practically barefoot.  The important part of this that you need to remember is that you're practically barefoot.  We have tons of goathead thorns in this area.  In fact, I have completely given up on riding my bike because I can't my tires inflated for more than one or two rides.  When I step on a goathead in the Classics, the point reaches my foot.  It's never penetrated the skin but you do have to immediately stop walking and pluck the thorn out of the sole.  The last time that we went playing disc golf, my brother wore his Classics and there was some rocky terrain that he had to gingerly walk across.  I didn't wear mine because the last time we played this course, the weeds were seeding and I could just picture all the crap in my VFFs.  Everything was green and that wasn't an issue but it shows some of the thought process that needs to go into wearing these things.

One of my doctors at this clinic (I have to be specific about location now because I'm got as many doctors as I can count on my toes in VFFs now) has a pair.  My other doctor at this clinic has the KSO model, which is made to overcome the rocks and seeds in the shoes by Keeping Shit Out.  The KSOs have one of the drawbacks of the Flows in that some people have a hard time getting them on.  One of the wives of one of the doctors has a pair of the new Bikila model that was specifically designed for running.  You can run in the others (but as I have mentioned before, you can't have any heel strike in your run) but the Bikila has been built specifically for runners.  Two of the nurses at this clinic have husbands that have VFFs (although one of them didn't like them - no reason given).

So, there you have it.  One fitness guy and summertime lover votes for them.  Two doctors and two spouses of medical personnel also wear them, with only one nay vote thrown in.  That's like 5 out of 6 people involved in my procedure that recommend them.  That's better than Dentyne. 

Get a pair.

If you try or have tried any of the other models (or the socks- especially the socks), leave me a comment or drop me an email letting me know what you think of them.

***

I am an Independent BeachBody Coach for BeachBody.com, a company that offers fitness programs, supplements, and equipment that have absolutely changed my life. 

Have you heard of P90X?  That's BeachBody.  They also have Insanity, Turbo Jam, RevAbs, Brazil Butt Lift, and many more.  They have some of the best exercise programs on the market.  These aren't just DVDs but are complete programs to transform your body.  They also have the hugely popular, and what they call "the most important meal of the day", Shakeology.  Go HEREto learn the most inexpensive way to get Shakeology.

They have equipment and supplements in addition to Shakeology and popular exercise programs.  Visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Shop" link to see everything they offer. 

There is also a business side to all this fitness that you can take advantage of.  Whether you're looking to just make a couple hundred extra dollars in fun money or are looking to take complete financial control of your life, BeachBody can help you get there.  If you have a desire to be more fit and would love to help other people do the same while making some money at it, visit BeachBody.com and click on the "Coach" link.  Team up with me and I'll help you reach your goals, in fitness and finance.

Feel free to "friend" me on Facebook.

My VFFs *are* my BFFs

No surprise here at all but the concern was the initial wearing didn't go as smoothly as I would have liked.  My concern when I put the Vibram Five Fingers on the first time was that the day before I had gone on a serious hikein a brand new pair of hiking boots.  I had a blister on my big toe and who knows what other damage had been done.  So, I let me feet heal up for the most part and tried the VFFs again this week.

Once again, I'll remind readers that Vibram recommends starting out easy when wearing these shoes.  Maybe an hour or two a day until you get used to them.  I did not bother with warning again because I don't see the need since I spend so much time without shoes.

Sunday, we went school shopping.  I wore the VFFs and took my sandals just in case things didn't work out. 

Many of the blogs that I read about VFFs before I bought them mentioned that people would just come up and comment on the weirdness of the shoes.  We went to several stores and to Chili's and no one paid any extra attention to my feet and no one made mention of the weirdness.  It's not something that would change whether or not I would wear them.  I don't care what other people think of my shoes and I'm not wearing them to get extra attention.  I'm wearing them because I think these will do what I want, protect my feet while giving me a minimalist feeling.

I wore them all day without any problems.  Never once thought about putting on my sandals.  I wore the VFFs for about 10 hours. 

Monday, I wore normal shoes to work and then switched into my VFFs when I got home.  I love that I feel like I'm barefoot but I can run outside to water the lawn, take the garbage out, or run to the store.  All of which I did plus I mowed the lawn too.  I did get some grass clippings inside the shoes.  Not enough that I noticed until I took them off. 

Tuesday was a work day and I switched into the VFFs again when I got home.  We went out to dinner to a new Chinese restaurant in town (which we won't be going back to anytime soon).  When we walked in, there was a sign that stated that they only take cash.  Under community pressure, they actually opened their doors before they were ready to be open so they aren't set up to take debit cards yet.  Our credit union (and free ATM) is only a block away so I decided to run there to get some cash while Tia and Trey had a seat and a drink.

Running is different.

You can't heel-strike.  The run to the ATM was awkward.  Crossing the road was uncomfortable.  I never noticed it before because I have been in a car or wearing conventional walking shoes when I've been on this road but it's really rocky.  Not loose rocks but it looks like they just poured rocks on the ground and poured tar over them.  Not foot friendly at all.  I was able to keep going without slowing down but only because I was just crossing the road.

On the run back, after crossing the rocky road, I seemed to find a stride that worked nicely.  If I was going to wear these for running, I would start on something softer than concrete and keep my mileage very low.  I don't know if I'm going to find any time for running anytime soon but since I'm a road runner, I'd probably stick with my New Balance shoes.  I might be tempted to try the VFFs on a track sometime but have no solid plans right now for that.

Today is not a work day and I have been wearing them all day. 

On a completely different subject, although I was wearing the VFFs, Trey and I went to the high school football field today for some sunshine and golf disk throwing.  They have marked the yard lines now so I was able to find out how far I can throw a disk.  I changed my throwing style today and my last time across the field, I was able to get two of my disks to fly over 270 feet.  That's not going to win any awards but it's probably an increase of 30 feet over what I have been throwing. 

Last time, I went throwing the disks in my VFFs, I ended up with a bit of skin worn off of my left heel.  Today, that didn't happen.  Last time, I ended up just going barefoot because we were just walking across the grass field back and forth.  Today, I kept the shoes on just to see if I got the heel-wear.  Nope.  Good to know for my next game of disk golf with my brother.

I have enjoyed the VFFs so much over the last few days that I told Tia that I'll be buying the cold weather variety (Flow) when the weather changes.  Barefoot in the winter!  How cool is that?

To read more about what I think about Vibram Five Finger Classic and Flow shoes, check out this post.

***

Remember, I'm going to be funding my return to college by being an affiliate of BeachBody.com products so please visit the site and make a purchase, no matter how small.  Insanity has been released so go check it out.

Feel free to "friend" me on Facebook

New Shoes: Vibram Five Fingers

It's been a couple of weeks since I bought some new shoes so I bought some more and the two are at opposite ends of the shoe spectrum.  The last pair that I bought were some mid-top, stiff, UnderArmour, softball cleats.

The pair that I got on Thursday are supposed to be the next best thing since going barefoot, maybe better in today's world and definitely better if you live in the high desert of the Rocky Mountains.  They are called Vibram Five Fingers (shortened as VFFs or V5Fs). 

Here's the ones that I wanted:

All the toes are separated to allow them to spread out and move independantly for balance and strength as opposed to being smashed together, unmoving, inside of shoes.  This, in turn, should help a person walk in a manner that humans were meant to walk, improving strength, balance, and posture.

They were out of this color in my size so I went with basic black.

Here's mine:

The shoes come with a warning not to wear them for than an hour or two a day for the first few days so that your feet can get used to the barefoot feeling.  Seriously?  

Do people sleep with their shoes on.  I'm barefoot unless it's absolutely necessary to not be barefoot.  How much practice does a person need to walk barefoot?

Anyway, that said, I am going to limit my wear a little bit because it has become apparent that in my case, there's going to be a bit of breaking in.  There are a couple of points around the top elastic that are rubbing my feet wrong.  I wore them for about 3 hours yesterday and 4 hours today.  Now that I'm not wearing them, I just plain ole barefoot.

I gave them the ultimate test right out of the box.  I grabbed the dog and we went for a walk.  Here's what the ground looks like off my driveway to the south:

And here's our walking area as soon from my driveway:

The surface required a bit more concentration on where I placed my feet.  Sharp rocks won't penetrate the sole but they don't feel good.  Other than that, and a little bit of rubbing above my right big toe, things went pretty good. 

These shoes weren't really made for this kind of walking because of how open they are at the top.  Sand and small rocks can make their way easily into the shoe.  Vibram does make a pair that is covered to the ankle (KSO) to keep stuff out.  I thought I'd try it anyway and I wasn't bothered by the little bits of sand that got into the shoe.

Some of the reviews that I have read onthe Vibrams, the authors report having a more grounded feeling from wearing the shoes.  I haven't had any such sensation as of yet but I can tell you that once the rubbing sensation is gone, these are going to be my favorite shoes. 

In the past, I've worn (out) watersocks and moccasins to get through the summer because I don't like wearing shoes but it's necessary either because of sharp stuff on the ground or by rule (no shirt, no shoes, no service).  I can slip these on in the morning and have the comfort of being nearly barefoot with enough protection for my foot and not get kicked out of the grocery store. 

Vibram also makes a winter shoe out of neoprene and there is a high probably that I will be getting those as well and maybe another pair of classics.  You obviously don't wear socks with these shoes so they will have to be thrown in the washing machine often.  They are supposed to air dry so it would be nice to have a fresh pair waiting in the wings and maybe they'll have the other color when I'm ready to order.

A couple of the reviews said that it was probably a good idea to try these on to get the size right.  As you can see by the last picture above, there aren't too many shoe stores in the area that carry weird stuff.  I stopped in a couple of weeks ago in Salt Lake at a running store that is supposed to carry them.  They were out.  They can't keep them in stock, they said. 

Tia called another store that was about 50 miles away in a small resort town where people might not bother to go to.  They did in fact have some in stock but they were closed because the owner was on the lake boating.  Lovely.

So I risked it and ordered them online.  I followed the directions on measuring my feet and placed the order.  Happily, they fit perfectly.  Sometimes it takes me a bit of work getting my pinky toe in place.  For you parents out there, imagine putting gloves on a kid for the first time.  Sometimes you get two fingers trying to jam into the same finger of the glove.  I think it will get easier with time.  The toe that gives me the most problems is the one that I have broken a couple of times in karate but I'm hoping that it can be trained to slide easily into place.

So far, for me, these are looking to be the answer to getting as close to barefoot while dealing with some of the issues of being barefoot.

To read more about what I think about Vibram Five Finger Classic and Flow shoes, check out this post.

***

Remember, I'm going to be funding my return to college by being an affiliate of BeachBody.com products so please visit the site and make a purchase, no matter how small.  Insanity has been released so go check it out.

Feel free to "friend" me on Facebook