KT Tape IS A LIFE SAVER!

I have Bad feet! I am a giant! At 6' 8" 240lbs I would be better suited with pads and a helmet catching deep fades from Peyton Manning. I did however take a different path. Instead I chose running. You know the feeling of that first double digit millage run you complete where you feel like you can take on the world. Yea its addicting! The countless miles I have put in have done a number on my feet. I have developed a mean case of Plantar Fasciitis or as I pronounce it [Plan-tar Fashy-itis]. Orthotics, Barefoot running, stretching ice, etc.. have done little to dull the pain when I am done running however do pretty much nothing while I am running.
Alas Remember the crazy tape jobs everyone had in the 2008 Beijing Olympics? That is the stuff I am talking about. It is called KT Tape. It has saved my life. The second I put it on the pain went from unbearable to running ten miles again. Once you figure out how exactly to put it on whatever is ailing you I promise you will notice a difference. Here is a small video of how to tape your knee with it.



Here is the best way to describe how it works. Note this is taken directly from their website.
"KT Tape is applied along muscles, ligaments, and tendons (soft tissue) to provide a lightweight, strong, external support that helps to prevent injury and speed recovery. KT Tape works differently for different injuries. KT Tape can lift and support the knee cap, holding it in place for Runner’s Knee. KT Tape can support sagging muscles along the arch of the foot, relieving the connective tissues for Plantar’s Fasciitis. And KT Tape can lift the stress off of shin splints to allow pain release and give the body a better opportunity to recover. Depending on how it is applied, KT Tape supports, enables, or restricts soft tissue and its movement. By stretching and recoiling like a rubber band, KT Tape augments tissue function and distributes loads away from inflamed or damaged muscles and tendons, thereby protecting tissues from further injury.

By applying KT Tape over affected tissue, athletes experience an external support which helps to prevent further injury and allows the body’s damaged tissue to rest and heal naturally despite continued activity. KT Tape also reduces inflammation and increases circulation which prevents muscle cramping and lactic acid buildup.

Kinesiology tape, treatments, and application techniques have been used by healthcare professionals such as orthopedics, chiropractors, physical therapists, and athletic trainers for over thirty years. KT Tape is the first brand of kinesiology tape ever to be offered to consumers through local sporting goods retailers, and to be widely adopted by healthcare professionals and teams. The development of KT Tape was a highly collaborative effort that included Healthcare Professionals, our Medical Advisory Board, elite and everyday athletes, and our product design engineers. Together they developed the most advanced sports tape ever offered.

Not only is KT Tape the best tape out there, but it’s also the least expensive. Thanks to patented manufacturing processes, KT Tape is available for much less than any other brand. We are highly committed to continued innovation so watch for new colors, features, applications, and products in the near future."

Acctivebear.com is proud to offer this tape to you as we feel it can make a huge difference for anyone who is active and suffers from Chronic Pain. Obviously you should seek a doctor if your pain does not get better.

Check out our KT Tape Section at Activebear.com

KT Tape at Activebear.com

Check out the new Active bear Hill Killer Commercial

Live in the City? Not a problem. If you know where to look you can find amazing spots to run.

So, I have lived in the city or busy suburbs near Baltimore for a good chunk of my life. Lets face it, running around the neighborhood on hard unforgiving sidewalks isn't very conducive to long distance running. Sure yo can get a few miles in, its great for after work...I guess. What I have found is that in Baltimore, and most other cities you can travel a little bit 15-20 minutes tops and find great places to run.
I am not a treadmill runner. I could run a pick-up half marathon just about any point during the year as I am sure most distance runners can do. Put me on a treadmill and I will make it 2 miles and die of boredom. I love running outside. Whether it is 100 or -12 degrees out it is always fun to cover real distances. There is a thrill to running 10 miles out, knowing you'll have to run 10 miles back. We can all run on treadmills and stop whenever we need to. Is that really fun? I think what separates the insane long distance runners from the casual runner just trying to get back to their fighting weight, its that we actually love to run.We love to be tired and fatigued. We love those big jerk hills, that seem to get bigger and keep going just as we are at the top. That is the thrill of running that I love.
The problem is, I could never find anywhere to run to give me that thrill. I discovered that just 15 minutes out of the city there was a place which closed off traffic on Saturday and Sunday's to allow for bikers, walkers , runners and of course dogs. It is definitely hard to paint an accurate picture of how vast and open this area is but believe me it is huge. There are also some monster hills that will get your body moving. If you are in the area, you should check out Loch Raven Reservoir. Here is a picture of just some of the scenery. The next spot I checked out is called the NCR trail. Aside form the threat of snakes(I hate snakes!) this is a nice flat peaceful place to run. It used to be a railroad that went from Baltimore to PA. The trail is about 28 miles long, every now and then you will have to cross a country road that is usually not busy. There aren't any hills here it is completely flat. What I love about this place is that you are surround by forests almost immediately and creates a somewhat isolationist experience.
When it comes down to it, no matter where you live there may be a place where you can truly be outside and in nature, and not too far from where you live. The inconvenience of driving there is definitely worth it when you realize you are breathing in fresh air and not the exhaust from a bus. Sometimes you just gotta pull the plug on the treadmill and get your butt outside.