Tag: Blisters

Kidney March Experience

Well last weekend my long awaited Kidney March took place and I was as, you could expect, nervous about the prospect of walking 100 kilometers in 3 days. I have to say that it had a profound effect on me.

We started with an early morning after a late night of packing for ourselves and our kids. Actually the one thing that made us a bit crazy is that our daughter, the one with kidney disease, was in the hospital until Thursday afternoon but looked to be fine for the weekend. So the walk was a go after a drive, a bus trip, and the opening ceremonies in Millarville where the walk started.

Getting Started on Kidney March

There were 170 people on the walk and as we started everything went well but about halfway through the first day my wife started having trouble with her hips and in the end she pulled out after about 25 kilometers on the first day. As luck would have it the rain started falling after that and I walked the final 10 kilometers with a lady and her daughter and one other person because as we all know misery loves company. By the end of the 8 hours on the road I was exhausted after walking 34 kilometers on hard road and barely ate and showered and fell asleep. No blisters though!

On day 2, the Saturday the rain was pouring down on us all day and I started and ended the day with soggy running shoes. The thing that I felt really kept us going was the motivation of the Kidney March Crew, they were like cheerleaders to all the walkers. Also the medical staff making sure that we were all feeling good and not so cold or blistered.

The other thing that the Kidney March Crew did was to make sure that we were well fed and hydrated every three or so kilometers. On a dark rainy day this really matters. My wife made it around 25 kilometers this day as well with problems with her stomach this time. I made it to the end but even though I was very wet and a bit cold and hungry but I sure felt better than I did after the first day. I ended up walking for about 9 hours on the Saturday but I had more energy and felt way better after a shower.

One of the greatest things ever on the second day of the Kidney March was that a tent was setup in the campground with heaters pumping in. This allowed everyone to dry shoes and jackets so that we would be much warmer in the evening and dry shoes to walk in on Sunday morning.

Sunday morning we woke up to sun and dry shoes. I can not tell you just how great it was to have my feet by warm and shoes shaped to my feet. The last day of Kidney March is the shortest as the end has a celebration at Calgary Olympic Park at 3:00 so everyone needs to have good pace to make it there on time.

There were still hills to climb on the Sunday just like the preceding two days but my wife started with a blistering walking pace that we were able to keep up unitl lunchtime. On this day, just to change things up again, my wife had some terrible ankle pain and had to have her foot wrapped and we slowed down a bit but still finished the 28 kilometers in about 7 hours or so and in time for the ending closing ceremonies.

How I Feel Now About Kidney March

I think I had the start of a couple blisters by the end but I was very fortunate to have no real blisters or leg pain that so many others had. I believe part of that is due to the fact that I have been wearing the same running shoes for a few months so they fit me great now

This Kidney March experience was for me one of the greatest experiences of my life. I was able to raise over $2200 for Kidney research thanks to so many people that donated. Also I got closer to my limits, I walked for about 24 hours over three days so I had a real chance to see how my body and mind reacted to the pain of the walking and the time on the road. I got down on myself at times, and I was very excited at other times and could feel this in my body.

Mostly though last weekend I will always remember the people I met. I heard a lot of stories from people that had been given Kidneys by others as well as people that were supporting friends or living themselves with Kidney Disease so now the experience that my family is going through does not feel so lonely. I really feel like a part of a community and this will keep me invested in the ideals of the Kidney March that I fully expect that I will walk again next year.

Great Posts To Read

Kidney March 2013

How to Stop Overwhelm and Get To Your Goals

My Daughters Kidney Disease

Natural Remedy For Kidney Stones

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How to Avoid Running Injuries

Post author By admin
Post date July 24, 2012
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The most common cause of running injuries is over-training. When you try to do too much too soon, your body will suffer. Running injuries can also happen due to improper shoes or flaws in body structure and motion. Fortunately, the majority of running injuries can be easily prevented. Here are some tips on how to avoid running injuries.

How to Avoid Running Injuries

Create a running plan – Unless you have a sensible running plan, you’re likely to become a victim of “too much, too soon.” It’s tempting to run too many miles with too much intensity this is a key on how to avoid running injuries. Exercise experts recommend increasing your weekly mileage by no more than 10% each week. It’s all right to push your limits, but do it gradually. This will allow you to avoid running injuries such as shin splints and runner’s knees. Common sense and a smart training plan will allow you to reach your goals without suffering from pain and frustration.

How to Avoid Running Injuries

Warm up and stretch – Before starting your running session, be sure to warm up for at least five minutes. Brisk walking is a good way to warm up your muscles. After warming up, start stretching your muscles, especially the calf, groin, hamstrings, and quadriceps. After your run, stretch your muscles again. Many running injuries occur because of inadequate stretching.

Wear the right shoes – Running is a high impact cardiovascular exercise that puts a lot of stress on your joints and feet. Your running shoes should provide the right amount of cushioning and support for the feet. If your running shoes are worn out, it’s time to get a new pair. Find the right model for your foot type and running style. It’s best to buy your shoes from a specialty running shop where you can be properly fitted for the right type of running shoes. Wearing shoes and socks that fit properly can also help prevent blisters.

If you have biomechanical foot problems, such as flat feet or high arches, you should look into getting fitted for orthotic shoe inserts. There are also specially designed shoes suitable for runners who suffer from over-pronation or supination.

Cross train – Injuries can happen if you focus only on your running muscles while neglecting others. Cross training develops muscles that work to help prevent running injuries. Strength training, swimming, biking and other activities help develop your quads, core muscles and overall strength. Cross training also helps prevent injuries caused by overuse when you do the same type of exercise all the time.

Know where to run – A final tip on how to avoid injury is simply to run on the right surface. You want to run on a surface that absorbs shock and reduces the impact on your feet, joints and tendons. If possible, run on grass or dirt trails. Avoid running on concrete, as it is 10 times harder than asphalt. Choose a route that consists mostly of straight paths and slow curves to avoid accidents and injuries.

These tips should, even in the long run, show you how to avoid running injuries, be sure to change things up and be healthy so that your personal running career is more good than injured

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Withdrawal Symptoms after Quitting Smoking

Post author By admin
Post date April 25, 2011
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Trying to quit smoking is not an easy feat there are withdrawal symptoms after quitting smoking. In fact, the challenge can be almost overwhelming for some people. The changes you experience in your body when you give up smoking can be difficult to handle. That’s why it’s important to understand what happens to your body when you quit smoking.

Withdrawal Symptoms after Quitting Smoking

The withdrawal symptoms, that almost every smoker goes through when quitting, can be very unpleasant. This is the reason why so many people can’t resist having another cigarette. They may attempt to quit over and over but be unable to stay smoke-free, due to the painful withdrawal side effects.

However, if you understand what happens to your body when you quit smoking and you know what to expect in the process, this information can help you to stay on course. It’s easier to deal with nasty withdrawal symptoms when you realize they won’t last long.

You probably know that nicotine is a powerful and addictive drug. As with any other addictive drug, when you stop taking it you will inevitably go through withdrawal. Your body has to adjust to the absence of nicotine, which takes a little time and results in physical and mental side effects. But soon enough, if you can avoid smoking, your body will lose its dependency on nicotine and return to a healthier, non-addicted state.

Withdrawal Symptoms after Quitting Smoking

1) You feel intense cravings to smoke, which is your body demanding the addictive substance
2) You might develop ulcers in the mouth
3) You may cough a great deal, which is the way your lungs and upper respiratory system try to expel the cigarette toxins
4) You will feel irritable and be unable to concentrate
5) You might experience disruptions in your sleeping patterns
6) You may get blisters, sores, and skin inflammation
7) You might feel fatigued and have little energy

These are just some of the events that can occur when you quit smoking. The withdrawal symptoms after quitting smoking may sound rather dreadful, but keep in mind that they last just a short time, often no more than a couple of days. On the bright side, your health will begin to improve right away, with positive changes taking place only 20 minutes after you smoke your last cigarette.

So what if it is really that easy? What if all your beliefs about how hard it is going to be to quit are completely false? What if, after just one session of hypnotherapy or NLP you find it incredibly easy to become and remain a happy, confident non-smoker for life? The reason why hypnotherapy NLP are so successful is because both our beliefs about smoking and our habitual smoking behaviours reside within your unconscious mind. So whilst consciously we may wish to quit, all too often our all powerful unconscious mind simply would not let us.

Check out Quit Smoking Today now.

The longer you can avoid smoking, the more health benefits you will experience. You might not be looking forward to going through withdrawal, but try to focus on all the positive things you will gain when you quit smoking for good. The effort of getting through the withdrawal symptoms after quitting smoking truly is worthwhile.