Since my injury issues this year, I wanted to test KT Tape to treat my own ailments. This isn’t a product endorsement – I paid for my own tape.

I’ve been struggling with peroneal tendonitis since the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon. Having used samples from races before, I was familiar with the product so I thought I’d give it a shot. First of all, I like the individual strips. Tearing and removing the adhesive back is fairly easy as well. While the application of the therapeutic tape can be a little tricky at first (the tape is split lengthwise for use on different injuries) when treating a nagging injury, it became easier. The price is right too. The package of 20 strips was only $12.99.

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So, 2011 is going to start with a nagging injury. After confirming it with physician, I’m dealing with Peroneal Tendonitis in my left ankle.

Peroneal Tendonitis is caused when your peroneal tendons (they run along the outside of your ankle, under your ankle bone) are stressed. What caused this stress? I can name 3 things without even thinking.

1. Overuse – even though I took a week off after the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon, it wasn’t enough. I really struggled physically during that race and jumping right back in as intensively as I did was a recipe for disaster.
2. Tight Calf Muscles – since running in the Vibram’s, my calf muscles have been extremely tight. I haven’t found the right method for relieving that tightness but need to find an answer and quick!!!
3. Excessive Pronation – while my stride has gotten much better, I constantly fight my pronation issues. The week my flair up occurred, I recall having to really pay attention to my foot falls because I was falling into old habits.

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For years, I’ve been collecting samples of KT Tape from the various marathon health expos. The routine was the same, I’d just throw them into the bottom drawer in the bathroom and forget about them. It started to be quite an impressive collection. In total, I had around 15 sample packs stacked nicely in the back. I never thought twice about using them…until recently.

Just so there’s no confusion, I have not been asked to endorse this product in any way (although I hope they read this and send me so more).

I know it’s redundant, but injuries have plagued my year so far. When achilles tendinitis showed up, I decided to give this dusty tape a try. I haven’t had to tape anything since I played high school football so when my wife and boys caught me shaving my ankles, you can imagine the conversation. Let me just state that my kids now understand that most women shave their legs and most men do not. That’s all I have to say about that (in my best Forrest Gump impression).

The samples of KT Tape had two strips and very detailed instructions on how to use the tape for various injuries. If that wasn’t enough, their website has brief videos on how to apply it. Now while the videos and instructions make it look easy, it does take a little practice so you don’t fold the tape over on itself and if needed, keep it from splitting. My collection very quickly decreased as a couple of early morning attempts didn’t go quite as smoothly as I had imagined.

I wasn’t quite sure if it would help or even work at all but to my great pleasure, I had great success with it. The easy runs didn’t have the burning and soreness they did without the tape. There was support that helped me train lightly without having to sit out another week while it healed. I’ve never studied kinesilogy but I can tell you it definitely helped ease my achilles and when my ankle started giving me problems, it worked there too.

I’m a KT Tape convert now and I can promise that any future samples won’t be sitting in my bathroom drawer anymore. We’ll save that for my samples of sunscreen instead.

RMFR

No, this isn’t about politics. In fact, I’m about the least political person you’ll ever meet. This is unfortunately about my rash of injuries so far this year and just goes to show, anything can happen at any time. Blessed with an injury free 2009, it’s coming back to me tenfold.

It all started during the Walt Disney World Marathon. While trying to be the “pillar of strength” for my sister in her first marathon, it turned into an intense internal battle with bursitis in my hip. It struck without warning and I hadn’t experienced it since three years earlier when it took a month of rest to fully recover.

Another visitor came calling just two weeks later. My phantom ankle injury came out of nowhere. I couldn’t tell you when or how it happened, but one morning I could barely walk. After applying the R.I.C.E. (Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevate.) rule to this unwelcome visitor for a week, it left as quickly as it appeared.

Now comes the latest in this short but crazy year. My achilles is now as tight as a knot and sore as can be. This one I felt coming and have taken measures to control the pain as much as possible. Thank goodness for Ben Gay Pain Relieving Patches and KT Tape, I’ve been able to work through it.

These are all taking place on the left side of my body. Even though I’ve waiting until one ailment is healing/healed, one injury is compounding the next.

With only a week and a half remaining until the Red Rock Marathon and Half Marathon, I can’t afford another week off. I’ve already canceled my back-to-back halfs and will then concentrate on getting ready for the Fargo Marathon in May.

I’ll sprinkle a prayer for all of you that are injury free in the hope that you stay that way.

RMFR