Category Archives: Topic – Equipment

Sigvaris Signs The One Mile Runner

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SIGVARIS PRESS RELEASE

Medically endorsed SIGVARIS, the global leader in graduated compression socks & stockings, proudly announces its partnership with David O’Meara – The One Mile Runner and world-renowned coach, speaker, author and athlete.

Atlanta, GA: SIGVARIS continues its quest to inform and educate patients, medical professionals and consumers about the benefits of graduated compression socks and stockings. This time around it’s by bringing on board a well known coach, speaker, author and athlete by the name of David O’Meara, also known as the “One Mile Runner” www.OneMileRunner.com.

David, on behalf of SIGVARIS, will undertake various speaking engagements, attend sporting events and other athletic forums, wearing and actively demonstrating and educating his audiences about the real benefits of the SIGVARIS line of true graduated compression socks.

The One Mile Runner – David O’Meara wearing the new performance socks from SIGVARIS

“I have been wearing compression socks for better athletic performance and improved recovery over the last couple of years. The new Performance and Athletic Recovery socks from SIGVARIS are absolutely amazing! The socks have helped me increase my running speed and decrease my recovery time. I will be wearing my new SIGVARIS socks exclusively during my worldwide event this summer called “Around The World In Less Than 30 Minutes.” From the airplane to the race, SIGVARIS will be an essential piece of equipment for me to succeed in difficult conditions.”

A growing trend among competitive athletes and weekend warriors is the use of compression therapy socks to help improve athletic performance and speed up recovery. Compression therapy is a hot topic in sports media right now as a growing number of triathletes, marathon runners and professional sports athletes are using compression socks during and after performances to improve their results. Whether it’s during the actual event, after the event, or even while traveling, athletes are making graduated compression socks part of their everyday attire. Wearing compression during and after strenuous exercise or competition can help flush out lactic acid and also provide symptomatic relief of delayed onset leg muscle soreness. Graduated compression socks can also be worn to help support, by stimulating blood circulation, recovery from sports injuries.

SIGVARIS created www.AthleticRecoverySock.com to provide athletes and weekend warriors with information on sports compression socks, as well as a forum for athletes to discuss their compression therapy experiences and results. SIGVARIS has other high-visibility partnerships in place with, among others, the Indianapolis Colts, NFL’S “Winningest Team” from 1999-2009; www.colts.com, and LPGA’s Brittany Lincicome; www.brittanylincicome.net

SIGVARIS, through the Athletic Recovery line of socks, also has strategic partnerships in place with established endurance sports organizations in North America, such as: Road Runner’s Club of America (RRCA), USProTri, Southern Crescent Cycling Club, and Cross Country Canada (CCC-skiing).

About SIGVARIS
SIGVARIS® North America is part of an internationally active medical device group headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland that focuses on the development, production and distribution of medical compression garments, including hosiery and socks. With distribution in more than 50 countries on six continents, SIGVARIS is recognized as a global industry leader in the area of compression therapy for the management of venous and lymphatic disorders. Our US manufacturing plant is located in Peachtree City, GA. For more information, please visit www.sigvarisusa.com.

 

SIGVARIS, LIFE FOR LEGS and the leg icon are registered trademarks of Ganzoni & Cie AG, St.Gallen/Switzerland and in many countries worldwide.

Faklis Orthotics

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Happy 2010!

I just was fitted for my new indoor race orthotics and I thought I would share what takes place at Faklis Orthotics (www.faklis.com). The process of finding the right pedorthist, getting evaluated properly, and learning the value of professional foot care is important step for every over-30 athlete.

I want to especially thank one of my consultants, Mike Forgrave, who is responsible for making my orthotics in 2009 and 2010. Vasile and Mike work together to make sure my biomechanics are optimal. Thanks to them I am injury free.

I am planning to participate in an indoor meet at the end of January to try out my new spikes and new indoor race orthotics. After indoor nationals in March, it will be back to the roads as I prepare for our 2010 event – Around The World In Less Than 30 Minutes.

Resistance Training (Part 2)

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This is Part 2 of my resistance training program. The video is set on Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, FL. Watch how different this training is versus traditional weight training. I work on my horizontal power and strength each day that I do not race. I travel with my JC Bands, dumbbells, medicine balls, and pvc hurdles in my car throughout the event. It is my training office on wheels. I work vertical power to horizontal power as I try to stay fit and strong through the course of a grueling 2 month event. Have fun checking out this video workout on the beach:

Resistance Training (Part 1)

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Part of my strength workout utilizes tubes. By using the tubes I can work lateral or horizontal power.


Here are the two main reasons why we believe horizontal resistance training is important:



1. When we are running, our bodies are opposing two types of forces, vertical (gravity and ground forces) and horizontal (air and wind).



2. When we are running, we are swinging our arms and legs powerfully to displace our bodies forward, but we are also required to work against the backward swing.



To control and dominate these forces and not let these forces control us and slow us down, we must train not only vertical resistance, but also horizontal resistance.

This is where the strength training with the tubes comes in – working that horizontal power!

Check out this video to learn more:





Part 2 of my Resistance Training Program will come next week.

Avoid Back Pain And Strengthen Your Core

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Add this medicine ball routine to your core workouts. Using a 4-6 pound medicine ball, be certain to keep your back in neutral at all times. Remember, strong muscles do not protect the disks in your back. Great form and technique will.

Customize Your Foot Strike

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The fourth reason I was able to complete the 20/20/20<5@45 feat was due to custom orthotics and proper footwear. I first met Vasile Faklis, one of the Consultants and sponsors (Faklis Orthotics) of the www.OneMileRunner.com,  back in 2003 as I traveled up to Tarpon Springs to defend my 5K title from 2002. At that time I had plantar fasciitis in my right foot that I thought might be better, but after racing the first half of the race, my foot was screaming in pain. It was a point-to-point race, so since I was already 2 miles into the 3.1 race, I thought I might as well complete the race since the finish line was closer than going back to the start.

After the race, I met Vasile at the small expo. To get to the source of the pain is the key on injury prevention. The lack of a cushioned custom orthotic coupled with a new race shoe that was lower in the heel created my foot problems at that time. I cured my plantar fasciitis with a new shoe, new custom orthotics, the night splint, and rest. Since that time my custom orthotics have evolved over the years. At the moment, I am working with Vasile to adjust my custom orthotics. Since I have been back on the tennis court the past few months, my plantar fasciitis in my right foot has reappeared. I saw Dr. Tjamaloukas for an appointment and x-rays and he let me know that I have a very difficult foot structure. This is why custom orthotics are so important to me. How we hit the ground is personal and unique to each of us. If you can afford a custom cushioned orthotic, I cannot recommend it enough. I am fortunate to have Faklis Orthotics take great care of my foot needs and I excited to try my new orthotics on 1/3/09. My hope is that once again – Vasile will take away my foot pain with his new creation.

My shoe sponsor for 2008 was Brooks. The knowledgeable Florida rep, Gene Ulishney, was very helpful to me in finding the right shoe for my foot. We let the custom orthotics do the corrections – so I could then train and race in a neutral shoe. I did my heavy distance in the Brooks Glycerin, my trail/beach running in the Cascadia, and my mile road racing in the Brooks T5. The only problem that I had with Brooks was with one of my favorite racing shoes – the T5. With my new orthotics, I needed a 12.5 size shoe. The T5 stopped at size 12 and then had a size 13. No 12.5 in this shoe size. The Glycerin and the Cascadia fit very well in the 12.5 size, but the size 13 in the T5 felt like “clown shoes” as they were just too long. So Vasile put the size 12 T5 on a shoe stretcher and then sent the shoes to me on the road. Proper fitting shoes are key to training and racing. I am undecided on what shoe company I will be associated with in 2009, but I will be certain that the combination of the Faklis Orthotics, SmoothToe Energizing Socks (new sock sponsor for 2009), and the shoe fit together wonderfully for maximum protection, fit, and performance.

As my Dad told me when I was a kid – never compromise on footwear! As runners this is the main piece of equipment for our sport. I am very excited to welcome the SmoothToe compression sock to the team of sponsors in 2009. This energizing sock will help my  blood flow, recovery, and performance. It is the “Rolls Royce” of socks and I will let you know how you can try a pair in an upcoming blog entry.

So please take care of your feet this upcoming year. This is the foundation of your running. If your foot strike is good, then that will keep your ankles, knees, hips, and back in alignment. Give yourself a foot massage to begin the year and get ready to accelerate in 2009!

Why is proper Equipment important to an athlete over 30?

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As you reach for the tennis racquet that you used to play with 15 years ago when you were in your early twenties, you may want to have a second look at it.  The aluminum frame that was state-of-the-art 15 years ago may not be the best thing for you at this stage in your life.  As we age our muscle mass and structure changes.  We are no longer as flexible as we were 5 years ago.  There is probably more mass and we don