<p>Played 75 minutes of tennis. I won the first set 6-2 and was leading in the second 4-1 when I rolled my ankle. It hurt quite a bit and I’m glad that I had a racquet to lean on. We stopped there because some damage was done and it wasn’t a good idea to continue playing at the risk of more serious damage. In these situations, I usually wait a few hours. It either hurts like crazy or it doesn’t. If it hurts like crazy, then I’m out of commission for 6 weeks. It didn’t hurt like crazy but there’s a twinge when I put certain kinds of lateral pressure on the foot. The main cause of the problem was that I wore my running shoes in today and was playing with shoes with no lateral support. The tennis shoes are a lot heavier than running shoes and have a wider platform and much more support.</p>
<p>Of course I had to get in a run today so I ran 3.5 miles later on. The nice thing about running on a treadmill is that there are no lateral forces on your foot. </p>
<p>I’m supposed to practice for an hour tomorrow. I might try taping the ankle. Fortunately it’s just practice - I won’t bother going after impossible balls. The other guy (he’s the really good player) said that I was playing really great today. I was using a new racquet with a lot more power and I think that helped. I don’t think that he’s used to the added pace.</p>
<p>Went to Gym too late today. 7 different machines, weights, and feet elevated push up first. Then 2.32 miles run/walk.</p>
<p>I was being really bored the other day, so I crank the treadmill to 9 MPH. Must pull it again, the heel gave a very sharp pain 1/2 a lap at high speed. Have been on Ibuprofen again.</p>
<p>Go figure. Looks like the ol’ (formerly) fat guy who went hiking up a mountain in the snow is the only geezer who didn’t get hurt today! :)</p>
<p>I definitely had the iPod shuffle gods laughing at me today. Here I am sweating up a snow covered mountain with the wind just howling and I get back to back:</p>
<p>My new EMS power stretch hoodie was fantastic. Warm, but it breaths. Loved the hoodie instead of a hat. Kept my ears and head warm, but better ventilation than a beanie. Also can be zipped up under the chin, over the chin, or even up to the nose. They’ve got all their power stretch on sale. Gloves for $17. Skull caps for $12. Balaclava (really nice, not too tight) $15. Hoodies: $69. Half-zips for $62.</p>
<p>“Go figure. Looks like the ol’ (formerly) fat guy who went hiking up a mountain in the snow is the only geezer who didn’t get hurt today!”</p>
<p>Glad to hear that! Nice playlist! </p>
<p>Costco… oh, Costco. I walked in to get some berries, eggs and canadian bacon, and walked out with… a Bosu ball. I know you guys are all anxious to hear my reports of faceplanting off of that thing :)</p>
<p>I left the Bosu ball alone until tomorrow. It came with a set of exercise DVDs - yipee! Ran 1.6 miles (after dinner, arrgh!), did my standard weight routine.</p>
<p>You are one of the most careful people here on equipment - some of the stuff that you do might be considered dangerous if you’re not well-prepared. My rush out the door to the office is to hope that I have everything that I need and sometimes I don’t.</p>
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<p>The bottom part and one side was stiff this morning. I canceled my tennis practice for today. I had a look at a YouTube video on taping ankles. It’s a lot more involved than I thought. It’s a good reason why PTs are in demand. I spoke to our fitness center manager about taping. She’s not licensed to tape (didn’t know that there was a license for that). I’m going to try to find out what supplies are needed and if I can get them at CVS. I may try playing with a taped ankle tomorrow if it feels better. This could be one of those things that takes a few weeks to heal and I’d have to decide whether or not I want to play tennis during that period. It also could be one of those three-day things.</p>
<p>It probably wouldn’t be bad to tape it up myself though.</p>
<p>I’ve done the Ace Bandage thing before and have used an Aircast before. The Aircast only provides a little support in one direction and the Ace Bandage is relatively loose support. I’ve also tried one of those velcro supports and they don’t really do that much.</p>
<p>Also pulled out a new pair of running shoes yesterday. It makes a noticeable difference. I’m tempted to go to EMS today. I was at Trader Joes yesterday which is next to EMS - should have stopped in. It’s going to be pretty warm here over the weekend but it looks like the treadmill for me for the next three days.</p>
<p>Supposed to be 60 degrees tomorrow and sunny. I’m going out to test our local hs new all- weather track tomorrow. </p>
<p>BCE - wish I could “play” tennis. My son always destroys me on vacation. He was a baseball player and has good hand/eye which I do NOT have. That’s why I ran/run!</p>
<p>The best way to improve your tennis game is lessons from a good teaching pro. These typically run $60 - $100 an hour. You also need regular practice - drilling strokes as opposed to playing matches. This sort of thing is a lot easier to do when you are young. I have thought about getting a six-pack or eight-pack of lessons - basically to have an objective view of any technique issues. The headache for me is that the best place to do this for me would be a club that’s an hour away.</p>
<p>The fitness work, though, is a great way to improve your game too. You need to have the fitness to take advantage of the technique, tactics and strategy.</p>
<p>Good to hear about the successful winter hike, idad! I like your playlist, too. Temps are supposed to be above average here today, again, over 80. That, coupled with recent precipitation, means an early hatching of mosquitoes. Our area will be sprayed, so heading to the indoor gym.</p>
<p>Picked up the Power Stretch hoodie with the zip to your nose. It only comes in full zip. I also picked one up for my wife. The womens version has zippered side pockets too. It should fit my wife and daughter (wife is S, daughter is XS).</p>
<p>Also picked up 2 EMS long underwear pieces. A midweight bottom and a heavyweight quarter-zip. The midweight bottom was $35 and wasn’t on sale but that’s about what Capilene 3 goes for when it’s on sale in April. This bottom is basically a Capilene 3 clone.</p>
<p>The heavyweight quarter-zip was on sale for $49 and looks to be equivalent to Capilene 4. Capilene 4 QZs retail for $120. I’d guess about $70 on sale. This is something that I could run outside with, either on its own or with a t-shirt underneath. I’ll have to wait for the ankle to improve before doing that though.</p>
<p>I guess that the Patagonia R1 Hoody is the only balacava-style QZ that I’ve seen so far - maybe that’s why they can sell them for $149. I think that I’ll be happy with the EMS. It, and the QZ top, will give me a lot of flexibility in the cold weather.</p>
<p>What colors did you get in the Power Stretch zip hoodie? Mine is orange. I got the small and it fits fine- but is slim fitting (not at all boxy) which is fine. My REI full over (quarter zip) is looser fitting).</p>
<p>I got the light blue. They had orange, black and blue at the store. The selection for the womens stuff was a lot better than for the men. The mens versions added a dark gray QZ but it didn’t have a hoody.</p>
<p>I can see getting the orange if you’re a runner as you want to be seen. I don’t think that my wife would wear the orange though.</p>
<p>Well, I just barely punched the clock in the basement. I’m on the knife-edge of a cold. Congested off and on. So I just took it slow and stead and got through the workout. Front squats and TRX pushups were the highlights.</p>
<p>HOPS, your challenge is killing me. It was all I could do to crank out one set yesterday after hiking. I did my two sets at the end of the workout today, but those weren’t the most energetic swings I’ve ever done!</p>
<p>It got up to 70 degrees today (very unusual) and was 65 when I “ran” after work. I felt horrible (the cold still) for the first mile and was very slow, but it felt good to be out in shorts and short sleeves. I used the headlamp. I did 4.3 miles and when I finished I had a coughing fit at the car that was pretty amazing. I was afraid someone would call 911. It passed, fortunately.</p>
<p>My wife likes it. My daughter is interested.</p>
<p>3.5 miles. I was going to run another 1.5 at the Y but forecast is for freezing rain - it’s raining hard and the temperature is 33. I’ll run tomorrow.</p>
Nice playlist! </p>
I know you guys are all anxious to hear my reports of faceplanting off of that thing :)</p>