Heated Seats…. Bum/Bun Warmers…..

Posted on by
2

It’s a rainy, dreary day in the CHI………

The traffic coming into the city is all jacked up because people can’t drive of the rain.  I had to drive in this morning rather than taking the train since it was crazy hair day at school and I had to make Aby look insane I was running late.

As I was sitting in traffic, shivering, I turned my seat heater up to high.  I was immediately thankful that I am a car snob enthusiast and have certain requirements for my “new to me” cars.    Those requirements are:  heated seats, moon roof & engine power, anything else is just a bonus.  If you have a POS older car that needs to be replaced, then I would highly recommend venturing into a market that has heat seats because some days it’s the small things that make a girl happy.

Hubby’s car actually has a heated steering wheel too!  If you are a cold hands/warm heart bitch  lady like myself, then that also might be a good “option” for you. 

And for the geeks (like me) who care,  General Motors employee Robert L Ballard invented heated seats1951, and patented them in 1955. Predating his invention were the less sophisticated “ventilated seats for vehicles,” invented in 1936 by Charles J Patterson.

Source:  Google Patents: BALLAKD Robert L. Ballard

 
Cheers,                                                                                                                             Amanda – TooTallFritz                                                                            amanda@tootallfritz.com

KT Tape FAIL….Plantar Fasciitis – Part I

Posted on by
14

I assume those of you who will be reading this VERY FIRST post on my NEW blog TooTallFritz.com, will be friends and family.  So you already know that I have been dealing with Plantar Fasciitis all summer and it sucks hurts badly and I am very frustrated.  I have been going to a foot surgeon since beginning of September who did a series of wrapping/taping sessions on my feet to determine if orthotics would help my situation.  The padding makes it feel like I’m literally walking on clouds and makes the pain dissipate immediately…..but I can’t shower while I am wearing the padding unless I bag my feet. 

After weeks of taping and my being happy with the results both in life and in running, he decided to cast me for orthotics. 

And now I am waiting for the lab to construct the orthotics….super special ones that are a hybrid for both running and real life.  “Normal” orthotics apparently aren’t good enough since I’m in the advanced stage where my feet throb with pain even while I am sitting.  Please don’t touch my heels and I definitely don’t want to walk or run on them!

After casting for the orthotics, I was once again getting thru with the taping/padding but alas that fell off last Thursday.  I was being cheap trying to make it thru without going back for another office visit copay to have the doc reapply the tape/pads so I opted to try the KT Tape.  They have a special taping method for Plantar Fasciitis and step by step instructions on how the stupid normal person can do it themselves.  No problem!  I mean, it stayed on for Kerri Walsh thru the rigorous sand volleyball tournaments at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, so I thought I could get one run in without a problem. 

My tape job didn’t look quite as intricate or professional as that of Ms. Walsh’s….I mean, I don’t have a trainer, just Aby and I working as a team.  We followed the directions and it was “sticking” and I left for a run. 

However, it didn’t stick for long!  I was happy to be  heading out the door for a run. 

Then things quickly went down hill.  The tape felt okay and I had minimal support but the “stick” didn’t last long.  I stopped to restick it right before mile 1, then by mile 1.2, I stopped and pulled it off all together (Sorry, I didn’t have the camera for a photo of the wilted mass of green KT tape flopping around my ankle).  I ended up pulling my shoe off to get rid of the tape and cutting my run short, knowing things would only get worse in the pain department after that. 

4.05 miles – 37:08 – Never stopped my watch but had 2 stops for KT tape malfunction, one turn around, and one leap into the ditch stop for a car that wanted to hit me.  Fun times running in the country!

Plantar Fasciitis defined  HERE & Plantar Fasciitis Prevention Tips HERE.

Most importantly, my outfit – “Run”way Fashion:  RunningSkirts.com Ultra Swift Skirt, Athleta Accelerate Tank, Feetures Light No Show Socks w/ Tabs (pink!), Saucony Guide 5 shoes.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions, feel free to post below or message me at amanda@tootallfritz.com. 

Cheers and Happy, PAIN-FREE running to all of you!                                                       Amanda – “Too Tall Fritz”